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Matt said:
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Incredibly intriguing premise and quite a bit of research, but this book has some MAJOR problems, all of which stem from a major lack of an organizational plan. Though each chapter has a topic, and the book moves ahead in time, that's about it. PointIncredibly intriguing premise and quite a bit of research, but this book has some MAJOR problems, all of which stem from a major lack of an organizational plan. Though each chapter has a topic, and the book moves ahead in time, that's about it. Points meander. There are no theses strategically argued or anything like that. Meandering! It's a shame. If he had spent some time doing some essay-writing basics rather than diving right in with what I'm sure was an overwhelming trove of note, he could've put out a truly amazing book....on Western spiritual belief:
I should add one more criticism, and that's the book is EXTREMELY Western-centric. There are references made to other religious and spiritual belief systems, but they remain just references. The opening chapter has a discussion of "tribal" religions grounded in the social science of the year 1900. He mentions examples of so-called traditional beliefs from one nation or another to make generalized points. This is utterly wrong on two levels: One, there is no general, "pre-civilization" belief system, even in the abstract. Two, he cites anthropologists' observations from mostly the late 1800s and early 1900s, and those belief systems are just as modern as those of Chicago Presbyterians in the year 1900. Belief systems change through the years, constantly evolving; they're not stuck in some sort of rut until some sort of modernizing change jolts them.
I'm coming at this, by the way, as a fan of Wright. I thought The Moral Animal was just the bee's knees, in fact....more
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