Description
Berghahn Books God-botherers and Other True-believers Gandhi Hitler and the Religious Right 2008 Edition by F. G. Bailey
When reason fails to guide us in our everyday lives, we turn to faith, to religion; we close our minds; we reject austere reasoning. This rejection, which is a faith-based social and intellectual malignancy, has two unfortunate consequences: it blocks the way to knowledge that might enhance the quality of life and it opens the way to charlatans who exploit the faith of others. Examining two unquestionable malignancies of "the Christian Right" in present-day politics in the United States and the "secular religion" of Hitler's National Socialism, as well as the third, more complex case of Gandhi, the author asserts that we need religion, but we also need to make sure it does no harm. Table of contents :- AcknowledgementsIntroductionPART I: FAITH AND POLITICSChapter 1. Faith, Reason and ConsequencesThree kinds of faithOnly believe!HumanismOnenessA Point of ViewChapter 2. Religion and Persuasion in PoliticsReligion and Political InvolvementThe Problem of OrderWhat should go on and what does go onDefining SituationsInformation Costs: Political ClairvoyanceCreating TrustPersuading Reality-testingPART II ANTAGONISTIC RELIGIONSChapter 3. Desert, Marketplace, and ForumThe Religious Right (and Left) HypocrisyRender therefore unto CaesarModes of Clerical Involvement in PoliticsAntagonismParaclerics: Repenting Religion as a Weapon: Mrs. SchiavoThe Religious Mode of Political PersuasionChapter 4. The Need for EnemiesPol Pot and Secular Religion"Ardent and Even Hysterical Passions"Manufacturing EnemiesGroup Sentiment and ViolenceHitler's FaithFascism and Christian FascismPART III: A RELIGION OF LOVEChapter 5. Gandhi: The Freedom FightThe Freedom-FightPeacemaking FailuresChapter 6. Gandhi's CharismaCalculation Charisma: the Mass AudienceCharisma: Elite and EntourageSingle-MindednessChapter 7. Gandhi's Religion and Political RealityGandhi and HitlerFaith and ResponsibilitySecular Disciplines in the Freedom FightGandhian Morality and "Sectarian" religionsGandhi's Universalism and Political ActionChapter 8. The First Cause and the Last WordPropagating the FaithWalk GentlyMorality and EvolutionOneness and its consequences: diseducationOneness and its consequences: strife ~Diseducation and AuthorityOnly Think!ReferencesIndex