A superb book, confronting justification of religious violence in all its forms. Being a Rabbi, he does focus on antisemitism as a larger example but is quick to point out other instances in other religions and world events. Thoughtful and probing in many, sometimes uncomfortable, ways.

2nd Read:
"God hears the cry of the unheard, and so, if we follow him, do we." ( )

Jonathan Sacks’ Not in God’s Name is rather interesting discourse on sibling rivalry as the cause of religious violence. His discussion is based largely on the Hebrew Bible, Midrash, Mishnah, and Talmud. He analyzes the story of Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Esau and Jacob, and the sisters Laban, Rachel, and Leah. Sacks points out that what is important about these stories in Genesis was the fact that they led to blessings and redemption of all concerned.
Deuteronomy contains the word ‘love’ more than any other Mosaic books. To Sacks ‘memory’ has also become a moral force that is found both in Exodus and Deuteronomy. But the virtue of ‘love’ has to be tempered with ‘justice’ for laws and rights of the poor, and destitute to be upheld. He addresses the Islamic prediction and divisions that resulted with the fall of the Ottoman Empire in 1922. And Sacks envisions that the monotheistic faiths of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam should be able to live in peace.
It was interesting to learn of the ‘commonalities’ of the three Abrahamic traditions. Yet Sacks shows that the reading of scripture calls for study and reflection. For the ‘Word of God’ is subject to different interpretations, and much depends on time and place. He states how the Hebrew language differs that that of Greek, and how believers in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have differed in their beliefs. Yet he argues that there should be no place for fundamentalist beliefs in society. People should do unto others like what they would like to be done to themselves. And they ought to love God, their neighbor, and the stranger. For divine living is all about ‘forgiveness’ and ‘reconciliation.’ So why nations can’t heed these principles and live in peace? ( )

People have been killing each other for centuries in the name of religion. In this National Jewish Book Award-winning text, Rabbi Sacks has attempted to grapple with the current rise in violent killings based on religious beliefs. Rabbi Sacks is a philosopher. As such, he goes on at great length to analyze the roots of religious violence. He states that religion leads to violence when it consecrates hatred. Although no practical solutions to the issues are offered here, he observes that this violence “must be fought religiously as well as militarily”. His standard ideals of love your enemy, let go of the hatred in your heart, and acknowledge that only God can mete out vengeance can only go so far. His theory is that wars may be won with weapons but only ideas can win a peace.

This is a well researched well written start to a debate that needs to be taken about how we can understand radical politicised religious violence. While not coming up with a complete answer what Jonathan Sacks is doing is inviting us to think about how we can end radical politicised religious violence.

NOT IN GOD’S NAME is one of the most profound books I have ever read. Jonathan Sacks provides an incisive analysis of the roots of religious violence and hopeful direction on the way that humanity may move forward in dealing with it. As recent events in France have demonstrated, none of us are immune or protected against the possibility of religious violence. This makes this book relevant to every one of us. Sacks asks in which direction we want to go — the will to power or the will to life? While Sacks is clearly passionate about this global problem, he writes with extraordinary depth and objectivity with a simple power that is difficult to ignore. Sacks calls all people — and particularly those of the Abrahamic religions — to let go of hate and the grasping for power. As Sacks so eloquently observes, ‘No soul was ever saved by hate. No truth was ever proved by violence. No redemption was ever brought by holy war. No religion won the admiration of the world by its capacity to inflict suffering on its enemies. Despite the fact that these things have been endorsed in their time by sincere religious believers, they are a travesty of faith, and until we learn this, religion will remain one of the greatest threats to the peace of the world.’ NOT IN GOD’S NAME is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand religious violence (better called “altruistic evil”) — and more importantly, what we can do about it. ( )