Sensible Religion

Dan Cohn-Sherbok is Professor Emeritus of Judaism at the University of Wales. Christopher Lewis is Dean of Christ Church, Oxford University.

’A useful resource for those seeking to defend the role of religious faith in the modern world, based on the argument that you do not have to be crazy to be religious.’ Oliver Leaman, University of Kentucky, USA ’A fascinating collection of essays which don't seek any formal comparison between the various practices of the major religions, so much as relate them through juxtaposition. What emerges is a multi-faceted panorama of world faiths as they are lived, in critical, sensible dialogue with their intellectual and political contexts. If you thought religion was superstitious clap-trap or on the way out - think again. Religion flourishes in myriad adaptive and culturally resonant forms. And this collection of essays showcases a variety of them.’ Graham Ward, University of Oxford, UK ’This valuable book clearly demonstrates that between religious extremism and exclusive secularism, there is indeed the balanced path of sensible religion. Coming from a great variety of faith and personal backgrounds, the contributing writers provide a comprehensive and compelling explanation of the actual and possible good that comes from religion. Whatever your religion, or if you have no religion, reading this book is a brilliant way of understanding the religious motivations (and misrepresentations) which affect the vast majority of humanity.’ HRH Princess Badiya bint El Hassan of Jordan

• Preface; Chapter 1 The Religious Quest, Christopher Lewis; Chapter 2 A Sensible Judaism of Love, Michael Lerner; Chapter 3 Judaism’s Critique of Idolatry and the Beginning of Liberative Religion, Melissa Raphael; Chapter 4 Islam, Tim Winter; Chapter 5 Retrieving the Equilibrium and Restoring Justice: Using Islam’s Egalitarian Teachings to Reclaim Women’s Rights, Sara Khan; Chapter 6 Reclaiming Jihad, Dawoud el-Alami; Chapter 7 The Reasonableness of Christianity, Keith Ward; Chapter 8 Christianity and Sensible Religion: A Feminist Approach, Mary Grey; Chapter 9 The Ecosystem of Religions: A Hindu Perspective, Rita D. Sherma; Chapter 10 Hinduism: True (Satyam), Good (Shivam) and Beautiful (Sundaram), Anantanand Rambachan; Chapter 11 Is Buddhism Sensible?, Dharmachari Subhuti; Chapter 12 Buddhism: Sense and Sensibility, Hozan Alan Senauke; Chapter 13 Sikhi(sm) and the Twenty-First Century Sikh Diaspora, Opinderjit Kaur Takhar; Chapter 14 African Traditional Religion, Nokuzola Mndende; Chapter 15 Conclusion: Sensible Religion Matters, Dan Cohn-Sherbok;