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Title: Jerusalem: One City, Three Faiths by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0345391683 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: May, 1997 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.84
Rating: 2
Summary: Colored lenses
Comment: Karen Armstrong labels herself a "freelance monotheist" and, as a British ex-nun, has some knowledge of religious history. But in this book, as she often does, Ms. Armstrong effusively promotes Islam while maintaining persistently negative characterizations of Judaism, and to a lesser extent, Christianity. These contrasts color her narrative of the ancient city established by King David as a capital of the Jewish people in Biblical times.
The book, for example, describes Islam's "inclusive notion of holiness," the Qur'an's humane attitudes and Islam's benign expansion. In contrast, it deplores Judaism's "separations and exclusions," which the book exemplifies by citing Jewish dietary laws, observance of Shabbat and ancient regulations that controlled who could enter the first and second Temples. The book, however, does not compare these supposed weaknesses in Jewish observance to Dhimmi laws imposed by Jerusalem's Muslim conquerors during Medieval times, as explained in Moshe Gil's History of Palestine, or to the fact that the holy city of Mecca remains closed to all non-Muslims even now.
Ostensibly about three faiths in Jerusalem, the book fails to mention Judaism's strong attachment to it, or that this city of the first and second Jewish Temples (constructed in Biblical times) figures prominently in dozens of Jewish prayers and holiday celebrations, many of which originated here. Omitted are the tremendous devotion felt by religious Jews to Jerusalem and more than 600 citations to it in the Jewish Old Testament.
The book also portrays Israeli's rule in Jerusalem derisively, as one which "cannot be justified in Jewish tradition by the overriding sanctity of Jerusalem," by virtue of the inescapable "moral imperative to justice" emanating from holiness. But in recounting the city's history, the book neglects Jordan's illegal rule over the Old City of Jerusalem from 1948 to 1967, which went unrecognized by most nations and the United Nations. Nor does the book note that during that period 100,000 Jews were evicted, all 58 Jerusalem synagogues destroyed and headstones from the ancient Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives were used to line roads and latrines. This volume, finally, does not acknowledge that Israel's rule opened all previously closed religious sites to all faiths, except for the Temple Mount, which Palestinian Authority administration has closed to all non-Muslims.
In other words, Ms. Armstrong's history of Jerusalem does not fairly reflect the city's religious significance to all three faiths. It favors Islam, at the expense of Judaism and Christianity. Better history can be found in Jerusalem in the Twentieth Century (Martin Gilbert), O Jerusalem (Larry Collins and Dominique LaPierre) or Jerusalem and its Environs (Ruth Kark and Michal Oren-Nordheim). Alyssa A. Lappen
Rating: 4
Summary: Good overview, be careful of author's bias
Comment: As someone who is not part of the Jewish, Muslim or Christian world, I found Ms Armstrong's narrative well-paced and meticulously detailed. This book is written from the point of view of a religion expert, and the construction of the pre-Christian times of Jerusalem are particularly creative and evocative. Certainly, Ms Armstrong captures the complexity of problems that Jerusalem faces.
Be careful, though, of Ms Armstrong's strongly pro-Muslim bias. The history and present of Jerusalem are convoluted to say the least and Ms Armstrong does tend to paint the Muslim community's role and current stance with flattering brush strokes, and that of the Jews and Christian with disparaging ones.
I do agree with her eventual conclusion - tragically, the history of Jerusalem does not make a solution to the current situation very likely. In fact, it is possible to see history being repeated for the umpteenth time with the most recent events.
Rating: 5
Summary: Clearing the cobwebs of the Holy City
Comment: Karen Armstrong, an Oxford-educated,ex-Catholic Nun,and prolific writer on comparative religions has written an important contribution to the history of a city so mired in political and religious strife. Her main theme is the idea of "sacred geography", and the notion of religious symbolism and myth that is associated with sacred geography.
In a chronological manner, Armstrong ties each monotheistic religion to the city of Jerusalem, and delves into the linkages between each religion and the city of Jerusalem
For any reader of history, the story of Jerusalem is fascinating, if not for the depth of history associated with the city.
Yes, Armstrong does display a bias towards the current situation in the city today, but I will let you determine that for yourself.
All in all, a good overview of the history of the city, and the religious associations with Jerusalem.
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Title: A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0345384563 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: September, 1994 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: The Battle for God by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0345391691 Publisher: Ballantine Books Pub. Date: 30 January, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.95 |
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Title: Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0062508865 Publisher: Harper SanFrancisco Pub. Date: September, 2001 List Price(USD): $15.00 |
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Title: Islam: A Short History (Modern Library Chronicles) by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 081296618X Publisher: Modern Library Pub. Date: 06 August, 2002 List Price(USD): $11.95 |
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Title: Holy War: The Crusades and Their Impact on Today's World by Karen Armstrong ISBN: 0385721404 Publisher: Anchor Pub. Date: 27 November, 2001 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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