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Dying for heaven : holy pleasure and suicide bombers--why the best qualities of religion are also its most dangerous / Ariel Glucklich.
Van Pelt Library BP190.5.T47 G57 2009
Available
- Format:
- Book
- Author/Creator:
- Glucklich, Ariel.
- Language:
- English
- Subjects (All):
- Terrorism--Religious aspects--Islam.
- Terrorism.
- Suicide bombers--Religious life.
- Suicide bombers.
- Terrorists--Religious life.
- Terrorists.
- Violence--Religious aspects.
- Violence.
- Hedonism--Religious aspects.
- Hedonism.
- Heaven.
- Paradise.
- Future life.
- Religious life.
- Physical Description:
- 345 pages ; 24 cm
- Edition:
- First edition.
- Place of Publication:
- New York : HarperOne, [2009]
- Summary:
- Dying for Heaven argues that the very best qualities of religion-its ability to make people feel good and bring them together-are in fact its most dangerous. Whether you are the leader of a country with nuclear weapons or a suicide bomber, fervent love for God and a spiritual master, visions of a perfect society, or dedication to honor and self-sacrifice makes complete self-annihilation a tolerable-even attractive-outcome to any conflict that threatens your group's way of life.
- Recent events have revealed how dangerous the culture of faith, honor, and self-sacrifice can be, and the export of this ideology around the world is a real possibility. When Iran finally does arm itself with nuclear weapons, or if the governments of India and Pakistan fall into the hands of religious extremists, what will prevent them from using these terrible weapons? Dying for Heaven addresses and answers these questions with a new understanding of religion and provides a vision for preventing further religiously inspired violence.
- Contents:
- Religious self-destructiveness and nuclear deterrence
- The mysteries of pleasure
- The varieties of religious pleasure
- The school for happiness
- Disgust and desire: why we sacrifice for the group
- God's love and the Prozac effect
- Spiritual love and the seeds of annihilation
- The paradise paradox: the misery of heaven-addicts
- The martyr's theater.
- Notes:
- Includes bibliographical references (pages [293]-328) and index.
- ISBN:
- 9780061430817 :
- 0061430811 :
- OCLC:
- 302099939
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