Jonathan Sacks Has the Cure for Religious Violence, But Who’s Listening? https://mosaicmagazine.com/picks/religion-holidays/2016/03/jonathan-sacks-has-the-cure-for-religious-violence-but-whos-listening/

March 7, 2016 | Michael Rosen
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In Not in God’s Name, Britain’s former chief rabbi rebuts the charge that religion is, in itself, an incurable source of brutal violence, seeks out the causes of religious violence, and suggests ways such violence—especially in the form of modern-day jihadism—can be checked. Michael Rosen writes in his review:

Sacks’s footing is firmest when he’s interpreting biblical texts and deriving ethical lessons from them; he paints the vivid characters populating Genesis with unrivaled poise, passion, and sensitivity. His language sparkles, too, when outlining the trajectory of Jewish history in its biblical and rabbinic eras, from its bellicose origins to its quietist present and equally so when exploring Christianity’s similar evolution.

Sacks is less persuasive, however, when explaining how that transformation can be replicated today, especially by Islam. For instance, in describing how the Jews sublimated their injunction to destroy the biblical nation of Amalek into a metaphor for pure evil, both internal and external, as a “struggle within the soul,” Sacks suggests how Islamists might reinterpret jihad. But are they listening? Should they be? . . . That the Jews have largely renounced violence hardly means Islamists will do the same.

If this book has a flaw, it’s this: it ought to appeal to all good-hearted religious people. However, the bad-hearted religious people don’t seem to be listening and the good-hearted secular folks don’t really need to. Sacks concludes by urging “an international campaign against the teaching and preaching of hate,” insisting on “reciprocal altruism” and recognizing that “we are all children of Abraham.” Will his call be enough to turn the tide of religious violence? Probably not. Must we heed it anyway? Absolutely.

Read more on Weekly Standard: http://www.weeklystandard.com/fighting-faiths/article/2001401