There is good reason why some people don't want to talk about religion in polite company. Like conversations about politics, discussions about religion all too often set people at odds with each other in ways that are hard to predict and difficult to control. For all the controversy involved with such debate, this book invites the reader to engage with an ethical appraisal of religion(s) as they are practised today. It is written in the belief that this is an important dialogue for our time. It claims, despite the emotive character of the subject, that the free exchange of ideas and experience between people of differing views and commitments can with practice generate more light than heat. Particular effort is made to answer the question: how can we fairly evaluate the ethical character of religion(s)? It focuses especially but not at all exclusively on the religions of Christianity and Islam, being critical of them in many respects; but it also offers sharp rebuke to some of the perspectives of Richard Dawkins and others among the new atheists.
'What are we to make of religion? It is so varied and so influential in cultures and in the private lives of billions. So many aspects of religions are problematic yet it seems unclear how and how far people not sharing particular faiths are able to criticise them. This is the subject matter of Holroyd's book. This is an urgent book on a vital subject and it deserves to be widely read. It is clearly written, carefully argued, motivated by universal goodwill yet unafraid of tackling bitterly controversial topics.' - Rick Lewis, Philosophy Now
Author
About John Holroyd
Originally from North Yorkshire, John studied philosophy, theology and religious studies at King’s College, London in the 1980s. He has since taught religious studies and philosophy in both state and independent schools and was Head of Religious Studies and Philosophy at St. Dunstan’s College in south London for over twenty years. Since 2016 John has lectured at the London School of Philosophy and also taught philosophy and politics for the Workers’ Educational Association. He has published articles with Philosophy Now magazine, The Ethical Record as well as RE Today, a national journal for RE teachers. John gives regular lectures to a wide variety of organisations and groups. He also teaches courses online at The Critical Thinking Circle. Please do visit his blog: johnholroydblog.wordpress.com and make contact with him if you would like to attend any of his courses or equally if you would like him to come and give a lecture to your organisation or group.
Judging Religion: A Dialogue for Our Time was published by Silverwood Books in September 2019. The purpose of this book is to seek to carefully assess ethical evaluations of religion. Religions quite often suggest that our eternal destiny depends upon how well we adhere to a set of beliefs and practices while others such as Richard Dawkins suggest that our well being in this world, the only one, depends upon being committed to a healthy scepticism about such claims. Negotiating this controversial territory is what this book is about and the author will be interested to hear how effectively you think this has been done.
