Strange gods : a secular history of conversion
(Book)

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Published
New York : Pantheon Books, [2016].
Format
Book
Edition
First edition.
ISBN
9780375423758, 0375423753
Physical Desc
xi, 464 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 24 cm
Status
Lawson McGhee Library - Books
204.2 JACO
1 available
Bearden Branch Library - Books
204.2 JACO
1 available

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LocationCall NumberStatus
Lawson McGhee Library - Books204.2 JACOOn Shelf
Bearden Branch Library - Books204.2 JACOOn Shelf

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Published
New York : Pantheon Books, [2016].
Edition
First edition.
Language
English
ISBN
9780375423758, 0375423753

Notes

Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 419-438) and index.
Description
In this original and riveting exploration, Susan Jacoby argues that conversion--especially in the free American "religious marketplace"--is too often viewed only within the conventional and simplistic narrative of personal reinvention and divine grace. Instead, the author places conversions within a secular social context that has, at various times, included the force of a unified church and state, desire for upward economic mobility, and interreligious marriage--the latter as critical in the early Christian era as in the United States today, where half of Americans have switched faiths at least once in their adult lives. The sometimes tragic, sometimes inspiring story is shaped by the competing absolute truth claims of Catholicism, Protestantism, and Islam and their impact on Jews--the only monotheistic believers with an older historical stake. Moving through time, continents, and cultures--dealing with the often-ignored forced conversion of American slaves to Christianity as well as with the better-known story of the Spanish Inquisition and the persecution of both atheists and Christians in modern Islamic theocracies--the story also includes conversions to authoritarian secular ideologies, notably Stalinist Communism, that resemble traditional, unquestioning faith. Finally, the author examines true religious choice--a product of the Enlightenment pioneered by the U.S. Constitution. This history is punctuated by portraits of individual converts, including the Catholic Church father Augustine of Hippo; the German Jewish convert to Catholicism Edith Stein, murdered at Auschwitz and canonized by the church; boxing champion Muhammad Ali, who scandalized white Americans in the 1960s by becoming a Muslim, and even politicians such as George W. Bush and former British prime minister Tony Blair. In a forthright conclusion to this enthralling history, Strange Gods takes on the question of why the freedom to choose a religion--or to reject religion altogether--is a fundamental human rights issue that remains a breeding ground for violence in areas of the world that never experienced an Enlightenment. --Publisher

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Citations

APA Citation, 7th Edition (style guide)

Jacoby, S. (2016). Strange gods: a secular history of conversion (First edition.). Pantheon Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Author Date Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Jacoby, Susan, 1945-. 2016. Strange Gods: A Secular History of Conversion. Pantheon Books.

Chicago / Turabian - Humanities (Notes and Bibliography) Citation, 17th Edition (style guide)

Jacoby, Susan, 1945-. Strange Gods: A Secular History of Conversion Pantheon Books, 2016.

MLA Citation, 9th Edition (style guide)

Jacoby, Susan. Strange Gods: A Secular History of Conversion First edition., Pantheon Books, 2016.

Note! Citations contain only title, author, edition, publisher, and year published. Citations should be used as a guideline and should be double checked for accuracy. Citation formats are based on standards as of August 2021.

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