Taming the Gods: Religion and Democracy on Three Continents

By Ian Buruma

Book Overview

Why religion must be separated from politics if democracy is to thrive around the world

For eight years the president of the United States was a born-again Christian, backed by well-organized evangelicals who often seemed intent on erasing the church-state divide. In Europe, the increasing number of radicalized Muslims is creating widespread fear that Islam is undermining Western-style liberal democracy. And even in polytheistic Asia, the development of democracy has been hindered in some countries, particularly China, by a long history in which religion was tightly linked to the state.

Ian Buruma is the first writer to provide a sharp-eyed look at the tensions between religion and politics on three continents. Drawing on many contemporary and historical examples, he argues that the violent passions inspired by religion must be tamed in order to make democracy work.

Comparing the United States and Europe, Buruma asks why so many Americans--and so few Europeans--see religion as a help to democracy. Turning to China and Japan, he disputes the notion that only monotheistic religions pose problems for secular politics. Finally, he reconsiders the story of radical Islam in contemporary Europe, from the case of Salman Rushdie to the murder of Theo van Gogh. Sparing no one, Buruma exposes the follies of the current culture war between defenders of "Western values" and "multiculturalists," and explains that the creation of a democratic European Islam is not only possible, but necessary.

Presenting a challenge to dogmatic believers and dogmatic secularists alike, Taming the Gods powerfully argues that religion and democracy can be compatible--but only if religious and secular authorities are kept firmly apart.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0691156050
• ISBN13: 9780691156057
• Release Date: August 2012
• Publisher: Princeton University Press
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.1" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

Tao of Peace, religion and democracy on three continents

Ian writes this book to evaluate the relationship between religions and democracy with a perspective of western viewpoint. However, he offers in three chapters with many pages on 1. Full Tents and Empty Cathedrals, 2. Oriental Wisdom and 3. Enlightenment Values. It is fun to find out Confucius and Mencius's teaching might help spark the American and French Revolutions! Before the Enlightenment in Europe,there was Divine right, Monarch right and no human right for ordinary citizen. Chinese "democratic nature of the state with officials selected on intellectual merit by civil examination (American took the system up), not by birth right. Did Imperial and Colonial British Empire ever give democracy to the colonial locals? Did US invade Iraq based on misinformation and transplant democracy to the land? Are the citizens living better or worse? The May 4 Movement of 1919 in China look for Mr. Science and Mr. Democracy. They do define their own destiny. Mr. Chang helped draft the UN Human Right Declaration. It is interesting that Mr. Trump started a trade war with China based on allegations. Many intellectuals in Europe and America worry about the future of democracy. A few months ago, French President Macron made a pessimistic comment on the end of western democracy. Ian's book is thought provoking, read and find the truth!