Scarcely any country in today's world can claim to be free of intolerance. Israel and Palestine; Northern Ireland; Sudan; the Balkans; Pakistan; India; Sri Lanka; and the Caucasus are just some of the areas of intractable conflict apparently inspired or exacerbated by religious differences. Can devoted Jews; Christians; or Muslims remain true to their own fundamental beliefs and practices; yet also find paths toward liberty; tolerance; and respect for those of other faiths? In this vitally important book; fifteen influential practitioners of the Abrahamic religions address religious liberty and tolerance from the perspectives of their own faith traditions. Former president Jimmy Carter; Rabbi Arik Ascherman; Indonesia’s first democratically elected president; Abdurrahman Wahid; and the other writers draw on their personal experiences and on the sacred writings that are central in their own religious lives. Rather than relying on "pure reason;" as secularists might prefer; the contributors celebrate religious traditions and find within them a way toward mutual peace; uncompromised liberty; and principled tolerance. Offering a counterbalance to incendiary religious leaders who cite Holy Writ to justify intolerance and violence; the contributors reveal how tolerance and respect for believers in other faiths stand at the core of the Abrahamic traditions.
#517299 in Books 2010-02-23Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.20 x 1.79 x 6.32l; 1.67 #File Name: 0300164386704 pages
Review
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful. A good expose of early Soviet espionage in AmericaBy F. Carol Sabin"Spies" is one of the very best books about the early Soviet espionage in America. Inspired from KGB archives; the book had at least a solid credibility; as was the case with Mitrokhin archive. I read a book which is almost complete; interesting and definitely resolves long-seething controversies on particular cases (Hiss; Stone etc).No wonder; the Hiss case is showed in the 1st chapter; closing forever this debate (in 32 pages) following a lengthy introduction.The atomic spies received a particular attention in the longest chapter of the book. (no less than 112 pages!)This chapter is an in-depth analysis of the successes and failures of the Soviet agents in obtaining the secrets of the atomic bomb.Chapter 3 identified the journalist spies (50 pages); while chapter 4 treated the infiltration of US government (98 pages).I was particular interested in the identification of the Soviet spies in OSS and the book answered with interesting cases (12 spies were presented; an impressive number achieved in only 3 years!).This chapter is followed with the agents recruited in the scientific technical field.The next two chapters dealt with couriers and support personnel and also celebrities cases.The last chapter showed the strengths and weaknesses of the KGB operations in US. As this one were not enough we also having an interesting conclusion.An interesting and I believe the most striking point which is revealed in this book is the sheer number of Americans who assisted KGB agents. No less than 500 persons were involved in espionage activities; only a portion of who have been discussed in this book. At one point (page 73); the authors wrote that more than 175 cover names of American spies were never linked to real names.In spite of being is presented in a very dry fashion (case after case-the result of archived material); but with no photos; this book is a remarkable study about the Soviet espionage in the US during 1930s and 1940s.Moreover; "Spies" can supplement other interesting books about Soviet intelligence operations; which also treated the same specific subject ("The Sword and the shield vol.1"; "The haunted wood"; etc).1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Mc Carthy had a point...By Charles B. Warren...which is extensively documented and cross referenced from the source - KGB HQ Moscow. A question which remains valid today; the age of jihadism; is how can a free society retain liberty while defending itself?1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Excellent book for those interested in the historical background of ...By The BruceExcellent book for those interested in the historical background of the NKVD or KGB in America. The authors are extremely credible in this field and have decades of research invested in the VENONA decryption; Comintern files; and the newer information from the 1990's from the KGB archives.A must have for historians studying the Cold War!
