South India is often portrayed as a land of Hindu orthodoxy; yet in fact three great "world religions" have interacted in the region over many centuries. This book uses a powerful combination of oral; literary; and architectural evidence to investigate the social and religious world of those large and influential groups of South Indians who came to identify themselves as Christians and Muslims; while retaining powerful links with the religion and culture of the wider society. The author shows how Christianity and Islam spread along the military and agricultural frontiers of southern India; and how certain beliefs and practices derived local force from an ambiguous relationship with the worship of existing Hindu goddesses. The book illuminates not only the meaning and history of religious conversion and the nature of community; but wider processes of social and political change within the sub-continent and colonial societies in general.
#1161333 in Books Cambridge University Press 2009-04-06Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.98 x .91 x 5.98l; 1.35 #File Name: 0521737435402 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Multi-demensional JihadsBy Retired ReaderThe term Jihad is based on the Qur'an saying "...you who believe fight the unbelievers who are near to you." In practice this has been interpreted to mean defending Islam; including the Shari'a (Islamic Law); against internal and external threats. This interpretation has produced the concepts of the `near enemy' that is threats from within the realm of Islam (Dar al Islam) usually from secular or apostate rulers and the `far enemy' that is threats to Islam from non-Islamic States such as those of the West or Israel.This is a way of introducing this most important book by Fawz A. Gerges. Its central thesis is that the concept of Jihad is far from monolithic; but has splintered into many separate movements with very different agendas. According to Gerges these include a relatively small movement that adheres to the far enemy ideology of Osama bin Laden and his al Qaeda movement. This movement see the principal threat to Islam as coming primarily from the U.S. and Israel as well as the West in general. Gerges does not discount the threat posed by this movement; but does note that it is very much a minority movement within a much broader spectrum of Jihadist movements. The inference from Gerges book is that if al Qaeda is understood for what it is; a relatively minor group in a much wider Jihadist movement; it can be better combated.As Gerges makes clear the concept of Jihad is a complex one and requires a good deal knowledge to understand the implications of Jihadist movements for U.S. National Security. This is not a perfect book and Gerges is at best a pedestrian writer. Yet; the attentive reader can extract a good deal of relevant information about the ideology and institutional structure of the perpetrators of the dreadful attacks of September 11 2001.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. More than a SloganBy Bill ProI spent most of my working life in Muslim countries ranging from Libya to Pakistan; with long-term stops in Turkey and Iran. I spoke Turkish well; could manage in Arabic and Urdu and was a flop at Farsi. I visited Morocco; Algeria; Saudi-Arabia and Oman. Most "explanations" of 9/11 left me completely underwhelmed. The Far Enemy provides the only rational explanation for 9/11 that I've heard or read. I strongly recommend the book to anyone who wants to think seriously about the opportunities and challenges America faces in dealing with disaffected Muslims0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Far EnemyBy Norman R. SmartThe Far Enemy: Why Jihad Went GlobalWell written. Very detailed. Some repetition. Very informative. Writer knows his subject. Should be required reading at the State Department.
