More than a century after Nietzsche proclaimed the death of God, Onfray (philosophy, Universit? Populaire de Caen) laments the abiding, insidious influence of Christian monotheism and the growing influence of Islam. He allows no room for subtle distinctions between positive and destructive aspects of religious beliefs and practices, generalizing that all monotheisms are alike in their hatred of reason, women, and the body and are basically theocratic and antidemocratic in character. He is at his best when offering his popularized version of insights borrowed from Michel Foucault. However, much of his reasoning rests on generalizations, and he fails to consider and rebut common counterarguments to his claims. Furthermore, Onfray is reacting to the French context of a Catholic culture facing Islamic immigration. Sam Harris's The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason presents superior argumentation to much the same end, with the North American context in mind. Recommended for larger libraries.-Steve Young, McHenry Cty. Coll., Crystal Lake, IL Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information.
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