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The Great Transformation
by Karen Armstrong
- Used
- Good
- Hardcover
- Condition
- Good/Good
- ISBN 10
- 0375413170
- ISBN 13
- 9780375413179
- Seller
-
Missoula, Montana, United States
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About This Item
Armstrong traces the development of the Axial Age chronologically, examining the contributions of such figures as the Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the mystics of the Upanishads, Mencius, and Euripides. All of the Axial Age faiths began in principled and visceral recoil from the unprecedented violence of their time. Despite some differences of emphasis, there was a remarkable consensus in their call for an abandonment of selfishness and a spirituality of compassion. With regard to dealing with fear, despair, hatred, rage, and violence, the Axial sages gave their people and give us, Armstrong says, two important pieces of advice: first there must be personal responsibility and self-criticism, and it must be followed by practical, effective action.
In her introduction and concluding chapter, Armstrong urges us to consider how these spiritualities challenge the way we are religious today. In our various institutions, we sometimes seem to be attempting to create exactly the kind of religion that Axial sages and prophets had hoped to eliminate. We often equate faith with doctrinal conformity, but the traditions of the Axial Age were not about dogma. All insisted on the primacy of compassion even in the midst of suffering. In each Axial Age case, a disciplined revulsion from violence and hatred proved to be the major catalyst of spiritual change.
Synopsis
Karen Armstrong is the author of numerous other books on religious affairs, including A History of God, The Battle for God, Holy War, Islam, and Buddha . Her work has been translated into forty languages, and she is the author of three television documentaries. Since September 11, 2001, she has been a frequent contributor to conferences, panels, newspapers, periodicals, and other media on both sides of the Atlantic on the subject of Islam. She lives in London.
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Details
- Bookseller
- The Vespiary Book Restoration & Bindery
(US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- SQ6439344
- Title
- The Great Transformation
- Author
- Karen Armstrong
- Format/Binding
- Previous owner stamp
- Book Condition
- Used - Good
- Jacket Condition
- Good
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Binding
- Hardcover
- ISBN 10
- 0375413170
- ISBN 13
- 9780375413179
- Publisher
- Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group
- Place of Publication
- New York
- Date Published
- 2006-03-28
- Keywords
- religion, history
- Bookseller catalogs
- Spirituality/Religion;