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The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs: Fundamentalism and the Fear of Truth | 
 enlarge | Author: Solomon Schimmel
Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA
Category: Book
List Price: $29.95
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Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 111438
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 296
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.9
Dimensions (in): 9.4 x 6.3 x 1.1
ISBN: 0195188268
Dewey Decimal Number: 200.904
EAN: 9780195188264
ASIN: 0195188268
Publication Date: August 15, 2008
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Product Description
The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs is a passionate yet analytical critique of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptural fundamentalists. Schimmel examines the ways in which otherwise intelligent and bright Jews, Christians, and Muslims defend their belief in the divine authorship of the Bible or of the Koran, and other religious beliefs derived from those claims, against overwhelming evidence and argument to the contrary from science, scholarship, common sense, and rational analysis. He also examines the motives, fears, and anxieties of scriptural fundamentalists that induce them to cling so tenaciously to their unreasonable beliefs.
Schimmel begins with reflections on his own journey from commitment to Orthodox Judaism, through doubts about its theological dogmas and doctrines, to eventual denial of their truth. He follows this with an examination of theological and philosophical debates about the proper relationships between faith, reason, and revelation. Schimmel then devotes separate chapters to Jewish, Christian, and Muslim scriptural fundamentalism, noting their similarities and differences. He analyzes in depth the psychological and social reasons why people acquire, maintain, and protect unreasonable religious beliefs, and how they do so. Schimmel also discusses unethical and immoral consequences of scriptural fundamentalism, such as gender inequality, homophobia, lack of intellectual honesty, self-righteousness, intolerance, propagation of falsehood, and in some instances, the advocacy of violence and terrorism. He concludes with a discussion of why, when, and where it is appropriate to critique, challenge, and combat scriptural fundamentalists. The Tenacity of Unreasonable Beliefs is thoughtful and provocative, written to encourage self-reflection and self-criticism, and to stimulate and to enlighten all who are interested in the psychology of religion and in religious fundamentalism.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 unintelligent and poorly researched. November 18, 2008
It is easy to trash anything from religion to atheism. this book claims to be intellectual but isn't. For instance, he claims to have posted his questions about classical Jewish belief to an online group and 'never received an answer.' duh. how about asking any one of the HUNDREDS of Orthodox academics - ie from Yeshiva University to Bar Ilan or the THOUSANDS of Orthodox teachers who teach about the authenticity of Torah - ie Rabbi Dr. David Gottlieb from Ohr Somayach (formerly prof at Johns Hopkins, someone from Gateways, or from Aish HaTorah or Chabad or any of the people that regularly deal with these questions. Schimmel's questions are neither new nor particularly interesting. His unwillingness to take 10 minutes and engage in dialogue with those who have intelligent answers is amazing.
Furthermore, attributing pyschological reasons to those who don't agree with him is insulting. There are many people - as intelligent as he is and more learned (remember he grew up SOMEWHAT Orthodox and stopped serious Torah learning many decades ago - not exactly a Torah scholar)who simply disagree with his conclusions. easier to insult the messenger than to actually deal with the message, I guess.
Great subject - disappointing book November 9, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Unlike the other reviewers, I was very disappointed by this book. The subject is fascinating, but the book is badly written (very long and involved sentences - sorry) and badly edited. The author is passionate, but I felt that it was disorganized, very repetitive, strong on the author's fulminations, but thin on research. Unless you already know all about the subject, I don't think you will really understand the content, either.
 CLOSED BELIEF SYSTEMS November 6, 2008
0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I heard Mr.s Schimmel talk about his book this evening at The Newton Public Library. I regret that after such a talk there is not usually time enough for questions. I think this is an important subject to examine and that orthodoxy of belief systems, perhaps an extension of fundamentalism, in all areas of life, is a subject worth examining. I am wondering actually, about the climate of the times, because I have everywhere, written about a life of astonishing visible synchronicity, and these talks about belief in God, of a supreme power, etc. might be somewhat alleviated by examining not only the total frequency of these events, but also the true "fact" that this is a noticeable and constant occurrence in all writing groups I am attending. One small "miracle" doesn't mean a whole lot, but, in aggregate, they do, and there's a story that surrounds this. So I am writing about the importance of this book, in that a closer examination of fixed beliefs, orthodoxies in religion, is part of a greater story in all our lives that is about open ness to new ideas and feeling threatened by new discoveries and experiences is not a good reason to close all doors. I am saying, it's amazing nobody is picking up on this and this bears direct relevance to this topic.
 A book sure to take you out of your comfort zone October 29, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
Sol Schimmel has written a book that is an important read for any thinking member of the three Abrahamic faiths, although Jews, Muslims and Christians will find much that makes them uncomfortable - or should do so. Schimmel's language is very strong at times ("[o]nce again we see that very smart people can believe very stupid things"), and he acknowledges that the book has "offended and will offend many people" but perhaps the kind of questions that are really worth asking are precisely the ones that make us most uncomfortable.
Biblical Criticism has left us - even those of us who are orthodox (or is it orthoprax?) - with many questions, and Schimmel's book pushes some of these questions to their limits. I found the author's own Autobiographical Reflections to be one of the most important parts of the book (even though by their nature they are the most personal and perhaps least intellectual), and worth reading as a study in the phenomena of Chozer bi'Sheela (the hebrew term for those who were once religious and now profess agnosticism or atheism).
For those interested in pursuing some of his questions further, try God, Knowledge & Mystery by van Inwagen (especially Chapter 5) and God and the Philosophers (ed Thomas Morris), especially Chapter 20 by the Orthodox philosopher David Shatz.
I look forward to Schimmel's promised sequel to this really fascinating book. In the meantime, put this book on your Christmas/Hannukah/Idl Fitter gift list...
Review of :The tenacity of unreasonable beliefs October 16, 2008
1 out of 3 found this review helpful
I find this book to be an insightful analysis of the mechanisms underlying irrational belief. I admire the way the author, while being critical of fundamentalist religion, remains respectful of the role religion may play in our lives.
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