#GOD IS NOT ONE STEPHEN PROTHERO PDF HOW TO#

It covers the broad field of world religion in one book, which means it skips over many details and leaves some topics out. But ProtheroвЂ™s book isnвЂ™t a scholarly treatise itвЂ™s a survey course in religion designed for the average intelligent layperson. Some people have criticized ProtheroвЂ™s approach for being too simple a recent review in The Christian Century takes Prothero to task because he doesnвЂ™t delve into his philosophical assumptions. I find ProtheroвЂ™s four-part approach for differentiating religions-a problem, a solution, techniques, and exemplars-to be simple and memorable. But Buddhists use the techniques of the Eightfold Path, and their exemplars are arhats, bodhisattvas, or lamas. Christians use the techniques of faith and good works, and Christian exemplars are saints or ordinary people of faith.

#GOD IS NOT ONE STEPHEN PROTHERO PDF HOW TO#

In addition, each religion has different techniques for moving from problem to solution, and different exemplars who show us how to get to the solution. For example, Christians identify the problem as sin, and the solution is salvation for Buddhists, however, the problem is suffering and the solution is nirvana. Prothero also contradicts Swami Sivananda, who said, вЂњThe fundamentals or essentials of all religions are the same.вЂќ To which Prothero replies, вЂњThis is a lovely sentiment, but it is untrue, disrespectful, and dangerous.вЂќ The only way towards cooperation is through understanding our real differences.Дifferent religions are responding to different problems, says Prothero, and therefore each religion offers a different solution. In the very first paragraph of his book, Prothero says that Smith is wrong, because the worldвЂ™s major religions have quite different goals. We want different religions to share a common goal, to make it easier to work towards interreligious cooperation.Д«oston University religion scholar Stephen ProtheroвЂ™s new book, God Is Not One: The Eight Rival Religions that Run the World-and Why Their Differences Matter, bluntly refutes the notion that all religions share a fundamental goal. We tend to be religious pluralists who want to promote dialogue and cooperation between religions. вЂњAll religions are one,вЂќ said poet William Blake Huston Smith, the well-known philosopher of religions, said, вЂњIt is possible to climb lifeвЂ™s mountain from any side, but when the top is reached the trails converge.вЂќ Many of us Unitarian Universalists want to believe just this.

God is not one stephen prothero pdf