Chronic Hindu-Muslim rioting in India has created a situation in which communal violence is both so normal and so varied in its manifestations that it would seem to defy effective analysis. Paul R. Brass, one of the world's preeminent experts on South Asia, has tracked more than half a century's riots in the north Indian city of Aligarh. This book is the culmination of a lifetime's thinking about the dynamics of institutionalized intergroup violence in northern India, covering the last three decades of British rule as well as the entire post-Independence history of Aligarh. Brass exposes the mechanisms by which endemic communal violence is deliberately provoked and sustained. He convincingly implicates the police, criminal elements, members of Aligarh's business community, and many of its leading political actors in the continuous effort to "produce" communal violence. Much like a theatrical production, specific roles are played, with phases for rehearsal, staging, and interpretation. In this way, riots become key historical markers in the struggle for political, economic, and social dominance of one community over another. In the course of demonstrating how riots have been produced in Aligarh, Brass offers a compelling argument for abandoning or refining a number of widely held views about the supposed causes of communal violence, not just in India but throughout the rest of the world. An important addition to the literature on Indian and South Asian politics, this book is also an invaluable contribution to our understanding of the interplay of nationalism, ethnicity, religion, and collective violence, wherever it occurs.

An insurgency in Nigeria by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram has left thousands dead, shaken Africa's biggest country and worried the world. Yet it remains a mysterious - almost unknowable - organisation. rough exhaustive on-the-ground reporting, Mike Smith takes readers inside the conflict and provides the first in-depth account of the violence and unrest. He traces Boko Haram from its beginnings as a small Islamist sect in Nigeria's remote north-east, led by a baby-faced but charismatic preacher, to its transformation into a hydra-headed entity, deploying suicide bombers and abducting schoolgirls. Much of the book is told through the eyes of Nigerians who have found themselves caught between frightening insurgents and security forces accused of horrifying brutality. It includes the voices of a forgotten police officer left paralysed by an attack, women whose husbands have been murdered and a sword-wielding vigilante using charms to fend of insurgent bullets. It journeys through the sleaze and corruption that has robbed Africa's biggest oil producer of its potential, making it such fertile ground for extremism.Along the way it questions whether there can be any end to the violence and the ways in which this might be achieved. Interspersed with history, this book delves into the roots of this unholy war being waged by a virtually unknown organisation, which is set to shape the destiny of Africa's biggest economy and most populous state - and perhaps affect the future of Africa.

A prominent rabbi and imam, each raised in orthodoxy, overcome the temptations of bigotry and work to bridge the chasm between Muslims and Jews
Rabbi Marc Schneier, the eighteenth generation of a distinguished rabbinical dynasty, grew up deeply suspicious of Muslims, believing them all to be anti-Semitic. Imam Shamsi Ali, who grew up in a small Indonesian village and studied in Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, believed that all Jews wanted to destroy Muslims. Coming from positions of mutual mistrust, it seems unthinkable that these orthodox religious leaders would ever see eye to eye. Yet in the aftermath of 9/11, amid increasing acrimony between Jews and Muslims, the two men overcame their prejudices and bonded over a shared belief in the importance of opening up a dialogue and finding mutual respect. In doing so, they became not only friends but also defenders of each other's religion, denouncing the twin threats of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia and promoting interfaith cooperation.
In "Sons of Abraham," Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali tell the story of how they became friends and offer a candid look at the contentious theological and political issues that frequently divide Jews and Muslims, clarifying erroneous ideas that extremists in each religion use to justify harmful behavior. Rabbi Schneier dispels misconceptions about chosenness in Judaism, while Imam Ali explains the truth behind concepts like jihad and Shari'a. And on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the two speak forthrightly on the importance of having a civil discussion and the urgency of reaching a peaceful solution.
As Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali show, by reaching a fuller understanding of one another's faith traditions, Jews and Muslims can realize that they are actually more united than divided in their core beliefs. Both traditions promote kindness, service, and responsibility for the less fortunate--and both religions call on their members to extend compassion to those outside the faith. In this sorely needed book, Rabbi Schneier and Imam Ali challenge Jews and Muslims to step out of their comfort zones, find common ground in their shared Abrahamic traditions, and stand together and fight for a better world for all.

From the bestselling authors of The Rise of Babylon and The ISIS Crisis, the essential guide for Christians about what Bible prophecy foretells concerning current events in the Middle East-especially the rise of ISIS and the resurgence of Russia-while providing a way to find peace and hope in the face of end times concerns. ISIS, Russia, and Iran are daily atop headlines and are among chief sources of intensifying unease among Americans about how current world conflicts will unfold. Using the Old Testament texts of prophets Ezekiel and Daniel as foundational passages, Bible experts Charles Dyer and Mark Tobey explain the connection between Bible prophecy and real-time events such as the growing alliance between Russia and Iran; the unsettling of the region as ISIS ravages countries and redraws boundaries; and the pull of Turkey and Saudi Arabia into the fray by Russian encroachment, Iranian meddling, and the United States' inability to create and lead a coalition. Simultaneously, Dyer and Tobey provide practical encouragement and spiritual principles for finding comfort, strength, and perspective in an unsettling time while laying out a strategy for responding out of faith rather than fear in the face of end times concerns.

'PTSD, A Lesser Known Kind: Surviving Religious Dogma, ' 2013 (formerly titled 'PTSD of a Lesser Known Kind: An Allegory, ' 2011), re-titled its new name in the spring of 2013, is a very unusual and complex hybrid of fiction and nonfiction. Coming from a violent, loveless upbringing, Alan, aka Tokee, took to interstate hitchhiking and train-hopping at an early age. Every city, every town, every village he came upon, deep within his soul there was this tantalizing expectation that maybe this is the place or maybe that is the place where he can finally fit, where he can finally feel the security of true parental love. Oh did he long for that frustratingly elusive love. Ironically, it was that hunger for love which made the young traveler so vulnerable. As the unloved inner child incessantly groaned in screaming silence for love and found it not, Alan, as he was called for most his life, reverted to the thing he had always turned to as a child when violated by his parents, by his uncle and thereafter by sadistic attendants in an institution for boys, namely FANTASY. Truly, fantasy had become Alan's sole refuge, his unfailing source of comfort, his safe haven from the strange cruelness he had known. The insecure 19-year-old hobo then surrendered to the greatest fantasy of all, Christianity. It was a fantasy readymade with a father, virgin mother, supernatural son---the whole fam'. At last Now he had found his place Now Alan had found what he yearned for all his life, family acceptance, and infinitely more, loving parental figures from another world who loved him unconditionally. Yet there is no such thing as 'unconditional love' in the elaborate illusion that is Christianity. Quite the contrary, it is based upon very specific, very conditional demands which absolutely must be met if one is to continue finding family acceptance with "God." When Alan began to recognize that conditional love is not love at all---i. e. "do this or else "---he became overwhelmed with hurt and rebellion. And the more the lies of Christianity became exposed, the angrier he got. This went on till an implosive, irreconcilable end came. The tumultuousness of that severing also resulted in Alan's suffering a form of PTSD, A Lesser Known Kind. This is the fictional lead of this tale. The nonfictional side, roughly half of this book, is the animated polemic against Christianity by the author. And that, rest assured, speaks in no uncertain terms for itself.

Much of the confusion is caused by the Chinese government, which deceives journalists and foreign missionaries with promises of religious freedom that are never kept.

The truth is, the house churches of China are growing at a phenomenal rate. Never in the history of the world have so many people in such a short time left one belief system for another without a hostile revolution. Lives in China are being transformed daily by the gospel of Jesus Christ and the display of His miraculous power.

The Underground Church demystifies the Chinese house church movement, with real-life examples and personal testimonies from Chinese Christians. The movement's unique characteristics both good and bad are addressed, as well as how they have led to the church's astonishing growth.

Be amazed at what God is doing in China

The report states that Government rhetoric and actions created a threatening atmosphere for nearly all non-Shia religious groups, most notably for Bahais, as well as for Sufi Muslims, evangelical Christians, Jews, and Shia groups not sharing the government's official religious views. Bahai and Christian groups reported arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and confiscation of property. Government-controlled broadcast and print media continued negative campaigns against religious minorities, particularly Bahais. All religious minorities suffered varying degrees of officially sanctioned discrimination, particularly in the areas of employment, education, and housing. Bahais continued to experience expulsions from, or denial of admission to, universities.

Two American families in the not-so-distant future decide to flee their homeland in the wake of new laws that limited their religious freedoms. It seemed that this religious intolerance as well as the moral decay of their society had made them apprehensive about the future of their families and their country and, so, the adventure started. It led them and a number of others who joined them on a dangerous journey filled with challenges and danger to a new land far from their native shores. It is an adventure that you will not soon forget. This book is in the apocalyptic spirit of Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkin's "Left Behind" series with the edginess of William P. Young's "The Shack.

Anthony Wane Antolic was born on October 6th, 1973. His parents were, Jerald and Ardith Antolic. Jerald or Jerry to his friends was a Staff Sargent in the United States Army. As a result of Jerry's military cheer, Anthony was shipped off to several schools a year, which exposed Tony to a love for human cultures. Although he was born Catholic, Anthony's family went to whatever church was available at the time. It was his exposure to such a wide range of other Christian Demonstrations that helped Tony realizes that, "any honest search for truth will ultimately lead to the source of all truth {God}" (Saint Augustine). But a brief time studying at Mount Angel Catholic Seminary ha ad Tony asking even more questions about what the rule of human religion is in human culture. When realizing that Aristotle was correct in saying, "Man by nature is a political animal;" Mr. Antolic began to question, "how much of religion is political and what is its purpose in the cultural infrastructure?" In 1988, only six months after Anthony's Grandfather died, the then 15 year old boy got a chance to see firsthand how religion plays into human culture, as well as how political religion truly is. Anthony Antolic used an assumed name and enlisted in the French Foreign Legion. The Legion sent him to Iraq where he saw firsthand how destructive human arrogance coupled with the assumed righteousness of a religious cause could become. However, Mr. Antolic did not need much to convince him of the destructive nature of Zealot. "My family is deeply involved with the Irish Republican Army, I grew up hearing the hate filled remarks of my family towards those who practiced the Protestant faith, so when I decided to study for the Priesthood, I promised myself that I would work to find common ground to use and break down the walls caused by schism between Christian believers." Since then, Tony has dedicated his life to building unity in faith, between all faith traditions by showing people the roots of their own faith and the similarities between others.

There exists in the world today a nearly universal presumption that the Holy Bible is a "good" book. This presumption is reinforced all around us. Bible versus are etched into the walls of our national monuments. Churches operate tax exempt. Even the President of the United States takes his oath of office with one hand planted firmly on a copy of the Bible. But this presumption is false, argues Michael Scott Earl. In his book, Bible Stories Your Parents Never Taught You, Mr. Earl makes his case by exposing us to story after story of looting, murder, genocide, torture, slavery -- moral atrocities that have largely failed to register in the public mind. Earl argues that an awareness of these atrocities is important because it enables us to see the Bible as a motivating force behind many of history's most violent and brutal episodes. Bible Stories Your Parents Never Taught You is a 'shock and awe' campaign against the presumed moral irreproachability of the Holy Bible. It is a much needed dose of moral clarity in an age of religious confusion and godly violence.

The playground at Saint Thomas Moore School in Houston has become a terrifying place. When Sister Agnes hears young Will's fiery funeral sermon for a dead bird, she must comfort a group of fearful students. At the forceful insistence of his teachers, Will Powers reluctantly stops his explosive sermon. Will's teacher thinks that his parents, and particularly his father, seem very troubled. The parents won't return Sister Agnes's phone calls about similar events involving Will. School psychologist Sister Andrea Albright turns for help to a trusted psychiatrist friend, Dr. Tom Tolman. The ensuing therapy is seen from Will's perspective and the "helpful" adults around him. Those who would aid the boy instead reveal perspectives on psychotherapy's ability to thwart the evil of malignant self-absorption. And along the path of Will's therapy, Sister Andrea and her friend Tom find genuine love and romance. A Boyish God is a troubling novel with deep insights. Says the author, "I was jolted to my core when I learned that a college friend's son died at the Rev. Jim Jones's side at Jonestown. Two books and over thirty years later, I am still searching for answers...especially about terror prevention. " Peter Alan Olsson is a retired psychiatrist/psychoanalyst. His four published nonfiction books are Malignant Pied Pipers of Our Time: From the Rev. Jim Jones to Osama Bin Laden; The Cult of Osama: Psychoanalyzing Bin Laden and His Magnetism for Muslim Youths; If I Knew Then What I Know Now: Advice to a Young Psychotherapist; and Poems Behind a Psychiatrist's Couch. Visit www.drpeterolsson.com. Publisher's website: http://sbpra.com/PeterAlanOlsson