The Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations - Softcover

Sacks, Jonathan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0826468500 ISBN 13: 9780826468505

Publisher: Bloomsbury Continuum, 2003

Synopsis

The year 2001 began as the United Nations Year of Dialogue between Civilizations. By its end, the phrase that came most readily to mind was 'the clash of civilizations.' The tragedy of September 11 intensified the danger caused by religious differences around the world. As the politics of identity begin to replace the politics of ideology, can religion become a force for peace?

The Dignity of Difference is Rabbi Jonathan Sacks's radical proposal for reconciling hatreds. The first major statement by a Jewish leader on the ethics of globalization, it also marks a paradigm shift in the approach to religious coexistence. Sacks argues that we must do more than search for values common to all faiths; we must also reframe the way we see our differences.

About this title

About the Author:

Sir Jonathan Sacks is Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Britain and the Commonwealth. He is the author of numerous books, including Celebrating Life, From Optimism to Hope, The Persistence of Faith and The Dignity of Difference, for which he won a Grawemeyer Award in Religion.

Review:

“A brave plea for universal values.”—David Goldberg, The Guardian
“The Dignity of Difference stands far above the many other books about globalisation, both for what is has to say and for the grace with which it says it. In this most prophetic work, Rabbi Sacks has written a guide for the perplexed of our time.”
—Daniel Johnson, Daily Telegraph
“The Dignity of Difference is a profound book that forces believers to think.”
—Ziauddin Sardar, The Independent
“It is a splendid book. In the light of September 11, it is timely, sensible, well-written and thoughtful.”—Dan Cohn-Sherbok, The London Times

“Aims to define nothing less than a basis for religiously sensitive civilisation.”
—Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, The Jewish Chronicle

"Americans will be taken with his incisive and clear writing style...he provides some much-needed spiritual uplift in this post-9/11 world, and his work is accessible to informed lay readers." —Library Journal

"This book is far more interesting for its discussion of faith and philosophy than for its determination of concrete politics. Perhaps this is the task of rabbis, to explain and guide rather than to rule and legislate. Jonathan Sacks writes well; every sentence counts, but the space behind the grandiloquence always leaves room for interpretation. It is this ambiguity which wins him as may admirers as detractors."
—The Jerusalem Post, 6/9/02.
'The Dignity of Difference has a central and compelling vision: the magnificence and inspiring human diversity of our world ... The Chief Rabbi has made a convincing case for respecting people of different faiths and creeds.' —Jewish Chronicle

'The book "has a bold and important thesis" said Lord Habgood, especially in how it addresses relations between different faiths' —Church Times

"It is odd that a leading orthodox Rabbi should be at the forefront of a campaign to use religious difference as the catalyst for world peace ... in a brave polemic which is bolstered by feverish intelligence." -The Herald (Glasgow) (The Herald (Glasgow))

"Once in a rare while a book comes along that is so powerful and so earth-shattering that we want to get atop the highest mountain and shout out its praises...WE MUST ALL READ THIS BOOK....the most profound and deeply moving argument in favor of religious humanism I can think of."—David Shasha, Center for Sephardic Heritage

"Sacks does not offer much help in determining how religious people are to grapple with such theological questions. His brilliant service is in showing us that we must."—Paul F. Knitter, International Bulletin of Missionary Research, July 2003

"It is a profoud meditation on human diversity and religious differences....It is a timely book for both believers and non-believers alike that has a profound sense of history running through it."—Limited Edition, April 2003

About this edition

• Publisher: Bloomsbury Continuum
• Publication date: 2003
• ISBN 10: 0826468500
• ISBN 13: 9780826468505
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 2
• Number of pages: 224