Putting this in debate & discussion because it deals w/religion, and also because the type of people I want making the recommendation are more likely to be lurking here . I'm looking for a father's day present for my grandfather. He's very intelligent and open-minded, but he's also a 75 year old Methodist who I don't want to shock with some of the religious history I read. I'm looking for something on Biblical history, since it's a topic the two of us have discussed in detail. He's pretty well versed on the subject and is quite well-read, so it can be scholarly. I'd prefer it if the material is skeptical and rational... but not too scandolous. Essentially, something that might suit a radical liberal from the 40's . I'm pretty clueless, since I tend to be more radical, and generally only read articles by moderates (when I get to read for pleasure at all, these days... cursed law school). Thanks for any help . Please include a brief description of any recommendations...
Well, it doesn't have that much to do about biblical, more religious, but anyway I did read a book about medieval Andalucia (muslim spain) that was all about he interrelationship between Muslims, Jews, and Christians and their religous, literary, scientific, and cultural achievements (and the amazing degree of tolerance that they showed for each other) that was pretty damned good. It was called "the ornament of the world" by maria menocal.
William James, Max Weber, Joseph Campbell, Huston Smith and Randall Balmer have all written fascinating books on Christianity and how it fits into modern history/society. Your local independent bookstore should be able to order any of these guys' books. Good luck!
Haven I just started "The Da Vinci Code”, Dan Brown. It’s very interesting. Although the premise is fiction, all the facts (according to the author) are real. It’s a thriller that marries religion, history. So Far so good! With The Da Vinci Code, Dan Brown masterfully concocts an intelligent and lucid thriller that marries the gusto of an international murder mystery with a collection of fascinating esoteria culled from 2,000 years of Western history. A murder in the silent after-hour halls of the Louvre museum reveals a sinister plot to uncover a secret that has been protected by a clandestine society since the days of Christ. The victim is a high-ranking agent of this ancient society who, in the moments before his death, manages to leave gruesome clues at the scene that only his daughter, noted cryptographer Sophie Neveu, and Robert Langdon, a famed symbologist, can untangle. The duo become both suspects and detectives searching for not only Neveu's father's murderer but also the stunning secret of the ages he was charged to protect. Mere steps ahead of the authorities and the deadly competition, the mystery leads Neveu and Langdon on a breathless flight through France, England, and history itself. Brown (Angels and Demons) has created a page-turning thriller that also provides an amazing interpretation of Western history. Brown's hero and heroine embark on a lofty and intriguing exploration of some of Western culture's greatest mysteries--from the nature of the Mona Lisa's smile to the secret of the Holy Grail. Though some will quibble with the veracity of Brown's conjectures, therein lies the fun. The Da Vinci Code is an enthralling read that provides rich food for thought. --Jeremy Pugh
If he's from an Irish descent, you could get him The Story of the Irish Race by Seumas MacManus. It was published in 1921 and contains more than seven hundred pages of history. History of the Irish kings dates back to the time of Solomon, and the Roman historians of antiquity considered Ireland to be an ancient kingdom when Rome was young. What could make it somewhat religious is the story of King Conor MacNessa, the Ard-Righ, or High King of Ireland in the first part of the first century. His death was attributed to his reaction to the news about the unfair crucifixion of Jesus Christ. The timeframe of the story is obviously before the arrival of St. Patrick. Just something less controversial and more historical.
