When Religion Becomes Evil

According to Charles Kimball, religion is the most powerful and pervasive force on earth. Religion inspires humans to transcend their self-interests, while at the same time, more evil has been committed in the name of religion than any other human institution. Using a comparative religious approach, Kimball uncovers five warning signs that increase the likelihood of a religion becoming unhealthy or evil. Kimball argues the word `religion' is amorphous and difficult to define. As a result, the author believes a comparative religious methodology is necessary, one that sees the similarities and interconnectedness of all religions. Kimball, next, asks if religion is the cause of evil, and he answers both yes and no. A religion that is arrogant, condescending, and requires adherents to "disconnect their brain" is problematic. On the other hand, religion opens up humanity to a universe of purpose and beauty and teaches how to live meaningful and moral lives as individuals and in community. Kimball seeks to discover the signs that increase the likelihood of religion becoming evil. The first warning sign that religion is displaying tendencies towards evil is the belief and adherence to absolute truth claims. When conceptualizations of God are held with certainty and rigid doctrine, the propensity towards evil increases dramatically. Sacred texts, sources of wisdom and guidance, become abused when selective readings of the text are used to reinforce these absolute truth claims. Christianity and Islam have missionary mandates, but these become imperialistic when conversion is forced because of absolute truth claims. Kimball argues for a "human view of truth", one that is dynamic and relational, allowing adherents to affirm truth without solidifying truth claims into absolute propositions. Another pivotal point when religion becomes evil is blind obedience: when adherents abdicate personal responsibility to religious authorities. When a charismatic leader demands total obedience, has unrestricted power, and has total control, religion is unhealthy. Uncritical acceptance of doctrine is also unhealthy, as authentic religion encourages questions and reflection. Strict segregation from the larger society, combined with a leader with unlimited power is dangerous. Kimball asserts that religious inquiry and freedom of thought are necessary for responsible religious adherence. Every religious tradition believes that something is awry on earth, while some believe that an ideal time will arrive in the future. When adherents believe they can speak for God and wish to usher in this time, the likelihood for disaster increases. Many Muslims embrace the hope for an all Islamic society, zealous Jewish settlers dream of a time when Israel will be returned to its divinely promised status, and the Christian Religious Right believe that America should be politically structured with Christian principles in mind. Kimball opines those who narrowly define

When the first airliner slammed into the World Trade Tower on that fateful September day in 2001 and I heard the news over the radio as I drove to work my first thought was not Saddam Hussein (as was the apparent first thought of at least one major world leader), but Osama bin Laden. Why did I think this? Because there had been an earlier attack on the towers by Islamic extremists and religious fanaticism is more likely to produce self-sacrificing violent deeds than simple greed and power hunger. Religious extremism allows a person to destroy themselves on the promise that they will wake up in paradise. None of the people around Saddam Hussein were that devoted to the admittedly evil dictator to sacrifice themselves in such a violent act.Charles Kimball's book, "When Religion Becomes Evil" addresses the problem of corrupted religion and how to recognize it. He uses five warning signs to define such corruption- claims of absolute truth, demands of blind obedience, establishment of the "ideal" time, justification of means by the end, and declaration of holy war. We certainly have enough examples, from the Branch Davidians of David Koresh, to Heaven's Gate and Jim Jones, on through to Osama bin Ladin. All of these were or are demonstrably pathological. They all led to death and destruction for their followers and often innocent bystanders. Others, while not so extreme, are dangerous enough to warrant observation. These include several organizations of the so-called religious right in this country who often advocate violence indirectly by condemning certain groups that are deemed unworthy or under the control of Satan. As Kimball (who is a Baptist academic) notes exclusionary literal religions can indeed be a danger to democracy and to the general welfare of the society. Is religion the problem? Kimball correctly, I think, answers yes and no. Religion is always going to be with us and there will always probably be those who take it to extremes or use it cynically for their own gain, often at the expense of the lives of others. However, religion may be a human need. This is not necessarily a seeking for God as some would have it, but a need for meaning in life. An atheist can be just as ethically good as the best believer and a devote believer can easily be as evil in their actions as the most evil non-believer. We have Schindlers and Gandhis, Communist dictators and inquisitors. People who saved Jews in Nazi- overrun Europe came from all sorts of belief systems, including atheists, but all had some sort of faith in a moral system. On the other hand, some people who considered themselves truly religious turned in Jews to their destroyers. It is belief in a basic morality, not in a specific doctrine, which makes life bearable.As Kimball points out religion at its best can be very good, while at its worst it reaches depths of depravity seldom seen in simple non-religious disputes. The current hatred between Palestinians and Israelis is a

This is a very, very good book. It can be a quick read and unlike many other books in the genre of comparative religion is accessible to a broad audience. I think almost anyone can read this book and learn something of value. I know that I did. Even though the title has the word "Evil" in it, do not take that to mean it is a denigration of religion. The author himself is an ordained minister. I think it is rather a clear warning of behaviors that can cause people to forget the true meaning of their religion and ultimately corrupt the original purpose of the belief structure. At the forefront is the first warning sign of "Absolute Truth Claims" which I think leads to the the other 4 warning signs he covers. People should not seek the cover of their faith or beliefs to stunt the pursuit of greater knowledge. The author points out the common ground of many religions in the "Golden Rule" which if adhered to would prevent the corruption of religion in the name of other causes. The Author specialized in Islamic Studies while earning his Th.D. at Harvard, so I think his interpretations of Islam are quite valuable and instructive in understanding some of the issues we confront today in the world. Again, this is an excellent book and very easy to understand. It is only a couple hundred pages long. For many readers, I think the several hours you will invest into reading this book will be well worth it.

This is a magnificent book. There are some typos and minor errors, such as the repeated misspelling of Hal Lindsey's name, but that is understandable for a first edition. There is quite a lot to ponder and savor within its relatively brief length (213 mid-sized pages) and it makes its points and justifies them while remaining easy-to-read. It explains the core tendencies that corrupt religion and provides a clarion call for more inclusive, honest, and dynamic religion in this new century. A valid criticism that was raised by another reader is Dr. Kimball's use of the term "authentic" (which means genuine, real, true, undoubted, unquestionable, factual, verifiable) for his sort of religion. That assumes that all religious expression that he disagrees with is "inauthentic." One may argue that one type of religion is better than another in certain specific ways, as the author has, but that does not mean that bad religion is inauthentic. Bad religion is as real as good religion, just as bad politics are as real as good politics. Using the term authentic provides a temptation to use it as a copout. When someone criticizes the bad use of religion, an apologist could reply, "Well, that is not 'authentic' religion. Only good religion is true religion," thus making criticism of religion impossible, because any ills will be brushed aside as "inauthentic" and not due to religion at all. I prefer Dr. Kimball's other adjectives for good religion: healthy, dynamic, honest, etc. A second valid criticism that was raised is, that while it is true that Jews, Christians, and Muslims all stem from the same root, Kimball goes overboard when he says on page 50 that "There is simply no ambiguity here. Jews, Christians, and Muslims are talking about the same deity." That is an oversimplification. While clerics in these religions are fond of saying they worship the same Abrahamic God, their conceptions of that God are different. A third criticism that has been raised is that Kimball does not address the issue of the possibility that a religion's "authentic sources" themselves may contain moral and theological errors that encourage evils. I think this ommission is understandable given the focus of the book. Kimball's book is not a comprehensive discussion of religion, but rather a discussion of the corruptions of mainline religion. My only other wish is that Kimball had accompanied his five warning signs of "evil" religion with their counterparts that indicate more positive religion, which I attempt below... Charles Kimball's five warning signs of corruption in religion: 1. Absolute truth claims 2. Blind obedience 3. Establishing the "ideal" time 4. The end justifies any means 5. Declaring holy war My five signs of integrity and dynamism in religion: 1. Dynamic and relational truth and ongoing learning 2. Critical thinking and honest inquiry 3. Making the best of every time and leaving the determination of the end time to heaven 4. Both means and end are important

I received this book in proof edition from one of my Religion Editor friends. She has done me a great service. I found the thought process and information provided by Kimball to be most compelling. The book is well laid out and well written with concise expression of ideas. I have long believed that religion as we know it today has become corrupted by men (and I do mean men since the religions are mostly controlled by men, not women). But Kimball puts into eloquent words those ideas and concepts which I found I could only hold in my mind and not express.Like so many books in this genre, When Religion Becomes Evil was scheduled for publication on the one year anniversary of the 9/11/01 tragedies. It could not have been timed better or be more relevant and important. For it not only points out the five basic corruptions that manifest themselves in each of the major religious traditions, but it holds out hope that each of those religions has within it the wherewithal to root out and correct those flaws. Yet we must be willing to hold ourselves and our faith institutions accountable for the intolerance we practice.Kimball states that religion is arguably the most powerful and persuasive force on earth and that yes, it is the problem. It is the problem because each seems to hold that it alone has the absolute truth, demands blind obedience, and justifies the means used by the end goal (presumably salvation or "right living.") Somehow, Kimball has reinvigorated the often used argument that the basic teaching of the world faith traditions (Christian, Muslim, Jewish, Hindu and Buddhist) have been used for corrupt ends, yet are in themselves the seeds for healing. "The complicity of religious persuasions in global conflicts today is undeniable, but understanding this complicity requires that we clearly grasp the difference between what we have called corrupt forms of religious commitment and the authentic forms that offer hope."The message of this book, so eloquently and convincingly written, is one that all lay people should embrace. We must hold ourselves and our faith institutions accountable for our actions in the world. For "a segregated group in which the thinking and critical decisions reside with one or a few people, particularly where there is apocalyptic teaching involved, is a disaster waiting to happen."