A cosmic war is a religious war. It is a battle not between armies or nations, but between the forces of good and evil, a war in which God is believed to be directly engaged on behalf of one side against the other. The hijackers who attacked the United States on September 11, 2001, thought they were fighting a cosmic war. According to award-winning writer and scholar of religions Reza Aslan, by infusing the United States War on Terror with the same kind of religiously polarizing rhetoric and Manichean worldview, is also fighting a cosmic war–a war that can’t be won. How to Win a Cosmic War is both an in-depth study of the ideology fueling al-Qa‘ida, the Taliban, and like-minded militants throughout the Muslim world, and an exploration of religious violence in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Surveying the global scene from Israel to Iraq and from New York to the Netherlands, Aslan argues that religion is a stronger force today than it has been in a century. At a time when religion and politics are increasingly sharing the same vocabulary and functioning in the same sphere, Aslan writes that we must strip the conflicts of our world–in particular, the War on Terror–of their religious connotations and address the earthly grievances that always lie behind the cosmic impulse. How do you win a cosmic war? By refusing to fight in one.
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"Eyeopening look at how religion and its extreme forms has warped our world. I found it both riveting (like a train wreck) and distressing (same train wreck). I now think any form of religious extremism should be considered a form of insanity and treated accordingly." — Laura (4 out of 5 stars)
"Eyeopening look at how religion and its extreme forms has warped our world. I found it both riveting (like a train wreck) and distressing (same train wreck). I now think any form of religious extremism should be considered a form of insanity and treated accordingly."
" Very readable and informative. I learned a lot from it about Jihadism and other fundamentalist zealots of all faiths. Very helpful to understand terrorism. "
" This is an amazing book that anyone who has any interest or questions about religious fundamentalism, Islamic or otherwise, should read. "
" An interesting read, but I have more than a couple of questions about his shoving Zionism in with the Crusades. "
" Was learning so much that I was disappointed that I was done. "
" I wish I could make this and Aslan's No god but God: The Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam to every American's bookshelf right now. "
" Makes you wonder what is the point. "
" Pretty good, short, accessible. Read for proofreading work but was glad I had the opportunity though. Could have been better. "
Reza Aslan is an acclaimed writer and scholar of religions whose book include Zealot: The Life and Times of Jesus of Nazareth, which was a #1 New York Times bestseller, and No god but God, which was short-listed for the Guardian First Book Award. He is also the author of God: A Human History and How to Win a Cosmic War: God, Globalization, and the End of the War on Terror. He is the editor of Tablet & Pen: Literary Landscapes from the Modern Middle East.
Sunil Malhotra is an actor and voice artist. His film credits include Dude, Where’s the Party?, Call Center, 24, ER, Cold Case, and The West Wing. On stage, he has performed on Broadway and at East West Players. He has also worked as a writer, producer, and director, and his audiobook narrations have won three AudioFile Earphones Awards.
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