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" A must-read! Great profiles of feuding cultures/religions along the 10th Parallel. Basic premise: evangelicals have ruined the world. Very enlightening. And she is a fantastic prose writer. A poet, as well, she has a lightly lyrical touch that renders these horrific truths readable. "
- Mbreaden, 2/4/2014
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" Insightful, thoughful, interesting, and enlightening. "
- Edward, 2/3/2014
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" A frustrating book for two reasons: my inability to read the text except holistically because of all the nations and citizens Griswold presents, and my sense that the problem of religious fundamentalism is so long-standing and pervasive that getting Christians and Moslems to live in harmony and mutual respect seems humanly impossible. "
- Kathy, 2/1/2014
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" I appreciate Griswold's courage in going to strange and dangerous places to learn the context of conflicts between Christians and Muslims and to meet some of the major players. She is an objective observer who questions herself as she encounters believers, remaining open to the mysterious and deep relationship with God that many have. Her account of the missionary Gracia Burnham, held captive by Al Qaeda in the Philippines for a year, losing her husband, and in the process learning an impossible forgiveness, is unforgettable. "
- Sharon, 1/10/2014
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" Well worth reading for those wishing to understand and put a human face on conflicts in Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Indonesia, Philippines, and Malaysia, many of which are crystallizing around tensions between Christians and Muslims. Many of the difficulties are caused by economic, cultural, and political problems in which religion has become a group identifier or unifier. Also, fundamentalists on both sides push matters to extremes and violence, rather than seeking ways to compromise or deescalate situations. Moderate majorities have a hard time hanging on to values such as tolerance and women's rights (such as they are); in places like Somalia, the situation is so deteriorated that it is simply chaos destructive to any normal way of life. I was surprised how greatly American Christians, sometimes with US government support, are involved in creating/exacerbating these conflicts, particularly through missionary efforts. The book is very well written and gripping throughout. "
- Sally, 12/10/2013
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" Another disappointing read - a great concept, traveling along the 10th parallel to troubled lands. Robert Kaplan has done it better. "
- Kimberlee, 11/23/2013
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" Am interesting idea. But places in the book dragged. "
- Marcie, 11/16/2013
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" Interesting review of various historical conflicts between Islam and Christianity. I thought it was a bit choppy moving from country to country, between different time periods, and from third to first person accounts. "
- Craig, 11/10/2013
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" This lady spent seven years traveling through countries in Africa and Asia split between Christianity and Islam talking to people from both religions. Very interesting. "
- Luke, 9/6/2013
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" Well written and insightful culturalism examined at an expanding geographic clash point. "
- Bill, 8/7/2013
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" Meh. Interviews with local notables were interesting, but the long historical discursions were so general that they didn't really add anything to the book. I lost interest about halfway through. "
- James, 1/13/2013
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" very even-handed treatment of this issue. "
- Mary, 11/27/2012
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" This book was great through Nigeria, okay through Sudan, and skimmable through Indonesia. It just got tiring. I think that, unless you're seriously history crazy, this is a book to buy and then read at intervals throughout the year. "
- Christy, 10/27/2012
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" Very in-depth look at where the lines are drawn between Christianity and Islam. Written from a secular worldview, but felt the author was fair in the portrayals. Would recommend this book to anyone living or planning to live in this part of the world. Great insight! "
- Jeff, 10/27/2012
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" Amazing story within a story! This is an enjoyable, easy read about a complex subject. "
- Deb, 9/10/2012
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" so good. poetic language, captivating stories through and through. it will get you up to date on global religious discourse. "
- Hanna, 4/17/2011
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" very scary how fundamentalist christians influence our foreign policy
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- Becky, 4/5/2011
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" Good anecdotes and colorful writing makes these encounters easy to imagine. The horizontal structure made it seem more a collection of stories than a directed argument.
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- Stargrave, 3/13/2011
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" a fascinating account of people and places we know very little about, and how it will have an effect on the whole world.
an eye opener. who knew evangelical Christians are trying to "win souls" for poetical gains...
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- Hpnyknits, 2/19/2011
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" very even-handed treatment of this issue.
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- Mary, 2/1/2011
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