Major Religions of the World -- by Marcus Bach

 

Read.

Absorb.

Sleep.

Repeat.

Read.

Absorb.

Sleep.

Repeat.

It was a good, short book, so I was in no hurry to get through it. And, getting through in a hurry would've been OK for the brainless, or some comic books, but this was obviously much deeper than many others, despite its short length.

Marcus Bach's survey book leaves the reader with plenty of time to think about what they've read. He also wasn't out to impress anyone with unusual words that only a few might understand. Bach showed reader empathy and was very inclusive in his writing.

He kept it simple, and that helped the book, considerably.

The world, and its people, encompass a large variety of adaptations, and probably more tolerance than the lesser observer might realize. Some marriages do not combine into one church, remaining split as they were before the wedding ceremony. In some countries, and regions, denomination diversity is also practiced. Old Spain had the Convivencia in which Christians, Jews, and Muslims lived together in relative peace. 

However, on their borders, Christians were engaged in the Reconquista, eventually pushing Islam out of the country in 1492.

I've often wondered that if a polyglot can speak different languages, why can't someone practice different religions if they seriously want to? The idea tests the boundaries of religious tolerance for some, but why waste time worrying?

The chapter on Shintoism also probed such thinking in terms of life after death. "To get religion like a Christian," said a Japanese student, "to study it like a Buddhist, to live it like a Confusionist, and to enjoy it like a Shintoist, this is a good arrangement."

Bach eventually addresses the individual relationship of one person and their choice(s).

"I think that persons are wise when they visit people of other lands," he wrote. "I advocate strongly a sympathetic understanding of the other person's point of view. But most important of all, we should first mine the acres of diamonds in our own expression of faith."

Bach wrote about the basics, and beginnings, of Christianity, Judaism, Taoism, Shinto, Confucianism, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Zoroastrianism. This could also be a good reference to keep around.

The Other Fellow May Be Right: The Civility Of Howard Baker -- by William H. Haltom, Jr.

 

 It’s very hard to evaluate something that hits close to home. Howard Baker was a cousin.

I never got to meet him, but I could identify with some of his personality traits, and I can see some resemblance in my daughter, so a little more mind-setting was necessary before I was ready to write my review.

Author William Haltom is a Memphis attorney from my late maternal grandfather’s hometown. Baker grew up in Huntsville, Tennessee, but he was directly related to the Memphis group on my mom’s side of the family.

Haltom notes that he is an attorney: not a journalist, biographer, or any of the usual backgrounds attached to such works. However, I thoroughly appreciated his artistic use of brevity, contributing to the clarity the book enjoyed.

Haltom might have been a little too jingoistic in favoring Baker, but he accomplished many things in his working life. Haltom often noted Baker’s civility and strategic civility, which helped him cement some important deals and relationships. Baker served in the U.S. Senate as minority and majority leader; White House Chief of Staff under Ronald Reagan, and Ambassador to Japan. He also ran for president briefly in 1980.

Political followers might find the actions and people involved in Baker’s time as refreshing, and nostalgic fresh air. Very different from several of today’s office holders.

A return to Baker’s kind of politics was suggested as something possibly very good, but it would have to be a clear campaign centerpiece from the start. I found The Civility of Howard Baker to be personally rewarding, and politically educational. I might read it again someday, and share it with someone.