Against religion, wars, and states : the case for enlightenment atheism, just war pacifism, and liberal-democratic anarchism / Andrew Fiala.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

In Against Religion, Wars, and States: The Case for Enlightenment Atheism, Just War Pacifism, and Liberal-Democratic Anarchism, Andrew Fiala argues that, societally, we must radically redefine our goals. A renewed focus on global justice, a heightened criticism of religion and a fuller embrace of enlightened humanism and the sciences are just some of the ways in which we can begin to address some of the problems endemic to our society, and ultimately bring about more lasting peace. Fiala argues both theoretically and empirically, moving from analyses of theology, ethics and political philosophy to case studies and data mined from these respective disciplines, and from the fallout of recent world events involving all three. Fiala attempts to wean us off of our deferral to the oppressive forces that spark movements like Occupy, and the Arab Spring, forces that manifest themselves in the brutal drug wars along our borders, and in the currently fractious and bigoted rhetoric of some of our most powerful political and religious leaders. Against Religion, Wars, and States provides a provocative, unified, and revolutionary critical theory for all who are skeptical of the religious, political, and military powers that be, and points the way towards a more peaceful, just and reasoned future.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Conceding that religion, wars, or states might be justifiable in principle, Fiala (Fresno State Univ.) insists that in practice they are largely supported only by a "faith" that would easily crumble if subjected to skeptical thinking. Sadly, what passes for skeptical thinking in this work is often shallow and repetitive, equivocating wildly between extreme positions and more reasonable ones. Litanies of the many very bad things done in the name of some religions, wars, and states are followed by rhetorical questions and suggestions that, since so many of these things are bad, maybe all of them are. Fiala's advocacy of pacifism and anarchism is vague and unoriginal, given the admission that he lacks any practical plan for making either work. Pervasive overgeneralizations and inferential leaps--e.g., that war always assumes that "might makes right" (p. 27, 129), or that a right to divorce "points" toward anarchism (p. 199)--will repel many otherwise sympathetic readers away from his more plausible and qualified points. Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature (CH, May'12, 49-5144) addresses many of these issues more seriously. Summing Up: Not recommended. S. E. Forschler independent scholar