Dignity of Difference: How to Avoid the Clash of Civilizations New Revised Edition

Description

The year 2001 began as the United Nations Year of Dialogue between Civilizations. By its end, the phrase that came most readily to mind was 'the clash of civilizations.' The tragedy of September 11 intensified the danger caused by religious differences around the world. As the politics of identity begin to replace the politics of ideology, can religion become a force for peace? The Dignity of Difference is Rabbi Jonathan Sacks's radical proposal for reconciling hatreds. The first major statement by a Jewish leader on the ethics of globalization, it also marks a paradigm shift in the approach to religious coexistence. Sacks argues that we must do more than search for values common to all faiths; we must also reframe the way we see our differences.

Sir Jonathan Sacks, who died in late 2020, was Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of Britain and the Commonwealth. He was the author of numerous books, including Celebrating Life, From Optimism to Hope, The Persistence of Faith and The Dignity of Difference, for which he won a Grawemeyer Award in Religion.

"Unlike most other religious leaders, Mr Sacks has a wonderfully unbigoted attitude; he thinks and writes with great eloquence supported by an amazingly broad range of sources and reading." - Journey "It is odd that a leading orthodox Rabbi should be at the forefront of a campaign to use religious difference as the catalyst for world peace ... in a brave polemic which is bolstered by feverish intelligence." -The Herald (Glasgow) -- The Herald (Glasgow) "Once in a rare while a book comes along that is so powerful and so earth-shattering that we want to get atop the highest mountain and shout out its praises...WE MUST ALL READ THIS BOOK....the most profound and deeply moving argument in favor of religious humanism I can think of." --David Shasha, Center for Sephardic Heritage "Sacks does not offer much help in determining how religious people are to grapple with such theological questions. His brilliant service is in showing us that we must."--Paul F. Knitter, International Bulletin of Missionary Research, July 2003 "It is a profoud meditation on human diversity and religious differences....It is a timely book for both believers and non-believers alike that has a profound sense of history running through it."--Limited Edition, April 2003 "A brave plea for universal values."-David Goldberg, The Guardian "The Dignity of Difference stands far above the many other books about globalisation, both for what is has to say and for the grace with which it says it. In this most prophetic work, Rabbi Sacks has written a guide for the perplexed of our time." -Daniel Johnson, Daily Telegraph "The Dignity of Difference is a profound book that forces believers to think." -Ziauddin Sardar, The Independent "It is a splendid book. In the light of September 11, it is timely, sensible, well-written and thoughtful."-Dan Cohn-Sherbok, The London Times "Aims to define nothing less than a basis for religiously sensitive civilisation." -Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury, The Jewish Chronicle "Americans will be taken with his incisive and clear writing style...he provides some much-needed spiritual uplift in this post-9/11 world, and his work is accessible to informed lay readers." --Library Journal "This book is far more interesting for its discussion of faith and philosophy than for its determination of concrete politics. Perhaps this is the task of rabbis, to explain and guide rather than to rule and legislate. Jonathan Sacks writes well; every sentence counts, but the space behind the grandiloquence always leaves room for interpretation. It is this ambiguity which wins him as may admirers as detractors." --The Jerusalem Post, 6/9/02. 'The Dignity of Difference has a central and compelling vision: the magnificence and inspiring human diversity of our world ... The Chief Rabbi has made a convincing case for respecting people of different faiths and creeds.' --Jewish Chronicle 'The book "has a bold and important thesis" said Lord Habgood, especially in how it addresses relations between different faiths' --Church Times "wonderful book...bold and controversial" -Commonweal -- Commonweal, January 2007 * Commonweal * "The Dignity of Difference is an important contribution to our understanding of the impact of globalization on the world in the aftermath of September 11...the book should be required reading for those concerned with the present struggle between Islam and the West and the promises, but also the potential threat, that market globalization represent." -- Jewish Book World, Spring 2005 * Jewish Book World Quarterly Review * Mentioned in The Observer -- Oliver Marre * Observer *