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Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion
by J. Stenesh
Product Group: Book
Publisher: Cogno Pr (2004-10)
ISBN: 0963355228
EAN: 9780963355225
Dewey Decimal #: 201.5
Binding/Media: Paperback - 265 pages
SKU: 01640
Condition: Used: Like New
Comments: Brand new except minor shelf wear on edge
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Editorial Reviews
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Product Description
Timely and provocative, the book focuses on dark faces of religion such as hypocrisy, intolerance, prejudice, and hatred, all of which are explored by a blend of fiction and nonfiction. Factual sections are well-researched, and fictional parts are ingenious and gripping. The author takes the reader on a journey of past, present, and future happenings that exemplify religion's dark faces and that are set in different parts of the world. He transitions effortlessly from fact to fiction, thereby creating a unique literary combination that makes for great impact. ROT ON THE VINE is a powerful and thought-provoking statement of universal significance and relevance in view of the current world-wide proliferation of religious extremism and the terrorism spawned by it.
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Customer Reviews
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A
Rating  (1)
Date: 2009-04-08
There is nothing new or of value presented in this book. It takes the perspective that religions are essentially a negative force and then supplements the few facts with cliched fictional accounts to illustrate and support this. While the position taken is from a rationalist perspective largely correct, advancing through the book results in a sense of anticipation turning to annoyance and displeasure, as it is realised no fresh insight or thought provoking information has or will be offered.The feeling cannot be escaped that the author is taking pleasure painting his negative pictures. Adherents of a religion will dismiss it as another 'satanic' work, but non-religionists will quickly find that it is at best simply a repackaging of all the old arguments. A lightweight and disappointing read.
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Black-and-white book with little depth
Rating  (2)
Date: 2005-10-26
0 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
First, I'm an atheist myself.
The book is fiction, yes. But the twists and turns of its speculation are highly unlikely -- highly unlikely -- to come close to reality in the U.S. Even the most likely, the intelligent design chapter, I give less than a 1 in 10 chance, and that's being generous.
As for one other reviewer, saying this deserves a place on bookshelves under critical religion studies -- that's only if your bookshelf is totally empty in that category and you need something.
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Understanding the Darker Side
Rating  (4)
Date: 2005-08-15
3 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
Using a blend of fiction and non-fiction, Stenesh weaves stories about the dark faces of religion. Stenesh covers many subjects as he tells stories relating to how religionists twist their theology to do harm to others. I found it hard to put the book down as I read the short stories. Stenesh does a good job of bringing the characters to life in each short story.
Each story, while a blend of fiction and non-fiction, could easily be completely non-fiction. Readers will especially enjoy the stories of the Priest, Imam, and Rabbi; ripped from today's headlines. Stenesh plunges into the future of religious thought by taking us the future Atlantis through a conversation with the high priest.
Whether atheist or theist, this is a great book to read for a better understanding of the darker side of religious thought. Even the religionist needs to recognize the darker side of his or her faith. The first part to getting rid of radical extremists that would do harm is for each religion to recognize that they exist among them. Stenesh helps the reader make that recognition, no matter what faith or non-faith the reader's background may be.
No matter one's theological background you will end this book with the gears in your brain turning. Any book that makes you think is a good book.
Blair Scott
Alabama State Director, American Atheists, Inc.
Director, Atheism Awareness
Organizer, North Alabama Freethought Association
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Juvenile writing stultifies a serious subject
Rating (1)
Date: 2005-05-15
3 out of 7 customers found this reveiw helpful
I looked forward to reading this book which purports to expose the dark side of religious fervour. Unfortunately the format and content are disappointing in the extreme. Unless the book is intended for sub-teen readers, the level of thought expressed is woefully lacking. Supposedly a "mixture" of fact and fiction; it reads like a sophomoric imitation of a fairy tale. In a world that currently and throughout the history of civilization has suffered from the excesses of blind faith, this books serves mainly to buttress the arguments of religious bigots with its tissue thin content.
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Highly recommended for religious studies shelves
Rating  (5)
Date: 2004-11-08
3 out of 4 customers found this reveiw helpful
Rot on the Vine: The Many Dark Faces of Religion is a collection of writings - some fictionalized "what-if" essays but mostly matter-of-fact expositions - that explore the side of religion that is perverted to serve human greed, hatred, hypocricy, and intolerance. From a brief exploration the roots of pervasive anti-Semitism as stemming from Christianity's and Islam's need to de-legitimize Judaism's older claim of a single, all-powerful God (among other factors), to a discussion of how Biblical passages are used to in modern-day America to exhort hatred of homosexuals and homosexuality, to religion's role in fueling the genocidal horrors of Nazism and much more, Rot on the Vine is disturbing, compelling, and highly recommended for religious studies shelves.
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