Published: Oct. 26, 2009
Words: 60,774 (approximate)
Language: English
ISBN: 9780986631801

Description

Albert Low’s book shows how the religious impulse is expressed by two entirely different kinds of religions: religion as a set of beliefs centered on a unique, dynamic center such as Christ, Mohammed or Buddha, and religion as a quest. Dr Albert Low is the teacher at the Montreal Zen Center and an internationally acclaimed author.

Tags

religion, buddhism, philosophy, zen

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Reviews

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Review by: François Lorrain on Oct. 27, 2011 :
Here is my rating for the book!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: François Lorrain on Oct. 27, 2011 : (no rating)
An excellent, remarkable book, with a regrettably misleading title: many will think that Mr. Low's book criticizes the God-idea as a mere delusion, which is not the case. In fact, the book is not at all about God, but about religion as a quest -- a quest that can take many forms, in deistic religions such as Christianity, and in non-deistic religions/philosophies such as Buddhism. In fact the title means

"Beyond Richard Dawkins's book 'The God Delusion'."

This book will interest all persons who sense that somehow life makes no sense, unless as a kind of quest -- be they atheists, Christians, Muslims, or Buddhists. Mr. Low is himself a Zen teacher, but he approaches other traditions with a very open mind indeed.

The page layout and typography of the book could be much improved, however. Among other things, it would be nice to have the footnotes at the bottom of each page, instead of all at the end. But let these small imperfections not deter you from reading this very inspiring book!
(reviewed long after purchase)

Review by: Randy Henning on May 12, 2011 :
Beyond the God Delusion by Albert Low

If you have grown cynical about religion but still feel the need for a spiritual basis to your life, you need to read this book! Albert Low is a long-time teacher of Zen Buddhism. But he speaks here for all religions in renouncing the narrow and materialistic views of modern atheists like Richard Dawkins. Dawkins, in his book, "The God Delusion," attacks all aspects of religion as being destructive and unnecessary to human life.

“Why,” then retorts Mr. Low, “has religion been, and is still, such a pervasive, and for some an all consuming influence throughout human history?” He goes on to explain that there are two distinct ways to look at religion: “the religion of belief” that Dawkins mostly focuses his attacks on, and, “the religion of the quest.” And while the world’s major religions may differ greatly, even violently in what they believe, he shows through real life examples the remarkable similarities in the way that individuals from many religions, Catholic mystics, Zen masters, and Sufi practitioners to name a few, have struggled to “come to terms with what it means to be human,” and to transcend the “self”. “The religious impulse for transcendence,” he says, “has its origins in life itself.” He shows from his wonderfully account of these individuals that they, even the Saints and Buddhas, began as normal human beings. The quest is available to all of us. It is our birthright.

Randy Henning
(reviewed long after purchase)

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