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Sacred Causes: Religion And Politics From The European Dictators To Al Qaeda: Pt. II
 
 
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Sacred Causes: Religion And Politics From The European Dictators To Al Qaeda: Pt. II [Hardcover]

Michael Burleigh
3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)

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Product details

  • Hardcover: 576 pages
  • Publisher: HarperPress; First Edition, First Impression edition (2 Oct 2006)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0007195745
  • ISBN-13: 978-0007195749
  • Product Dimensions: 23.6 x 15 x 5 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 590,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Michael Burleigh
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Review

‘This is an even better book than the author's erudite, dense sprawling triumph of last year, “Earthly Powers”…[“Sacred Causes”] benefits from a continual drip feed of very dry and very black humour…There is still Burleigh's great gift, the mark of the very best historians, to wring meaning and significance from those most arcane footnotes in history, stuff which others might designate mere ephemera…History is rarely rendered in such thrilling breadth, with such wit or with such terrible topicality.’ Rod Liddle, Spectator

‘Michael Burleigh forged a formidable reputation as a historian of Germany and consolidated it with “Earthly Powers”…“Sacred Causes” takes the story up to the present day. Its first half addresses in masterly fashion the relationship between the churches and the totalitarians…impressive…formidable…his book deserves the widest possible readership.’ Sunday Times

‘It is this that makes “Sacred Causes” so valuable: the tiny details that might be written off as mere human interest but that over and again reveal a subhuman sump of murderous impiety.’ New Statesman

‘Michael Burleigh is a man of formidable erudition and remarkable percipience…Burleigh last year published “Earthly Powers”…“Sacred Causes” brings the story up to the present date…Burleigh has, if anything, surpassed his earlier achievement…Burleigh's book is epic in its range…refreshingly unjudgemental…compelling…outstanding…this brilliant book proves that history has no end.’ Literary Review

‘This work should be read by everyone…Burleigh is one of our brightest historical stars – his massive erudition and passionate moral sense tempered with merciless wit. Beautifully written, fearlessly outspoken, full of superb portraits of heroes and monsters, “Sacred Causes” is an exuberant tour-de force.’ Evening Standard

‘Compelling…hugely ambitious…Burleigh is a writer who pulls no punches and seldom leaves a difficult question unasked.’ Sunday Telegraph

‘This is an even better book than…“Earthly Powers”…terrific and very funny…history is rarely rendered in such thrilling breadth, with such wit or with such terrible topicality.’ The Spectator

‘Splendid…magnificent…few historians would be able to cover such enormous tracts of ground so convincingly, but Burleigh also leavens his narrative with hefty chunks of opinion, wit and sheer mischief that make it a pleasure to read…a terrifically entertaining book.’ Daily Telegraph

‘In years to come, Michael Burleigh's two-volume study of secular hubris since the French Revolution may well be judged to be the most significant work of history published this decade…Burleigh is a fine and contentious writer and a hugely accomplished historian’ The Observer

‘“Sacred Causes” is a challenging history book with the power to scandalise its readers…Michael Burleigh is a trenchant, conservative historian who does not waste or mince words. His sharp judgements…bring alive his extensive research…for those who think that the Christian religion provides only footnotes to the history of the 20th century…this book is an important corrective.’ Financial Times

‘A brilliant account of the sinister fusion of religion and politics…frank and never afraid to ruffle any feathers…a powerful indictment of our uneasy times.’ J.G.Ballard

Sunday Times

'impressive...formidable...his book deserves the widest possible
readership'

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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
By M. McManus VINE™ VOICE
Format:Hardcover
There are three things that you should consider before buying this book. Firstly, are you a general reader or do you have a genuine interest in religion and politics? Secondly, do you prefer "neutral" commentary, or to read through the lens of the author? Finally, do you have a better than average background knowledge of C20th politics? The answer to these questions will largely determine whether you buy this book in the first place, as well as whether or not you manage to finish it.

Concerning the first question, the book interweaves politics and religion to the point where only a genuine interest in both would be enough to sustain the reader's interest. The subject matter is "heavy" anyway, and this coupled with the book's length mean that only the most interested need apply. Concerning the second question, this is most certainly not neutral, with Burleigh's views abundantly clear throughout, no more so than in his chapter on Northern Ireland, with his views expressed with somewhat unnerving ferocity. Having said that, his frankness throughout is a refreshing change to many history books, with their historians desperately trying to walk a neutral tight-rope so as to be all things to all readers, but not Burleigh. As a result, the heavy subject matter is much more digestible, punctuated with his frank statements that can at time genuinely amuse.

Concerning the third question, Burleigh's vocabulary is aimed at a highly educated audience, and he writes in such a way that assumes the reader has a very good background knowledge of the C20th and its political history. For instance, when talking of Poland he makes reference to the Home Army and the ZOMO, in both cases not offering a definition of what they were, on the assumption the reader will have sufficient knowledge about what they are already (or assumes that at very least they will be sufficiently motivated to find out).

One part of the book that is interesting to highlight is Burleigh's detailed and spirited defence of Pope Pius XII, and he conclusively rehabilitates Pius' ill deserved reputation as "Hitler's Pope". Alas, this section of the book is too detailed, to the point one could be forgiven for thinking this rehabilitation is a personal crusade on Burleigh's part. Indeed, the whole chapter is punctuated by long, at times quite droning quotes and vignettes about what the Catholic Bishop of this German province said or what a Protestant Bishop said in that province etc.

Another point to bring up is one or two obvious conflicts that Burleigh could have made more reference to, most notably the Yugoslav war where religious identity played a major role in the conflict and its political settlement, yet he makes next to no reference to it. Instead he focuses on Nazism and Communism, and as such often regurgitates that which is already widely known about their evils. In this respect, he almost falls into the trap of doing what he ironically criticises other historians of doing earlier in his book, namely going over old ground on topics that are already widely known. Whilst as an award winning historical author he is better qualified than most to criticise this, he should also be better qualified than most to avoid it.

All in all, this book is a mammoth text, and I liked much, much more than I disliked. It covers the two deepest and most complex topics possible (religion and politics) and attempts for the first time to weave them together in an encyclopaedic account of their inter relationship. Nevertheless, the book has a few weaknesses: whilst Burleigh's undisguised views are at times genuinely refreshing, at times they are stated too frequently (as with Pius XII) and at times too fiercely (as with Northern Ireland). Also, he overlooks certain conflicts (e.g. the Yugoslav war) and certain social developments like the rise of the Christian Right in American politics in the 1980. In summary, the book is a powerful and serious attempt to bridge a gaping hole in the historical literature about the inter relationship between politics/religion the C20th, one that will be rarely attempted again, and thus for the foreseeable future the book will perhaps be the definitive text on the matter.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
"Sacred Causes" is an interesting read about the combination of religion and European politics in the 20th century. I thoroughly enjoyed a number of chapters, yet I was puzzled by the scope of this book and initially taken aback by the lack of the writer's neutrality.

The subjects seem to have been chosen rather randomly and length & depth of each chapter vary greatly. Burleigh spends for example a disproportionate part of the book in explaining the role of the Catholic Church before and during the Second World War, but barely explores the role of the Protestant churches in the same period.

My second point is that the writer is not the neutral scientist, but a historian on a (political) mission. Burleigh makes a (convincing) case for the rehabilitation of "Hitler's Pope" Pius XII and exposes IRA's behaviour and attitude in Northern Ireland as something that has nothing to do with religion. In addition, he accuses the "Left Church" of the marginalization of (Christian) religion in Europe and of "political correctness" obstructing common sense.

Burleigh seems more neutral when dealing with older topics. In the chapters on more recent topics, he seems a grumpy old man having a political rant... and I loved it. More than once, he made me smile and nod in agreement. All in all, this book can be read as a collection of independent chapters or as one book. Either way, this is not a read for casual readers.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Excellent... until... 25 Dec 2011
Format:Paperback
I would have to concur with other reviewers here that this is an excellent book that does a fine job of bringing the reader through the tumultuous events of WWII and so on, including a fair and balanced and long overdue defence of Pope Pius XII, but falters on the subject of Northern Ireland. The author has hitherto been nuanced and balanced, and then suddenly can't contain his disgust and displays prejudices of his own, after hundreds of pages highlighting the prejudices of others. His disdain for all things Irish extends to Nobel Prize winning poets who are dismissed as "minor" poets and Irish television hosts and pubs and makes one wonder if the author has constantly been spelling certain Irish names wrong throughout his book by mistake or because anything Irish doesn't deserve his respect or attention. As excellent as the preceding chapters are, the Ireland chapter brings his entire thesis into question, not because he may or may not be right, but because it's so over-the-top and so extremely bitter. I actually agree with most of his points, but this is a historian who seems unable to restrain himself on one chapter and so harms his entire project. An extremely interesting book then leaves an uneasy taste. As one other reviewer has pointed out, the fault perhaps lies with the editor. As another example, when discussing the prisoners convicted of the Birmingham and Guildford pub bombings, is it not worth mentioning to the reader that these men and women were later found innocent, or does this historian assume we are fully aware of all facts involved? If that is the case, what else has he misrepresented throughout the previous chapters? It's such a galling disappointment to go along with the author for so long through this book (which isn't an easy read) and then suspect him of being bigoted himself. His defence of Pius XII is admirable. It's a shame that he got carried away for the last third of the book.

Edit: Reading this book for the second time, I decided I should change my review from 3 stars to 4. While I can just grit my teeth through the Northern Ireland chapter, I have to admit this is an excellent book, which should be widely read.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
a sacred cause indeed
I read the first 150 pages and then couldn't endure it any longer. Bleak, bleak, bleak. Fragmentary information. Affirmations. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Johan Janssens
Pompous
Gave up on this book after a few chapters. Found the author to be a narrow minded arse quite frankly. Read more
Published on 21 Aug 2008 by I. Bain
What a rant.
Not so much a history book a propaganda exercise for the Judeo-christian right-wing.
The author's subjective view of the latter part of the 20th century is so far removed from... Read more
Published on 10 July 2008 by eviex
A "thinker"
This isn't an easy book; the author has his views, based on a Conservative [his brother-in-law is/was a Tory MP], Roman Catholic perspective, a perspective I don't share. Read more
Published on 5 July 2008 by Davey
Fascinating insights and observations
In this sweeping and comprehensive work, Michael Burleigh examines the role played by religion in politics and politics in religion from the end of the First World War until the... Read more
Published on 4 Jun 2008 by Gary Selikow
Overrated??
Am I alone in thinking that this title is overrated by the critics? I found it very turgid and heavy going. Read more
Published on 29 May 2008 by R Howard
Great, except for THAT chapter...
Absolutely brilliant book. Until you get onto that barmy chapter about Ireland! A few hundred pages of balanced, insightful history then, out of nowhere, the rummest rant... Read more
Published on 30 Dec 2007 by Kevin Pork
A mixed bag
Makes some interesting points questioning the received wisdom about churh state relation accross Europe. Read more
Published on 21 Dec 2007 by NibsIRL
Remarkable
Burleigh has probed the nooks and crannies of the history of faith (and non-faith) in order to provide us with a vast and rich array of cautionary facts and anecdotes. Read more
Published on 5 Dec 2006 by Ken Dante
all the rough beasts
One of the most startling - and funniest - bits in Earthly Powers, to which Sacred Causes is a pendant, was an affectionately revisionist portrait of Joseph deMaistre, a man who... Read more
Published on 14 Nov 2006 by S. Matthews
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