Yale University Press (London 2016). Pbk. 235 pages. £7.70.
The Little Histories series is described by the publisher as ‘vivid storybook introductions for young and old alike which lay out our greatest subjects in deceptively simple and engaging tones.’ Reading A Little History of Religion is like sitting at the feet of a wise and benevolent grandfather telling a fascinating story in simple, but never simplistic, terms. What he says may be completely new to his younger listeners but there is also much to be learned by a more mature audience. Holloway tells his story in a down-to-earth, almost conversational style, allowing him to include clear explanations of terminology which may be all too familiar to some of his listeners but totally new to others. For example: ‘The word salvation comes from the Latin for health, a reminder that humans are often sick and anxious. They don’t feel well or happy or at ease with themselves in this life. And they worry about what awaits them in the next. When religion took a turn in a more personal direction, it was able to bring such peace into troubled lives that believers described the experience as dying and being born again.’
It is a daunting challenge to condense into 235 pages humanity’s long and tortuous relationship with the religions it has created and there will inevitably be omissions. Starting with the roots of religion in humanity’s search for answers to questions about the origin of the universe itself and ending by querying the future of religion, Holloway covers all the major religions as well as more recently created movements such as the Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Scientology and the Unification Church (‘The Moonies’). He concludes his story with secular humanism but suggests that this may not be the ultimate destination of religion because, despite its decline in many places today, it is ‘still the biggest show on earth.’
Holloway’s narrative is made up of many different threads and details carefully woven together to make a satisfying read. The pace is leisurely despite the amount of ground covered, and he manages to include memorable details – ‘Paul, a short bow-legged man with an intense gaze’ – and puts words into the mouths of his characters, bringing them to life: ‘No!’ Paul thundered. ‘Don’t you realise that God has torn up the old deal, and published a new one?’
Holloway tells his story in an entertaining, often amusing way to keep the attention of a contemporary audience. For example, he calls the apostolic succession a ‘great pipeline’: break the line of succession or ‘go to a different supplier’ and you lose the authority of Jesus. By and large, his approach is impartial and respectful, whether he is talking about Buddha, Jesus and Mohammed, or the founders of more recent sects/religions such as Joseph Smith (the Mormons), Charles Taze Russell (Jehovah’s Witnesses), and L. Ron Hubbard (Scientology). However, he is not afraid to confront the more unpleasant aspects of religion such as violence and persecution, nor to expose the dangers of fundamentalism.
I found Holloway’s explanation of the ideas underlying Hinduism particularly helpful. It is a common perception that Hinduism is polytheistic, but this is to misunderstand the true meaning of the many thousands of gods and images, which are all symbols of the one Supreme Reality described in the Upanishads as ‘That One Thing’. Holloway does not shy away from using the technical term ‘monism’, but calls it ‘one-thing-ism’ to ensure that readers will not forget what it means.
When Holloway introduces another of religion’s purposes, its ability to sweeten the lot of those who bear unbearable suffering, and considers the liberation movement among slaves, I found his description of the slaves’ encounter with the words of the Bible quite moving: ‘Listening to these words, how could the slaves fail to hear them as a description of their own condition? Slaves live it every day. They might not be able to read the Bible, but they knew how to be the Bible. Its longing for liberation was their longing.’
I may be mistaken, but I gained the overall impression from this account that Christianity has a far more complex theology than any of the other major religions. To what extent this is true I cannot say without further research. The Independent Commission on Religious Education, established to improve the quality and rigour of RE, has recently published its interim report. Although I am not a teacher, nor have any professional connection with education, it seems to me that this book would serve as an excellent basic introduction.
Carol Palfrey is Secretary to SOF trustees and the SOF contact for the Norwich Group. She is also Secretary of the Octagon Unitarian Chapel, Norwich.