Prophets Of Peace

This book refutes the long held view of the Israeli left as adhering to a humanistic, democratic and even socialist tradition, attributed to the historic Zionist Labor movement. Through a critical analysis of the prevailing discourse of Zionist intellectuals and activists on the Jewish-democratic state, it uncovers the Zionist left’s central role in laying the foundation of the colonial settler state of Israel, in articulating its hegemonic ideology and in legitimizing, whether explicitly or implicitly, the apartheid treatment of Palestinians both inside Israel and in the 1967 occupied territories. Their determined support of a Jewish-only state underlies the failure of the “peace process,” initiated by the Zionist Left, to reach a just peace based on recognition of the national rights of the entire Palestinian people.

Wars in the Persian Gulf and Yugoslavia have given new impetus to the ongoing debate in Japan concerning its postwar constitution and related issues of national security and world order. Although often overlooked in this debate, Japanese religious groups--especially some of the New Religions--have promoted peace as a major theme of their doctrine and activities, often explicitly supporting a pacifist position. This study, undertaken in the wake of the Persian Gulf War, looks at a representative group of New Religions and explores their concepts and practices of peace. Many of the Japanese New Religions draw on a tradition that emphasizes individual moral cultivation and use of prewar terms to describe their mission. One expression, hakko ichiu (literally, "the whole world under one roof") conveys the ideal of world unity under Japanese direction, leading to the establishment of peace. In this way it is a prime example of the prewar idea of establishing peace through the spread of Japanese civilization. The author cites evidence pointing to the prevalence of a mistaken notion of the implications of the pacifist position, a situation that both reflects and contributes to the confusion surrounding popular debates on pacifism in Japan. Prophets of Peace is an attempt to correct that misperception by providing a critical study of the social ethic of the Japanese New Religions--a topic that has been largely ignored in research on new religious movements worldwide. Professor Kisala draws on the literature that presents their doctrine and surveys their believers to describe their approach to the question of peace. The results of this fieldwork are placed within the dual framework of Western peace studies and the modern Japanese intellectual tradition, highlighting the issues of pacifism and the cultural approach to peace in Japan. In his analysis of these results, he offers some observations on the role of religion in contemporary Japanese society and advocates a more positive engagement in the debate on Japan's role in international security arrangements. By offering a representative sample of New Religion groups and focusing on their doctrines, Prophets of Peace provides a different perspective for those whose primary interest is the Japanese New Religions. Although students and scholars of Japanese religion will be the book's first audience, its accessibility and thematic approach also recommend it to readers with a broader interest in contemporary Japanese society, peace studies, and the role of religious groups in modern society.

Dr. K. Sohail's newest book opens the issue of war and peace occupying a central place on the global stage. The leaders he presents have not only shaped the history of their own countries and communities, but have transcended local boundaries to influence the course of the 20th century. In this new millennium, their political thoughts, strategies and general philosophy must be studied as they will continue to influence our decisions. The strength of this book is that it features Martin Luther King for those interested in the civil rights movement in America; Nelson Mandela for those seeking news of South Africa, Che Guevara and Ho Chi Minh for the leftist movements, and the history of tiny Tibet through the personality of the Dalai Lama. Kamel Ataturk for Turkey, Frantz Fanon for France and Algeria, Leon Tolstoy for Russia and internationally Mahatma Gandhi and lesser known in western circles. Rabindranath Tagore, Mohammad Iqbal and Mohammad Ali Jinnah, explore the Indian subcontinent. Dr. Sohail has built a solid, easily-managed bridge for all to comprehend the thoughts and actions of leaders from around the world. Written in simple language, it enables every layman to access a 20th century human treasure of information. Dr. Sohail's insights as a psychotherapist enable him to present these history-makers not as mere distant political figures but as human beings with all of their strengths and weaknesses.

Pacifist Prophet recounts the untold history of peaceable Native Americans in the eighteenth century, as explored through the world of Papunhank (ca. 1705-75), a Munsee and Moravian prophet, preacher, reformer, and diplomat. Papunhank's life was dominated by a search for a peaceful homeland in Pennsylvania and the Ohio country amid the upheavals of the era between the Seven Years' War and the American Revolution. His efforts paralleled other Indian quests for autonomy but with a crucial twist: he was a pacifist committed to using only nonviolent means. Such an approach countered the messages of other Native prophets and ran against the tide in an early American world increasingly wrecked with violence, racial hatred, and political turmoil. Nevertheless, Papunhank was not alone. He followed and contributed to a longer and wider indigenous peace tradition. Richard W. Pointer shows how Papunhank pushed beyond the pragmatic pacifism of other Indians and developed from indigenous and Christian influences a principled pacifism that became the driving force of his life and leadership. Hundreds of Native people embraced his call to be "a great Lover of Peace" in their quests for home. Against formidable odds, Papunhank's prophetic message spoke boldly to Euro-American and Native centers of power and kept many Indians alive during a time when their very survival was constantly threatened. Papunhank's story sheds critical new light on the responses of some Munsees, Delawares, Mahicans, Nanticokes, and Conoys for whom the "way of war" was no way at all.

In this book, the stories of the prophets have been compiled by Ibn Kathir who has a prominent place in the Islamic literature. The stories of the prophets and all the events in their lives have been supported by the Qur'anic Verses and the Sunnah (traditions) of the Prophet (S). Wherever it was necessary, other sources have also been reported for the sake of historical accounts, but on such places a comparative study has been made to prove the authenticity of the sources. Ibn Kathir has reproduced the views and interpretations of all the great exegetes of the Qur'an of his time. The systemic narratives of the Stories of the Prophets have been written in chronological order which renders a historical style to the book.

The prophets in the Quran condemn war, hatred, and disparity and advocate the belief in Gods oneness and His call for peace among mankind. Assel successfully captures the minds of readers by giving them the opportunity to analyze and compare the stories of the prophets in the Quran with those of the prophets from the Old and New Testaments. She brings together the validated interpretations of both Sunni and Shia schools of thought in order to sustain objectivity and allow room for comparison and interpretation. Islam is an important force of solidarity and unity among mankind. It is the ultimate triumph to Muslims who perceive it to be the final test to a peace-seeking democratic society that denounces the dominant forces that are conspiring against it. This book is a valuable reference and text for students, professionals, scholars, and all who are interested in learning about Islam without having to read the entire Quran. It brings to the forefront the belief that Islam is truly a religion of peace. It was the death of her thirty-three year old son, Mazen, and her search for spiritual and emotional peace that inspired her to write this book.