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Middle East scholar and writer Richard Bulliet offers an insightful and provocative look at the historical evolution of Islamic religious authority. It is this authority that will have ultimate impact on the future of the Middle East, and yet contemporary historians have largely ignored its influence in the social structure of the people it governs. Bulliet describes how a view from the edge shows diverse groups of people coming together in institutional, doctrinal, and social cohesion, not because of great empires, but because of the leadership of religious scholars and moral guides. This book should be of interest to students of both religion and politics, particularly since Westerners tend to misunderstand the religious motivations behind a country's actions. Mary Deeley From Book News, Inc.Bulliet history, Columbia U. reviews the evolution of authority in the history of Islam, and contends that despite the recent successes of fundamentalist leaders, the future of Islam rests with individuals and small groups far from the power centers, who are synthesizing their faith with the modern world. Annotation copyright Book News, Inc. Portland, Or.
ISBN: 0231082185
Author: Richard W. Bulliet
Category: Religion
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