Find out the latest indie author news. For FREE.

ADVERTISEMENT

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 05/2013
  • 978-1-4836-2212-5
  • 354 pages
  • $3.99
Paperback Details
  • 05/2013
  • 978-1-4836-2210-1
  • 354 pages
  • $19.99
Toward Peace
Toward Peace is original in that it progresses from the notion that there is objective truth to the notion that the enactment of truth in human activity is essential to the establishment of peace, but also that human beings tend to wander between knowledge and ignorance, and between a good will and a concupiscent will. This is accomplished by interweaving philosophic ideas expressed by Plato and Aristotle with parables and aphorisms expressed by ancient Indian and Chinese wise men, with Judaic and Christian Scripture, and with contemporary economic data and in vogue political notions. Toward Peace is divided into three parts. Part I establishes the notion that there is objective truth and that laws may not violate those truths that are intrinsic to the beings to which they refer or relate. Part II discusses some of the more contentious social matters that disregard objective truth in some manner or other. These include laissez-faireism and fundamentalism, majority rule, taxation and economic debt, nihilism, unguided evolution, and legalized abortion. Part III presents the notion that liberal arts education ensures the truest path toward peace. It then proceeds to address a democratic alternative to majority rule or political party rule that incorporates the voices of all the people all the time in all aspects of government—a more true democracy: panocracy, i.e., all rule. The book concludes with the notion that the perfection of peace is only realized when each individual person becomes cognizant of their self in God and God in their self.
Reviews
Online Book Club

 

Peace.........the final frontier. Lyle R. Strathman tries to boldly take us where no man has gone before in his book Toward Peace (Truth is the Agent That Mediates Harmony). Strathman philosophically and scientifically expounds upon that title and his ideas for human achievement of peace and harmony for the remainder of the book. This book is very heavy and in-depth and is not for the casual reader. However, if you are a reader who is intrigued by philosophy, science, and differing political and religious viewpoints then this is the book for you.

There is hardly an area of political or religious/secular thought that is not touched upon in this book. The author covers Laissez-faireism, Fundamentalism, Collectivism, Liberalism, Socialism, Democratism, Republicanism and even Communism. He even goes so far as to explain each ideological system and then break down the differences and subcategories in each system (i.e. majority rule democratism, that is proletariat democratism whether Fundamental or Laissez-faire majority ruled, and Fundamental or Laissez-fair singular, secular socialism). While this all may sound like a buzzkill to most of us, it is a huge eye opener and one that is needed for the majority of our population who have no idea what any of this means and how it is affecting us. The religious aspect was covered quite nicely for most of the book, I thought. The author notes that most religions over the years have agreed on the main points of living a peaceful lifestyle, and although he divulges his religious thought later in the book, he acknowledges that all of these religions had a picture of God that was incomplete and that they were trying to reach out to God. I love that even as a religious man, he does not condemn others at any point. That is true religion and true peace. I learned a ton, and anyone interested in these things would enjoy the analytical yet descriptive style the author displays.

I liked this book for as many reasons. I grew up in a religious home, but one that truly showed what love and respect and service were all about. Therefore, I do not have the disdain for religion that some people do (not all religion is bad any more than all cops are bad or all lawyers or doctors are bad). I have also come later in life to be intrigued by science and philosophy, as well as politics, and how all of these things relate. I think that these things were all balanced really well in this book, even if the author does not always reach the same conclusions as any one reader would. One really interesting section which shows how much thought Mr. Strathman went to in giving this book life, highlights the author's idea that Panocracy (i.e. rule by all, or a system in which individual rights are supreme, where as in democracy we have majority rule. This is too deep to cover here) is the supreme political ideal. He even goes so far as to formulate his own Constitution for a Federated Panocratic Republic. Now that is dedication to an ideal.

IF I were to take issue with anything about this book, other than minor ideological differences, it would be that the book sometimes seems disjointed due to the sheer subject matter that is tackled---everything from politics to religion and all forms of evolutionary thought. There was a section later in the book that explained the author's religious thought and the history of the early Christian Church, that while expansive and informative, seemed out of place and slowed the reading down immensely. I began to wonder if after all that was covered, the subject matter of peace was ever going to be tied together at the end. The ending finally came, and I must say was slightly disappointing. I did not expect the author to bring about world peace, but I was hoping for something a little more applicable. However, the overall point that truth in human action (whether personal, political or religious) is the only true road to peace, still came across in the end.

If you appreciate social, political, philosophical and scientific ideals and do not shy away from listening to someone's religious thinking, then this is the book for you. If however, you are one that cannot agree to disagree and still garner what nuggets of truth you can from someone different from you, then this is one that you may want to pass by. For instance the author does not scientifically or personally believe in abortion, and yet being a religious man mentions all of the major religions and even states that Christians should realize that their views cannot be forced upon humanity. He even gives a "positive" corollary to the "negative" Ten Commandments (i.e. Thou shall instead of Thou shall not...).

I give this book 3 out of 4 stars based upon its scope and the author's dedication in putting together such a detailed, analytical and mostly balanced epic undertaking. Again, by balanced I don't mean that you'll agree with him, but that he does not condemn any other viewpoint, which in this day and age is very refreshing.

Formats
Ebook Details
  • 05/2013
  • 978-1-4836-2212-5
  • 354 pages
  • $3.99
Paperback Details
  • 05/2013
  • 978-1-4836-2210-1
  • 354 pages
  • $19.99
ADVERTISEMENT

Loading...