Religious fundamentalism of all types is on the rise across the world, leading to barbaric terrorist attacks like those seen in New Zealand and Sri Lanka. This growing extremism is another reflection of capitalism’s impasse.

There has never been a more important time for a study of the social, economic, and political origins of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, the three important world religions that share a common root. Thanks to Marxist author and Socialist Appeal supporter, John Pickard, those interested in learning about these religions can read Behind the Myths: The Foundations of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in order to discover more.

As the twenty-first century progresses, there has been an increasing
interest and not a small amount of debate on the role of religion in
society and particularly on advances in secularisation. Richard Dawkins’
book , ‘The God Delusion,’ was a best-seller in the UK and novels like
‘The Good Man Jesus and The Scoundrel Christ’ by Richard Pullman have
touched raw nerves in Church hierarchies. Against what they see as a
growing tide of secularism, spokespersons for the Church have denounced
the ‘intolerance’ of atheism and have fought a vigorous rearguard action
to defend the special position of faith, woven as it is into the fabric
of everyday life.