CHAPTER 1-4

I really am not sure how to approach summarizing the chapters in this book because there is an abundant amount of information so I think I will approach it from discussing quotes.

"In the history of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, Jews, Christians, and Muslims have all found other people in possession. They have all had to cope with the fact that the city and the land have been sacred to other people before them and the integrity of their tenure will depend in large part upon the way they treat their predecessors", this quote from Karen Armstrong stands out to more than anything else in the chapters I read. This I believe is the essence of what is going on in Jerusalem and what is the underlying theme of the book. I believe if these three major religions were able to take this quote in account and really approach it with an open mind, we might have a chance to have these religions live in harmony and acceptability.

“Mythology was never designed to describe historically verifiable events that actually happened. It was an attempt to express their inner significance or to draw attention to realities that were too elusive to be discussed in a logically coherent way.” I believe its hard to incorporate myth with religion because you then get into the validity of what you believe and you start questioning it. Personally I try to not incorporate any myths in my beliefs and practices. I like to some degree have some validity in my faith and beliefs.

There is a section were Karen discusses the importance of the temple to the Jews and how it is a place of unity with God. This similarity with Islam and the mosque amazes me. I guess I am surprised how similar we view our holy "house" and how we endure the same practices or concepts behind visiting this place. I guess the ritual and belief behind it is similar to how I personally perceive and behave when I go to the mosque.