Heretics and Heroes: How Renaissance Artists and Reformation Priests Created Our World: 06 (The Hinges of History) Paperback – Illustrated, 12 August 2014

i read it with pleasure

informative

This book is an absolute joy to read and to absorb. It is particularly informative for those who are not religious but who are well versed in classical studies and philosophy. More than anything it helps understand the Christian religion, its struggles, catastrophes and success in guiding human development through the past 2000 plus years. It is also a clear pictorial and philosophical condemnation of ignorance and stupidity among those who base their lives on religion without understanding of theology and its history. I am going to read it again after I think about it for few months for one reading is not enough to absorb its vast amount of historical data and ideas, which has challenged humanity for so long and continues to challenge us. And I greatly enjoyed its references to contemporaries and modern events.

Very satisfied!

The simplest way to describe any of author Cahill's writing is with the phrase "interesting and opinionated". This book is the 6th in what Cahill calls his "Hinges of History" - musings on particular groups or times of history. And by the way, I still think his first book in the series, "How the Irish Saved Civilization" is his best.This book is not a tone-neutral tome nor is it complete in any way. But it covers 2 subjects, Renaissance artists, and Reformation leaders, in a free-wheeling, opinionated yet erudite manner. You can disagree with much of the book but it is written so honestly and so scholarly, with Cahill doing much of his own translation of sources, that you can only praise the intellect and opinions behind it. Even if Cahill attacks some of your most cherished beliefs. And isn't learning other opinions and views why we read in the first place?A few minor criticisms. Some of the translations are, shall we say, unique to Cahill. Cahill does throw in occasional then-current political jabs that are increasingly irrelevant and obscure with the passage of the years since this book was published.Overall, great fun. 4 stars.