Different Visions of Love

From the Foreword by Riane Eisler: 'Griffith’s narrative moves like a searchlight over each phase of church history, illuminating the visions, options, and choices behind events. He traces the rise of a dominator version of Christianity, in which the primary concern was a chain of command to be followed, with rewards or punishments according to the degree of obedience. And beside this he illuminates another face of Christianity, concerned with healing all divisions between ’loved and unloved’ people. The story Griffith presents is often deeply disturbing, as in his unstinting accounts concerning ’the gospel for women’, or the age of holy wars and witch hunts. But ultimately his story offers solid grounds for optimism. He shows that all contention between different religious visions can be a process of building partnership. As Griffith points out, Jesus himself wished to debate his opponents openly, not to silence or eliminate them. He was not afraid of real encounter, or the potential of creative conflict. I want to congratulate Brian Griffith on this masterful, controversial, and highly readable account. His book offers hope in a divided world, where reaction against globalized ’godless corporate secularism’ meets with a ’war on fundamentalism’. I hope to see other writers do comparable work in highlighting the partnership and dominator visions within their religious traditions around the world.' - Riane Eisler, author of The Chalice & the Blade, Sacred Pleasure, Tomorrow’s Children, The Power of Partnership, The Real Wealth of Nations