{{Short description|2014 book by Karen Armstrong}} {{Other uses|Field of blood (disambiguation)}}{{Infobox book | image = Fields of Blood.jpg | caption = First edition | author = Karen Armstrong | language = English | genre = Non-fiction | publisher = Knopf | pub_date = 2014 }} {{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}} {{italic title}} '''''Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence''''' is a 2014 book written by Karen Armstrong, published by Knopf.
== Background == Armstrong argues in the book that religion is not the primary driving force of war and violence.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fallows |first=James |date=December 10, 2014 |title='Fields of Blood,' by Karen Armstrong |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/books/review/fields-of-blood-by-karen-armstrong.html |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203042/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/14/books/review/fields-of-blood-by-karen-armstrong.html |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |issn=0362-4331 |oclc=1645522}}</ref> Instead she argues that the driving force is the creation and maintenance of state power.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Juergensmeyer |first=Mark |date=October 24, 2014 |title=Book Review: 'Fields of Blood,' by Karen Armstrong |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/book-review-fields-of-blood-by-karen-armstrong/2014/10/23/a098e374-4d90-11e4-aa5e-7153e466a02d_story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506063937/https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/book-review-fields-of-blood-by-karen-armstrong/2014/10/23/a098e374-4d90-11e4-aa5e-7153e466a02d_story.html |archive-date=May 6, 2022 |access-date=August 26, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |publisher=Nash Holdings |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=2269358}}</ref> Armstrong's work has been dedicated in part to challenging the New Atheist movement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cryer |first=Dan |date=December 20, 2014 |title='Fields of Blood' by Karen Armstrong |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2014/12/20/book-review-fields-blood-religion-and-history-violence-karen-armstrong/mk4ZRgvvq6zXz9MwxDVAdK/story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203043/https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/books/2014/12/20/book-review-fields-blood-religion-and-history-violence-karen-armstrong/mk4ZRgvvq6zXz9MwxDVAdK/story.html |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=The Boston Globe |publisher=Boston Globe Media Partners, LLC |language=en-US |issn=0743-1791 |oclc=66652431}}</ref> The book includes detailed histories of religion and its relation to violence all over the world including China, India, the United States, and Palestine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kelly |first=Stuart |date=September 29, 2014 |title=Book Review: Fields of Blood, Karen Armstrong—This is a Bold Book With a Bold Premise. Karen Armstrong, One of the Foremost Commentators on Faith, Argues Against the Idea, So Often on the Lips of the New Atheists, That Religion Has Been the Major Cause of Warfare Throughout the History of the World. |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/book-review-fields-blood-karen-armstrong-1524949 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203042/https://www.scotsman.com/news/book-review-fields-blood-karen-armstrong-1524949 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=The Scotsman |publisher=JPIMedia |language=en-GB}}</ref> The book was also published as an audiobook.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong |url=https://www.booklistonline.com/Fields-of-Blood-Religion-and-the-History-of-Violence-/pid=7243287 |access-date=August 30, 2022 |website=Booklist}}</ref>
== Reception == The ''Publishers Weekly'' review called the book "Provocative and supremely readable."<ref>{{Cite web |date=September 8, 2014 |title=Publishers Weekly Picks—Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780307957047 |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=Publishers Weekly |publisher=PWxyz LLC |language=en-US |issn=0000-0019 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203042/https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780307957047 }}</ref> Lisa Youngblood reviewed the audiobook version at ''Library Journal'' saying some of the content is "hard to follow without ... prior knowledge."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Youngblood |first=Lisa |date=February 1, 2015 |title=Audio—Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong |url=https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/fields-of-blood-religion-and-the-history-of-violence |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=Library Journal |publisher=Media Source Inc. |language=en-US |issn=0363-0277 |oclc=818916619 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203042/https://www.libraryjournal.com/review/fields-of-blood-religion-and-the-history-of-violence }}</ref> ''Kirkus Reviews'' reviewed the book saying that "her writing is clear and descriptive, her approach balanced and scholarly."<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2014 |title=Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karen-armstrong/fields-of-blood/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=Kirkus Reviews |publisher=Kirkus Media LLC |language=en-US |issn=1948-7428 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203444/https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/karen-armstrong/fields-of-blood/ }}</ref> Dean Haigh wrote in the ''Press and Journal'' that the book was "Well researched, insightful and revelatory"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Haigh |first=Dean |date=October 4, 2014 |title=Book review: Fields Of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong |url=https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/entertainment/culture/361494/book-review-fields-blood-religion-history-violence-karen-armstrong/ |url-status=live |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=Press and Journal |publisher=DC Thomson |language=en-GB |issn=2632-1165 |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203043/https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/entertainment/culture/361494/book-review-fields-blood-religion-history-violence-karen-armstrong/ }}</ref> Marcus Tanner wrote in ''The Independent'' that "This is a long, detailed book that tries to cover too much territory."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tanner |first=Marcus |date=October 2, 2014 |title=Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence by Karen Armstrong, Book Review: Neo-Cons, Prepare to Get Angry. At Times the Books Becomes a Chronology of Violence Committed in the Name of Various Religions—What They Did, Rather Than Why |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/fields-of-blood-religion-and-the-history-of-violence-by-karen-armstrong-book-review-long-detailed-and-tries-to-cover-too-much-territory-9770608.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826203042/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/fields-of-blood-religion-and-the-history-of-violence-by-karen-armstrong-book-review-long-detailed-and-tries-to-cover-too-much-territory-9770608.html |archive-date=August 26, 2022 |access-date=August 26, 2022 |website=The Independent |publisher=Independent News & Media |language=en-US |issn=1741-9743 |oclc=185201487}}</ref> Ray Olson wrote in Booklist that "Armstrong again impresses with the breadth of her knowledge and the skill with which she conveys it to us."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Olson |first=Ray |title=Fields of Blood: Religion and the History of Violence Karen Armstrong |url=http://www.booklistonline.com/Fields-of-Blood-Religion-and-the-History-of-Violence-Karen-Armstrong/pid=6953496 |access-date=August 30, 2022 |website=Booklist}}</ref>
== References == {{reflist}}
Category:2014 non-fiction books Category:Books about religion Category:Religion and violence Category:Alfred A. Knopf books
{{Reli-ethics-book-stub}}