The Religious Case against Belief-book report

The Religious Case Against Belief.  Kind of a strange title for a book.  By James P. Carse, 2008. Penguin Books.  Carse is professor emeritus at New York University where he's hung his hat for a long time (30 years). The basic idea is this: there is "religion" and there is "belief" and they are mostly orthogonal (they don't intersect). "Belief" in Carse's book is really more towards dogma, a hard edged definition of "what I believe" and don't try to change my mind. The groups attacking the health care proposal, who will earn label the President a "liar" are a good picture of "believers."  He uses the conflict between Luther and the Church in the 1500s as a perfect example of two completely contrasting belief systems who could not agree on any common ground.  I am right, and you are wrong.  End of discussion.  And if necessary we will fight to the death to prove that we are right and you are wrong.  Is that "religion" or is it a clash of "belief."
    Carse spends a lot of time working on a definition for "religion" and can't arrive at a definite conclusion.  But think of "religion" as having its roots more in poetry, admitted ignorance or (better) the notion that there are some questions that don't have final answers. In the contrast that Carse wants to draw between "belief" and "religion" he points out that "belief systems" don't have a long life.  Think of Marxism, Nazism, etc which didn't last long.  Then think of the major religions which have lasted thousands of years.  The youngest of the major religions, Islam, is over 1300 years old.
  Definitely a book that can be read more than once.  Carse's long tenure and exposure to a lot of religion makes this a good read.