Over 700,000 copies of the original hardcover and paperback editions of this stunningly popular book have been sold. Karen Armstrong's superbly readable exploration of how the three dominant monotheistic religions of the world--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--have shaped and altered the conception of God is a tour de force. One of Britain's foremost commentators on religious affairs, Armstrong traces the history of how men and women have perceived and experienced God, from the time of Abraham to the present. From classical philosophy and medieval mysticism to the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the modern age of skepticism, Armstrong performs the near miracle of distilling the intellectual history of monotheism into one compelling volume.
Armstrong, a British journalist and former nun, guides us along one of the most elusive and fascinating quests of all time--the search for God. Like all beloved historians, Armstrong entertains us with deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel a greater appreciation for the present because we better understand our past. Be warned: A History of God is not a tidy linear history. Rather, we learn that the definition of God is constantly being repeated, altered, discarded, and resurrected through the ages, responding to its followers' practical concerns rather than to mystical mandates. Armstrong also shows us how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have overlapped and influenced one another, gently challenging the secularist history of each of these religions. --Gail Hudson
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
Inside look at Christianity, Jewish and Islamic religions:
This book was a required textbook for my degree program. Karen Armstrong was a Catholic Nun, you would not know it by reading this book. I say this because she shows both the positive and negative of all 3 of these religions without prejudice, based off from historical fact and timelines. Some that read this book may take offense to your beliefs not matching up with actual history. It took me so long to get through this book because after every chapter I had to stop and think about and process what I just... more info
By far the best information about Judaism, Christianity and Islam:
This is one of my favorite books which i have given to so many people. It clarifies so many things. What I find most striking is to understand that all religions are not static but change with time. Christianity is now so different from the religion in the first century and so are all relions changing continually.
Who knows, maybe in 100 years we will have a religion which embraces all mankind, not only the ones born in a certain place and culture!
My belief is similar to the one of the Dalai... more info
Piece of trash:
Karen Armstrong has incorporated the ideas of probably every blasphemous heretic that has ever lived in an epic, but futile attempt to discredit the Holy Bible and the God and Savior of the Bible, Jesus Christ. And of course, it is praised by the enemies of God (e.g. the New York Times, the Washington Post, Liberals of every religious stripe, [even some Jews!]) as the greatest thing since sliced bread. But what else could we expect from those who hate the Savior? "Likewise, truly these apostate... more info
A Story Not About God:
A History of God by journalist Karen Armstrong is from the perspective of one who has pre-concluded that God is nothing more than a social construction. The bias of an author is normally not enough to detract from the merits of the work but her agenda is so invidious that she alternately speaks for the ancient scholar or prophet she is reporting and then speaking for herself, leaving the reader confused as to which opinions are whose. As a history major, I am interested in the history itself and not just... more info
