This book is not for the light reader. Now the leaves are various "schisms" of the original thought that keeps growing and more leaves are growing. Nonetheless, it was a helpful way to allow each group to see how the same major philosophical premises have encouraged similar developments in each religious community. This is a phenomenal book. Each have Charismatics, for example. What if the innumerable conceptions humans hold to be true are representative of the immense gulf which exists between our inevitably finite mental faculties and the full, ineffable reality of God? Very recommended. I thought I'd never finish this book. I could only read a chapter at a time then I had to go away for at least a day and think on what it said. She explained and explored a lot of lofty religious concepts, which got repetitive and tedious. Still, it is a very good guide to the development of mystical (rather than theological) thought in the three Abrahamic religions, and I recommend it especially for those who, like me, disagree with its final conclusions. Now the leaves are various "schisms" of the original thought that keeps growing and more leaves are growing. The Quran never said that. Books like this are part of the reason why so many non-academics have such a poor understanding of the history of religion in the world, and do little more than contribute to the cloud of misinformation which surrounds the field. Early on in the story it becomes apparent how much accurate detail is lost in temporal transition. It was by no means an easy read. Such concepts approach the limits of mental grasp, yet Mrs. Armstrong simplifies the material, if that can considered possible, as best as anyone could without diluting it's essence. We have become a nation deeply divided. Armstrong, a former Catholic nun, traces the histories of Christ, Yahweh, and Allah from their common roots to the present, taking brief excursions along the way to explore some of the more interesting and eccentirc sects that have sprung up and usually been exterminated with extreme prejudice along the way. Search the world's most comprehensive index of full-text books. none of us has a sure source for a some period of the human history all what we could do about is to take these thoughts and think about it carefully. The books explores different philosophies on 'God' or the 'reality' known commonly as God. Along with evolution of god, one can track psychological and political development of human society. This is an old book. Many intelligent people interested in religion have liked it. Refresh and try again. Armstrong makes many complex ideas people have had about God—the nature of God, how to come close to God, how to serve God, and so on—easy to understand. A history of God: the 4000-year quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam 1993, A.A. Knopf, Distributed by Random House in English - 1st American ed. Any clarification? Anyway. The writer might have used sufi sources, where they emphasise God's being most merciful over anything. March 2nd 2004 These unique and eclectic credentials make her eminently qualified to write about how God is perceived by the three monotheistic world religions. Early on in the story it becomes apparent how much accurate detail is lost in temporal transition. I know I'm an atheist and all, but I still enjoy Armstrong. I listened to the audiobook. Second, in her attempts at syncretism she sometimes overlooks very real, significant and extremel. none of us has a sure source for a some period of the human history all what we could do about is to take these thoughts and think about it carefully. This book's approach to the three Abrahamic religions is overly simplistic, presenting only Armstrong's often-erroneous views of these three prominent religions with almost no grounding in historical fact. Religion is something purely human-made about a phenomena that is undeniable--God exists and He can exist purely for the benefit of the individual, however he or she defines God. The God that I, alongside other atheists, rejected is only the God of literal interpretation of the Bible. Basically the summary is that Religion is like a tree, based on Judaism as the root (or at least thats where this book start) and the body (the veins of the tree) is mainly Plato and Aristoteles. Too much anger of the other. Second, in her attempts at syncretism she sometimes overlooks very real, significant and extremely relevant differences between religions. As title says, it is more about history of God. I think some writers give such statements based on secondary sources than primary source like (Quran in case of Islam). for the main thought that the book have discussed for me God is not only our creator ,he also our life-long meaning .Since the beginning of the human history searching for the real meaning of being here on earth ,what will happen after we die and why we born if we all are going to die ?. She explained and explored a lot of lofty religious concepts, which got repetitive and tedious. It’s written in 1994 and goes through 4000 years of history. God made them grow. One of Britain's foremost commentators on rel. the religions are ways to realize him better, get us more close to him after that we could know our self better. You’d have to have … like a point. Armstrong (Holy War, 1991, etc.) Religion may help give you some idea of how others have experienced the divine, but it cannot give you answers. Oh, and while Abraham did worship a single god, he believed in many gods. I also enjoy learning about new religions. This is at once a very simple and a very complex book. Karen Armstrong is a uniquely qualified to author the book "A HISTORY OF GOD, THE 4000 - YEAR QUEST OF JUDAISM, CHRISTIANITY AND ISLAM." Her argument contrasts with the warring between theists and atheists over a literal and historical God. A History of God is not a history of the Abrahamic religions; it is the history of the development of various understandings of God in the Abrahamic religions. A comprehensive, digestible overview of the history of religious thinking in the three major monotheistic faiths. In many ways this is reflective of Armstrong’s humanistic stance towards religion; Armstrong constantly upends the arguments of the literalists who dogmatically impose their interpretation of scripture on others, instead she promotes the idea that religion is fundamentally an internalization of our spiritualization, which we experience in our own individual ways and on. Beyond that, this book is bursting with tons of fantastic comparisons between Abrahamic and Eastern beliefs, and the level of detail in documenting every theological change, movement and debate for the last few millennia is incredible (particularly on all the middle-eastern goings-on between 300BCE and 400 CE, which a major chunk of the book is devoted to). The rise of monotheism in the middle east amidst a multitude of pagan pantheons is truly amazing and Karen Armstrong aptly explains the socio-political/cultural context behind the rise and evolution of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity. Review: A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam User Review - Susan Kane - Goodreads. God must be so frustrated with me because I … Islam book. Did the New Testament really teach the elaborate - and highly contradictory - … It seems a subtle difference at first, but will contribute heavily to your reading experience of this book. I’d still say this would be a good read for those who want an introduction to religious thinking in the West and Near East. This is a phenomenal book. I consider this one of my all-time favorite books. Extraordinary efforts in the modern times to know the history of GOD ? And so my book is more than just a history of how we have humanized God. This book would be difficult to process for anyone who didn't have at least some background in religious studies. If you have an open mind and want to have some new ideas and thoughts given to ya to chew on then this is a book for you. Muslim enlightenment is such unknown story for the west and further study is required., Mysticism is not covered well, so basically is a description of the leaf but not of the essence. Read A History of God: The 4, 000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam book reviews & author details and more … Question: Can you distill a history of the way in which humans have understood and experienced God over the past 4,000 years into one volume? Drawing upon these, as well as, several first-person accounts Mrs. Armstrong acts as a theological watershed while communicating the profound and complicated concepts so common in theology. Amazon.in - Buy A History of God: The 4, 000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam book online at best prices in India on Amazon.in. I also enjoy learning about new religions. A History of God is one of the best books on the general history of the three monotheistic faiths -- Judaism, Christianity, and Islam -- that I've ever read. I still plan to though, but not in one sitting. She points out, for example, that all three trace their claims of Truth back to a single man, Abraham, who believed in a god named El, who is none of the three major monotheistic deities of the west. A History of God: The 4, 000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam - Kindle edition by Armstrong, Karen. for the main thought that the book have discussed for me God is not only our creator ,he also our life-long meaning .Since the beginning of the human history searching for the real meaning of being here on earth ,what will happen after we die and, this book depends on another self-writing books " historical books " none of us has lived these days. Welcome back. Having never taken a comparative religion class, and in fact bordering on an antiestablishment stance when it comes to organized religion, I can only conclude that this book was not the place to start. Just a moment while we sign you in to your Goodreads account. The author is, by all accounts, a scholar who knows a lot about her topic, etc. A must read! I hated this book’s writing style and format. 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. I thought that once the review for this book was typed and posted, I had gotten done with it but it was not to be. It is not a history of God. Karen Armstrong does an outstanding job of describing the rise of the world's three most important religions besides Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Her encyclopedic examination shows the evolution of different ideas and practices centered around the Divine. It's good book for evolution of God from female to male. It was recommended to me as a great way to "jump in" to the history of Abrahamic religions, but Armstrong's sources and references are obscure and complex. We aren't supposed to have answers. Each generation, explains Armstrong, comes up with its own distinctive. It took me a bit of time to get through (partly because it's so dense) but also because I had to stop so often to marvel at humanity and the creation of organized religion. i.e., Again and again, we mess up, and each time, God redeems. These debates should mostly be left behind, for they prove detrimental, or distract us from experiencing the unknowable and transcendent Other. That'll be the last time I read about theologians' ideas about god, because I find what they do to be a complete waste of time. THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD In this stunningly intelligent book, Karen Armstrong, one of Britain's foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and women have perceived and experienced God, from the time of Abraham to the present. However, this can at times read like a series of encyclopedia entries for dozens of thinkers and writers, and Armstrong’s ability to make that engaging to read can be uneven.