Scan barcode
Reviews
A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by Karen Armstrong
thelibraryskeeper's review against another edition
2.0
Whew.
That was a difficult read that I honestly had to force myself through. I couldn't stay focused and kept losing interest in what Armstrong had to say. Many other reviewers said similar things, that it took them months to get through or they just couldn't. That being said let me point out one very big error printed on the back of my copy "An admirable and impressive work of synthesis that will give insight and satisfaction to thousands of lay readers."
THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR LAY READERS.
Participating in a religion does not make a scholar. This book would have gone way over my head if I didn't have some knowledge of religious studies. Even with that knowledge, this book was still incredibly dense, and honestly I didn't read every single page, I skipped around because it was that boring at times.
That was a difficult read that I honestly had to force myself through. I couldn't stay focused and kept losing interest in what Armstrong had to say. Many other reviewers said similar things, that it took them months to get through or they just couldn't. That being said let me point out one very big error printed on the back of my copy "An admirable and impressive work of synthesis that will give insight and satisfaction to thousands of lay readers."
THIS BOOK IS NOT FOR LAY READERS.
Participating in a religion does not make a scholar. This book would have gone way over my head if I didn't have some knowledge of religious studies. Even with that knowledge, this book was still incredibly dense, and honestly I didn't read every single page, I skipped around because it was that boring at times.
thephilosopher's review against another edition
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.5
Excellent history of the concept of God. Delves into the various conceptions of God throughout the ages. It felt a bit repetitive towards the end of the book, but still an enjoyable read.
b12563's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a well researched and enlightening work on the (dis)connections of the three main Abrahamic religions, which are Judaism, Christianity, and Islamism. The author uses two chapters to establish each religion foundation and how it interact with other religions and with historical, social, and economic realities. Afterwards, some chapters are devoted to other formats of religiosity within these three religions and how it evolved with in time and how they respond to new theological questions and philosophical advancements, such as Enlightenment, atheism as a modern conception, wars, among other things.
The book closes with an attempt to diagnose the future of God and its religions. How will religions adapt, if they will, to modernity and new spiritual demands of people is something we should be attentive to.
Finally, History of God is a good book to open a systematic research to deepen one's knowledge about the most popular religions of the Globe.
The book closes with an attempt to diagnose the future of God and its religions. How will religions adapt, if they will, to modernity and new spiritual demands of people is something we should be attentive to.
Finally, History of God is a good book to open a systematic research to deepen one's knowledge about the most popular religions of the Globe.
nina_rod's review against another edition
I was hoping the book would give me a good foundation in comparative religions and would be interesting. It was neither. The author is very knowledgeable, but is writing for those who have more than a basic knowledge of religions, which I do not have.
aasim's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
dayseraph's review against another edition
4.0
This took me a long time to read but significantly less time than 4,000 years. It was a fascinating and very detailed history of the ways that we have conceptualized God back to the days of Abraham. Along the way, I learned some fun facts to bring up at a party (when you're the weird conversationalist at a party), but more importantly, this made me really think about what God means to contemporary Jews, Christians, and Muslims and what God has meant over time and what is "absolute" in theology.
A History of God is promoted as being an approachable read, and in many ways it is. But it wouldn't be the first book I would recommend to someone looking to explore these ideas as it is overflowing with concepts that can be overwhelming.
I particularly enjoyed the sections One God (2), The God of the Mystics (7), and Does God Have a Future? (11).
A History of God is promoted as being an approachable read, and in many ways it is. But it wouldn't be the first book I would recommend to someone looking to explore these ideas as it is overflowing with concepts that can be overwhelming.
I particularly enjoyed the sections One God (2), The God of the Mystics (7), and Does God Have a Future? (11).
kirbyii's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
slow-paced
4.25
beingshort's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
konain's review against another edition
5.0
An excellent book. A dense, difficult but an excellent account of how the belief in God has evolved over time, how it changed as mankind struggled to make sense of the world around.
It's essentially a history and collection of philosophical thought about God, from the super ancient times to late 21st century. Armstrong hasn't really put in her views but described these different thoughts and quoted extensively from their works. Throughout the narrative, she has expertly linked and compared each evolving school with earlier ones like a benign teacher hand holding the students.
It's a good template if you want to make up your own mind or want to make sense of many things happening in the world in an area that is intellectually stratified but potentially plebeian in its effects.
A difficult read. But a must read.
It's essentially a history and collection of philosophical thought about God, from the super ancient times to late 21st century. Armstrong hasn't really put in her views but described these different thoughts and quoted extensively from their works. Throughout the narrative, she has expertly linked and compared each evolving school with earlier ones like a benign teacher hand holding the students.
It's a good template if you want to make up your own mind or want to make sense of many things happening in the world in an area that is intellectually stratified but potentially plebeian in its effects.
A difficult read. But a must read.