Armstrong has demonstrated the provisional nature of our understanding of god and the relevance of values and visions long buried in dusty tomes. A controversial, extraordinary story of worship and war, a history of god confronts the most fundamental fact or fiction of our lives. An admirable and impressive work of synthesis that will give insight and satisfaction to thousands of lay readers. In 2008 she was awarded the ted prize and began working with ted on the charter for compassion, created online by the general public. No wonder the sovereignty of god is such a prominent theme in daniel. Battling unbelief defeating sin with superior pleasure. Books by karen armstrong author of a history of god. In this stunningly intelligent book, karen armstrong, one of britains foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and women have. We must believe that god is in control of history and that sinful circumstances cannot. In a history of god, karen armstrong, a former catholic nun turned comparative religion scholar, identifies a time in late antiquity called the axial age as a period when the quest for god.
I explain how i learned from a history of god by karen armstrong that the evidence indicates that the jewish concept of monotheism evolved. The two have been researching nelsons life for over a year and the book is now available. A history of god by karen armstrong the new christian west during the middle ages introduction as a child, i had a number of strong religious beliefs but little faith in god. New york times bestseller the bestselling author of zealot and host of believer explores humanitys quest to make sense of the divine in this concise and fascinating history of our understanding of god. In this stunningly intelligent book, karen armstrong, one of britains foremost. The 4,000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam paperback august 9, 1994. Search the worlds most comprehensive index of fulltext books. History of the love of god hardcover book weigh down. A history of god by karen armstrong, 9780099273677, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. The evolution of god is a big book that addresses a simple question. However, their desire for the beauty of mortal women drove them. Paul shares the same godcentered view of history that peter expressed in his first sermon in acts 2.
Beyond the bounds open theism and the undermining of biblical christianity. Her work has been translated more about karen armstrong. Superb kaleidoscopic history of religion, from an english nun turnedscholar. Only a god who is sovereign over history could fulfill the prophecies of the coming kingdom of god.
The case for god by karen armstrong books the guardian. Am, albuquerque usa i have been reading your book the history of. Twentyseven years and more than 20 books later including the bestselling a history of god armstrong releases her latest book, the case. In layered prose and with thoughtful, accessible scholarship, aslan narrates the history of religion as one long and remarkably cohesive attempt to understand the divine by giving it human traits and emotions.
Find all the books, read about the author, and more. Penned from gwens own experience and decades of teaching seekers how to have a relationship with the father, this book is a beautiful and inspiring writing that starts with a history of gods love for man and mankinds appropriate love back to the father, then explains how this true love can overflow into love for those around you even the. The watchers were tasked with observing mankind in the early times according to the book of enoch. Through balanced analysis of historic and holy texts and extensive use of ancient art and artifacts, well follow the long road. In twentyseven concise chapters, god is invites, equips, edifies, comforts, and challenges gods people to know god better and love him more. Rosaria butterfield, former professor of english, syracuse university. If i could, i would fly to england to talk with you. Slightly shocking but not groundbreakinga readable but minor.
A history of god is one of the best books on the general history of the three monotheistic faiths judaism, christianity, and islam that ive ever read. Yahweh and the other deities in ancient israel, mark s. As students journey through this 5year curriculum, theyre sure to hear gods voice. The books of the new testament were composed not in order to satisfy historical curiosity about the events they recount but to bear witness to a faith in the action of god through these events. The evolution of the idea of god is traced from its ancient roots in the middle east up to the present day. The moment i started reading your book, it spoke to my heart and soul. Unless youve taken a particularly good history of religion course, you will likely learn quite a lot from a history of god. A love more ancient than time that will change your perspective on life and your purpose forever and will affect how you parent, who you. Armstrong tackles a history of the three major western religions, covering the evolution of philosophy and theology in christianity, judaism, and islam since the time of abraham.
Most people look at the bible as a book that contains many interesting stories and theological teaching. A devotional guide to the attributes of god crossway. The history of god guy steven needler the dawn of a. As a history, the book is a brief yet interesting, mostly engaging work, though it does not touch on the idea of god as manifested in asian cultures. While judaism, islam and christianity proclaim the goodness of god, organised religion has too often. A history of god examines the familiar images of deity as presented in the bible and koran and traces the evolution and interrelation of the various christian, jewish, and islamic interpretations of the divine figure. According to smiths reconstruction of the data, early israel in the late bronze age or early iron age, the period of. Although her faith grew progressively weaker, her fascination with religion didnt abate, and, even as a nonbeliever, she continues to pursue. And so my book is more than just a history of how we have humanized god.
Karen armstrong takes the reader through a history of religious practice in many different cultures, arguing that in the good old days and purest. It details the history of the three major monotheistic traditions, judaism, christianity and islam, along with. As a child, i had a number of strong religious beliefs but little faith in god. Karen armstrong, a former nun, focuses on judaism, christianity, and islam, with insights into the work of western historys great theologians and philosophers. Karen armstrong has 69 books on goodreads with 328459 ratings.
It provides an accurate account of historical events that serve as a foundation and a framework for understanding, dating, and interpreting secular history and historical science. Sister wendy beckett once said, looking at art is one way of listening to god. Karen armstrongs scholarly intellect and breadth of knowledge is always spectacular, and this book is a masterful example of it. Karen armstrong is the author of numerous books on religion, including the case for god, a history of god, the battle for god, holy war, islam, buddha, and fields of blood, as well as a memoir, the spiral staircase. This book will not be a history of the ineffable reality of god itself, which is beyond. Beginning with the dawn of the idea of monotheim, armstrong traces the development of. These attributes are used either in way of analogy or are taken literally.
It was to be established by abolishing the present kingdoms of men. A history of god is a daring and pioneering work for all of the above reasons. Prophecy is gods mark on history to let mankind know that he is providential and will do his perfect will in both heaven and earth. The washington post book worldin this stunningly intelligent book, karen armstrong, one of britains 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. Smith looks at biblical texts and the canaanite background on a variety of different topics to puzzle out the early development of yahwism. Browse new and enduring titles on ancient history, european history, the civil war, u. I bought this book for a college course titled the idea of god and we used the text as a reference for our study, as it took us gently through the history of this monotheist idea of god. It details the history of the three major monotheistic traditions, judaism, christianity and islam, along with buddhism and hinduism. Extracts from the history of god i then suddenly saw the truth. Brothers, we are not professionals a plea to pastors. This is mark jones at his best, combining his theological breadth and depth with his pastors heart. The origin was the end and everything was taking place within the origin. Words fail me to express my gratitude and the loving oneness with all that you encompass.
God is usually conceived as being omniscient allknowing, omnipotent allpowerful, omnipresent allpresent and as having an eternal and necessary existence. Over 700000 copies of the original hardcover and paperback edi. It is also an appeal to stop foisting our human compulsions upon the. Karen armstrong is the author of numerous books on religious affairs, including the case for god, a history of god, the battle for god, holy war, islam, buddha,and the great transformation, as well as a memoir, the spiral staircase.
History of the love of god hardcover book gwen shamblin, new york times bestselling author of the weigh down diet releases the highly anticipated 400page hardback book history of the love of god, volume ii. All proceeds from the book will benefit sagu as it continues nelsons legacy to train people to preach the whole gospel to the whole world. A history of god based on karen armstrongs acclaimed book, this featurelength film guides viewers along one of humanitys. There is a distinction between belief in a set of propositions and a faith which enables us to put our trust in them. In the historical portions, gods sovereignty is demonstrated. A history of god is a rich and comprehensive account of the concept of god across thousands of years of human history. In zealot, reza aslan replaced the staid, wellworn portrayal of jesus of nazareth with a startling new image of the man in all his contradictions. For some it offers a refresher course on the evolution of ideas about god. But the history of god is also the history of human struggle. Karen armstrongs most popular book is a history of god. With 76 works, burke has written more historical nonfiction books than anyone else in history.
The idea that the devil governs hell may have come from the poem by dante alighieri, the divine comedy, published in the early fourteenth century. The book was in response to allegations that christianity brought about the decline of rome and is considered one of augustines most important works, standing alongside the. It is recommended to have a search engine on hand, as armstrong tends to assume that readers are already on top of this kind of. Astonished by god ten truths to turn the world upside down. To me, the most interesting thing about it is how, once all 3 faiths were established, they tended to move in parallel. Andrew fuller holy faith, worthy gospel, world mission. The setting of the new testament within the christian community is one factor that makes a biography of jesus or a history of the 1stcentury church difficult or impossible. In monotheistic thought, god is conceived of as the supreme being, creator deity, and principal object of faith.