A History of God - Couverture souple

Armstrong, Karen

Couverture souple

ISBN 10 : 0749306920 ISBN 13 : 9780749306922

Editeur : Mandarin, 1994

Synopsis

The idea of a single divine being - God, Yahweh, Allah - has existed for over 4000 years, but the history of God is also the history of human struggle. While Judaism, Islam and Christianity proclaim the goodness of God, organized religion has too often been the catalyst for violence and ineradicable prejudice. This controversial account of the evolution of belief examines Western society's unerring fidelity to the idea of One God and the many conflicting convictions it engenders. Karen Armstrong's first book, "Through the Narrow Gate", described her seven years as a Roman Catholic nun. Since 1982 she has been a writer and broadcaster.

A propos du livre

Quatrième de couverture

'An invigorating, unpretentious, sympathetic history, of interest to believers curious about what they believe, and non-believers fascinated by belief, as non-believers ought to be' Observer

'This is the most fascinating and learned survey of the biggest wild-goose chase in history - the quest for God. Karen Armstrong is a genius' A.N. Wilson

The idea of a single devine being - God, Yahweh, Allah - has existed for over 4,000 years. But the history of God is also the history of human struggle. While Judaism, Islam and Christianity proclaim the goodness of God, organised religion has too often been the catalyst for violence and ineradicable prejudice.

In this fascinating, extensive and original account of the evolution of belief, Karen Armstrong examines Western socitety's unerring fidelity to this idea of One God and the many conflicting convictions it engenders. A controversial, extraordinary story of worship and war, A History of God confronts the most fundamental fact - or fiction - of our lives.

'Witty, informative and contemplative: Ms Armstrong can simplify complex ideas, but she is never simplistic' New York Times Book Review

'Armstrong shows a reverent curiosity and a generosity of spirit, refreshing the understanding of what one knows and providing a clear introduction to the unfamiliar' Rt Revd Robert Runcie, Daily Telegraph

'Only those who think they know it all will fail to be fascinated by Armstrong's search for God' Economist

Also by Karen Armstrong: [jpeg of The Case for God]; [jpeg of In the Beginning]

Présentation de l'éditeur

"Strange as it may seem, the idea of 'God' developed in a market economy in a spirit of aggressive capitalism," Karen Armstrong asserts in her fascinating work A History of God. Armstrong considers herself a "historian of ideas," and with this broad view she gives a compelling account of the correspondences among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the historical, philosophical, intellectual, and social developments through the ages that both shaped them and were shaped by them.

Religion is "highly pragmatic," Armstrong finds. Any particular idea of God must work for the people who develop it. Consequently, as the times have changed, so have our ideas about God. "Understanding the ever-changing ideas of God in the past and their relevance and usefulness in their time," she says, "will help us to develop a new concept for the future."

Today an increasing number of people have difficulty with the idea of a God that behaves as a larger version of themselves. Armstrong sees this as inevitable, and welcomes believers to a notion of God that "works for us in the empirical age."

Détails de l'édition

• Éditeur: Mandarin
• Date d'édition: 1994
• Langue: anglais
• ISBN 10: 0749306920
• ISBN 13: 9780749306922
• Reliure: Broché
• Nombre de pages: 528
• Coordonnées du fabricant: non disponible
• Personne responsable: non disponible