Reza Aslan, a scholar of religion, traces the history of the idea of God from the earliest humans to the present. He begins with the possibility that early people were drawn to see minds and intentions in the natural world, and follows how this led to spirits, many gods, one god, and finally the monotheisms of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He argues that the idea of God has always been a reflection of ourselves, and that humans have understood the divine as a being much like them. Along the way he looks at Mesopotamia, Egypt, and ancient Israel.
It suits readers curious about the history of religion and anyone who likes broad, narrative explanations of how beliefs develop. It is written for general readers, without prior knowledge, and offers a wide survey in one volume.
Contemplative; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Escapist Adventurer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 2017
- Language
- EN
