She spent seven years as a roman catholic nun in the 1960s, but then left her teaching order in 1969 to read english at st annes college, oxford. A history of god karen armstrong deur babs basson op 01 mei 20 karen armstrong a history of god vintage 1999, random house. The 4, 000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam kindle edition by armstrong, karen. Karen armstrong, who teaches at the leo baeck college for the study of judaism in england, spent seven years as a roman catholic nun and has written a biography of muhammad. In 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. The 4,000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam. Karen armstrong frsl born 14 november 1944 is a british author and commentator known for her books on comparative religion. A history of god by karen armstrong metaphysicspirit. Discussion of themes and motifs in karen armstrong s a history of god. Armstrong discusses her new book, which examines the. A history of god by karen armstrong part 1 youtube.
Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Karen armstrong, obe, frsl born 14 november 1944 is a british author and commentator of irish catholic descent known for her books on comparative religion. Over 700,000 copies of the original hardcover and paperback editions of this stunningly popular book have been sold. A history of god by karen armstrong the idea of a single devine being god, yahweh, allah has existed for over 4,000 years. Buy a history of god by karen armstrong online at alibris. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The 4,000year quest of judaism, christianity, and islam pdf epub book. Like all beloved historians, armstrong entertains us with deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel a greater appreciation for the present because we better understand our past. Karen armstrong s scholarly intellect and breadth of knowledge is always spectacular, and this book is a masterful example of it. A nuanced exploration of the part that religion plays in human life, drawing on the insights of the past in order to build a faith that speaks to the needs of our. The 4, 000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam armstrong, karen on. Buy a history of god by karen armstrong from waterstones today.
Jul 03, 2009 t his is an eloquent and interesting book, although you do not quite get what it says on the tin. 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. Karen armstrong books list of books by author karen. 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. Rather, we learn that the definition of god is constantly being repeated, altered, discarded. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the case for god. This book explores how the jews transformed pagan idol worship into monotheism and how christianity and islam both rose from this foundation. Karen armstrong, english author of books on religion who was widely regarded as one of the leading commentators on the subject. Nov 17, 2014 bestselling author karen armstrong shares some thoughts on god with minnesota public radios kerri miller tuesday, nov. A history of god is a rich and comprehensive account of the concept of god across thousands of years of human history. Deep sleep music 247, calm music, insomnia, sleep music, meditation, spa, relax, study, sleep yellow brick cinema relaxing music 3,817 watching live now. Buy a history of god new ed by armstrong, karen isbn. The reader is placed in a position to view his own concept of god and then he can compare this to the concept of god in the major religions of the world.
The idea of a single devine being god, yahweh, allah has existed for over 4,000 years. About the author 1994 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. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 460 pages and is available in hardcover format. It details the history of the three major monotheistic traditions, judaism, christianity and islam, along with buddhism and hinduism.
A history of god was one of the most important books ive read. The biography by karen armstrong 302pp, atlantic books. The washington post book world in 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. I had it on audio, and since i was traveling a lot, i ended up listening to it multiple times. The evolution of the idea of god is traced from its ancient roots in the middle east up to the present day. There is a distinction between belief in a set of propositions and a faith which enables us to put our trust in them. In this stunningly intelligent book, karen armstrong, one of britains foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and.
A former roman catholic religious sister, she went from a conservative to a more liberal and mystical christian faith. In this astounding book, prolific author karen armstrong has written an intellectual history of the notion of god, focusing on western christian conceptions. Based on karen armstrongs acclaimed book, this featurelength film guides viewers along one of humanitys most elusive quests. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading a history of god.
Karen armstrong is one of the worlds leading commentators on religious affairs. Unless youve taken a particularly good history of religion course, you will likely learn quite a lot from a history of god, particularly if you were educated in the united states where the history of islam and postchristianity judaism are sadly neglected. How respected is karen armstrongs history of god in the. This is an eloquent and interesting book, although you do not quite get what it. Literally a closed book to so many now, and when opened found to be an. 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. I first heard the concept of the abrahamic god evolving with ancient society in passing about a year ago and thought that it was interesting and that it made pretty good sense. Armstrong traces the history of our conception and understanding of god from the very early days of protojewish paganism, through the development of jewish monotheism, the development of early christianity and then islam, then the influence via the islamic world of ancient greek philosophy, the rise and fall of mysticism, the upheaval of reformation, the impact of science and reason, and finally the. Karen armstrong, author, scholar, and journalist, is among the worlds foremost commentators on religious history and culture. Jun 30, 2011 the idea of a single devine being god, yahweh, allah has existed for over 4,000 years.
It details the history of the three major monotheistic traditions. How respected is karen armstrongs history of god in the historical community. Superb kaleidoscopic history of religion, from an english nun turnedscholar. The 4,000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam paperback. The 4,000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam by karen armstrong and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. She first rose to prominence in 1993 with her book a history of god. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read a history of god. The idea of a single divine being god, yahweh, allah has existed for over 4,000 years. Armstrong analyzes the social and political situation in which oral history turned into written scripture, how this allpervasive scripture was collected into one work, and how it became.
The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 1975, and was written by karen armstrong. Karen armstrong s biography of the bible is part historiography and part geopolitical history. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the battle for god. These unique and eclectic credentials make her eminently qualified to write about how god is perceived by the three monotheistic world religions.
Books by karen armstrong author of a history of god. For over 4,000 years, adherents of the worlds monotheistic faiths have wrestled with the question of god. Karen armstrong gives a well thought out summary of the role that god plays in the various religions of the world. Her relatively short work the earlier history of god is much longer recounts the often strange and traumatic history of how and when the bible was cobbled together. Karen armstrong takes the reader through a history of religious practice in many different. Karen armstrong, a comparative religion specialist 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. Beginning with the dawn of the idea of monotheim, armstrong traces the development of. In this seminal account, acclaimed historian karen armstrong discusses the conception, gestation, life, and afterlife of historys most powerful book. Nov 18, 2010 over 700,000 copies of the original hardcover and paperback editions of this stunningly popular book have been sold. Jun 25, 2014 a history of god is a bestselling book by karen armstrong.
Bestselling author karen armstrong shares some thoughts on god with minnesota public radios kerri miller tuesday, nov. The case for god by karen armstrong john loftus tells us what various fundamentalists get wrong. Sep 22, 2009 the case for god ebook written by karen armstrong. The 4,000year quest of judaism, christianity, and islam, and islam. See all books authored by karen armstrong, including a history of 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 forms they all come to much the same thing. Through balanced analysis of historic and holy texts and extensive use of ancient art and artifacts, well follow the long road. This edition contains an excerpt from karen armstrongs twelve steps to a compassionate life. Also included in the book are buddhism and hinduism. The 4000year quest of judaism, christianity, and islam a history of god. It details the history of the three major monotheistic traditions, judaism, christianity and islam, along with. So great, that i ended up buying it along with other works by armstrong. Karen armstrong, a former nun, wants to rescue the idea of the deity from its cultured despisers and its more literalminded adherents alike.
While judaism, islam and christianity proclaim the goodness of god, organised religion has too often been the catalyst for violence and ineradicable prejudice. Although her faith grew progressively weaker, her fascination with religion didnt abate, and, even as a nonbeliever, she continues to pursue. Click and collect from your local waterstones or get free uk delivery on orders over. I have made this summary for my own personal use and it neither claims to be objective nor complete. Karen armstrong, a former nun, focuses on judaism, christianity, and islam, with insights into the work of western history s great theologians and philosophers. But the history of god is also the history of human struggle.
The case for god by karen armstrong books the guardian. Her work focuses on commonalities of the major religions, such as the importance of compassion and the golden rule. A history of fundamentalism ebook written by karen armstrong. Jan 06, 2008 i say that karen armstrong isnt to be found, much, on youtube, was because my search was too narrow. Is karen armstrongs a history of god a good book regarding the history of the abrahamic religions. A history of god by karen armstrong world of books. I first went through karen armstrongs book, a history of god, a number of years ago. In this stunningly intelligent book, karen armstrong, one of britains foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and women have.
The 4000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam. Karen armstrong fearlessly, yet respectfully, traces the history of monotheistic thought from its earliest conception to the present day, all in a readable, laylanguage book. 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. The 4,000 year quest of judaism, christianity and islam by karen armstrong, ballantine books, 1993, 461 pp. Karen armstrongs most popular book is a history of 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. Karen armstrong has 70 books on goodreads with 324499 ratings. Is karen armstrongs a history of god a good book regarding. Karen armstrong takes the reader through a history of religious. The 4, 000year quest of judaism, christianity and islam. The 4000year quest of judaism, christianity, and islam. I was searched on the title of the book as well, which limited the results.
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