A History of God by Karen Armstrong
If Karen Armstrong’s desire wasn’t to write some kind of historical text about God Himself, what was she trying to do? Well, the focus of Armstrong’s genuinely breathtaking book is mainly devoted to the three major monotheistic religions which spring forth from the God of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Despite that fact, however, it is definitely to Armstrong’s credit that along the way at certain points she finds room to include discussion and analysis of some of the mystical aspects of the major Eastern religions as they relate to rise and spread of the western religions.
The overwhelming theme of the book is one that is almost certain to irritate followers of all three religions that trace back to the God of Abraham and that theme is that each of them-Judaism, Christianity and Islam-all have influenced each other in one way or another. Even more radical than that-and sure to raise the bile of fundamentalists across the board-is that Karen Armstrong has the audacity to kick off this examination of the history these religions by showing demonstrating how the belief in monotheistic religion was stoked by the ancient myths that preceded the first oral traditions of what eventually evolved in the canonical beliefs of Judaism.
Woe be anyone in America today who stands up and attempts to find a common connection between Allah and the God of Abraham, but Armstrong pulls no punches in asserting that any attempt to deny that connection is a futile quest. Which is not to suggest that A History of God is meant to be taken politically except in the sense that every writing must be taken politically at a certain level. Aside from ideological issues inherent in any text, however, A History of God is very much an academic-minded book that is reverent toward its subject. Even so, however, be forewarned that the book looks at religion from a philosophical viewpoint rather as scriptural attempts at writing history. Still, there is enough analysis of many of the great religious stories to go around. And yet, Armstrong delves into profound exegesis of philosophical theories of such landmark thinkers as Immanuel Kant and St. Augustine.
The most contemporary subject that the book tackles is no doubt the on which takes up the supremely modern interpretation that God is dead. But Armstrong pushes beyond to not only ask whether God is dead, but God have a future? It is in the chapters that focus on this question that Armstrong comes closest to viewing religion with an eye toward the political, but she does so by examining the history of extremism that has been perpetrated throughout history in the name of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Some readers will no doubt be surprised to find that extreme forms of violence are not practices only by bearded men flying planes into buildings.
Picking up A History of God and expecting to find an actual history of God will result in disappointment. But if you are truly interested in opening up your mind to how the three main western religions interact and interconnect with each other, and if you want to understand the history of religion separate from the history written by the church, then what you will discover in Armstrong’s book is an incredibly incisive, intelligent, and accessible history of the three major organized religions of the western world. You will discover in manner not open to any but the most radically non-secular of debate how all these religions tied together not just theologically and historically, but also socially and politically.
