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Summary: Great food for thought
Review: While taking an unbiased view of the history and interactions of the three monotheistic religions that follow the tradition of Abraham seems destined to offend some (just read some of the previous reviews), "A History of God" is a book that tackles the hard issues with sensitivity and intelligence.Karen Armstrong is at her best in the opening and closing thirds of the book, where she examines the climate Judaism originally sprang from and then where the three great religions are today. In between, the book is almost too full of information, with important movements and sects getting only a paragraph at times, due to Armstrong's rush to cover everything, at least in passing. The middle sections desperately need a study guide, or a Web browser (not available when I first read the book, in its first edition in the early 1990s) to find out more about the different thinkers and movements. But even at its densest, Armstrong does an excellent job of discussing the crisis points all three religions came to and how each handled it. (Have a thick skin when your faith is addressed, as the all-too-human members of each major religion have dropped the ball, and Armstrong shows how it happened, although she never passes judgement.) Not a quick read, or a light one, but educational and inspiring. Whether used to enrich one's understanding of their own faith, or for insight into the world around us, "A History of God" is an excellent overview of the history of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
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Summary: Sweeping...overwhelming...left me mentally exhausted...
Review: I have read the other reviews here on Amazon, and I think some of the criticism is fair. It is important to understand that Karen's book is _A_ History of God, not _The_ History of God (which, of course, is impossible to write :-). This is a good book for anybody that wants to understand some of the historical issues related to God, but 400 pages merely qualifies as a "pamphlet" regarding the history of God, and countless men and women have devoted decades to this study. However, Karen does a good job of helping you stare into the Abyss and attempt to make sense of it. Good job, Karen!
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Summary: A tour-de-force
Review: This book astonishes me every time I return to it. The scope is extremely wide, and the author covers all this ground clearly, carefully and passionately. There is a great deal of material here, and she never lets any of it get away from her. Armstrong takes as her subject the Western search for G-d, and (surprisingly, when you consider the length of the book), she manages to do justice to the topic. Her erudition is impressive, as is her ability to write fluently about difficult topics. The easy prose does not water down the content; indeed, it enhances the book by making it accessible to the general reader. It's a very personal book, which is obviously the result of years of reserach and thinking about this topic. I don't agree with everything she wrote, but everything she wrote is thought-provoking and useful. In fact, the author's clear commitment to her work is part of the what makes this book as strong as it is. However, it will definitely force you to confront your own beliefs and understandings, so don't read it if you aren't willing to do that.
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Summary: Insightful and Objective
Review: A wonderful book that gave me a greater understanding of the evolution of religion. A must read for serious questioners of theology.
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Summary: How Our Changing View of God Has Changed Our World
Review: I suppose there are those who will take offense at the theme of this book. However, open minded believers and non-believers alike will find fresh insights in this book. It is one of a handful of books that I have listened to or read that has been able to take complicated issues and clarify them in a way that gives genuine insight. By the way, for those of you who missed the point: This is not a biography of God, it's a study of mankind's changing view of God. Don't be threatened by the book, read it and see if it doesn't give you insight into the human condition.
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Summary: Comprehensive, Challenging, and of Great Significance
Review: Armstrong's "History of God", much like Jaspers' "Great Philosophers", is a truly first rate introduction to the field of religious history for three primary reasons. Firstly, as somebody relatively unfamiliar with the major monotheistic traditions, I found the breadth and scope of the work to be simply amazing. The variety of periods which Armstrong covers and the extent to which she covers them makes even a new comer to the field such as myself leave the work with a significantly deeper understanding of the disciplines of western theology and religious philosophy and the course they have taken. Secondly, this work is a serious commentary on the Western European/North American mind. As somebody frequently troubled by the western (but particularly American) emphasis on the literal character of the Bible and their respective canons, Armstrong's book sheds light on the nature and history of this peculiar tradition of western European thought. Finally, the extent and rigor which Armstrong applies to her research is indicative of the high academic quality of this work. Thus while the book is of immense value to the uninitiated, even to the very scholarly it retains a high level of value. While a more thorough discussion of the modern developments in Eastern Christian thought would have been appreciated (if for nothing else but for the sake of balance), Armstrong's book is a work of amazing scholarly achievement that is at once both a fabulous introduction to understanding serious thought about the divine in Islam, Christianity, and Judaism and an amazing commentary on the world view of AMericans and Western Europeans. I recommend it very highly.
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Summary: Changed My Life
Review: On a scholarly level (I am an historian), Karen Armstrong does an excellent job. Her research and the manner in which she handles the subject matter is impecable. On a personal level, the book changed my life. By learning about the multitude of beliefs monothiests have held, I was able to recognize (what I hold to be) the Truth, and jetison baggage (that I held from my religious upbringing) which prevented me (due to my personal experience) from believing in God.
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Summary: Erudite and readable
Review: In this book Karen Armstrong (who spent 7 years as a nun at a Catholic convent) leads us through the wildest wild goose chase ever conjured up by the human imagination____ the quest for God . This account is balanced , remarkably well-researched and above all READABLE . Her conclusion is something I've always instinctively felt to be true deep inside my bones _____ Man created God in his own image (not vice versa ) and as man evolves (for the better or worse) so does the CONCEPTION (no pun intended !) of God he carries in his mind. Going through this book is truly a mind-stretching and soul enriching exercise .
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Summary: Great Book
Review: Open your mind and read this account of religious history.
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Summary: Too Subjective
Review: This isn't "history," it's a personal crusade. As mentioned earlier by a reader from Reston, VA, Karen Armstrong's book is masked as an objective historical review, however the pervading tone is highly personal and subjective. A quick read of her self-introduction and personal background sheds further light - she is a former member of the Catholic Church. When I was reading her book, I was constantly asking myself "why is she so angry?" And "with who or what is she so angry?" Although the book is full of fun and fascinating facts, these facts just didn't feel like the focal point of her book. A true fact is objective by definition, unfortunately however, when facts are delivered along side opinionated assumptions and interpretations as Armstrong did, the facts cease to straightforward. It is very important for readers to try to understand the intentions of an author and to read for tone and voice. These are the motives that color the context they deliver. Armstrong's voice sounded rather bitter and her book felt as if she was trying to prove something to herself. For something to be purely historical (if there is a thing) the information can't be manipulated and peppered with as many personal conclusions as found in this book. Please leave the conclusions to the reader. The book had a lot of potential - - it is just disappointing that she let her own passions heavily taint it.
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