Rating: 
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.
Rating: 
Summary: Made me think -- maybe too much?
Review: Karen Armstrong gives the readers a comprehensive view of the evolution of the three monotheistic faiths. In many respects, this is an eye-opening history, and will probably make many fundamentalists of all three faiths weep and gnash their teeth, and with good reason. We need to see that God is as much an evolving idea as He is a Being (or, perhaps, "Non-being") that creates and sustains us. Armstrong deftly shows us how the early Hebrews developed their concept of Yahweh from the early pagan war and fertility cults, how the concept of Jesus as savior and sacrifice for our sins developed, how the issue of the Trinity was addressed, and how Islam came to be.
What was distressing, though, is that while Armstrong correctly, in my opinion, points out the dangers of a literal God, goes too far in condemning an anthropomorphic God. I found myself depressed by the end of the book, questioning the conclusion, it seemed, that God did not exist, or if he did, he wasn't there as a Being. Reading this book certainly shook my faith, and I recommend reading this book with care, especially as one gets into the later chapters that focus on the development of atheism. Readers who are in a state of spiritual upheaval could find this book extremely challenging, though I believe that faith grows from our doubts.
Rating:
Summary: couldn't put down this history of the monotheistic religions
Review: I found Ms. Armstrong's book to be completely absorbing. I have a strongly ecumenical background, and her thorough "history of God" and the concepts of the divine were both riveting and illuminating. Of course I'd never let my mother come near the book, nor would she want to, since she's an ardent fundamental Christian. But for those spiritual searchers who have an open mind about the pathway(s) to God, this book fills in plenty of blanks and stimulates a great deal of thought. I was particularly pleased to see how similar Judaism, Christianity and Islam are "at heart" -- and am all the more saddened that we all seem to be at each other's throats, even within our own practices. I heard Karen Armstrong on NPR the other day. I wish she lived in my neighborhood and I could spend hours over coffee talking with her!
Rating:
Summary: Listen To Some Truth For Once!
Review: I'm a Christian and a Buddhist and I think this is a fabulous book! It's time we used the intellect God gave us and looked beyond our limited doctrines to the truth beyond all religions. Yes, there is much of the author's opinion here, just as there is in any book written by Jerry Falwell or somebody else of "faith." Except Ms. Armstrong's is one informed of much research, and an understanding of the historicity of the various books of faith. Anybody who insists on the accuracy of their particular holy book will not like what Karen Armstrong has to say. In her mind, all of them are created equal. What a brave and brilliant woman! God Bless You All! Challenge your faith, and discover a greater truth, and come closer to God.
Rating: 
Summary: Amazon needs more honesty in their reader review section
Review: To be honest, I haven't read Karen Armstrong's A History of God. I read through almost every review of it however and noticed something interesting. The vast majority of reviewers had very little good to say about it. The spotlight reviews at the top of the list were of course glowing reviews from obviously biased readers. Naturally it makes sense for Amazon to place the glowing reviews at the top. Their goal is to sell copies of the book afterall. The trouble is, if the vast majority were dissatisfied with this book, it seems dishonest to spotlight reviews which say the opposite. The question is, is it more important to sell mass copies of a book, or to have satisfied customers? In the latter case, the spotlight reviews should be the reviews that were found most helpful by the most people, rather than simply the 5-star comments. Of course, I haven't read "A History of God" as I said, so I'm merely commenting on the reviews, not necessarily on the book itself. After reading the reviews, I have decided that I wouldn't even read this book if it was free, never mind buy a copy. When reading any review for any product, it's important for a consumer to consider the source of the review. Keep an eye out for bias in either direction, and consider what motivation the reviewer might have to slant the positive and negative qualities of the product(s) in question. Your satisfaction as a customer is at stake if you don't.
Rating:
Summary: couldn't put down this history of the monotheistic religions
Review: I found Ms. Armstrong's book to be completely absorbing. I have a strongly ecumenical background, and her thorough "history of God" and the concepts of the divine were both riveting and illuminating. Of course I'd never let my mother come near the book, nor would she want to, since she's an ardent fundamental Christian. But for those spiritual searchers who have an open mind about the pathway(s) to God, this book fills in plenty of blanks and stimulates a great deal of thought. I was particularly pleased to see how similar Judaism, Christianity and Islam are "at heart" -- and am all the more saddened that we all seem to be at each other's throats, even within our own practices. I heard Karen Armstrong on NPR the other day. I wish she lived in my neighborhood and I could spend hours over coffee talking with her!
Rating:
Summary: Scholarly Dispassionate Treatment of a Difficult Subject
Review: This book is a "must read" for anyone who seeks to learn about the similarities and differences of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The first few chapters introduce the perception or concept of G-d as it developed in man's evolution. The core beliefs and practices of ancient religions are reviewed along with how monotheism arose. Few scholars can treat this controversial thesis without falling prey to including/expanding their own belief systems ... Ms Armstrong manages to remain cool and dispassionate. She does a thorough and detailed analysis of the philosophical and core belief systems of the three major religions of the world. She creates an impressive document detailing significant dates, events and people who had a major impact on the respective religion. She uses the correct ancient Hebrew, Greek or Islamic terms and provides translations as close to the original meaning as possible. Her words are like the lense of a telescope or microscope -- they are adjusted to convey clarity and precision. The author has no hidden agendas ... she provides only the facts. Being of Christian background, I was most impressed with her discourse on the Trinity. Who but a religious scholar would have known that in the 300's A.D. the hottest religious debate raging was the controversy whether Jesus Christ was divine (G-d) and what was His relation to G-d the Father? A serious dichotomy of views arose between Athansius and Arius which caused a crisis of faith in the newly emerging Christian religion. Had it not been squelched, who knows how Christianity would be expressed today? The Emperor Constantince convened a conference of Bishops in Nicae, Turkey to settle the matter. Essentially, a committee made a religous decree but unfortuantely, it still left many questions unanswered ... questions which plague thinking Christian believers even in modern times. Ms Armstrong clarifies the matter as follows, while G-d has a single essence (ousia) which is incomprehensible to mankind, He has three expressions of Himself, hypostases, by which He is known. This is but one example of the many complex controversies tackled in this book. Both sides of many religious debates are presented and the reader realizes what a huge topic Ms Armstrong manages to present in a very engaging style. It is easy to see why religion has such a strong hold on the emotions and heart of mankind ... The most impressive chapters for this reader pertain to the internal differences of each religion. Ms Armstrong gives a full discourse on the differences *between* each religion ... as well the the differences of core beliefs *within* each religion, be it, Christianity, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, the Protestant movement, Judaism or Islam. This reader admires how she covered the differences within Islam. Her descriptions of the split between Shiites and Sunnis, Sufi mysticism and essential leaders in each movement are most impressive. I enjoyed her discourse on Judaism and the enlightening texts of prominent Rabbis. The reader needs to keep in mind, this book is for serious readers only. Anyone who dislikes detailed analyses will not enjoy this book, as it is a challenge for even those who *do* enjoy detailed analyses. Simpler books exist for readers looking for the basic tenets describing Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. This book provides a comparative and detailed analysis of G-d as expressed in the belief systems of three major religions in the world. This is the best book I have yet discovered on this difficult, deep, and sensitive subject. My highest recommendations. Erika Borsos (erikab93)
Rating:
Summary: a truely exciting experience
Review: Karen Armstrong's "A History of God" is an expansive and exciting work. In it, she attempts a broad sketch of the evolution of the concept of God in three major monotheistic faiths: Christianity, Islam, and Judiasm. I enjoyed this book a great deal, both for its introduction (to me) of new conceptions of God, and more importantly, in its demonstration that God, as conceived of by man, has never been a static or unchanging entity. Indeed, the main strength of "A History of God" is its illustration of how dynamic and mutable conceptions of God really are. For this book, it is important to focus on what it is not, as much as what it is. It is not an effort to justify or to prove the existence, or to demonstrate the correctness of any one religious view. While Armstrong does question the development of certain religious practices, in particular those of Christianity, her questions are important ones, and do not seem malicious or destructive in intent. Instead, her goal is one of the mapmaker. She does not say what the land is or whether it is good or evil; she merely charts it as she goes, and primarily leaves the duty of determining the value of the land surveyed to the reader. In doing so, she provides the reader with a chance to examine the cultural evolution of so many of the ideas that we currently hold as universal and immutable. While her challenge is not a direct one, any serious reader must question their own beliefs in the face of a clear demonstration that God is in many ways a man-made entity, and that God, as a concept, has developed as man has developed, to fill his needs and desires. I did have some complaints about this book. As others have said, the book feels heavily weighted towards Islam, at times to the exclusion of the other two faiths it aims to cover. However, it is important to recognize that a topic of this magnitude is going to have to make ommissions, and for western readers, a greater focus on Islam is at times sorely needed. Additionally, she also at times seems somewhat hostile towards Christianity. Again though, her complaints are most often valid ones that should be addressed or at least considered. At times a difficult book to get through, due to its depth, but in all an excellent and enlightening read. I highly recommend it.
Rating: 
Summary: Yawn zzzzzz
Review: As has been stated elsewhere this book seems to hold great promise at the outset only to slip into terrible redundancy. The earlier stages of the book are mildly interesting when the author is attempting to explain the origins of God and also ideas certain people held about the concept of God. However, we see these same ideas mentioned time and time again throughout the rest of the book when there is no need since they had been elucidated earlier. Also, I would have appreciated the book more if the chapters had been broken up into subsections (such as Judaism thought on Mysticism etc.) instead of just bouncing around all over the place. The author is liable to be talking about Christianity and then just suddenly switch to discussing elements of Islam without a proper segue. Lastly, I must say that a subject that should be lively and energetic and captivating to the reader is rendered all but dull and tedious by the continual droning on and rambling without getting to a clear point. The only props I will give the author concerns the fact that this is an arduous subject to write about and there was a lot of information contained therein. However, if you are wanting to read an exciting and lively text concerning the History of God in monotheistic faiths I would recommend something else.
Rating:
Summary: A problematic history
Review: This book, while it is a very heroic attempt to explain the many natures of God and his contact with man, drops the hat on several important issues. First the book is basically the history of God from the Islamic viewpoint although it pretends to be open minded. The chapter on Judaism claims that Judaism was created by monotheists and pagans when the truth it that it was not. Judaism was created when Abraham was helped by G-d in the desert and G-d aided Abraham in creating a nation of people. This book claims that the Christian apostles were epileptics when no such evidence exists. In fact the apostles were real men, mostly from the lowers classes, who met and followed Jesus and agreed to aid his ministry. Why does this book attack and defame two of the religions it is trying to understand while casting no critique on the third religion, Islam. The chapter on Islam says 'Mohomed, the prophet' and that's the end of it, no questioning, no critique no 'was mohomad an epileptic'. How blatantly biased. This book is not a history of God, it is a history of God according to a disillusioned Christian who now believed in Islam. The author claims that the Islamic word for God can be both male and female but the book does not point out the exact same is true for the word G-d in Hebrew and the early Christian versions of the bible. Only when the bible was translated into English did G-d become 'he'(not the male form but the non-gender form). This book is a total fabrication when it comes to citing Hebrew scripture and it ignores what it was supposed to be exploring: the history of god, instead it becomes a polemic against Christianity and Judaism. Not worth the read unless you're a Muslim or a feminist.
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