jjares reviewed God: From primitive times to monotheism: The humankind search for God through time (In search for God) on + 3413 more book reviews
Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism are based on meditation and are philosophies instead of religions. A belief in God is not central to their faith. Theist religions believe in the revelation of God or gods. The author states that polytheism has survived for about 10,000 years, while monotheism has existed for 2500 years.
When humans become aware of their relativity to the hugeness that surrounds them; and are not in control, they develop a belief in a Supreme Being. About 300,000 years ago in Spain, bodies threw their dead people in a big pit (13 meters deep). By about 70,000 BCE, tombs began to appear. People's method of burying changed as their relationship with a Supreme Being altered.
The concept of a single god originated in Egypt with the Pharoah Akhenaten and the belief in Aten. But, of course, from history, we know that as soon as Tutankhaman rose to the throne, he turned his country back to polytheism. Thus, monotheism only lasted about eight years in Egypt before King Tut gave the people the polytheism they wanted back.
Abraham believed in a single God without a figure. However, Moses formed the basis for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He brought the Ten Commandments, the moral code for the three monotheistic religions. After the two enslavements of Jewish peoples, the most orthodox returned to Jerusalem when they could. They started the era of true monotheism. The leaders called for the dissolution of marriages with women who were not Jewish. They made the Jewish faith and people the same. They believe in only one God, who is omnipotent, the creator of the universe. Isolation from others became vital because they were the Chosen People and must follow the rule of God because they were saved (and the others were not).
Christianity turned that notion on its head because Jesus Christ was inclusive. God was the Father. Jesus did not talk about politics but of salvation and gratitude toward God. The early Christians lived in communion, sharing, caring for the poor, widowed, and infirm. Christianity took baptism, which was an Essen practice. They took confirmation, which was a Jewish rite (Bar Mitzva).
Christianity taught compassion in a compassionless world. The author states that this compassion and courage of Christians when facing lions "defeated polytheism and the (Roman) Empire, and turned Christianity into the revision of a new civilization...." (Chapter 7).
The Koran is not a story but God's words. Allah is omnipotent and has a prophet called Mohammed. He single-handedly abolished polytheism in the East. Chapter 8 is a very fine comparison chart of the three religions. It is the best I've seen, comparing such diverse aspects of religion as the soul, final judgment, angels, and sin (to name a few). This book also has a short chapter about Zoroasterism, the isolated monotheism. The summary in Chapter 10 is particularly fine reading.
This author's breadth of religious and historical knowledge is impressive. I was often impressed by the author's logical conclusions. This book is insightful and a valuable resource.
When humans become aware of their relativity to the hugeness that surrounds them; and are not in control, they develop a belief in a Supreme Being. About 300,000 years ago in Spain, bodies threw their dead people in a big pit (13 meters deep). By about 70,000 BCE, tombs began to appear. People's method of burying changed as their relationship with a Supreme Being altered.
The concept of a single god originated in Egypt with the Pharoah Akhenaten and the belief in Aten. But, of course, from history, we know that as soon as Tutankhaman rose to the throne, he turned his country back to polytheism. Thus, monotheism only lasted about eight years in Egypt before King Tut gave the people the polytheism they wanted back.
Abraham believed in a single God without a figure. However, Moses formed the basis for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. He brought the Ten Commandments, the moral code for the three monotheistic religions. After the two enslavements of Jewish peoples, the most orthodox returned to Jerusalem when they could. They started the era of true monotheism. The leaders called for the dissolution of marriages with women who were not Jewish. They made the Jewish faith and people the same. They believe in only one God, who is omnipotent, the creator of the universe. Isolation from others became vital because they were the Chosen People and must follow the rule of God because they were saved (and the others were not).
Christianity turned that notion on its head because Jesus Christ was inclusive. God was the Father. Jesus did not talk about politics but of salvation and gratitude toward God. The early Christians lived in communion, sharing, caring for the poor, widowed, and infirm. Christianity took baptism, which was an Essen practice. They took confirmation, which was a Jewish rite (Bar Mitzva).
Christianity taught compassion in a compassionless world. The author states that this compassion and courage of Christians when facing lions "defeated polytheism and the (Roman) Empire, and turned Christianity into the revision of a new civilization...." (Chapter 7).
The Koran is not a story but God's words. Allah is omnipotent and has a prophet called Mohammed. He single-handedly abolished polytheism in the East. Chapter 8 is a very fine comparison chart of the three religions. It is the best I've seen, comparing such diverse aspects of religion as the soul, final judgment, angels, and sin (to name a few). This book also has a short chapter about Zoroasterism, the isolated monotheism. The summary in Chapter 10 is particularly fine reading.
This author's breadth of religious and historical knowledge is impressive. I was often impressed by the author's logical conclusions. This book is insightful and a valuable resource.
