Discovering God by Rodney Stark
Harper One/HarperCollins 2007
ISBN-13: 978-0061626012
Regardless of our religious beliefs, or professed absence of beliefs, each of us has questions about divinity, history, evolution, and religion. The range of questions for many of us expands as we mature and think about our place in the scheme of the world and evaluate the principles that we follow in our lives.
In Discovering God, a social sciences professor (Rodney Stark of Baylor University) traces the history of the religions of the world beginning with our ancient Neanderthal ancestors. He evaluates the historic and popular explanations of religious belief at each stage of history. He does not seek to present the “truth”. Rather, the mission is to present the historic picture with commentary so that readers can seek their own conclusions.
This is a fascinating book. It does not matter what you believe, or think you believe to enjoy this easily read travelogue of religious history. Old Testament, New Testament, Koran, and other texts are reviewed in terms of their historic origins, questions about authenticity, and so on.
Like most non-Muslims, I seem to have constant questions about the history of Islam and its relationship to Jewish and Christian belief. Why is history so full of warfare between and among these groups? Why cannot the tensions in the Middle East be resolved? Not just between Islam and other religions, but within Islam?
Indeed, as we read and think about history, it is brutally apparent that no religion group can claim any higher ground than another in this regard. There has been hate and genocide all around.
The history and practice of Hinduism and Bhuddism is equally fascinating. As India and China continue to become major players in the world, the predominant religions in those countries also help to explain their distinctive cultures.
Make a gift to yourself and read this book. Then ask yourself: what do I actually believe with respect to my own faith and where did it come from?
Warms, Cym
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Rodney Stark
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