Freethought & Rationalism Archive

mattmattmattmattv · 07-21-2002, 03:55 PM

Has anyone here read both A History of God and The Battle for God?

Which is better?

DRFseven · 07-21-2002, 04:12 PM

I've read one of them, A History of God. It's pretty damn good.

David Bowden · 07-22-2002, 12:26 AM

It's been awhile since I read them, but I found History of God more interesting, personally. I'm a former pastor with continuing interest in the nature of religious experience and the history of ideas, so it matches my interests better than Battle. Both are well-written, though.

If I were to recommend one over the other, or one before the other, I'd point you towards History of God as it covers the long (and continuing) evolution of theism. If you're more interested in current ideological concerns, especially the rise of fundamentalism, go with Battle for God.

-Wanderer

[ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]</p>

Amen-Moses · 07-22-2002, 12:40 AM

You probably wouldn't like either, she writes like a college professor.

Amen-Moses

Oolon Colluphid · 07-22-2002, 06:41 AM

Quote:

mattmattmattmattv[/QB]

Erm, Matthew 4 verse 5?

"Then the devil taketh him up into the holy city, and setteth him on a pinnacle of the temple."

Huh?

Oolon

DarkBronzePlant · 07-22-2002, 06:45 AM

I'm reading History right now, and find it very interesting. What's Battle about?

Darwin's Finch · 07-22-2002, 07:06 AM

Battle charts the rise of fundamentalist thinking in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As it happens, it is one of the books I'm presently reading (about one-third of the way through) and so far has been quite interesting. I recommend it.

DRFseven · 07-22-2002, 10:42 AM

In A History of God, after tracing the roots and evolution of the concept of God, religious historian and professor, Karen Armstrong, the former nun, gives us her conclusion: If religion is important (she thinks it is; for hope) people need to conceive of God as, not literal, but an idea. If they are to insist that God is a real entity, as most of us conceive of the word "real", then religion is bound for death, because religion is no good if it doesn't help anything. She points out fundamentalism as an ugly and malevolent cancer that is a symptom of what is wrong with religion in today's world. It's time for a new model, she says; if it's broke, fix it, so to speak. Otherwise, it will go the way of other gods whose concepts no longer worked anymore.

Amen-Moses · 07-22-2002, 01:49 PM

Personally I found both tomes to be a great cure for insomnia.

Amen-Moses

mattmattmattmattv · 07-23-2002, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Amen-Moses:
<strong>You probably wouldn't like either, she writes like a college professor.

Amen-Moses</strong>

LOL

Yeah, but I don't mind her doing it--she is one, or at least is qualified to be one.

matt

07-21-2002, 03:55 PM	#1
mattmattmattmattv Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 36	Karen Armstrong Has anyone here read both A History of God and The Battle for God? Which is better?

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07-21-2002, 04:12 PM	#2
DRFseven Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,322	I've read one of them, A History of God. It's pretty damn good.

07-22-2002, 12:26 AM	#3
David Bowden Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Everywhere I go. Yes, even there. Posts: 607	It's been awhile since I read them, but I found History of God more interesting, personally. I'm a former pastor with continuing interest in the nature of religious experience and the history of ideas, so it matches my interests better than Battle. Both are well-written, though. If I were to recommend one over the other, or one before the other, I'd point you towards History of God as it covers the long (and continuing) evolution of theism. If you're more interested in current ideological concerns, especially the rise of fundamentalism, go with Battle for God. -Wanderer [ July 22, 2002: Message edited by: wide-eyed wanderer ]</p>

07-22-2002, 12:40 AM	#4
Amen-Moses Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Portsmouth, England Posts: 4,652	You probably wouldn't like either, she writes like a college professor. Amen-Moses

07-22-2002, 06:45 AM	#6
DarkBronzePlant Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: San Francisco, CA USA Posts: 3,568	I'm reading History right now, and find it very interesting. What's Battle about?

07-22-2002, 07:06 AM	#7
Darwin's Finch Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Gardnerville, NV Posts: 666	Battle charts the rise of fundamentalist thinking in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. As it happens, it is one of the books I'm presently reading (about one-third of the way through) and so far has been quite interesting. I recommend it.

07-22-2002, 10:42 AM	#8
DRFseven Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Posts: 2,322	In A History of God, after tracing the roots and evolution of the concept of God, religious historian and professor, Karen Armstrong, the former nun, gives us her conclusion: If religion is important (she thinks it is; for hope) people need to conceive of God as, not literal, but an idea. If they are to insist that God is a real entity, as most of us conceive of the word "real", then religion is bound for death, because religion is no good if it doesn't help anything. She points out fundamentalism as an ugly and malevolent cancer that is a symptom of what is wrong with religion in today's world. It's time for a new model, she says; if it's broke, fix it, so to speak. Otherwise, it will go the way of other gods whose concepts no longer worked anymore.

07-22-2002, 01:49 PM	#9
Amen-Moses Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Portsmouth, England Posts: 4,652	Personally I found both tomes to be a great cure for insomnia. Amen-Moses

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