A History of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

“Colonialism” is the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial control over another country, typically linked to European powers’ expansion from the 16th to the 20th century. Within the context of religious evolution, the book examines how colonialism, especially in the Muslim world, impacted religious ideologies and prompted efforts to reconcile Islamic principles with Western rationality.

“Deism” is a theological position that believes in a supreme deity who does not intervene in the universe after its creation. Emerging during the Enlightenment era, deism postulates a watchmaker-like God. It became popular among intellectuals who merged the discoveries of science with a belief in a distant creator.

“The Enlightenment” refers to an intellectual and cultural movement in Europe during the late 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, science, and individualism over tradition. Armstrong charts its impact on religious beliefs, noting how figures like Newton and Descartes reframed discussions around God in this period.

“Fundamentalism” is a religious movement characterized by a strict, and often literal adherence to what are believed to be the foundational texts or principles of the faith. Armstrong delves into how various forms of fundamentalism have arisen as reactions to modernity, emphasizing that these movements often stem from a perceived threat to religious identity and values.

“Monotheism” is the belief in a single, all-powerful God. As Armstrong elucidates, this belief saw significant evolution, starting with the Israelites’ gradual transition from acknowledging multiple deities to a focused veneration of Yahweh, and continuing in the development of Christianity and, later, Islam.

“Mysticism” refers to the pursuit of communion with or conscious awareness of the divine, often through direct experience, intuition, or insight. Armstrong’s work posits that mysticism is a universal phenomenon found across different religious traditions, and she delves into various mystics’ insights to highlight the deeply personal experience of the divine.

“Polytheism” is the worship or belief in multiple deities, typically assembled in a pantheon of gods and goddesses. In A History of God, Armstrong traces the progression from polytheistic practices in ancient cultures to the major monotheistic beliefs of today, analyzing the socio-cultural factors influencing these transitions.

“Theology” is the study of the nature of the divine, or the practice of understanding and interpreting religious beliefs about God. Throughout the book, Armstrong examines the theological shifts and developments within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, showcasing how social, historical, and cultural contexts have shaped and been shaped by theological discourse. Theology, in this work, is not a static or academic enterprise; it is an evolving endeavor, interwoven with human history and ever-changing conceptions of the divine.