God: A Brief History

Rating:
Summary: God: A Brief History - misses the mark
Review: "God: A Brief History" is roughly a chronological tour through the major religions, from primal religions through Islam. Yes, it is not so much about God as its about a cursory history of religion, but the 1-4 page entries come across as a hodgepodge of dry, somewhat scattered encyclopedic entries rather than a thorough or focused examination that achieves any real depth.

Part of the problem is there is no clear focus as to what Bowker is trying to accomplish. All material seems to have equall weight, and while his objectivity is admirable, the book suffers without some discernment in his material. There are plenty of photos and pictures, but they are nto as effective as Bowker's coffee-table sized "World Religions" (also a Dorling Kindersley book).

Section I: 'In the Beginning' - covers the concept of the Goddess as well as some broad subjects such as Art, Architecture and Music.

Section II: 'India' - devotes a good chunk of the book to Hinduism (the accuracy of which is stronly debated by some other reviewers)

Section III: 'The Religions of Asia' - lumps Chinese, Japanese and Korean religion together

Section IV: 'The Religions of Abraham' - takes up the bulk of the book. It is definately not Christian-centric; the Big 3 - Judaism, Christianity and Islam are all covered about equally.

Nothing on newer (or New Age) religions are included; the book stops chronologically with Islam. There is an impressive Bibliography so I assume it is well researched, but I recommend passing on this ("World Religions" by the same author is a better choice).

Rating:
Summary: A HISTORY of the HUMAN SEARCH
Review: ...

This is not really a "history of God." It is more a "history" of the "human search" for God. Big difference. This book is about what God means to people in every generation and in every part of the world who have deepened and extended their knowledge of who God is. This is not a comprehensive history of all that has been thought and believed, it is more an understanding of who and what God is to humans around the globe.

This book explores the ways in which a belief in God began and how it has developed in the major religious traditions of the world. If you believe there is only one true God, you are going to have some problems with the way God is presented in this book. There is even an argument for atheism and a section on the positive role of witches.

This book is really not just about God, it is about a wide variety of topics including ritual, myth, music, science, art, sacrifice, architecture, The religions of India, Asia, Abraham and "In the End." Since many religions have their own dating systems, the dates in this book are given according to the western calendar.

This is really a brief overview of all the religions in the world.

"The claim is sometimes made that belief in God is like belief in fairies or Father Christmas: we may believe in such things when young but grown out of them when we are older and wiser. Phenomenology at the second level shows why that claim is wrong."

I enjoyed the section on Rumi because I've read some of his poetry and now I understand what a sulfi is. Apparently is it a man or woman with a broken heart. Someone who is always sensitive to the heartbreak of the world and who is always sensitive to Divine Beauty. Once the heart breaks open, it goes on breaking forever and there is beauty and majesty and agony in the experience.

"I was snow. I melted in you rays. The earth drank me: mist now, and pure spirit,I climb back to the sun."

A fascinating book on the human search for God.

Rating:
Summary: Excellent Introduction to Comparative Religion
Review: Bowker's aim with this book is to provide an overview of God and how human beings relate to him through history. This is an enormous task that many scholars bawk at, and instead choose to remain only with a certain world view, believing it is the only correct one there is to reaching the truth. Thankfully Bowker avoids a parochial viewpoint (he is a Christian) without scoffing unfairly or patronisingly at the idea of God or those who believe in him. He starts sensibly by not trying to define what God is, but rather proposing a way that God may interact with us, all of us (humanity) down through time by using language, signs and the body. Then he examines, with a high degree of fairness and objectivity, the way various world religions have tried to make sense of this experience and also the mystery called 'God.'

For me Bowker's strength is that he avoids the error of asserting his (the Christian) vision of God is the only and perfect way of reaching God. History shows instead there are many different paths to God - some which even deny the existence of the God as understood by the adherents of Abrahamic faiths - yet all seem to reach the same end point. As one Muslim publication I read once said 'There are many paths, but one end point.'

My only gripe with the book is I would like to have seen more on the current debate between religion and science. A couple of pages at the end or beginning covering this important and topical issue would have made the book a little better.

But otherwise this is an excellent book, and one I will give to anyone (even those of my own faith, Christianity) who claims 'it is my way (to God) or the highway.'

Rating:
Summary: a good book
Review: If one can get past the errors that the previous post states about Hinduism, then you will find a good read into the way that we have seen, or even created, God throughout our existence. It can be a little scattered or confusing though as the author tries to fit so much, but if you take your time, it will be worth it.

Rating:
Summary: Chaotic, like God?
Review: This book focuses on the religions of India, Asia, and "The Religions of Abraham" (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). Each religion is discussed with many 2-4 page sections discussing a particular topic, and including a few pictures, and side bars for quotes. This format lends it self well to introducing a diverse set of personages, but it also prevents a smoothly flowing narrative, so at times the book seems to bounce around. The chaotic effect is not without some merit, and if nothing else, you get an appreciation for the breadth of experiences. In the section on India, the introduction of name, upon name of different Gods, becomes overwhelming,

The breadth of the book is impressive, and the inclusion of poetry, throughout was useful. The photos throughout the book are impressive, and almost as much as the text lend an experiential flavor. Sometimes the book tries to be too biographical, rather than emphasizing concepts. Particularly lacking however, was an introduction of African, Native American, and Latin American expressions of God. He does included Buddhism however, which does not really have a clear notion of God.


Rating:
Summary: Whose history again?
Review: While the world is attempting to correct aberrations in history, here is John Bowker, trying to misquote and perpetuate the antiquated concept of the Aryan Invasion: ill-conceived by Max Mueller and perpetuated by the narrow-minded British to keep the Indians divided during their notorious Raj.

The global community and Indologists are correcting this grave aberration of historic fraud, and John Bowker is apparently living up to his British heritage - wanting to rub in the divide!

His reference to the time frames: Vedic - 1500 - 1000, and others accordingly, is totally wrong, and thus contributes to the continued stereotyping of Hindus, and Hinduism as a by-product of the so-called Aryan Invasion.

A series of books have been written on this topic alone in the last decade. One book that stands head above shoulders in this area is "The Search of the Cradle of Civilization" ISBN Publisher: Quest Books; ISBN: 0-8356-0741-0.

If an author misses a raging controversy that could explode his work in its face, and he has no inkling of it, I consider my investment in his work a total waste of my money.

This book should be withdrawn from stores immediately.