God - Hardcover

John Bowker

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0751347884 ISBN 13: 9780751347883

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley H/B

Synopsis

The human search for truth has led to massive achievements in science and technology. It has also led to God: this book tells the story of that search for God. It explains: how the search for Goddess and God began and developed; how the human brain and body open the way to God; how the meaning of God is expressed in art, sex, story, music and architecture; how science and God belong together in the human search for truth; and how that search has led to amazing discoveries. It explores: why evil acts are committed in the name of God; why the death of God occurs so often, and yet God still persists; why prayer and praise are such an important part of human nature; and why the search for God points to the revelation of God. In this book, John Bowker's insightful text is enhanced by hundreds of photographs, illustrations, maps and charts, and accompanied by passages from sacred books and works of poetry, philosophy, praise and devotion. All these elements combine to make "God - A Brief History" an unparalleled exploration of the human search for eternal truth in all ages and cultures.

About this title

About the Author:

John Bowker was Dean of Trinity college, Cambridge, from 1984 to 1991. He is currently a Fellow of Gresham College, London, and Honorary Canon of Canterbury Cathedral. He is also Adjunct Professor of Religion at North Carolina State University. Professor Bowker's extensive knowledge of languages, both ancient and modern, enables him to translate religious script hitherto unknown to the modern world. His many books include The Meaning of Death (which won the HarperCollins Religious book Award in 1993), the Oxford Dictionary of World Religions, an Introduction to Jewish Interpretations of Scripture, and Jesus and the Pharisees. He also wrote the bestselling titles World Religions and The complete Bible Handbook, published by Dorling Kindersley. A consultant to UNESCO, Professor Bowker has presented a number of prestigious television programs on contemporary religion for the BBC, including the highly acclaimed Worlds of Faith series.

From Library Journal:

The former dean of Trinity College, Cambridge University now at Gresham College, Bowker (The Oxford Dictionary of World Religions) quotes a poem by R.S. Thomas to explain the purpose of his book: "the better ventilating of the atmosphere of the closed mind." Throughout, he opens doors to many spiritual and religious traditions, describing ways in which people "have made their own discoveries of God and have developed and changed our understanding of who and what God is, and of how God became real to them." The result is a fascinating, all-purpose book, beautifully illustrated in the DK manner. After the introductory material, the text is divided into sections on the religions of India, the religions of other Asian countries, and the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam). With articles like "Jihad and Martyrdom," "Temples of India," "From Tagore to Gandhi," "Sex and Tantra," "Kabbalah," "Thealogy (feminist theology)," and "Celtic Christianity," the range is obviously wide. The maps, time lines, and comprehensive index are also helpful, and readers are encouraged to explore further with the help of a very good bibliography. Though similar information can be found in many introductory books on world religions, including the more traditional The Cambridge Illustrated History of Religions (edited by Bowker; see review below), this work lends itself more to pleasure reading than reference and will appeal to the casual reader interested in the variety of colorful religious rituals and symbols presented here. Highly recommended for high school and public libraries as well as undergraduate collections in academic libraries. Gary P. Gillum, Brigham Young Univ., Provo, UT
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About this edition

• Publisher: Dorling Kindersley H/B
• ISBN 10: 0751347884
• ISBN 13: 9780751347883
• Binding: Hardcover