2016/04/06

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life - by Karen Armstrong.

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life - by Karen Armstrong. 


Drawing on a wide range of material - ranging from the spiritual character of the world religions to the findings of contemporary neuroscience - Karen Armstrong argues that compassion is hardwired into our brains, yet is constantly pushed back by our more primitive instincts for selfishness and survival. Since time immemorial religion has enhanced our altruistic tendencies: all faiths insist that the Golden Rule is the test of true spirituality -'Always treat others as you wish to be treated yourself'.

Taking as her starting point the teachings of the great world religions, Karen Armstrong demonstrates in twelve practical steps how we can bring compassion to the forefront of our lives. These steps both reveal the inadequacies of our knowledge of ourselves and others and enable us to unlock our potential for understanding, empathy and altruism that can be translated into acts of kindness and charity.They culminate in the most radical and challenging of all religious maxims - love your enemy. Yet in today's world, compassion in no longer a luxury but, in the words of Martin Luther King, 'an absolute necessity for our survival'.

Practising these steps will not change our lives overnight and turn us into saints or sages: the attempt to become a more compassionate human being is a lifelong project. Yet Karen Armstrong argues that compassion is inseparable from humanity, and by transcending the limitations of selfishness on a daily basis we will not only make a difference in the world but also lead happier, more fulfilled, lives.
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Editorial Reviews


From Publishers Weekly

The prolific, well-informed, and passionate Armstrong (The Case for God) writes a somewhat different book this time out, stemming from her winning a ,000 prize in 2007 to promote an idea worth spreading. She always has a thesis in her books as she sweeps over the historical development of world religions, but this is a book with an agenda: you ought to be more compassionate, and here™s how. 

So instead of being her usual somewhat academic teacher of religious history, she is more of a personal spiritual teacher, in the vein of the Dalai Lama. That task, and corresponding tone (œBe patient with yourself during this meditation), is not her long suit. Still, this slightly self-help-y book is deeply grounded in what Armstrong knows, and presents, well: the core teachings of all religions that can make us better, more compassionate humans. The former nun pulls ideas and references from religions Eastern and Western with aplomb and respect for all sources. This counter to the religion-is-homicidal-and-superstitious school of invective passing for thought is well-informed, welcome, and practical. (Jan.)

From Booklist
*Starred Review*
It takes courage for a religious historian and writer of Armstrong’s stature to step out from behind the scrim of scholarship and analysis to offer guidelines for a spiritual practice designed to make humanity a kinder and saner species. With the boon of the prestigious TED Prize, Armstrong (The Case for God, 2009) worked with “leading thinkers from a variety of major faiths” to compose a Charter for Compassion, which calls for the restoration of “compassion to the heart of religious and moral life” in a “dangerously polarized” world.

Not content with merely stating lofty goals, however, Armstrong, a revered genius of elucidation and synthesis, now tells the full and profound story of altruism throughout human history. She turns to neuroscience and tracks the evolution of our brains and our natural capacity for empathy, and performs her signature mode of beautifully clarifying interpretation in a mind-expanding discussion of the history of the Golden Rule (“Always treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself”), the essence of compassion and the kernel of every religious tradition.

Exquisite and affecting explications of Buddhist, Confucian, Judaic, Christian, and Islamic commentary prepare the ground for meditation exercises meant to engender “open-mindedness” and the cultivation of compassion, making for the most sagacious and far-reaching 12-step program ever. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: A hefty print run is planned for renowned religious thinker Armstrong’s bold approach to teaching the compassionate ethos. --Donna Seaman
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5.0 out of 5 stars
"My religion is kindness" - H. H. the Dalai Lama
ByTimothy WalkerVINE VOICEon November 28, 2010
It is somewhat ironic that an appeal for universal altruism must be packaged as a self-help program to attract an audience these days, but such is the state of our world. In this her latest work, renowned author Karen Armstrong offers little that is new - attend any Unitarian Universalist service for proof - but that in no way diminishes her message: "it has become imperative to apply the Golden Rule globally".
To her credit, the author does not use this book to debate dogmas or make theological truth claims (see her Case for God for that), nor does she deny scientific facts or try to justify atrocities committed in the name of God. The only premise she requires the reader to accept is that religion at its best can inspire people to goodness and to greatness. To that end, she prescribes a two-step process disguised as a dozen: first, learn the Golden Rule; second, live it, "a struggle that will last until our dying day."
Fundamentalists of all faiths will reject this book, offended that it paints their absolute truths as merely useful myths. 
The anti-religious are also certain to attack it for elevating pleasant falsehoods above that which can be proven scientifically. 
To everyone living their lives between these two extremes I am happy to recommend this book.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Working towards Compassion
ByRobin FriedmanHALL OF FAMETOP 100 REVIEWERVINE VOICEon November 30, 2010
Karen Armstrong is a former Catholic nun who has written widely on religious issues. In 2007, Armstrong was awarded a substantial cash prize from a nonprofit organization known as TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) to promote ideas that could "make a difference" in people's lives. Armstrong opted to use the award to promote the development of compassion. She worked with religious leaders from a variety of traditions to formulate and develop a "Charter for Compassion" that would "restore compassion to the heart of religious and moral life." The Charter was unveiled in Washington, D.C. in December, 2009. It is also available on the web together with an invitation to readers to sign on to and try to realize its principles.
As part of her project, Armstrong also wrote this book "Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life" in which she explains the nature and importance of compassion and offers a 12-step plan for increasing the degree of compassion one achieves in one's own life. Armstrong begins with the Golden Rule in both its negative formulation: "Do not treat others as you would not like them to treat you"; and in its positive formulation: "Always treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself." As did the Jewish sage Hillel in a story Armstrong quotes when asked to explain succinctly the teachings of the Bible, Armstrong believes that "the rest is commentary" to be studied learned, and practiced.
Armstrong's short book shows a great deal of erudition as well as wisdom. She has studied and learned a great deal from many religious traditions, including Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. She presents complex material in an effective manner. But the scope of the learning in this book is much broader. Armstrong uses well philosophers beginning with Socrates and Plato, through the Greek-Jewish philosopher Philo and through the modern analytic philosophers Quine and Donald Davidson to say important things about the nature of wisdom and of human communication. She has a strong literary background which makes especial use of Homer and the Greek tragedians. And she begins with a naturalistic approach, making effective use of the contrast between the "reptilian brain" and its struggle for the "four F's" and the warm-blooded human brain. A thorough and excellent bibliography is the final indication of the thought and reading that Armstrong has put into this book.
With this background, it is unsurprising that the first of Armstrong's 12 steps towards increasing one's ability for compassion is to learn about it. She suggests reading and study, either by oneself of preferably in the company of other people representing different faith traditions (including secularism.) 
I was pleased to see this emphasis on study and the life of the mind, which tends to be unusual in books about spirituality.
In the remaining chapters, Armstrong develops a program based upon a concentric approach --- beginning with trying to understand and develop compassion towards oneself and then gradually developing outward until one is finally able to see the value of and to try to practice loving one's enemies. 

Armstrong offers good discussion, examples, and exercises for each step with the goal that her readers will take time on each single step before moving on to the next. The process is not difficult to state, but it is hard to realize. One must recognize one's own fallibility. From reading her programme, I believe that Buddhism has been the greatest influence upon Armstrong, as she makes extensive use of several Buddhist meditations and texts. I was reminded of many of the books by the Dalai Lama on the subject of compassion and toleration.
I have been attracted at different times in my life, sometimes simultaneously, to varying teachings of secularism, Buddhism, and the Judaism in which I was born. These traditions all have helped me, but the tension among them can make me uneasy with myself and sometimes with others. It is good to try work on oneself and one's own doubts and ambivalences to try to help understand and respect others.
I found this book helpful. There are times when Armstrong, to my mind, forgets her own broad principles of toleration, questioning, and understanding, and rushes to or advocates substantive positions on political, economic, or religious issues that seem to me dubious at best. Lessons of compassion are never fully learned.
Robin Friedman
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A must read for everyone regardless of religion
ByMindyVINE VOICEon January 11, 2011
I was very hesitant to read this book because I was afraid it would be filled with religious dogma. Specifically, Christian religious dogma since I knew Karen Armstrong was previously a nun. Being a Buddhist, I tend to eschew books that proselytize. But I read more about Karen and decided to take the plunge. How refreshing her book turned out to be!
Let me say first off that I treasure books and try to keep them in pristine condition, barely opening the covers so I don't break the spine or hold it in any way that taxes the binding. I always clean my hands before touching a book. But while reading Armstrong's words, I found so many sentences profound, thoughts that shimmered with clarity that I found myself doing the unthinkable - taking a highlighter and highlighting noteworthy passages! Worse yet, I uncapped a pen and scribbled notes within the margins, thoughts that I want to remember for the next reading of the book for surely I will read this book many times over again.
Armstrong points out that in today's world, peace is paramount. Never has our ability to wreck destruction upon each other been greater and yet religion, the thing that should compel us towards peace is actually a separating agent. Hostilities arise in the name of religion. Take a look at the present conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. History is blood-speckled with crusades and the like but Armstrong argues they really aren't about religion. The people in power merely invoke religion as the palatable face of the war, but the real reason is always something secular such as economics, border disputes or control of resources.
Armstrong asserts that if you are truly a student of religion, you see that while they differ in many ways they have a core that is universal. All religions teach the golden rule: treat others as you would like to be treated. And it should be this one binding principal that should unite the world in compassion. Then she goes to outline 12 steps one should follow to become a more compassionate person.
The more I read of the book, the more I thought that Karen must be a remarkable woman. She pulls many lessons from a variety of religions and judges none of them. Her words are like balm, soothing and gentle, and at no time did I feel preached to. More akin to having a discussion with a wise friend.
I hope that everyone - regardless of religion, gender, nationality, race or social class - will take to time to read her wise words.
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4.0 out of 5 starsThis book is too hard!
ByAcetoTOP 1000 REVIEWERVINE VOICEon February 3, 2011
How do you choose to live in a world where we bespeak survival of the fittest as the noble argument of the capitalist focus on greed and consumption? A world where we denigrate the Golden Rule as fools' drool? This is the journey of transformation that Karen Armstrong plans for us.
I met Ms. Armstrong in the new book section of my public library soon after 9/11. I was seeking answers to wars and peoples about whom I had poor knowledge and no real contact. I was introduced to her scholarship on history and ancient literature. From "Muhammad: A Biography of the Prophet" to "Islam: A Short History", I began my search for understanding. I found in her a guide who was respectful with intelligent analysis and commentary.
When I saw "Compassion", I approached with curiosity because of the author. Will reading 12 Steps make me compassionate. No. Rather it shows me how much real work is to be done. Uncomfortable, active work, not passive. It requires relinquishing fear-including all the fears and snarkiness that daily surround in the news and in the volatility of our economy. It will require working every day. It will require becoming intentionally human. It is because I understand the challenge that my base reaction is to flee.
This is a book that explores different religions through common essentials. Ms Armstrong points out that relinquishing egotism requires similar dedication and a program like Alcoholics Anonymous. This book desperately wants to subscribe its readers to be better, to seek their heroic potential. My foot is placed lightly on the door's threshold, poised to bolt. Ms Armstrong correctly entices her readers to read the program through then to read again, beginning each step, not proceeding until the current step becomes part of everyday life, innate, mastered. Intellectually, the reader succumbs to reasons why it is important that compassion become part of everyday life and yearns for the promised development of spiritual awakening. Though I don't believe I will see a utopian government, this is a book to have in the dark of night.
The curious, casual reader secretly hopes that those around us start the journey before us. This is a book for me to take slowly and hope, like in Pascal's wager, that when my world is badly shaken, I can proceed swiftly. But for now, my next step is to buy a copy for any courageous friend. Perhaps we can learn to endure with another person and, as Ms Armstrong paraphrases the Dalai Lama, that we become "a better human being".
As I look at my badly dog-eared paperback copy, I realize that the next time I venture in, it should be with an eBook--one where I can note thoughts and have in my pocket to examine and contemplate during moments of weakness. Beware, this book is a struggle.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
This Book Is An Absolute Treasure!
BySatia ReneeVINE VOICEon December 7, 2010
Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life by Karen Armstrong is a book that is so practical and yet profound that I honestly feel speechless, unable to formulate an adequate way of singing its praises. Every now and again I read a book that makes me ache for a reading buddy or reading group that would share and discuss the ideas presented with me.
This is one of those rare books, a book that encourages the reader to not merely read the words but become engaged with the ideas presented in order to build a more compassionate world. If Gandhi is right and we need to be the change we wish to see in the world, Armstrong's book is a clarion call to everyone. The world is urgently in need of change; let it begin with each one of us.
Armstrong's ecumenical approach to the idea (ideal) of compassion begins with brief survey of religious history, focusing on how six of the major religions emerged out of the changing needs of their societies. Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism all are represented and appreciated on the pages of this book for what each has to offer. From looking at the roots for these various religions, the author moves into looking at contemporary times, recognizing how history has informed our current circumstances. Then she unsurprisingly invites the reader to begin exploring compassion by offering compassion to the self.
This is not merely a book of principle or ideals but a practical guide for how to understand the need for compassion, the various streams in which compassion is taught, and then how to grow in compassion in an increasingly larger circle of influence. Early in the book she suggests that the reader go cover-to-cover, to know where the ideas are heading and then return to the beginning and this time around read each chapter with a commitment to put the ideas into practice. At the end of the boo, there is a bibliography that lists a broad range of books affording the individual an opportunity to explore more deeply, more fully, the tenets presented throughout. The recommended reading is as ecumenical as the book itself, offering disparate viewpoints that are bound to create dialogue.
How often does one come across a book that is both inspiring and practical? Not as often as one would hope. This is one of those rare treasures, a book I would eagerly and joyously recommend to everyone I know and love.
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3.0 out of 5 stars
Promising but ultimately disappointing
ByMelanchthonVINE VOICEon January 1, 2011
Karen Armstrong's most recent book combines elements of comparative religion from her previous work, an advertisement for the Charter for Compassion that was the result of her award from the TED foundation, and a prescriptive program (12 steps!) for religious people to give rise to more compassionate world. The steps move from self-recognition and evaluation of one's world and the people around one toward more concrete steps including dialogue and active understanding, all of which are supposed to lead the reader toward greater consciousness of his place in the world and responsibility to act compassionately toward others, in deeds as much as in speech. Throughout, Armstrong illustrates with examples from the literature, philosophy and theology o the great world religions, as well as from examples people have given in our own lifetimes.
Based on my appreciation of her other work, I was really looking forward to this title, but it ultimately disappointed me. I am absolutely behind the idea that compassion is the most vital religious idea and one that we need to see more of expressed in the world, particularly among people who claim they are religious. It's astounding to me when I see people who claim to represent religions of love preaching hate or acting in hateful ways. 

But there are at least two points at which the book is less than persuasive for people know anything much about the history of the last two centuries. The first is her insistence on grounding altruistic behavior in human biological impulses. She concedes that altruism may stand behind self-preservation, but her argument that humans are evolutionarily set up to help each other will fail to convince audiences who reject arguments about evolution (=many religious people in the US, for example) and those who believe, as I do, that evolution is a trope for understanding the world that is unique to the modern period of history -- not an absolute statement about the way things work. If you want to push altruism, it seems to me, the only way to do it is as a value, because that's the only way it will survive what appears from my perspective to be widespread skepticism about and the ultimate disappearance of the evolutionary model for understanding human affairs. The second is her interest in having governments and states serve as agents of compassion. Again, this is likely to fall flat among readers who participate in the growing animosity against the state in the West. However, it also seems unconscionably naive about two centuries of world history in which states that espoused religious programs or quasi-religious programs were responsible for some of the most anti-compassionate measures in human history, among them genocides.
What's good in this book is that it encourages people to be more compassionate. Make yourself more compassionate. Try to be an example to others. Hope it spreads. I think that's all we can do. I hope it's enough.
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2.0 out of 5 stars
How Does Compassion Come to Be?
ByDavid RossVINE VOICEon February 3, 2011
While I admire and applaud Karen Armstrong's desire and effort to increase compassion this book simply fell flat for me. Armstrong does make a strong argument that compassion is an important part of the best of being human. This was for me was the only high point of the book. While there are flashes of interesting discussion, most of it was slow and not particularly fluid reading and poorly written compared to her other books. Armstrong's scholarly style seems particularly awkward and ill suited to what is meant to be a motivational effort. I particularly disliked the device of using a "12-step" program approach as a way of attempting to organizine the book. While the 12 steps are all clearly laudable, Armstrong offered little to nothing in terms of progression or linkage between the steps that convinced me that they are really the key to "producing compassion" or even how they relate. 

While I enjoyed the Third Step of "Compassion for Yourself" most of the other 11 steps/chapters simply left me flat. I did like Armstrong's recounting of Christina Noble's story in the "Recognition" chapter of how her vivid dream of children in peril led her from her home in London to helping children in the slums of Vietnam. Noble's story is told in Bridge Across My Sorrows. I wish it was possible to produce compassion by a series of steps but I suspect based on the example of Noble's story and my own experiences that the process is much more individualized than that. For example, I don't think Ghandi, Mother Theresa or (...Name your own hero) went through a 12-step program to learn compassion. I was also disappointed by the oversimplification of only exploring the similarities between the varied traditions of compassion without mentioning the differences that strongly influence how compassion is expressed and even what it means.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Guide for Religious Liberals
ByYours TrulyVINE VOICEon January 17, 2011
Religious liberals have an odd relationship with spiritual discipline. Many tend not to value it. Others find it difficult to create a path that is not based on dogma. Karen Armstrong points the way here. In fact, she is convinced that spiritual discipline is the only possible solution to the threat created by religious fundamentalism in a modern world.
Since 9/11, few people have expended more energy examining the religious forces that gave rise to that day's terrorist attacks than Armstrong. A former nun, she is deeply acquainted with all the world's religions, and in her latest book, she seeks to distill the common threads that run through them.I wish she hadn't called it 12 Steps to a Compassionate Life, because it's not about the topic usually associated with 12-Step programs (which is not to say people in them wouldn't find it inspiring.)
She begins with compassion and concludes with loving our enemies. In between, there is a wealth of moving teachings from six faith traditions: Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Buddhism and Confucianism as well as the philosophy of ancient Greece.
The step I found most useful was No, 8: How do we speak to one another? In a nation where the airwaves and internet reverberate with all kinds of bigotry and hatred, I was looking for a little guidance, and what she said surprised me: "...when politicians or pundits have insisted that Islam is an inherently violent, intolerant faith and that the practice of veiling should be banned, I have written articles, based on my study of Islamic history, that challenge this. But I have recently decided that this is counterproductive." The result, she said, is that the article is virulently attacked and the attackers' argument vehemently repeated. She suggests that posing Socratic questions that lead us to personal insight may more useful than trying to bludgeon people into accepting our point of view.
This is a short book, and Armstrong suggests that it might be useful to read in a study group. I wish I had a carton to pass out to people I know.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Living the Golden Rule
ByL. Glaesemannon August 4, 2011
At a young age, we likely heard from our parents the importance of the Golden Rule--a maxim that we should treat others the way that we would want to be treated. In our polarized world today, however, we've failed to understand and to apply the Golden Rule, says Karen Armstrong in her Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life. A reader of Armstrong's works for the past ten years, this latest installment differs in that it provides us with practical steps that anyone can embrace toward becoming a person of compassion.
Known primarily as a scholar of religious history, Armstrong incorporates evolutionary science in her first step Learn About Compassion to support her position that compassion is wired in the brain as much as the 4 Fs--Food, Fight, Flight, and reproduction--are. Armstrong builds upon "the two brains" concept throughout the remaining eleven steps as a way to gauge our own progress toward a compassionate life but also to ground our thoughts, behaviors, and failings in scientific fact. Bringing evolution into the religious arena may be too much for some to swallow; however, Armstrong is fair-minded when recommending that we review our own faith tradition as we progress through the twelve steps.
The other eleven steps--Look at Your Own World, Compassion for Yourself, Empathy, Mindfulness, Action, How Little We Know, How Should We Speak to One Another?, Concern for Everybody, Knowledge, Recognition, and Love Your Enemies--are organized from examining ourselves, to learning how to be compassionate with people around us, to enacting compassion in the world. There is a predictable pattern to each chapter. Armstrong provides an anecdote that demonstrates the step, follows it up with examples of how spiritual leaders of the past have approached it, and then ends with related questions and advice for us to accomplish the step.
A skeptic may look upon these as nothing more than failed idealistic virtues, but, as Armstrong points out, becoming compassionate takes rigorous work up until our final moments of life. In other words, as the twelve steps for an alcoholic can be demanding, so too are these twelve. If we are truly committed to living a compassionate life, then we must be willing to dedicate ourselves the same way the sages of the Axial did during violent and destructive times.
I will not do an exhaustive review of each step because that would take too long and would be a mistake on my part for attempting to impose myself on your interior space. However, the eighth step How Should We Speak to One Another? and the tenth step Knowledge speak volumes about the polarization we now encounter in the world around us. One unfortunate trend today is the attack and counterattack model, where, for example, "experts" appear on popular cable channels not only to present their position but to annihilate and humiliate the opposing viewpoint.
Instead of resolving anything, all that is stirred is our emotions, and, as a result, we watch the next episode hoping to hear how the expert from "our side" will belittle the opponent. If we truly want ourselves, our country, and our world to live according to the Golden Rule, this type of rancorous speech must end. What should that mean for us? According to Armstrong, a compassionate person must admit that we do not know everything (in fact, very little) and that we must be willing to listen to our enemies with an open mind and heart. Unfortunately, we are so used to fighting our opponents and then fleeing to a channel that supports our views that we never cross over into a realm of possibility.
A little over two hundred pages, Twelve Steps is probably one of Armstrong's shortest books, but because it is, I will return to it periodically as I work through each step. If you read this book in a day or two and then shelve it, then likely you've missed the point. This is a book calling all of us to action, and if you believe in a more compassionate world, then this book is a great resource for you to begin that important journey.
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Muhammad: Prophet for Our Time (Eminent Lives)

Muhammad: Prophet for Our Time (Eminent Lives)





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Karen Armstrong
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Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time Hardcover – 17 October 2006
by Karen Armstrong (Author)

4.6 out of 5 stars 722 ratings
Part of: Eminent Lives (13 books)

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A fresh, evenhanded biography of the founder of Islam by the author of "A History of God." "Portrays Muhammad as a passionate, complex, fallible human being."-- "Publishers Weekly"


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"A meticulous quest for the historical Muhammad...This sympathetic, engrossing biography portrays Muhammad as a passionate, complex, fallible human being--a charismatic leader possessed of political as well as spiritual gifts, and a prophet whose monotheistic vision intuitively answered the deepest longings of his people." -- "Publishers Weekly""Respectful without being reverential, knowledgeable without being pedantic, and, above all, readable. It succeeds because [Armstrong] brings Muhammad to life as a fully rounded human being." -- "The Economist""This portrayal of the prophet of Islam and the setting from which he emerged will captivate and enlighten general readers with a newfound understanding of modern events in the Middle East." -- "Library Journal""A fresh, well-written, and often insightful account whose ten chapters give special attention to the religions roots, experiences, and motivations of Muhammad." -- "Choice"

Respectful, knowledgeable, and, above all, readable. It succeeds because [Armstrong] brings Muhammad to life as a fully rounded human being.--The Economist

Karen Armstrong's sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophet--Wall Street Journal

Karen Armstrong s sympathetic profile paints a portrait of a very human prophet--Wall Street Journal"

A good glimpse of how the vast majority of the world's Muslims understand their prophet.--New York Times
From the Back Cover
Now in paperback, from the acclaimed author of "Holy War" and "A History of God," a fresh, evenhanded biography of the founder of Islam, the religion that continues to have a dramatic effect on the world today.
About the Author
Karen Armstrong, author, scholar, and journalist, is among the world's foremost commentators on religious history and culture. Her books include the bestselling A History of God and The Battle for God, as well as Buddha and Islam: A Short History.

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Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperCollins Publishers (17 October 2006)


4.0 out of 5 stars
A useful short history
ByEd Lewison November 13, 2006

Karen Armstrong's book provides a brief introduction to the life of Mohammed. At the end she offers her motivation: "If we are to avoid catastrophe, Muslim and Christian worlds must learn not merely to tolerate but to appreciate one another."

I picked up this book as a lifelong atheist who has never had much sympathy for any religion, although I respect the rights of others to their beliefs. I was looking for information because I am disturbed at the prevalence in the media and elsewhere of hate propaganda against Muslims. If I'm being told I should hate something, I want to know why.

Armstrong traces the rise of Islam to an economic revolution that occurred in Arabia in the seventh century, largely due to the growing importance of trade in a nomadic grazing economy.

She looks briefly at the rise of monotheism in the newly emerging cities, particularly Mecca, and the emergence of Islam from that as Mohammed's revelations provided a body of scripture for Arab monotheism.

Mohammed and others considered his revelations divine, the word of god. In that, he's not alone, as many religions consider the thoughts of brilliant people among their founders to have been divinely inspired. The poetic nature of Mohammed's revelations and their relevance to the social situation of their time led to their survival, and later followers of Islam used them to understand their own social situations, down to the present time. In this Islam is no different to any other religion.

Armstrong describes the decade-long struggle between Mecca and Medina, which was an economic and political struggle that took religious form, and the eventual triumph of the Muslims of Medina.

In doing so she disentangles, so far as possible, the secular from the religious aspects of this history and proves that war and conversion by the sword are not necessary parts of Islam, as the peddlars of hate and fear try to claim.

Thanks to Karen Armstrong for a brief, careful and clear-headed look at the life of Mohammed and the origins of Islam.

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1.0 out of 5 stars
Polemics not history
ByWilly Richardsonon October 29, 2015

Format: Paperback

Karen Armstrong has written books on every world religion and many spiritual leaders, I wonder if she is the author of perhaps too many topics, and spread herself thin?

In her introduction she compares Muhammad to Gandhi without offering an explanation... Gandhi? Ghandhi was in a political disadvantage and used non-violence to bring about radical change. Later in Armstrong's book she states,"No radical social and political change has ever been achieved without bloodshed, and, because Muhammad was living in a period of confusion and disintegration, peace could be achieved only by the sword." This is one example of her many contradictions.

She often made statements that assumed her readers were brought up as Christians, and seemed to side with God in her claim that the enemies of Muhammad had perverted the true order. She also made mistakes that led me to question her reliability as a historian. For example, she inferred that the Qu'ran is written in chronological order! (The Qu'ran is ordered from longest to shortest chapters). I would have preferred more source quotes, more historical facts and less conjecture.

Her book shows Muhammad in a positive light, which is refreshing, but she seems to be defending his every move, including the historical accounts that are less than holy - the attacks Muhammad made on the Quraysh, Jews, and non-believers was portrayed by Armstrong as pro-active defensive measures...

I enjoyed a few passages when Armstrong's personal interludes were kept down to a minimum and the history of a fascinating man and time and place unfolded. It's quite an accomplishment for someone to carve a nation from warring tribes in a harsh and unyielding environment. But for the most part I felt like I had to read between the lines.

Definitely not a historical book. Falls into the category of polemics.

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1.0 out of 5 stars
Does not address the relevance of The Prophet in modern times

ByKevin D'Eliaon November 19, 2015

Format: Kindle Edition

As the subtitle suggests, this book will give some insight into how Muhammad is a Prophet for Our Time. While Ms. Armstrong presents a somewhat sensationalized version of Muhammad's life (seemingly told, in some sections, from a 3rd person perspective, which is highly unlikely unless Ms. Armstrong somehow managed to live during his time), she fails to explain how exactly Muhammad and his teachings are relevant in today's society. What passes for such an explanation is given at the end of the book, and in fairly short shrift at that. This book is nothing more than a reasonably good scholarly treatment of the historical Muhammad, glossing over some of the ugly truths of that history, such as how the Jews of Khaybar were actually executed, the concept of dhimmitude, and the fact that Islam is really geared towards Muslims relating to Muslims and does not apply the same "peaceful" principles to followers of other faiths. It is an unbalanced treatment, in my opinion, but still worth reading to give some attempt at balancing other books which go the other extreme. Like most things in life, the truth lies somewhere in the middle. Getting there is half the problem.

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1.0 out of 5 stars
SACRIFICING THE TRUTH ON THE ALTAR OF POLITICAL CORRECTNESS
ByS. E. Mooreon October 2, 2015

I was glad I read Ibn Ishaq's biographical account of Muhammad (see my review) before reading this book. Ishaq's Sirat Rasul Allah, translated into English by Alfred Guillaume's The Life of Muhammad, is perhaps the oldest biography of the prophet which is available to the public. According to her notes, Karen Armstrong used this as one of her primary sources and lists it among the earliest sources which are indispensable to any biography of Muhammad. Based on Ishaq's account, I would have to characterize Armstrong's book as historical revisionism bordering on historical fiction.

In her attempt to give "Islamophobes" in the west a better understanding of Islam so that we can all live in peace and harmony, Armstrong sacrifices the truth on the altar of political correctness. This book is so ad-libbed and distorted by the author's own spin on history that it can't be taken seriously. Therefore, in terms of accomplishing anything of real value by changing the minds of skeptics, it is a complete failure. You can't change history by whitewashing it or writing your own version of it or by manipulating it to fit your own agenda.

Armstrong uses twisted logic to justify many of the atrocities committed by Muhammad and his earliest followers. According to Armstrong, it was okay to plunder and kill your enemies if that was the norm in the society you lived in. I would like to know where Armstrong got the idea that plundering and killing on the scale of what Muhammad and his followers did was a normal way of life in pre-Islamic Arabia. Accordig to this book, Muhammad didn't live like that in Mecca prior to his conversion.



Armstrong praises Muhammad for his tolerance of other religious beliefs. For example...(p.7) Muhammad was not trying to impose religious orthodoxy...(p.108) The idea of an exclusive religion was alien to Muhammad. According to Ishaq's account, just the opposite is true...(p.364) Muhammad is quoted as saying, "O you who believe, take not Jews and Christians as friends."...(p.523) Muhammad decreed that two religions should not be allowed to remain on the Arabian peninsula and advised Jews to emigrate.



Armstrong's attempts to justify Muhammad's plundering is completely absurd. (p.114) The Medinese "expected some material advantage (for giving refuge to the Muslims...and here too, Muhammad had to deliver...the emigrants would become burdens unless they found an independent source of income...their aim was not to shed blood, but to secure an income by capturing camels, merchandise, and prisoners (for ransom)...nobody would have been shocked by this development." (I'M SURE BLACKBEARD, JESSE JAMES, BONNIE AND CLYDE, AND JOHN DILLINGER COULD RELATE TO THAT!!!). (HOW DO WE KNOW NOBODY WAS SHOCKED BY WHAT MUHAMMAD DID?) Armstrong apparently thinks it's okay to make a living by taking away someone else's living and by impoverishing others.

Here's another example of Armstrong's twisted logic. According to Armstrong, adding captive women to one's harem was really an act of charity. (p.135) "Polygamy was an act of social legislation. It was designed not to gratify the male sexual appetite but to correct the injustices done to widows, orphans, and other female dependants who were especially vulnerable." (ARE WE TO BELIEVE THAT MUHAMMAD AND HIS MALE FOLLOWERS COULDN'T TAKE CARE OF THESE WOMEN WITHOUT TAKING THEM INTO THEIR TENTS?!!!)

Armstrong conveniently ignored the expedition against Khaybar as chronicled by Ishaq where Muhammad took one of the captive women, Safiya, as his own. This was after Muhammad conquered and plundered her people and then tortured and murdered her husband for not revealing the location of a treasure which Muhammad wanted to loot. After all of that, Muhammad took her into his tent and gave her some "charity".

Muhammad's compassion for widows and orphans (p.38-39) was something he didn't practice very well. According to Ishaq's account, Muhammad created widows and orphans by plundering their communities, forcing them to emigrate, and murdering their husbands and fathers as he did with the B. Qurayzah, the B. Mustaliq, and the B. Al-Nadir. Muhammad's idea of taking care of widows and orphans was to sell the children into slavery and make concubines of their mothers.

Another example of Armstrong's spinning, whitewashing, and ad-libbing her own version of history is how she explains away the conquest of the B. Qurayzah, a settlement of Jews in Medina who supposedly earned Muhammad's wrath by betraying him. Muhammad allowed one of his subordinates, Sa'd, to pass judgement on them which was approved and carried out on Muhammad's orders. Their property was confiscated, the women and children were sold into slavery,, and the men had their heads cut off. This is how Armstrong excuses this atrocity. (p.150) "Revolting as it seems to us today, almost everybody in Arabia would have expected Sa'd's judgement". (HOW WOULD YOU POSSIBLY KNOW THAT MS ARMSTRONG?!!!)..."According to the texts, not even the Qurayzah were surprised by the decision." (DID THE QURAYZAH WRITE THESE "TEXTS"?)..."Violence and killing on this scale were the norm". (HOW DO WE KNOW THAT IT WAS NORMAL TO SLAUGHTER ENTIRE ADULT MALE POPULATIONS IN PRE-ISLAMIC ARABIA?!!!)

Here is another Armstrong absurdity to justify Muhammad's use of warfare and violence...(p.116) "War was always a terrible evil, but it was sometimes necessary in order to preserve decent values such as freedom of worship". (ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!...I'M SURE HITLER, STALIN, POL POT, AND SADDAM HUSSEIN WOULD HAVE AGREED WITH ARMSTRONG ON THAT ONE!!!...CONQUER AND ANNIHILATE YOUR ENEMIES FOR THE SAKE OF PEACE.)

These are but a few examples of how Karen Armstrong distorts history for the sake of being politically correct. Armstrong chastises us for...(p.5) "having a long history of Islamophobia in Western culture that dates back to the time of the Crusades". In closing her book, Armstrong writes that "the Muslim and Western worlds must learn to tolerate and appreciate one another. A good place to start is with the figure of Muhammad who founded a religion that was not based on the sword but whose name-"Islam"-siginified peace and reconciliation".

Ibn Waraq, who was born and raised a Muslim but later became an agnostic wrote the book Why I Am Not A Muslim which contradicts this line of reasoning. Waraq wrote..."Western apologists seem to have no knowledge of the atrocities of Islam. They have adopted the myth of Muhammad as a wise and tolerant ruler and law giver"....."The liberal left in the West has done a great disservice in covering for Islam. Western intellectuals condemn imperialism and colonialism while turning a blind eye to Islamic atrocities".

Armstrong's book is an egregious insult to the victims of Islamic terrorism, especiallyto those who are being disposessed of their homes by the Islamic State (ISIS). This army of thugs are carrying out the same atrocities in Iraq and Syria that Muhammad and his followers carried out in seventh century Arabia.

Tragically, there is some truth to the title of Armstrong's book in regard to Islamic terrorists and the Islamic State. For them, Muhammad is a prophet for our time.
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1.0 out of 5 stars
The most shameful piece of historical whitewashing written in modern times
ByAnduon December 27, 2015

I had heard about Karen Armstrong and her work by anti-religious thinkers like Christopher Hitchens and Sam Harris, as well religious apologists like Tariq Ramadan. I also saw some clips of her TED talks, which seemed fairly reasonable. All this got me interested in reading her "biography" of Muhammad, a prophet who - for good or bad - indeed is "for [and of] our time" and whose life is thus certainly worth knowing more about. After reading a classic, Islamic biography of the prophet (by Ibn Ishaq, in translation) and a contemporary biographical takedown (by Hamed Abdel-Samad), I wanted to read a more positive take on the prophet, by a Westerner, and a woman in particular.

That being said, and after reading this pamphlet, I cannot believe that anyone - and this includes Amazon - would think it wise to classify this polemic as a "biography" or even an historical book of any kind.

It is, to put it mildly, nothig short of a piece of political whitewashing - a rather shameful piece, in my view, because it's not even open about its intentions ; I am a fan of the biographical genre, and I can confidently say that I have not come across a bigger distortion of an important person's life, especially not one that has been published as an allegedly "scholarly" biography, and this in modern times. One has to go back to the early 20th century biographies of important figures in Western imperialism to find this level of whitewashing and politics disguised as scholarship.

My previous "critical" reviewers have already pointed out all the factual errors and omissions, the wishful thinking presented as facts, the non-chalant condoning of horrible crimes and the glossing over Muhammad's many great inconsistencies contained in this book, so I can't really add much there.

However, perhaps this fictitious comparison may help the open-minded, progressive, cosmopolitan reader (a tribe to which I generally count myself) see what kind of book this truly is:

Imagine that someone who is considered by most to be a scholar decided to write a book, today, in 2015, about the Spanish Conquistadores of what is today Latin America; in it, the civilizational change they brought about - which per se is just an irrefutable fact - is persistently portrayed as an "advancement" in comparison to the "barbaric" original culture; no evidence is presented for this, other than some Spanish sources of the time; only the most famous acts of violence of the Conquistadores, which can thus not entirely be brushed aside, are acknowledged; even then, these are "justified" and put into a very questionable historical context (see the mentioned lack of sources) before they are even properly "explained"; Finally, the book not only claims that the Conquistadores were great light bearers of civilization, but asserts that seeing them in this light is "necessary" for the progress of humanity. I ask you: would you accept such a narrative in this case? In any case that doesn't discuss a religious figure? In fact: in any case that doesn't discuss THIS PARTICULAR historical figure, Muhammad, the untouchable prophet of Islam? Nobody would, or should! So why should we operate like this in the case of Muhammad?

In short: beware of this book, and probably - I must say after reading this - of anything written by Karen Armstrong. This is not scholarship. This is politics, pure and simple. And if a policy requires so much deception to be palatable, I truly wonder if the policy itself is worth it too.
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5.0 out of 5 stars
A Much Needed Look at a Very Contemporary Man
ByWayne Beckhamon July 5, 2008

Karen Armstrong's Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time directly addresses the central conflict of our times, "Some Muslim thinkers regard the jihad against Mecca as the climax of Muhammad's career and fail to note that he eventually abjured warfare and adopted a nonviolent policy. Western critics also persist in seeing the Prophet of Islam as a man of war, and fail to see that from the very first he was opposed to the jahili arrogance and egotism that not only fueled the aggression of his time but is much in evidence in some leaders, Western and Muslim alike, today."

Karen goes out of her way to present a balanced and fair perspective on the life of Muhammad. She does this by basing her biography on the Prophet's response to al-Jahiliyah: commonly translated as "an Islamic concept of 'ignorance of divine guidance.'" Karen examinees more than Jahiliyah's theological significance, going into its practical impact on the culture of the Arabian peninsula. The dominant jahili spirit of the time was arrogant, quick to take a offense, warlike and vengeful. Islam, as practiced and taught by the Prophet, Karen makes clear, was a rejection of all of these traits - usually to the great consternation of his followers:

"And the servants of Allah, Most Gracious are those who walk on the earth in humility, and when the ignorant (jahilun) address them, they say, `Peace!' " (Sura The Criterion 25:63 - translation from The Qur'an: Text, Translation & Commentary.)

The revelations that form the Qur'an came to Muhammad not always in dreams or trances, but were sometimes aggressive even terrifying experiences. Muhammad describes the nature of revelation as gently falling like rain" and, at other times, traumatically, where he feels his "soul ripped away."

After revelation, even the Prophet needed to take time to understand what had been revealed. Karen writes, "[Allah] instructed Muhammad to listen to intently to each revelation as it emerged; he must be careful not to impose a meaning on a verse prematurely, before it's full significance had become entirely clear."

"High above all is Allah, the King, the Truth! Be not in haste with the Qur'an before its revelation to thee is completed, but say, "O my Lord! advance me in knowledge." (Sura Ta-ha, 20:114)

Karen, like others, notes that the Qur'an itself has been structured as high-level Arabic poetry, a concept central to the impact of the Qur'an on its Arabic audiences. This is a point entirely missed by Western audiences. You can get some sense of it by listening to a good chanter reciting the verses, but it's a shallow appreciation at best. Karen describes how listening to "the rich, allusive language and rhythms of the Qur'an helped [the Muslims] to slow down their mental processes and enter a different mode of consciousness."

Karen portrays, through the biography, the Qur'an's shared vision of the "people of the book" - the Islamic concept of a shared heritage of monotheism between Muslim, Christian and Jew:

"Say: `We believe in Allah, and in what has been revealed to us and what was revealed to Abraham, Isma'il, Isaac, Jacob, and the Tribes, and in (the Books) given to Moses, Jesus, and the prophets, from their Lord: We make no distinction between one and another among them, and to Allah do we bow our will [lahu muslimun].' " (Sura The Family Of 'Imran 3:84)

In addition to the creed that there's "no God but God" these three great religions believe in a similar destiny and consequently all deserve both tolerance and freedom to practice their faith:

"Those who believe (in the Qur'an), those who follow the Jewish (scriptures), and the Sabians and the Christians,- any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness,- on them shall be no fear, nor shall they grieve." (Sura The Table 5:69)

"To thee We sent the Scripture in truth, confirming the scripture that came before it, and guarding it in safety: so judge between them by what Allah hath revealed, and follow not their vain desires, diverging from the Truth that hath come to thee. To each among you have we prescribed a law and an open way. If Allah had so willed, He would have made you a single people, but (His plan is) to test you in what He hath given you: so strive as in a race in all virtues. The goal of you all is to Allah. It is He that will show you the truth of the matters in which ye dispute[.]" (Sura The Table, 5:48)

I have a couple of minor complaints. I wish that Karen had used the Qur'anic names for the characters that both the Holy Bible and the Holy Qur'an have in common. For example, Jibr'l for Gabriel; Ibrahim for Abraham; Isa for Jesus; Musa for Moses, and so on. After all, Karen is telling the story of Muhammad and quotes extensively from the Qur'an. It just would have seemed more natural and less distracting to me.

Another problem is that the book is edited sloppily in a couple of places: for example on page 43 (of my paper bound edition) a footnote starts out explaining that "Arabs customarily take an honorary title known as the kunya [...] Muhammad was known as"

And the footnote ends right there. Whatever Muhammad was known as, was lost somewhere between Karen's word-processor and the printing press.

Karen's biography of Muhammad reveals a very human prophet; a man who struggled with his faith, culture, peers and enemies. She strikes a balance between the "easy" teachings of Islam (tolerance, generosity, etc.) and the "hard" teachings, contrasting "jihad" to Augustine's "just war" is a comparison most Christian minds would prefer to avoid.

Karen ends the book with some good advice, "If we are to avoid catastrophe, the Muslim and Western worlds must learn not merely to tolerate but to appreciate one another. A good place to start is with the figure of Muhammad [...]"

All in all, this was an interesting read, only occasionally "preachy" and a good introduction for those who may want to pursue deeper studies in Islam or the Islamic culture that has so dramatically shaped the Middle East. I wish I'd read it before tackling In the Footsteps of the Prophet: Lessons from the Life of Muhammad. It would have made that book a lot clearer.

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4.0 out of 5 stars
Based on excellent research and boasting smooth expository prose
ByKindle Customeron March 13, 2015

This clear, short, and enlightening account of the life of the prophet Mohammad offers readers an approachable understanding of what lies behind Islam. It makes clear that Islam is NOT the source of the violence and extremism we see today, but rather originally tried to restrain and balance the violence already endemic to the Arab world. Based on excellent research and boasting smooth expository prose, the book is difficult only in the extensive foreign terms it uses. These are all explained in the text at first usage and Armstrong has included an excellent glossary of the terms at the end, but I read the e-book, and hence did not discover the glossary until the end. I recommend reading the physical book to make it easy to use the glossary. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to understand more about the origins of Islam, even Muslims, as I suspect even they are not familiar with all this book covers.

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5.0 out of 5 starsUnderstanding Islam from its origins

ByCecilia Cordeiro Engelson August 10, 2007

Format: Hardcover

This biography provides a fascinating account of Muhammad's life and the origins of Islam, the religion he founded. The author allows us to picture life and society in Arabia during the Prophet's lifetime, and the tremendous achievements that he was able to develop in a very short time. It is the story of a brilliant leader, both religious and political. Armstrong's most significant contribution through this biography in my opinion is to reveal Muhammad in a very human light, devoid of both mythological allure and untainted by historical prejudices. It is an extremely useful reading for our current times, since it provides the opportunity for a better understanding of Islam.

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4.0 out of 5 stars
Good Start
ByY2KBOYon January 31, 2016

It is a very good start. Armstrong paints a clear picture of Muhammad and the genesis of the faith that he inspired. You will want to read further, if you seek and understanding of how that faith has evolved.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book to read about Islam and its prophet
Byali darweeshon October 9, 2014

Karen was skilled in delving into the life of the prophet Muhammed and describes the stages of the nation building and the triumph of the great values brought to the Arabia. Karen was also successful in explaining various concepts within Islam such as jihad that may seem controversial to the western audience. Karen explains the different roles the prophet Muhammad played during his life, from being the orphan, the trader, the mediator, the messenger, the leader, the teacher and the husband. In short Karen did a great job as a theologian. She could have done better when it comes to history. It appeared to me she limited her resources to the Sunni school and ignored that of the Shia. Had she reviewed the shia version of history of Islam, she would have described Muhammed, the seal of the messengers, in a better shape and Islam in a more pure form. Finally I recommend this book for anyone interested in understanding Islam and the life of the prophet Muhammad.

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A History of God: The 4, 000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Karen Armstrong: 9780345384560: Amazon.com: Books

A History of God: The 4, 000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam: Karen Armstrong

A History of God: The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam 1994
by Karen Armstrong  (Author)
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Armstrong, a British journalist and former nun, guides us along one of the most elusive and fascinating quests of all time--the search for God. Like all beloved historians, Armstrong entertains us with deft storytelling, astounding research, and makes us feel a greater appreciation for the present because we better understand our past. Be warned: A History of God is not a tidy linear history. Rather, we learn that the definition of God is constantly being repeated, altered, discarded, and resurrected through the ages, responding to its followers' practical concerns rather than to mystical mandates. Armstrong also shows us how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have overlapped and influenced one another, gently challenging the secularist history of each of these religions. --Gail Hudson

From Publishers Weekly

This searching, profound comparative history of the three major monotheistic faiths fearlessly illuminates the sociopolitical ground in which religious ideas take root, blossom and mutate. Armstrong, a British broadcaster, commentator on religious affairs and former Roman Catholic nun, argues that Judaism, Christianity and Islam each developed the idea of a personal God, which has helped believers to mature as full human beings. Yet Armstrong also acknowledges that the idea of a personal God can be dangerous, encouraging us to judge, condemn and marginalize others. Recognizing this, each of the three monotheisms, in their different ways, developed a mystical tradition grounded in a realization that our human idea of God is merely a symbol of an ineffable reality. 

To Armstrong, modern, aggressively righteous fundamentalists of all three faiths represent "a retreat from God." She views as inevitable a move away from the idea of a personal God who behaves like a larger version of ourselves, and welcomes the grouping of believers toward a notion of God that "works for us in the empirical age." 

From Library Journal

Armstrong ( Muhammad , LJ 4/15/92; The Crusades and Their Impact on Today's World , LJ 2/15/91) presents a well-written overview of the changing idea of God as understood by the three great religions of the West. Besides providing a great deal of religious history, she discusses the various philosophers, mystics, and reformers associated with these religions. The author suggests that "God" is primarily a "focus of meaning" created by humanity. If He survives at all, it will be in a much-altered form. Public librarians should be aware that conservative readers may be offended by this book, and even religious scholars may find Armstrong's rather one-sided "death of God" optimism about humanity a bit passe. Otherwise, this is an excellent and informative book. Recommended for academic and public libraries.
- C. Robert Nixon, MLS, Lafayette, Ind.

From Booklist

In this impressive work, Armstrong, a former nun, a British journalist, and the author of several books on religion, takes on a weighty topic indeed: the study of monotheism over 4,000 years. Beginning at the beginning (which is not Genesis but rather the cauldron of religions found in the Middle East around 4000 B.C.), she traces the circuitous road to monotheism, following the plethora of twists and turns along the way. Perhaps most interesting for those of Judeo-Christian heritage are the chapters concerning Islam. Armstrong explains and explores this religion in a way that will enlighten those not familiar with its tenets. Besides discussing the three monotheistic religions, Armstrong also addresses such topics as mysticism, the philosophy of religion, and the death of God. Highly readable and provocative, this is a major contribution to religious studies and belongs on the shelves of most public libraries. Ilene Cooper --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

From Kirkus Reviews

Here, her basic message is that ``religion is highly pragmatic. We shall see that it is far more important for a particular idea of God to work than for it to be logically or scientifically sound.'' In an extraordinary survey, Armstrong traces the development of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam from their inception to the present day, and shows how they were created and shaped by their historical surroundings--which, in turn, they helped form and alter. Although this approach is standard among religious scholars, Armstrong uses it to particular advantage in underscoring the historical correspondences among the three faiths

-for example, examining the messianic fervor that surrounded the career of the Sabbatai Zevi (the 12th-century rabbi who built up an enormous apocalyptic cult among diaspora Jews prior to his imprisonment and conversion to Islam) in light of the early Christian response to the crucifixion of Jesus or of Jeremiah's prophecies about the destruction of Jerusalem. 

It's particularly in the mystical traditions, according to Armstrong, that the different faiths corroborate each other--in large part, she says, because the mystical apprehension of the divine is more abstract and therefore less dependent upon the traditional symbols by which most religions distinguish themselves. There are major gaps in Armstrong's history--she pays little attention to the Christian churches of the 20th century--but she manages against the odds to provide an account that's thorough, intelligent, and highly readable. Magisterial and brilliant. 

Review

"This is the most fascinating and learned survey of the biggest wild-goose chase in history - the quest for God. Karen Armstrong is a genius" -- A.N. Wilson
"A splendidly readable book...the stage is set for the question: has God a future?" -- Sister Wendy Beckett Sunday Times

"We are all watching a daily fight between the darkness and light. What we want, but may never get, is assurance that the light will prevail. Armstrong is too tough a thinker to offer us comfort there" -- Anthony Burgess Observer

"Armstrong shows a reverent curiosity and a generosity of spirit, refreshing the understanding of what one knows and providing a clear introduction to the unfamiliar" -- Rt Revd Robert Runcie Daily Telegraph

"Witty, informative and contemplative: Ms Armstrong can simplify complex ideas, but she is never simplistic" New York Times Book Review

From the Inside Flap

"An admirable and impressive work of synthesis that will give insight and satisfaction to thousands of lay readers."
THE WASHINGTON POST BOOK WORLD
In this stunningly intelligent book, Karen Armstrong, one of Britain's foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and women have perceived and experienced God, from the time of Abraham to the present. From classical philsophy and medieval mysticism to the Reformation, the Enlightenment, and the modern age of skepticism, Karen Armstrong performs the near miracle of distilling the intellectual history of monotheism into one superbly readable volume, destined to take its place as a classic.

About the Author

Karen Armstrong is the bestselling author of The Case for God, among other books. A powerful voice for ecumenical understanding, she was instrumental in creating, launching and propagating the Charter for Compassion, a global, multifaith cooperative effort to restore compassionate thinking and action to the center of religious, moral and political life.

From AudioFile

Karen Armstrong's subtitle isn't quite accurate. This history of God doesn't just review how believers in each in the three major Western monotheistic religions conceptualized the Divine. Armstrong also explains how each faith influenced the others and how each related to philosophical, political, and scientific developments. Armstrong's tone is engaged, almost excited, communicating the importance of this topic, but balanced and fair. In this the delivery matches the text: Both are clear and accessible. The one weakness in this production is that it's an abridgment; so much is covered in a relatively short time that more explanation of the subtler points, and a slower pace, would have worked better. G.T.B. © AudioFile 2004, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
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Top Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 starsSuperb overview and a wonderful distillation of monotheism.
By Petros of Marathon on February 27, 2000
Format: Paperback
Karen Armstrong has put together an impressive work that examines in depth the evolution of God and our perceptions of the transcendent. It's a wonderful starting point, however a dedicated reader should certainly explore other books to round out topics that the author touched lightly upon (Paul) or even omitted entirely (the influence of Eastern religions).
I think some of the criticisms levied at this book are misplaced. There seems to be a theme in these reviews that the author tends to slam Western Christianity and goes easy on Islam. This seems true to a certain extent, yet deliberate. The book is obviously aimed at Western readers; Christianity is so deeply imbued in so much of our culture that it bears a fearless scrutiny. While no doubt painful for some (Christian) readers, it's illuminating and honest. The author is obviously learned in Muslim history, yet she may have covered it in more depth than many Western readers might want. Also as one reviewer noted, "by failing to extend to Islam the razor of her sarcasm, she invites distrust". True, yet again there is so little positive perception of Islam in the West, that this appears intentional. This is the most notable flaw in the book, but not a fatal one.


What she did explain *very* well:
1. How pagan idol worship evolved into Jewish monotheism.
2. How the Trinity concept came about and grew.
3. The intellectual rift between and differences in Western and Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
4. Mysticism and it's ramifications. One reviewer called this a modern "dead end". I couldn't disagree more.

Overall, quite excellent and probably the best starting point for someone who wants to explore this fascinating topic. She has struck the best balance I've seen so far between depth, complexity and readability. Highly recommended.
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5.0 out of 5 starsIf this won't shake your thinking, nothing will!
By Missing in Action on April 18, 2000

A History of God was one of the most important books I've read. Karen Armstrong fearlessly, yet respectfully, traces the history of monotheistic thought from its earliest conception to the present day, all in a readable, lay-language book. It doesn't get much better, in my opinion.
However, be cautioned. If you are inclined to cling to old dogma, or frightened by the possibility that God might not be exactly what you were taught in Sunday School, then don't bother picking up this book. It will haunt you. On the other hand, if you are seeking a more clear picture of who God might really be, if you are open to the possibility that our concept of Him has evolved enormously since the days of Abraham, then this might be an excellent read for you.


Besides a good history lesson, it is insightful for the Western reader to gain an understanding of the "non-Christian" monotheistic traditions, i.e. Judaism and Islam. Armstrong does a wonderful (and contrary to some critics, I believe a FAIR) job of explaining how both Christianity and later Islam branched off of the Judaic traditions. Above all, it places the evolution of the God-concept into its cultural context, without which, our current God-concept is little more than a wholesale belief in so much mythology.
Be prepared to think, to change your mind, and to emerge from the end of this book a changed person.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Made me think -- maybe too much?
By Tanja L. Walker on November 19, 2002
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Karen Armstrong gives the readers a comprehensive view of the evolution of the three monotheistic faiths. In many respects, this is an eye-opening history, and will probably make many fundamentalists of all three faiths weep and gnash their teeth, and with good reason. We need to see that God is as much an evolving idea as He is a Being (or, perhaps, "Non-being") that creates and sustains us. Armstrong deftly shows us how the early Hebrews developed their concept of Yahweh from the early pagan war and fertility cults, how the concept of Jesus as savior and sacrifice for our sins developed, how the issue of the Trinity was addressed, and how Islam came to be.

What was distressing, though, is that while Armstrong correctly, in my opinion, points out the dangers of a literal God, goes too far in condemning an anthropomorphic God. I found myself depressed by the end of the book, questioning the conclusion, it seemed, that God did not exist, or if he did, he wasn't there as a Being. Reading this book certainly shook my faith, and I recommend reading this book with care, especially as one gets into the later chapters that focus on the development of atheism. Readers who are in a state of spiritual upheaval could find this book extremely challenging, though I believe that faith grows from our doubts.
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This is the Education I Should Have Receved in Seminary!
By William Howard Wiggins on July 5, 2005
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Karen Armstrong teaches the development of monotheistic faith in a way I wish my seminary professors would have done.

This book is extremely well documented. Every assertion is backed by historical documents or historical evidence. The glossary alone opens up a world of terms and concepts that leaves me in a meditative awe. The Suggestions for Further Reading is definitely my shopping list for future study. In constrast, my seminary education was long on political correctness and short on factual evidence.

Armstrong deals with feminist issues honestly and with sensitivity. Impressively, she does not relinquish factual evidence for political correctness, which almost all liberal education does today. She gives us an accurate history, and at the same time, frequently reminds us these are only feeble human ideas, and not the "Ineffable God."

Also, she tells the story of modern atheism in a way that makes me nod my head in agreement without giving up my own perception of God. Wow!

Armstong does seem to fudge on the person of Mohammed. She tells how he organized men for war and brutally defeated his enemies, then almost as a direct contradiction of the evidence, she proclaims him a man of peace. Putting that aside, I've been very enlightened by her account of the Islamic faith. So many things I hadn't known!

You can't miss the point of the book. God is "ineffable," beyond all human catagories, concepts, experiences, and even beyond existence itself. That blows my mind. She makes her point beautifully without leaving me feeling too threatened. Again, seminary professors should take a lesson.

I've told all my friends about the book, and I'm sure by now they're all sick of me and Karen Armstrong. Sorry. The book is simply excellent.
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