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

In this book, Karen Armstrong explores how Judaism, Christianity, and Islam have understood and experienced God from the time of Abraham to the present day. Armstrong examines why these three monotheistic religions developed, how they shaped conceptions of God, and how they influenced one another. She traces the Jews' transformation of pagan idol worship in Babylon into monotheism—a concept previously unknown in the world. Christianity and Islam both emerged from this foundational idea but adapted "the One God" to reflect the social and political needs of their followers. The book spans from classical philosophy and medieval mysticism through the Reformation, presenting the intellectual history of monotheism across centuries and examining humanity's evolving relationship with monotheistic religion.