Based on Karen Armstrong's 1994 bestseller of the same name, A History of God features a stellar cast of theological scholars, including Armstrong, Elaine Pagels (The Gnostic Gospels), Martin E. Marty (A Short History of Christianity), and Rabbi Irving Greenberg (The Jewish Way), who trace the 4,000 year history of theism--from the polytheistic beliefs of early peoples (largely fertility and agricultural gods and goddesses) to the gradual acceptance of the monotheistic notion of one God, now central to three of the world's great religions: Christianity, Islam and Judaism. Along the way, Armstrong and others offer cogent commentary on the evolution of the historical God, from a partisan deity who represented the interest of the Israelites, to the broader concept--which began to take hold in the 6th century B.C.--of a universal God for all humanity. In addition to tracing God's history, the program looks at the changing definitions of Christ (whose divine nature was interpreted in theological gatherings such as the Council of Nicaea in 325 A.D.) and examines the genesis of Islam, which arose in the 7th century A.D. through the writings and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad. While lacking the exhaustive depth of Armstrong's excellent book, this survey does a fine job of encapsulating the major theological points and historical events that have shaped the evolution of both Western and Eastern thinking about the nature of the supreme being from Yahweh to Allah. Recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (R. Pitman)
A History of God
(2001) 94 min. $29.95. A&E Home Video. PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 0-7670-3980-7. Volume 16, Issue 6
A History of God
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