And Man Created God: Kings, Cults and Conquests at the Time of Jesus

by Selina O'Grady

At the time of Jesus' birth, the world was full of gods. Thousands of them jostled, competed, and merged with one another. In Syria, ecstatic devotees castrated themselves in the streets to become priests of Atargatis. In Galilee, holy men turned oil into wine, healed the sick, drove out devils, and claimed to be the Messiah. Every day thousands of people were flocking into brand-new multiethnic cities. The ancient world was in ferment as it underwent the first phase of globalization, and in this ferment, rulers and ruled turned to religion as a source of order and stability.



To explore the power that religious belief has had over societies through the ages, Selina O'Grady takes the reader on a dazzling journey across the empires of the ancient world and introduces us to rulers, merchants, messiahs, priests, and holy men. Throughout, she seeks to answer why, amongst the countless religious options available, the empires at the time of Jesus chose the religions they did. Why did China's rulers hitch their fate to Confucianism? Why was a tiny Jewish cult led by Jesus eventually adopted by Rome's emperors? The Jesus cult, followed by no more than one hundred people at the time of his death, should, by rights, have disappeared in a few generations. Instead it became the official religion of the Roman Empire. Why did Christianity grow so quickly to become the predominant world religion? And Man Created God, an important, thrilling and necessary new work of history, looks at why and how religions have had such an immense impact on human history, and in doing so, uncovers the ineradicable connection between politics and religion--a connection that still defines us in our own age.

Genres: History, Religion, Nonfiction, Ancient History, World History, Spirituality, Theology

416 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2012

About the author

I was brought up in London by very religious parents. My father was a strict Irish Catholic; we had an altar in our house and prayed every night before the statue of the Virgin Mary. My mother was Jewish, but as a young woman had joined what would probably now be considered a cult, living in a kind of commune in New Jersey under the spiritual guidance of the Russian esotericist Ouspensky. Although she converted to Catholicism when she married my father, she remained wedded to Ouspensky's teachings. I lost my belief in God when I was a child but have always remained sympathetic to, and fascinated by, religious belief and the longing for the transcendent.

I have co-edited two books, Great Spirits: The Fifty-Two Christians Who Most Influenced Their Millennium (a series of essays on men and women ranging from Bach to Martin Luther King), and A Deep but Dazzling Darkness, an anthology from Anglo-Saxon to modern times of the experience of belief and disbelief. I also worked in television and radio, including as a producer for BBC 1's moral documentary series Heart of the Matter, presented by Joan Bakewell, and a producer on Radio 4's history series Leviathan.

My spur to beginning writing was reviewing works of history for the Tablet, the San Francisco Chronicle (I lived in that fabulous city for three years), and the LIterary Review. From writing those reviews, I learned what I think makes a good and enjoyable history book: it is the combination of the big causal picture - why something happens - fleshed out with the bits of gossipy, visceral detail that the reader will always enjoy and remember when all the dates have flown out of the window. I hope you will find this combination in And Man Created God.

http://us.macmillan.com/author/selina...

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought this book was really well written and engaging, but it was just too much. As a religious studies minor, I would say this book was a semester long class, crammed into one book. She did try to keep the chapters and the different countries/religions linked in a way that made sense to the narrative, but it got choppy at times. She spent a lot of time in China and barely any in India when both should have been fleshed out equally. Also, the subtitle of adding Jesus was a good gimmick, but Jesus was not the focus of the book at all, which I believe may have confused readers waiting for more on him. I really enjoyed it, but I think it's best seen as a way to get people interested in religion in a scholarly sense. Then they should go out and buy more books that focus on each area and belief that she touched upon briefly.

[Ivan Mulcahy · Rating 5 out of 5]

BIAS ALERT: I am the author's literary agent. I love both the book and the author. That is why I represent them. So please don't annoy me by expecting objectivity.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

The world has in many ways been so utterly defined by the 'Religions of the Book' - Judaism, Christianity and Islam - particularly in the West, that it's important to remember that it wasn't always so and that such a dominance was never inevitable or indeed, at the time of Jesus' birth, even probable. The story of why people turned away from many gods to the worship of one supreme god is as interesting a tale as how it happened, and that is what Selina O'Grady sets out to explore in this book, a snapshot of world faiths at the time of Jesus' birth.

O'Grady explores a multitude of faiths, from the pantheon of gods and the emperor-worship of Rome; Buddhism and Brahmanism in India; Confucianism in China; African goddess-queens; the castrating priests of Atargatis; the rebellious Jews in Jerusalem; and the emerging religion of Christianity. Since the concept of separation of church and state was a concept unknown at the time, the history of many of these faiths is intertwined with the nations they were rooted in, and in many cases the religions were used to either prop up a failing state, to validate a dubious or usurping tyrant or to challenge the power of a tyranny. It is impossible to separate Judaism from Israel, after all, just as the emergence of Christianity as the dominant world religion would have been impossible without the support of the emperor Constantine and the later Roman emperors.

What is more intriguing is why the more demanding religions, those with codes, rules and laws that governed every aspect of life, have been more successful than those gods who demanded only acknowledgement and sacrifices, and played no part in their worshippers' daily existence. O'Grady argues it is because these religions focused more on the individual dynamic, the personal relationship with the god, a god that was attentive to not just the collective but the individual good. In a world with such massive gulfs in wealth and status, these faiths that gave the individual hope of a better life were more attractive than those where sacrifices and festivals were designed to preserve the balance and status quo of a whole society, rich in their place and poor in theirs.

It's understandable, but personally I can't help but feel the victory of monotheism left the bulk of the world a little less colourful! I think I'd like to live in a society where gods had to compete for followers as much as football teams or pop stars. But then I'm an atheist anyway, so all it is to me is colour.

[Socraticgadfly · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is more miss than hit, a book with a nice idea, whose development of said idea can't be trusted.

The premise is to show the rise of some world religions at the same time that much of the "Old World" outside of sub-saharan Africa was under the dominion of just a few large empires.

However, O'Grady has several historical and other mistakes that undercut her claims to pursue this thesis in depth.

They include:
1. Believing that Zoroaster was a historic person;
2. Believing Christian myths about the apostle Thomas actually getting to India;
3. Explaining the development of Hinduism out of Brahmanism without discussing Kali or other non-Aryan deities;
4. Believing, a la Rodney Stark, that the development toward Hinduism was also a development toward monotheism;
5. Calling the Zealots a "wing of Pharisaism";
6. Believing in the general historicity of the book of Acts;
7. On the non-history side, believing the Taklamakan is the world's driest desert, when it's actually the Atacama in Chile.

There's enough decent stuff in here to keep this from being a 1-star.

That said, as a speaker of American English, while I know the phrase "plumping for" is standard British English, I've never seen it used this much before in a British English book. It was starting to reach the point of irritation.

==

Forgot I had checked this out before and was looking for library filler on the big old jet airplane ride to and from vacation. No better the second time around.

Things I missed the first time include her wrong claim that Paul was a Roman citizen (he never claims that, only Acts, written by someone NOT a companion of his, does), and worse, that Paul's dad was a Roman citizen, granted it because of being a tentmaker for the Roman army. This claim isn't even cited/footnoted and I have zero idea what apocryphal Xn literature it comes from.

Reality? There were very few citizens in Tarsus and not many even enjoyed the B-grade "Latin right" at this time.

Also, while hedging, seems to believe Confucianism is a religion. And, speaking of China? Not one word about Daoism.

Half-right on Hinduism not being a creation of the British Raj. Half-wrong, in not dating it later than the Indian Epic Religion Era, but rather, likely, to the Gupta Empire, where it was a unification device and part of chasing Buddhism over the mountain.

Final note: Title is somewhat deceptive, even if the subtitle addresses that. This is NOT a philosophy of religion or evolutionary sociology of religion book. Rather, it's about the development of various religions during the "Axial Age" in part of the "civilized" world that happened to be in the Old World.

[Øivind · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives a nice overview of religions in the world at the time of Jesus. The main idea behind the book is to describe how empires and religions use each other to prosper. I don't really need to be convinced that this is a reasonable idea, but I don't think I would be more convinced because of this book. For that, it is a bit too shallow. There are, however, some ideas that seem self-evident, like how some religions are more compatible with empires than others. For instance, universalist religions like Christianity are obviously more compatible than exclusive religions like Judaism. But the main strength of the book is rather the overview it gives, and its readability. I certainly enjoyed it.

[Ana Ardeleanu · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a journey and a good one too.
I felt myself travelling through the world of the Roman Empire, being a spy of the emperor, while also seeing the seemingly peaceful world of the East: India and China. (and the trade routes that united the two worlds: West and East)
It can be quite difficult to understand everything at once though, so I recommend taking your time with this book, because it really is worth it.

[Al Bità · Rating 5 out of 5]

My pleasure in this work betrays my attraction for works which in some way help contextualise specific times in history. In this case, the period in question is “the time of Jesus”, an ambiguous phrase — it could refer specifically to the time the so-called historical Jesus is supposed to have lived on earth (i.e. from ca. 4 BCE to ca. 33 CE) while others could argue that it refers to the whole of the Common Era until the present, and continuing into the future. O’Grady uses the traditional BC (Before Christ) and AD (Anno Domini “Year of the Lord”) for the dating in her book; I prefer to use the more internationally accepted Before the Common Era (BCE) instead of BC, and Common Era (CE) for AD. The specific time referred to in this book appears to be at most the first half of the first century CE.

The book starts with a series of five Maps which show both in general and in particular many of the Empires and Kingdoms in the then-known world (stretching from Spain in the West, to China in the East) which were extant at this time. The maps also include trade routes between these regions, suggesting that all of these places, directly or indirectly, influenced one another, if only through the interplay of merchants plying their goods, while at the same time creating potential blends of ideas and ideologies. Immediately following these maps we find a brief time-line which extends the overall period from 1500 BC up to and including 395 AD, thus offering a basic opening to further exploration by interested parties.

The main text of the book, therefore, consists of histories, stories and tales taken from various texts of “the then-known world” which are intended to illuminate potential influences on the imperialist and spiritualist zeitgeist to be found in Palestine during the first half of the first century CE. Under O’Grady’s direction, the reader is taken on an engrossing journey, full of fascinating stories and characters more often than not “excluded” from traditional narratives (not necessarily intentionally, of course).

Intriguing and even delightful as these stories might be, a word of caution is necessary: O’Grady is well aware that her sources may not be historically as accurate as they might claim to be; she therefore regularly cautions the reader that those sources might well be more self-serving than anything else. Be that as it may, the stories do reflect what was being propagated at the time, and regardless of the truth or otherwise of the events they deal with, they do represent beliefs which might well have contributed to the perceived zeitgeist in Palestine. It should be taken as read that as a result there may very well be errors and/or contradictions in some of these narratives; these should be understood as such, but they do not diminish the beliefs of the times.

The result of all this is that O’Grady’s work comes to represent something like a series of transparencies overlaying one another in different ways. Her valuable contribution lies in the fact that she does not attempt to judge any of these overlays either morally or ethically. Instead the book provides the sensitive reader with a space within which one can meditate on the possible combined impact of these beliefs, regardless of their truth or otherwise. I would also venture to suggest that the more the reader is familiar with the period in question, the richer the result of the meditation.

My understanding lies in the interconnection between the imperial/monarchical political power achieved by the sword through conquest and physical control (by whatever means) and the potency of the many types of religious/spiritual beliefs enshrined by various religious/social-lifestyle groups or organisations in controlling people who submitted to their dogmas. Both these systems are related to questions of Authority. As O’Grady presents them, both can be powerful enough in their own right, and either can triumph over the other depending on circumstances; but when they manage to combine their powers in a common aim, they become far more potent, and each contributes to the survival of the other: together they “flourish” to their mutual benefits.

The “common belief area” prevalent in all these groups appears to be linked to some kind of conviction of the “divine”, be it the actual acceptance of the many gods of the Graeco-Roman predisposition, or whether it represented some undefinable all-embracing power that overrides or underpins the whole world (e.g. “Brahman” in India, or “Heaven” in China). Political/temporal rulers, by virtue of their physical conquests and control, aspired to consolidate their Authority by being linked with this “divinity”, or even with actually becoming such a divinity. Such was the case with Octavian/Augustus and later Emperors in Rome. From a “religious” point of view, a similar process was begun by Paul in his many Epistles in which he propounded his view that Jesus was, in fact, the long-awaited Jewish Messiah (Christus in Greek), much to the chagrin of the Jews, who would have been further outraged (to say the least) by Paul’s teaching that the sacred Jewish rules no longer fully applied in his new universal dispensation.

The zeitgeist, therefore, in relation to the “time of Jesus” was that men could aspire to, and in fact did, create a specific god-like divinity in one of their own. In Paul’s case, the attribution of divinity to Jesus in his Epistles can be seen as sowing the seed for his ultimate deification. Paul, along with Peter and James (who could be called the three “founders” (and therefore three versions) of Christianity) would all be dead by the late 60s CE; and it would be at least a decade before the earliest of the New Testament Gospels (viz. Mark) would be written, all of which would enhance and develop this suggestion.

But it would be some 300 years after the death of Jesus that, under the auspices of the Roman Emperor, the Catholic Church would officially declare Jesus to be God himself (thus initiating one of the first splits within the Church itself). At the same time, Christianity was declared to be the official religion of the Roman Empire. Starting with the 4th-c CE Council of Nicaea, and for eight hundred years or so (until the 12th-c CE), all the first eight Councils of the Church were invoked by the current Emperor, suggesting that the Church itself was for all intents and purposes merely an arm of the political power of the Emperor — a situation of immense mutual benefit to both the Church and the Emperor.

O’Grady’s immensely readable book is gentle, subtle, educational, entertaining, and ultimately thought-provoking.

[Bob Rosenbaum · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sprawling survey of religions around the time of Jesus does more than any book I've ever read to demonstrate the unbreakable connection between religion and politics throughout human history. Reza Aslan's controversial book "Zealot" provided the political context for Jesus and his earlier followers. O'Grady goes further - much further - by covering similar ground not only for Jesus but also Isis, Confucius, Buddha, Zoroaster and several others, and explaining why they either fell by the wayside or remained geographically limited. In the end, she makes a strong case why Christianity alone emerged from this period as the dominant religion across much of the known world - and why it was so well suited to the complex politics of the Roman Empire.
A fascinating and mind-expanding read for understanding who we are as a species and how we got here.

[Ralph Palm · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book contains frequently interesting historical facts within a completely incoherent logical framework. It's full of unnecessary repetitions and baffling inconsistencies. Definitions are stipulated then ignored. Claims are asserted without argument, then later contradicted. It reads like the first draft of a dissertation: one its supervisor rejected and sent back for further revision.

In general, I very much like the idea of interested amateurs engaging with 'scholarly' subjects. I don't mind the overgeneralizations, the narrative passages--I'm even willing to let the poor sourcing slide. But, for *Chrissakes*, at least know what your book is about, and let the reader in on it. Find a thesis. Here, the introduction is a concatenation of factoids and the conclusion is literally nonexistent; it just sort of trails off in a baffling nonsequitur. Even the title make no sense: it's not a position argued in the book, or quoted, or in any way otherwise referred to. As far as I can tell, it seems like controversy fodder developed by some algorithm from the publisher's marketing department.

For examples on how this kind of book can be written well (or at least better), see the work of Jared Diamond and Reza Aslan, off the top of my head.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction of how religion shaped politics around the time of Jesus' life. It explores why Christianity flourished while other competing religions of the time didn't. What I learned was: Roman emperors were divining themselves after death, introducing the idea of a God in the form of a man; a state religion was a cheaper way to unify citizens than conquering and warring; cults such as Isis worship introduced the idea of a personal relationship with the divine; Paul was a great salesman.

[Omar Ali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually i have not finished the book, since i had to return it to the library...I hope to get it back in a few weeks (playing "place a hold")..but I am about 60% through it and I liked it. I am not sure if the author is going to come up with some grand theory or the other at the end, but the narrative till now is really snappy and interesting and well researched. I learned new things about Rome and Parthia and India every few pages and I was not totally ignorant going in. Worth a read...

[Sarah Jensen]

Book Review: And Man Created God: A History of the World at the Time of Jesus by Selina O’Grady

In And Man Created God: A History of the World at the Time of Jesus, Selina O’Grady offers a sweeping historical analysis that situates the life and times of Jesus Christ within a broader context of significant socio-political and cultural developments of the era. Published in 2012, the book presents a nuanced exploration of the forces shaping religious beliefs and practices during a time of profound change and upheaval in the Mediterranean and beyond.

Structure and Content
The book is organized thematically, encompassing various geographical regions, including Rome, Persia, India, Africa, and China. O’Grady weaves a rich tapestry of historical events, philosophical movements, and religious traditions that coexisted during the time of Jesus. Each chapter delves into specific themes, such as the rise of monotheism, the nature of power and governance, and the interactions between different cultures and belief systems.

O’Grady’s approach is both chronological and thematic, enabling readers to understand how various historical currents influenced the formation of early Christianity and its surrounding contexts. The author draws on an extensive range of sources, providing a well-rounded perspective that highlights the complexity of the world in which Jesus lived.

Key Themes
Several key themes emerge from O’Grady’s work:

Religious Pluralism: The book illustrates the diversity of religious beliefs and practices in the ancient world, emphasizing how the interactions between polytheistic and emerging monotheistic traditions contributed to a rich cultural landscape.

Political and Social Context: O’Grady situates the life of Jesus within the turbulent political climate of the Roman Empire, exploring how imperial power dynamics affected regional governance and religious expression.

Philosophical Influences: The author examines the impact of various philosophical schools of thought, such as Stoicism and Hellenistic philosophies, on both the teachings of Jesus and the development of early Christianity.

Cultural Exchange: The narrative highlights the significance of trade routes and cultural exchanges in disseminating ideas and beliefs across different civilizations, reflecting the interconnectedness of the ancient world.

Human Agency in Religion: O’Grady argues that rather than viewing religious phenomena as solely divinely inspired, it is essential to consider the human motivations and societal conditions that shape religious narratives and institutions.

Educational and Historical Value
And Man Created God is a valuable resource for both scholars and general readers interested in early Christian history, religious studies, and the historical context of the biblical narrative. O’Grady’s meticulous research and clear writing make complex historical ideas accessible, while her interdisciplinary approach encourages critical thinking about the interplay between history and religion.

The book not only enhances understanding of the specific period surrounding Jesus’ life but also invites readers to consider the broader implications of how religious identities are formed and transformed over time.

Conclusion
In conclusion, Selina O’Grady’s And Man Created God: A History of the World at the Time of Jesus offers a compelling and comprehensive exploration of the historical context that shaped early Christianity. Through her interdisciplinary analysis and engaging narrative, O’Grady successfully sheds light on the intricate tapestry of beliefs, cultures, and events that coalesced during this pivotal era. This book is highly recommended for anyone seeking to deepen their understanding of the multifaceted relationships between history, culture, and religion in the ancient world, making it a significant contribution to the field of historical and religious studies.

[Lakmus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ok, so first of all, my expectations were off, because I am dumb and thought the author was an academic historian. Consequently, the often-missing references were an eye-sore and the whole book felt kind of disjointed (like I was expecting an argument, rather than a narration).

Regardless of that, it was quiet well-written and fun to read. In fact, the atmospheric descriptions of various locations and cultures was what made me look at the back of the book for who the author was, because it was very visual and felt like watching a documentary - and lo and behold, the author indeed produced some, as well as other popular-history stuff on radio and such. The mystery of the missing references was solved.

And by missing references I don't mean that the book has none - it has plenty, including lots of classical texts. I mean a number of instances when the authors says something like 'Multiple scholars disagree with X and think Y.'. I'd like to see who these 'multiple scholars' are, even though I have no particular reason to distrust the author.

I now realise that I'd be more interested in reading a more detailed and cohesive (even if less dramatic) exploration of how religion and state interacted in various times and places around the globe, without the focus on Jesus-like figures and Christian-like cults, although these are fascinating (and great to shove in the face of particularly obtuse Christians). I feel like this focus may produce a (somewhat?) skewed perception of the religion-state interaction and how religious beliefs differed depending on socio-political circumstances.

I guess this makes it a good introductory layman book then, since I now want to go learn more about all this.

[Richard Balmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not an atheist tract as the title suggests, but something more interesting. This book covers the era in which Eurasia abandoned its previous polytheistic religions - geographically localised, with an essentially transactional relationship between worshipper and deity - in favour of creeds proclaiming the existence of singular mono-gods with a plan or loving relationship with the faithful. Placed here in a context that encompasses regions as varied as Rome, Sudan and China, this cultural shift seems to have happened startlingly simultaneously across a very wide swath of the planet.

I think part of the joy of this book is simply in the broad comparative discussion of the nature and development of faith cultures and their relationship with the broader political contexts they arise from. O'Grady discusses both the competition between the rising faiths and the reaction of the older ones (Hinduism and Judaism in particular), and is particularly interesting when discussing people caught between the assimilationist policies of the Roman Empire and the defensive self-proclaimed guardians of her subject cultures. Naturally, any book concerned with ancient mystery cults also introduces the reader to some interesting, alarming and obscure deities. Both mermaid Atargatis and China's briefly popular Queen Mother of the West, a jumped-up plague goddess turned peasant saviour figure who reminds me a little of modern Santa Muerte, are here given their due.

I'd recommend this as a great introductory work for anyone interested in the emergence of Christianity or comparative religion. I'd recommend it to everyone else on the basis that it includes a chapter called "Galilee: Jesus and the Messiah Bandits."

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5* Fascinating historical writing highlighting the way politics, social structure, orators, the convergence of many cultures and religions (and just plain luck) turned one of the many small cults of that time into the massive entity that’s now known as Christianity. It highlights how political decisions among leaders mixed with rapid social change and globalization (trade routes) set the stage for a shift in religious practices.

It also highlights the immense impact an engaging, personable orator can have in spreading the message of a new religion during a time of unrest and impasse. In the case for Christianity, Paul was the story teller who preached of a religious compromise between the extremes of Judaism and the Roman laws. Although Paul never knew or met Jesus, he traveled the Roman Empire many years after Jesus’ death and transformed the story of Jesus’ life into one of a messiah figure (although many of the divine portions of Jesus’ life were added decades-hundreds of years later). This was a good read for any one curious about how the many religions, beliefs, and cultural practices ended up coalescing into the few core ones we recognize today.

A few personal notes: This is not a light hearted summer read. In fact, it brought me back to my college days when I took Greek and Roman history and religion courses. Due to time, I had to skip the few chapter covering Eastern religions spread and growth. It’s a dense, but truly fascinating book for those who find religions and history interesting and want deeper context into why we have the religions we do today.

[John Pabon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review #21 of my 52 week book challenge: And Man Created God

The testimonial from A.C. Grayling on the cover says it all. "No one should be allowed to lay claim to Christian or indeed any religious faith who has not read this book first, and meditated on its import."

This work covers the entirety of religion, from west to east (and everywhere in between) during the times of Christ. While I'm not a religious person, I counted myself among the educated. I knew Christmas was influenced by the Saturnalia and Jesus was one of many prophets in the Quran. I didn't know a thing about the eunuchs of Palmyra or the Buddha's links with Roman culture.

History buffs, religious scholars, and students of politics will all gain a great deal reading this book. I couldn't give it a higher recommendation.

To find out why I started my 52 week book challenge, what I've been reading, and how you can get involved, check out my original LinkedIn Publisher article or follow me.

[Virginprune · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a fascinating idea for a subject! A thorough review of the state of the world around two thousand years ago (or at least as much of it as records allow); the interplay between societies/traditions, governments/ruling classes, the practical and the religious contexts and currents thereof. So, the extended Eurasian bloc (including North Africa), the major empires, the waves of migration and revolution. How individual religions worked in different specific contexts and locations, why they succeeded, and why not.
There's a wealth of good information here - plenty of research and expertise, and many many fascinating details and anecdotal illustrations. And it's readable!
What it needs, though, is a final polish. Better editing - both in terms of a more clearly defined structure, more watertight argumentation, perhaps an analytical framework - and also in terms of better management of the text, improving the clarity and focus.

[Hara Gavrielatou · Rating 3 out of 5]

It has too much information and a lot of repetitions. From my knowledge of Greek - Roman history I found some mistakes so I don't know if the other information is reliable.
In Chapter 2 we read "from Turkey to Gaul" which is wrong. There was not such country or people as Turkey or Turkish at the time referred in the book (1st century BC to 1st AD) at this area as they went much much later. The correct is "where today's Turkey is".
Same in Chapter 3 we read "the Phrygian(Turkish)" which is also wrong. Phrygians were not Turkish. Phrygia is only an area that now belongs to Turkey. It is corrected later on chapter 8.
Stoicism was not a religion. It was a  Hellenistic Phyloshophical School. Why is it compared with a religion?
I think I would enjoy it more if it was more synoptic.

[Johann · Rating 2 out of 5]

The subtitle “A History of the World at the Time of Jesus”, better describes the book than the title “And Man Created God”. While the book has little to do with man creating god, but much to do with how religion shaped politics in the biggest empires of the world at the time of Jesus.
Although the book is well-written, entertaining, and easy to read, one must be on guard for some significant errors. There are especially two errors that stand out because, while they do not interfere with the main theme, they cause confusion and may lead to wrong conclusions when looking at context.
First, geography. Selina O’Grady refers to communications between the Roman Empire, from Egypt, and India. To be clear, there was no shipping route from Alexandria to India at the time, and although the Romans traded with India, Rome did not have a fleet, sailing from the Mediterranean Sea to India. The Suez Canal did not exist, it was built between 1859 to 1869. How O’Grady talks about the trade between the Roman Empire and India is confusing and incorrect.
Second, O’Grady’s definition of religion. The Cambridge Dictionary defines religion as the belief in and worship of a god or gods, or any such system of belief and worship. There is therefore a significant difference between a religion and a philosophy. O’Grady, on the other hand, defines Stoicism as a religion and puts it as a competition to Christianity during the first centuries of Christianity, especially in Rome. She also touts Buddhism and Confucianism as religions, although both were originally developed as philosophies of life and work.
Despite the fact, that most Stoics at the time believed in a god or gods, and therefore were deists, Stoicism did not require them to believe so and in addition, made no requirement as to what religion they should belong to. You may be Christian, Atheist, Muslim, or a Buddhist, but still, practice Stoicism. However, you cannot be an Atheist and a Christian at the same time. In the case of Confucianism, it was created to improve the government and the administration of the Chinese Empire, while Buddhism was developed to perfect the individual way of life. In both cases, certain elements tried to change both into a religion, but even though Buddhism is practiced by Monks and in Temples, there is still no god.
Coming across these kinds of errors in a book lessens its credibility. It also makes it more difficult for the reader to put things in perspective, clean out the errors and find the actual history in other sources. Not all readers will go through the trouble of searching for the truth, nor do all readers have the background to detect these kinds of errors. They will read the statements as true and it will destroy their view of history forever.

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was reasonably interesting and well written. The sweep thru China, India, and the middle east at a point in time was interesting. I learned about Confucianism (and its connection to the government) and how some people don't consider it to be a religion. Also about the origins of Hinduism (Brahmanism) and how it took over India, while Buddhism moved to the far east (Cambodia, Viet Nam, etc.). The information about Paul (Saul) was informative as well. It appears that Pauline Christianity would be the correct terminology for Christianity as it exists today. Also interesting that most of Paul's take on Christianity came from his "visions" as he had no direct contact with Jesus of Nazareth. Christos (Greek) means messiah. Not sure that I had gotten that from other readings.

[Ryan Barretto · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a history book that actually does the job of an observer, instead of trying to make you take sides. It is illuminating because it shows you stuff no one else told you about, including your own religion or parents. It has good detail and is based on lots of research, which makes it more fascinating.

Don't miss this book, especially if you are curious about why people do the things they do, including those in power.

[Heidi Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very well written book, however I have to agree with the other reviews that it’s an overwhelming amount of information for one book. Especially if you’re not studying theology in an academic sense, the volume of text and detail here can be off-putting. If you’re very advanced, this book would be more appealing. Having said that, I don’t regret giving it a go- there’s a lot of interesting points and speculation made.

[Levent Şenol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting book about the time of jesus, it enables us to see the time from different dimensions and the how 'pauline christianism' survived. Especially the chapter about Wang Mang was captivating. All in all, It is definitely worth your time if you are interested in the subject.

[Dave Branch · Rating 5 out of 5]

The historical realities of multiculturalism are clear in relationships between nations at the time of the Jesus fable. Rome's dealings with Arabia and Africa, Persia, India, and China outline how trade in human needs also exchanged mindsets that exist to this day.

[Stan McDaniel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential Reading

This book synthesizes a mass of information out there about the origins of Christianity into a readable and very engaging format that should appeal to a broad audience. Excellent!

[Laddie Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A history that has not been read by many proponents and opponents of Christianity.


This book should be read but only with an open mind. I have always struggled with Paul . But I will be more understanding of him now, but still disagreeing.

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fascinating history of the development of religion. It is a definite must read for anyone seeking to learn how the major religions began. Very well researched, thorough and scholarly, Ms O'Grady has an accessible writing style that results in a relaxed, enjoyable reading experience.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ebullient narration interjected with passages of lucid analysis, but at the end of the day, what exactly is the big news?

[Melissa Yael Winston · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good survey of the spirit of the times that created the spirit of the ages.

[Mano Chil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice book to read about the different religions during the time of Jesus. Well done.