God: A Very Short Introduction

Elementaire Deeltjes #30

by John Bowker

Who or what is God? How do different religions interpret God's existence? How can we know God?

Many people believe in God; not just throughout history but also in the present day. But who or what is it they believe in? Many different and sometimes conflicting answers have been suggested to this question. This Very Short Introduction explores some of the answers provided by philosophers, poets, and theologians, and considers why some people believe in God and others do not.

John Bowker explores how the major religions established their own distinctive beliefs about God and how they interpret God's existence, and concludes by looking at how our understanding of God continues to evolve.

ABOUT THE The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Genres: Religion, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Theology, Christianity, Spirituality, Faith

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2014

Reviews

[Caat · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't tell what it promised to tell. It's a book about the fundamentals of a couple of large religions. The stuff you can read in many books. Don't expect to read about why some people believe and others don't.

[Marco · Rating 2 out of 5]

Seria muito difícil um livro com este título agradar a todos, porque as expectativas de cada leitor podem ser as mais diversas. Há quem critique por ser eurocêntrico, por falar de poucas religiões, por ser muito resumido, etc.
Para não ser diferente, também gorou as minhas expectativas, mas por outro motivo. Numa coleção como esta, esperaria uma abordagem antropológica, sociológica, psicológica ou filosófica sobre o tema. O que não esperava era uma abordagem profundamente enviesada de um crente. Culpa minha, que não fui ver primeiro quem era o autor: um teólogo e padre anglicano.
Os dois primeiros capítulos, sobre a existência de Deus, são absolutamente risíveis. Aborda o ateísmo de uma maneira telegráfica e defende, caindo várias vezes na falácia da petição de princípio, que Deus existe com grande probabilidade e que tal se deve aceitar por via da razão e não da fé.
A coisa é hilariante quando perde tempo a dizer o que Deus pode e não pode ser, as características que pode e não pode ter, onde me senti como se lê-se alguém a afirmar que um unicórnio não pode ser rosa, porque não há unicórnios rosa.
Atinge o pináculo no prefácio quando discute se devemos usar a palavra Deus ou Deusa… se Ele existe, penso ser legítimo ter algumas dúvidas que, como os seres vivos do planeta Terra, tenha um de dois sexos, pelo que esta parece ser uma discussão discretamente estéril.
Enfim, leva as duas estrelinhas porque os capítulos sobre as religiões abraâmicas e sobre as religiões da Índia são interessantes resumos do tema.

[Павел Качнов · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book starts strong but progressively loses density, as if the author is compressing too much into too little space. It sits in an awkward middle ground: likely too conceptually demanding for beginners, yet too superficial for readers with prior exposure to theology or comparative religion.

The core approach is philosophical reflection combined with brief overviews of major religious traditions has clear potential, but the execution feels rushed. Individual religions are reduced to sketches, offering fragments rather than coherent pictures. Some sections, including those on Hinduism, provided interesting pieces to the puzzle, but not enough depth to feel genuinely informative if one were already familiar with the subject.

The overviews of the Abrahamic traditions were enjoyable as well, though frustratingly brief more of a glimpse than a real exploration. Much of the book circles around a single idea: that God is ultimately incomprehensible, and that religious traditions are attempts to gesture toward something beyond human cognition, occasionally accessible through love or ecstatic experience.

There are occasional interesting insights, particularly around the limits of language about God and the via negativa but they remain isolated rather than cumulative. The book is more atmospheric than substantive: it creates a sense of engagement without offering a framework you can meaningfully build on.

In the end, it works best as an appetizer, useful for sparking thought and prompting reflection on one’s own relationship to religion, but not substantial enough to stand on its own as a rigorous introduction.

[Arman Firman · Rating 4 out of 5]

When he started talking about the Islamic position on anthropomorphism, I expected him to just write "Muslims interpret God's bodily gestures metaphorically". But no, he didn’t write that. He actually studied the matter. What he wrote is really less, so, no judgement. But, if he'd write more, I think he could do good.

[Fawaz Al-Izzy · Rating 3 out of 5]

It talks about what god is and what it isn’t and that however we speak and try to fathom god, it is a mere human attempt to understand a being beyond comprehension. It is a short introduction which isn’t enough to gather the information collected over thousands of year but it is a good beginning.

[…but God is incomprehensible to our intellect only, not to our love]

[Bill Dauster · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderfully eclectic and nicely written view of the Supreme Being. Adherents of particular religions may take offense at Bowker's thumbnail characterizations, but the overall treatment is well worth the reading.

[Utkarsh Pandey · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book gives a very short introduction of beliefs for and against existence of God, followed by small chapters on Abrahamic religions and Indian religions.

[Jens · Rating 3 out of 5]

Een heel ander boek dan Richard Dawkins' God Delusion, al is het maar omdat een Anglicaans priester en theoloog hier aan het woord is en het ook over niet-abrahimistische (Hindoeïsme, Boeddhisme) religies heeft. Door het format van het boek (een introductie tot...) komt er weinig baanbrekend aan bod, dus kan ik het ook geen hoge score geven. Enkele mooie metaforen en elementen maakten het wel de moeite waard.

Als grootste kritiek op Dawkins zijn wetenschappelijke verklaring dat God niet aan de basis ligt van het heelal, kan het antwoorden gelden dat de kardinaal Cesare Baronio tegen Galileo zou hebben gezegd: "de bedoeling van de Heilige Geest is om ons te leren hoe we naar de hemel gaan, niet om te leren hoe de hemelen gaan."

Vele oude geschriften bevatten enorm veel levenswijsheid en voorbeelden van hoe we een goedaardige en gelijkmoedige houding kunnen aannemen in het leven. Die wijsheid en geborgenheid is voor mij iets dat ook erkend moet worden.

Als we afstappen van het idee van een "niet-gemaakte Maker", waarom het Boeddhisme zich ook afscheurde van het Hindoeïsme, dan vinden we vele mooie beschrijvingen in dit boek. "God schuilt in de wereld zoals Poëzie in een gedicht" "zoals het verstand in de spraak schuilt" "een cirkel waarvan het middelpunt overal en de omtrek nergens is". Om alle objecten te onderscheiden, erkennen we hun essentie die voldoende uniek is en waaraan voldaan moet worden om ook als bvb "eenhoorn" erkend te worden. Daarom bestaat het niet, maar we hebben een afgelijnd idee dankzij die essentie. God is Diegene wiens essentie er simpelweg uit bestaat om te zijn. De apofatische theologie stelt duidelijk dat geen van onze woorden/concepten bruikbaar is om te kunnen zeggen wat God is (itt de katafatische theologie).

Spinoza zijn pantheisme werd verworpen door het Jodendom, omdat de Schepper voor hen transcendent is (niet deel van zijn eigen schepping). Het "panentheisme" volgens A.N. Whitehead stelt dat alles bestaat binnen God en God zo het onbegrensde potentieel, de aantrekkingskracht, de verlokking naar de voltooiing van alle gebeurtenissen is. Deze visie vind ik heel interessant.

Als atheist moet je overtuigd kunnen zeggen: "Het leven heeft geen diepgang, het bestaan als zodanig is alleen maar oppervlakte".

Het Hindoeïsme was een goede herinnering aan Atman (ziel/onsterfelijke zelf) - samsara (cyclus wedergeboorte) - karma (natuurlijk principe van gevolg in de morele wereld) - Dharma (passend gedrag) - moksha (bevrijding) - maya (illusie). De drie goddelijke figuren van Brahma, Shiva en Vishnoe, met avatars die met hun leven de Dharma illustreren zoals het heldenepos rond Rama en Krishna.

Ik zoek nu naar een boek over Soefisme en mystiek om verder te duiken in de religieuze ervaring.

[Hank Hoeft · Rating 3 out of 5]

God: A Very Short Introduction is a decent discussion of how humanity’s concept of God has changed, mainly by tracing the understanding of God through the three Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and the concept of God (not “gods”) in the kaleidoscopic panoply of Hindu paths to the Divine. The text (that is, not counting the list of sources, list of recommended books, and the index) is only 118 pages, so there isn’t room for much else, but I can’t help but think that author John Bowker could have included more meat if he’d spent less time telling the reader over and over that he didn’t have room to include more discussion. (I’m reminded of Juliet’s question to her nurse when she asks, “How art thou out of breath when thou hast breath/ To say to me that thou art out of breath?) Many of Oxford University Press’ “Very Short Introductions” are even shorter than 118 pages but are much pithier. If readers want more substance, then I would recommend they read Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions.

[Daniel Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Chapter 1: Does God exist?
Chapter 2: Why believe in God?
Chapter 3: The religions of Abraham: Jewish understandings of God
Chapter 4: The religions of Abraham: Christian understandings of God
Chapter 5: The religions of Abraham: Muslim understandings of God
Chapter 6: Religions of India
Chapter 7: On knowing and not knowing God

[Avesta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bowker discusses the fundamental ideas and origins of the Abrahamic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) and explores some religions of India, and touches on the concept of atheism. This book is quite a good introduction if you want to develop a foundational knowledge of the Abrahamic knowledge and then some; but isn't really a great read if you've already developed such knowledge.

[Isaac]

“‘God cannot be comprehended by the intellect of humans…but God is incomprehensible to our intellect only, never to our love.’ …But love does not mean that we now know everything there is to be known about God. In fact, to be with God and to rest in that blissful embrace leads us into unknowing, into the realization that we cannot know God…”

[Mahender Singh · Rating 2 out of 5]

A very poor presentation. Had expected something better from a professor of religions.
Just lame and often repeated circular logics ( like God exists because it exists, it can not be felt by human consciousness and such more babble ) and a sketchy and at times incorrect introduction of some major religions.
Disappointed.

[Wasi Rizvi · Rating 4 out of 5]

With the exception of Nasiq Ayaat of the Quran, The book is very well written. I thoroughly enjoyed how multiple perspectives were blended into a cohesive description if the supreme being. It is very well written and totally worth reading multiple times.

[Roddy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written, with many points of interest but essentially seems to support religious pluralism.

[Souvik Khamrui · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Kevin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A whirlwind tour of Judaism, Christianity, Islam and the religions of India with a couple of chapters on the philosophy of religion thrown in for good luck.

[Shem Doupé · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful summary of God through history, religion, philosophy, and personally. Great little book!

[Dagpauwoogvlinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mega interessant maar het voelt een beetje als zo'n een hoorcollege dat monotoon wordt verteld en de docent heeft eigenlijk te weinig tijd.

[robin friedman · Rating 5 out of 5]

God In The Very Short Introductions Series

The deservedly acclaimed Very Short Introductions Series of Oxford University Press aims to provide consise introductions to particular subjects written by scholars for non-specialist readers. At present the VSI include more than 700 titles. This VSI book, "God" (2014), unlike most in the series, does not explore a discrete, "particular" limited subject but rather considers the broadest questions -- whether there is a God, the nature of God, why people believe or disbelieve in God, and the relationships of various particular religions to God. These issues are notoriously unclear and difficult and have been so over the centuries. The author, John Bowker, (b. 1935) is an English Anglican priest who has written extensively about religious studies and taught at universities in Britain and the United States. His book is lucid, even-handed and thoughtful, while also offering his own positions on the profound questions of God and of the importance of asking about God.

In its 125 pages and seven chapters Bowker explores two types of issues. The first issue is whether there is a God and why people believe or disbelieve in God. This subject is explored in the first two chapters and in the final chapter, "On Knowing and Not Knowing God". The second issue, explored in chapters 3 --6 looks at God through the eyes and histories of four religious traditions: the "Abrahamic" religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, and the religions of India.

Bowker emphasizes throughout the difference between reflecting on God, in the manner of a philosopher or theologian, and approaching God through feeling, in the manner, say, of a poet. Most of the book explores God from the former perspective. His discussions of the existence of God and of belief are insightful for a short work. He avoids deductions and foundationalist arguments and relies instead on probabilities and on what he terms abductive reasoning: neither deduction nor induction but trying to take a situation and think through how it was likely to occur. I was reminded of the American philosopher Charles Peirce in this approach. Bowker sees the question of God's existence as different from, say, the question of the existence of a particular thing, such as John Doe, or a tree. When people reflect upon God, it is not a matter of a physical object. Among many other things, this makes questions about God difficult. In thinking about God, Bowker, to simplify, comes down to reflecting on the broad philosophical question, "Why is there anything at all rather than nothing"?

The four middle chapters of the book deal with four specific religious traditions as Bowker examines their histories and their evolving beliefs. A major theme of the study is that God is conceived as eternal and unchanging while the views of humans and of individual religions change or, perhaps, "evolve". And different religious traditions disagree with each other, all--too-often violently. The important conclusion to be drawn is that individual traditions offer a temporal approach to God, but that God is beyond and separate from any particular tradition. The discussions of religious traditions in this book is compressed and brief. I thought Bowker's discussion of the religions of India was particuarly good, and it will be the religous traditon probably least familiar to Bowker's readers.

In the final chapter of the book, Bowker combines scholarship with his own reflective conclusions. He discusses the via negativa, under which humans may know or experience, fallibly, "that" God is but not "what" he is. Bowker sees the via negativa as a search which affirms "that God is constant invitation, drawing us deeper into love the more we abandon our own ideas and preconceptions." His discussion draws heavily on mysticism, particularly on the mysticism of Eckhart.

Here is the conclusion of Bowker's study.

"God is invitation, and that invitation is extended to all. If we wish to take it up, how do we do so? We begin with prayer. It starts in extreme simplicity: we come simply and deliberately before God, into the awareness of God. 'You made me and you sustain me. This breath and this moment are Your gift. You know me. Help me to know You. And since it is a relatedness of love, it will for certain flow over into prayer and into action for others. Even then, it is only a beginning."

The book is written in an accessible way for all readers interested in questions about God and about religion even if they are not persuaded. I learned a great deal from it.

Robin Friedman

[Yasmin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Deze man houdt denk ik niet van atheïsten. Interessant overzicht, veel herhaling, veel 'god bestaat omdat god bestaat' argumenten.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book was OK, but its most serious shortfall is its western-centric focus. There is a good introduction that covers why people believe in God and the evidence and arguments for God. However, three of the seven chapters cover the Abrahamic traditions, one chapter each. To his credit, Bowker doesn't just describe the religions, but uses them as a lens to describe how ideas of God originated and changed within them and in their contemporary settings. Also in his favor, Bowker has a fourth (of seven) chapters on Religions in India.

Given the author's credentials, the book would have been better if it provided wider coverage, reducing coverage of the Abrahamic religions that drifted from the core focus of the book. There is no mention of Greek or Roman ideas of God (with the exception of the Abrahamic traditions regarding the latter). No mention of African ideas about God among its many religions. No mention of Mayan or Aztec ideas of God. Etc. Granted, some of these other ideas are polytheistic, but Bowker opened this door with the chapter on Indian religions.

Added depth of coverage would have been useful and would have increased my rating.

[Vikas Datta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Deals with the subject quite intelligently..