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Religion as We Know It: An Origin Story
A brief, beautiful invitation to the study of religion from a Pulitzer Prize winner.
How did our forebears begin to think about religion as a distinct domain, separate from other activities that were once inseparable from it? Starting at the birth of Christianity—a religion inextricably bound to Western thought—Jack Miles reveals how the West’s “common sense” understanding of religion emerged and then changed as insular Europe discovered the rest of the world. In a moving postscript, he shows how this very story continues today in the hearts of individual religious or irreligious men and women.
How did our forebears begin to think about religion as a distinct domain, separate from other activities that were once inseparable from it? Starting at the birth of Christianity—a religion inextricably bound to Western thought—Jack Miles reveals how the West’s “common sense” understanding of religion emerged and then changed as insular Europe discovered the rest of the world. In a moving postscript, he shows how this very story continues today in the hearts of individual religious or irreligious men and women.
128 pages, Paperback
Published November 12, 2019
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324 people want to read
About the author
Jack Miles
40 books77 followersJack Miles (b. 1942) is an American author and winner of both the Pulitzer Prize and the MacArthur Fellowship. His work on religion, politics, and culture has appeared in numerous national publications, including The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Washington Post, and The Los Angeles Times.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
November 22, 2019
This is the introduction to The Norton Anthology of World Religions which he edited & it's long enough to break out as its own book of 128 pages. I listened to it, but I don't see an English audio edition. It was well read & intriguing, but I have no desire to read the 4500 page 2 volume anthology. (That's broken into 6 main sections, each a currently practiced religion written by a different scholar. Miles was the overall editor.)
Miles points out that much of what we in the West know about other religions is viewed through the eyes of the Christian religion. He does a good job & points out how it is a separate entity in our lives whereas many 'religions' are so thoroughly embedded in the local culture that it is difficult to separate them, but Christianity was created to include anyone who believed that Jesus was the man. It tries to offer all answers to everyone regardless of & in spite of their tribe.
He goes on to briefly trace its influence on Western thought, its schisms & how the Protestant idea that the Bible is true is running into issues with science. In this version (same as the HB edition) he also explains his own beliefs, sort of. That didn't add anything for me, but it might for those who are religious.
Well worth listening to no matter your faith or lack thereof. There is no doubt religion is an important part of our society & this is a pretty good overview.
Miles points out that much of what we in the West know about other religions is viewed through the eyes of the Christian religion. He does a good job & points out how it is a separate entity in our lives whereas many 'religions' are so thoroughly embedded in the local culture that it is difficult to separate them, but Christianity was created to include anyone who believed that Jesus was the man. It tries to offer all answers to everyone regardless of & in spite of their tribe.
He goes on to briefly trace its influence on Western thought, its schisms & how the Protestant idea that the Bible is true is running into issues with science. In this version (same as the HB edition) he also explains his own beliefs, sort of. That didn't add anything for me, but it might for those who are religious.
Well worth listening to no matter your faith or lack thereof. There is no doubt religion is an important part of our society & this is a pretty good overview.
December 19, 2019
First, Goodreads has the wrong number of pages, so let me clear this up. For my copy, ISBN-13 9781324002789, there are XL, 152 pages, with the notes, credits, and index beginning on page 141. That means this little book involves about 180 pages of reading.
So how were those pages of reading? Elucidating. Thought provoking. Eloquent, judicious, and insightful. Jack Miles covers the concept of religion as a thing worth studying, mostly by taking us along a historical journey from religion as the unnamed lens through which a people views the world to religion as a separate entity apart from other aspects of human life. Miles admits religious studies began as a Western pursuit, but that that was not always the case, even in the Western world.
He thus delicately explores the beginnings of religions as an inseparable aspect of humanity, focusing mainly on Judaism as a people, a culture, a set of practices, a set of beliefs, and even a language. He then turns to Christianity, a novel religion that proclaimed anyone could follow, which, as Miles argues, was the first separation of religion from a general sense of identity and worldview. From there, as Christianity spread to Europe, it began to see itself as separate from Judaism, then later Islam, then from the belief systems of the East. As Europeans involved themselves more and more with the world beyond their borders, they began to analyze other peoples' beliefs, even comparing and contrasting with their own. And thus was born the field of religious studies. And we've been doing it now for a few hundred years.
This writing serves as the introduction for The Norton Anthology of World Religions, which looks only at the most largely follows religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Because of this, there is no real discussion of animistic beliefs, of folklore, superstitions, and other pre-religious spiritual beliefs that would have further cemented the earlier parts about the origins of religion. But that's not the purpose. It was to introduce those six major world religions, how we go to calling them such, and how we got to studying them. To that effect, Miles did an excellent job.
The final chapter is a post-script where Miles allows himself to speak a bit more freely, of his own personal beliefs and spiritual journey. He relied heavily on the notion that, as we learn more and more about the world, we find that we are ignorant of more and more. The way he phrases it and talks about it, it is insinuated that the pursuits of science are actually leaving us with a feeling that we know less and less about the universe. I strongly disagree with that assessment. There are mysteries, to be certain, and the more we uncover the detailed intricacies of our universe, the more paths we have to pursue further research. But do we feel like we know less or more as a result? I find it odd to think that the humans discovering fire, simply because they did not know of all that they were ignorant, somehow knew more about their universe than the humans that launch nanosatellites, or that those later humans are more ignorant in some way. It comes across like a semantic game to justify religious belief as somehow just as, if not more, rational than to reject religious beliefs, which I cannot see as anything more than an argument from ignorance. And how fitting that he basically said as much!
The last bit lost it a star, which is too bad because I found the entire rest of the book to be incredibly well-written and surprisingly comprehensive despite its small size.
But it is short, so I can't but recommend it. 4/5.
So how were those pages of reading? Elucidating. Thought provoking. Eloquent, judicious, and insightful. Jack Miles covers the concept of religion as a thing worth studying, mostly by taking us along a historical journey from religion as the unnamed lens through which a people views the world to religion as a separate entity apart from other aspects of human life. Miles admits religious studies began as a Western pursuit, but that that was not always the case, even in the Western world.
He thus delicately explores the beginnings of religions as an inseparable aspect of humanity, focusing mainly on Judaism as a people, a culture, a set of practices, a set of beliefs, and even a language. He then turns to Christianity, a novel religion that proclaimed anyone could follow, which, as Miles argues, was the first separation of religion from a general sense of identity and worldview. From there, as Christianity spread to Europe, it began to see itself as separate from Judaism, then later Islam, then from the belief systems of the East. As Europeans involved themselves more and more with the world beyond their borders, they began to analyze other peoples' beliefs, even comparing and contrasting with their own. And thus was born the field of religious studies. And we've been doing it now for a few hundred years.
This writing serves as the introduction for The Norton Anthology of World Religions, which looks only at the most largely follows religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Daoism, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Because of this, there is no real discussion of animistic beliefs, of folklore, superstitions, and other pre-religious spiritual beliefs that would have further cemented the earlier parts about the origins of religion. But that's not the purpose. It was to introduce those six major world religions, how we go to calling them such, and how we got to studying them. To that effect, Miles did an excellent job.
The final chapter is a post-script where Miles allows himself to speak a bit more freely, of his own personal beliefs and spiritual journey. He relied heavily on the notion that, as we learn more and more about the world, we find that we are ignorant of more and more. The way he phrases it and talks about it, it is insinuated that the pursuits of science are actually leaving us with a feeling that we know less and less about the universe. I strongly disagree with that assessment. There are mysteries, to be certain, and the more we uncover the detailed intricacies of our universe, the more paths we have to pursue further research. But do we feel like we know less or more as a result? I find it odd to think that the humans discovering fire, simply because they did not know of all that they were ignorant, somehow knew more about their universe than the humans that launch nanosatellites, or that those later humans are more ignorant in some way. It comes across like a semantic game to justify religious belief as somehow just as, if not more, rational than to reject religious beliefs, which I cannot see as anything more than an argument from ignorance. And how fitting that he basically said as much!
The last bit lost it a star, which is too bad because I found the entire rest of the book to be incredibly well-written and surprisingly comprehensive despite its small size.
But it is short, so I can't but recommend it. 4/5.
March 5, 2020
This is one of those works that I feel somewhat inadequate to evaluate in that it functions as an introduction to Jack Miles' massively curated Norton Anthology of World Religions, yet stands on its own as an extended précis to the study of comparative religion as a discipline, while also portraying his own thoughts on what religion is and if he is genuinely, "religious."
While I greatly enjoyed his Pulitzer Prize winning work, "God: A Biography," I have to say I left this small volume scratching my head more often than not. This is not due to an inherent complexity of the information disseminated here, rather, it comes from a scattershot formulation that never seems to accomplish any particular feat. The one area of exception is the second section which details the origin of, "comparative religion," as a field of study. This is much needed information and rarely has it been discussed so elegantly. Then...we move back into some strange territory.
While I acknowledge that everyone's relationship with the concept of religion is a complicated one, I have to say most of us could have likely exposited our position in more economic fashion than Jack Miles has in this volume. As I mentioned, the work itself is really an extended introduction to the Norton Anthology of World Religions, however, the introduction in this slender volume itself is 30 pages (this volume is a 150 page introduction, and the introduction to the introduction is 30 pages) ...And the aimless world-salad to conclude the work which is supposed to reveal the author's own positions on the subject involves a bizarrely superficial treatment of Bertrand Russell which is strikingly out of character for someone of Mr. Miles' intellect.
So, if you are planning to study the aforementioned Norton Anthology then this is a fine introduction, however if you are looking for something in the same league as much of Miles' other work then you can look elsewhere. The only possible exception to my previous statement would be someone looking into the origins of the study of comparative religions which is where this brief introduction is at its most cogent and poignant.
While I greatly enjoyed his Pulitzer Prize winning work, "God: A Biography," I have to say I left this small volume scratching my head more often than not. This is not due to an inherent complexity of the information disseminated here, rather, it comes from a scattershot formulation that never seems to accomplish any particular feat. The one area of exception is the second section which details the origin of, "comparative religion," as a field of study. This is much needed information and rarely has it been discussed so elegantly. Then...we move back into some strange territory.
While I acknowledge that everyone's relationship with the concept of religion is a complicated one, I have to say most of us could have likely exposited our position in more economic fashion than Jack Miles has in this volume. As I mentioned, the work itself is really an extended introduction to the Norton Anthology of World Religions, however, the introduction in this slender volume itself is 30 pages (this volume is a 150 page introduction, and the introduction to the introduction is 30 pages) ...And the aimless world-salad to conclude the work which is supposed to reveal the author's own positions on the subject involves a bizarrely superficial treatment of Bertrand Russell which is strikingly out of character for someone of Mr. Miles' intellect.
So, if you are planning to study the aforementioned Norton Anthology then this is a fine introduction, however if you are looking for something in the same league as much of Miles' other work then you can look elsewhere. The only possible exception to my previous statement would be someone looking into the origins of the study of comparative religions which is where this brief introduction is at its most cogent and poignant.
December 2, 2019
This book is the forward to the latest Norton anthology of world religion. As such, it serves as an excellent introduction to how our conception of religion, itself — as a row of cafeteria-style options in a marketplace of ideas — is indebted to Western and Christian bias. The author does this by providing a just-thorough-enough history lesson. My only gripe here is a stylistic one. The author could’ve used shorter, clearer sentences on a few occasions. Otherwise, highly recommended!
February 5, 2020
Audio book review.
I’ve got no idea what the first disc was about. Mid way through the 2nd disc he does start a somewhat fascinating discussion on the birth of Christianity. Then at some point transitions to talking about Charles Darwin. Disc 3 did have a whole bunch of discussion on various religions and it was the best part but overall the book trailed off by the end.
This was a waste of three and a half hours.
Avoid at all costs.
I’ve got no idea what the first disc was about. Mid way through the 2nd disc he does start a somewhat fascinating discussion on the birth of Christianity. Then at some point transitions to talking about Charles Darwin. Disc 3 did have a whole bunch of discussion on various religions and it was the best part but overall the book trailed off by the end.
This was a waste of three and a half hours.
Avoid at all costs.
September 14, 2021
not terrible. miles’s insight about early christianity’s conception of ‘religion’ as a separate realm from politics, culture, ethnicity etc. being derived from its universality and opportunity for conversion was very compelling. i also like learning how western the categories of hinduISM taoISM buddhISM, and the category of ‘religion’ itself for that matter, really are. definitely ties back to neoliberal habit of constructing identity.
August 16, 2021
What I liked the most about this book is it's last chapter, titled "Why Religion?", the premise of which is: life is short, there is not enough time to find all the answers, yet one still wonders about them, and sometimes this wonder develops into something else.
The book also traces several comparative studies, which shaped our notion of religion.
The book also traces several comparative studies, which shaped our notion of religion.
February 16, 2021
I happened upon this book by way of a podcast interview with Jack Miles, and thank goodness I did because his oral, conversational voice is much easier to understand than his dense, academic writing! The book is slim, but feels longer. Probably because I had to re-read sentences multiple times over for full comprehension. Either way, I learned a ton from reading it and appreciate the chance to open my eyes to i.) the ways in which the West shaped the idea of 'world religions' in the first place, and ii.) the resulting, clumsy bias that continues to influence our popular conception of religion.
February 11, 2020
This is the introduction to a larger anthology of work on the major world religions. Regardless of its original intended placement, as an introduction or stand alone I found it to be tedious. I recognize that scholars need to be careful with the language they write with to insure their meaning is clear, but that does not excuse complicated writing that takes so much mental power to read that it takes me over a month to read 142 pages. I also found that the argument presented in this introduction could have been summarized in a simpler, concise way that would have been more effective than what the author wrote. Over all while the overview of (western) society’s understanding of religions and their relationship with each other was insightful, the writing did little to engage or promote such an understanding.
The most interesting part of this was the final “post script” where the author explains his religious beliefs. The writing was clear and concise in those few pages so it was refreshing to read. And I found what he had to say intriguing as well.
The most interesting part of this was the final “post script” where the author explains his religious beliefs. The writing was clear and concise in those few pages so it was refreshing to read. And I found what he had to say intriguing as well.
September 11, 2020
It's okay. I'd read more Jack Miles. Maybe that's a bit harsh and should be three stars. I think the core insight is pretty interesting that Abrahamic conceptualizing a separate "religious" sphere has unduly influenced "religious studies" into applying that same grammar onto non-Abrahamic faiths in confusing and unhelpful ways. Much of the book was a summing up of attempts at universalisms like with the Vedanta Society, etc. and the religious history of the West, but I wanted something a bit more focused. But ultimately, was that even the point of the book? It's the title, but also Jack Miles wanted to have a section about his personal faith history. I don't know. Bit of a hodgepodge perhaps, but I'd give the guy another shot.
December 6, 2022
"You may die never having learned the one fact that would have changed everything for you."
Jack Miles is one of my favorite author discoveries this year. I've finally found someone who writes about religion in a way I feel in my gut. This is a short one, a standalone intro to a World Religions textbook, that I checked out because I wanted to know more about the very first time humans considered religion. The answer to that was - we don't know because written history came later and religion surely came prior - but I enjoyed all of this anyway. I'm so glad he has more books for me to read.
Jack Miles is one of my favorite author discoveries this year. I've finally found someone who writes about religion in a way I feel in my gut. This is a short one, a standalone intro to a World Religions textbook, that I checked out because I wanted to know more about the very first time humans considered religion. The answer to that was - we don't know because written history came later and religion surely came prior - but I enjoyed all of this anyway. I'm so glad he has more books for me to read.
August 17, 2020
the beginning was very slow, and an overview for the authors other book. thankfully, it got into the topic of religious origins, mid-way through. history and culture were harmoniously tied into religious options that went forward: a lot on christianity and how religion has been described from a western point of comparison. the last chapter was wonderful, and i appreciated the personal narrative that wavered from faith versus ‘intelligence.’
September 24, 2025
Jack Miles talks about how understanding of world religion in Western thought is through the eyes of Christianity which is made this separate part of our culture compared to other world religions.
I personally am not a Christian so it's interesting to see the development of this thought through a lens of history much like other parts of the religion. An interesting read for sure.
I personally am not a Christian so it's interesting to see the development of this thought through a lens of history much like other parts of the religion. An interesting read for sure.
November 2, 2022
It was Ok. The book really picks up in Chapter 4 titled “Why Religion?” where the author gives a more personal and non-scholarly approach to understanding religion in the context of modern science, physics, and human conscious.
February 11, 2020
Jack Miles details his own religious odyssey as well as that of our forbears. Interesting reading!
March 10, 2020
Short book, very basic, helps sort out some concepts. I'm glad I read it.
March 12, 2020
dense read, parts of the book really opened up my thinking, other parts shut it down
April 27, 2020
I think this might have worked better as an introduction to a larger work (which was its origin) than as a standalone long essay. But I do recommend Miles's God: A Biography.
July 17, 2022
A clear and concise overview of our present conception of religion and its western, Christian presumptions.
June 23, 2023
Insufferably dull. One interesting point was that the concept of religion as we know it today in the western world was influenced by the way Christianity considered it.
April 19, 2025
boy at the beach
September 13, 2025
Thoughtful and interesting.
December 26, 2019
Jack Miles packs more insights into 100+ pages than most anyone else I can think of. I think what I so appreciate is that I feel he is actually exploring and clarifying (and describing the impossibility of ultimate clarification) rather than marshalling arguments, evidence, and historical support for a particular viewpoint. I was busy highlighting fascinating tidbits that I had somehow missed or forgotten in my reading on religion (e.g. the roots of the words paganism and heathenism), as well as the profound and poetic quotations that Miles includes (from Bertrand Russell to Marcel Proust) without ever being pretentious, and his own beautiful prose (the last paragraph is among the best I have read). The last essay has the same title as a recent Elaine Pagels book (which I also gave five stars). Guess I appreciate those writers who can incorporate the scholarly and the personal into a profoundly meaningful experience.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews