The Evolution of God

Is our people's God jealous of your people's God? Should religion unite us or divide us? Is our view of your God driven by theology, or is it shaped by whether we want to trade with you or take your land? Why can't we all just get along, anyway?

These questions are as universal and as timeless as, well, God... and are at the heart of Robert Wright's new authoritative yet irreverent book, The Evolution of God.

Please join New America's Bernard Schwartz Fellows program to celebrate our senior fellow's evolution (Bob's, that is) over wine and cheese and a spirited talk about the birth and growth of the Abrahamic God - and why his best years may lie ahead (God's, that is).

David Plotz, the editor of Slate magazine who blogged his way through the Bible and authored Good Book: The Bizarre, Hilarious, Disturbing, Marvelous, and Inspiring Things I Learned When I Read Every Single Word of the Bible, will be the evening's interlocutor.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• God
• Yahweh
• Allah
• Culture
• Monotheism
• Polytheism
• Atheism
• Christianity
• Islam
• Judaism
• Globalization
• War
• Peace

[LovingScrubbies]

Israel giving away MORE to the Arabs?!

Anything Israel gives away or gives back will only be used as a

launching ground for terrorist attacks against them.

[TGGeko]

Read this guy's book. You might change your opinion on that.

[foketesz]

or evolution... religions evolve alongside their creators.

[foketesz]

and the holy books of the 3 abrahamic religions follow the history of their respective peoples, accomodating for their needs and guidance in accordance with the unfolding of the events at the time.

[foketesz]

and the success of the jesus's story.

[BrandonJamesH]

Actually, you have this almost 100% backwards my friend. Early traditional roots of religion (particularly Christianity) were very specific at the times of it's origins, but over time, mix of diverse cultures and typically a strong influence from a government standpoint, what used to be simplistic has sprouted in to many different doctrines, philosophies, and spectrums. It metaphorically compares easily to a message being passed through about 10,000 people. Time+human factors+religion=distortion

[idicula1979]

In some cases religion and what you are brought up to believe is more important then your physical attributes.(I would not go so far as saying it is on oar with your DNA however) It is the nature vs. nurutre argument. And I define Mythology in relation to religion to be more like a legend which is easily told in differnt versions or can easily be relatable to differant audeinces. Religionis much more "set in stone." Althought even religions like Christianity slightly very from region to reigon.

[Rico8458]

black hebrew jews created or received mesaage from God. One God. this led to advancement all around. later white europeans adopted it and took off. lol.

[LouisPlume]

I dont think we disagree on much really.

Let me put it as a question then.

Whats YOUR context for myth, & for a religion?

I agree, the bible was a science book for when people didnt know about weather patterns etc the search for out side agency. It created common culture & unity, & book 2 offered a better life for people with miserable lives who died at 29.

Theres no escaping it, religion is indeed the story and history of humanity as much as DNA.

[idicula1979]

As much as I hate saying this phrase we must agree to disagree, I think the foremost purpose of any religion is to explain the unexplained and for also to reach a common connection between people. And sadly while I do think it binds people within a culture together in a common ancestry it has to often had the oppisite effect on people who come from outside of ones own cultures.

I findreligion interesting nothing more, because as I have said previosly it isin a way a history of the world.