Karen Armstrong

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Pennsylvania

Evaluates the role of religion, stating that today's expressions of faith differ from those of previous generations while arguing that an increased awareness of the past may help to build a faith that speaks to a polarized society.

The Case for God

9ffcc4a3-9991-4306-a230-478b7721ad9f-1

Light Hardcover (1 lb or less)

North Carolina

One of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world—author of such acclaimed books as A History of God, Islam, and Buddha—now gives us an impassioned and practical book that can help us make the world a more compassionate place.

Karen Armstrong believes that while compassion is intrinsic in all human beings, each of us needs to work diligently to cultivate and expand our capacity for compassion. Here, in this straightforward, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book, she sets out a program that can lead us toward a more compassionate life.

The twelve steps Armstrong suggests begin with “Learn About Compassion” and close with “Love Your Enemies.” In between, she takes up “compassion for yourself,” mindfulness, suffering, sympathetic joy, the limits of our knowledge of others, and “concern for everybody.” She suggests concrete ways of enhancing our compassion and putting it into action in our everyday lives, and provides, as well, a reading list to encourage us to “hear one another’s narratives.” Throughout, Armstrong makes clear that a compassionate life is not a matter of only heart or mind but a deliberate and often life-altering commingling of the two.

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

bf28248c-2270-4288-bbba-f95412e7ef08-1

Nebraska

A Biography

As the work at the heart of Christianity, the Bible is the spiritual guide for one out of every three people in the world. It is also the world's most widely distributed book, translated into over two thousand languages, and the world's best selling book, year after year. But the Bible is a complex work with a complicated and obscure history. Made up of sixty-six "books" written by various authors and divided into two testaments, its contents have changed over the centuries. The Bible has been transformed by translation and, through interpretation, has developed manifold meanings to various religions, denominations, and sects. In this seminal account, acclaimed historian Karen Armstrong discusses the conception, gestation, and life of history's most powerful book. Armstrong analyzes the social and political situation in which oral history turned into written scripture, how this all-pervasive scripture was collected into one work, and how it became accepted as Christianity's sacred text. She explores how scripture came to be read for information, and how, in the nineteenth century, historical criticism of the Bible caused greater fear than Darwinism. This is a brilliant, captivating book, crucial in an age of declining faith and rising fundamentalism.

The Bible

286ced3c-c479-44d1-bb6e-010da2ca4e36-1

Heavy Hardcover (2 to 4 lbs)

California

The 4,000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam

"As soon as they became recognizably human, men and women - in their hunger to understand their own presence on earth and the mysteries within and around them - began to worship gods. Karen Armstrong's masterly and illuminating book explores the ways in which the idea and experience of God evolved among the monotheists - Jews, Christians and Muslims." "Weaving a multicolored fabric of historical, philosophical, intellectual and social developments and insights, Armstrong shows how, at various times through the centuries, each of the monotheistic religions has held a subtly different concept of God. At the same time she draws our attention to the basic and profound similarities among them, making it clear that in all of them God has been and is experienced intensely, passionately and often - especially in the West - traumatically. Some monotheists have seen darkness, desolation and terror, where others have seen light and transfiguration; the reasons for these inherent differences are examined, and the people behind them are brought to life." "We look first at the gradual move away from the pagan gods to the full-fledged monotheism of the Jews during the exile in Babylon. Next considered is the development of parallel, yet different, perceptions and beliefs among Christians and Muslims. The book then moves "generationally" through time to examine the God of the philosophers and mystics in all three traditions, the God of the Reformation, the God of the Enlightenment and finally the nineteenth- and twentieth-century challenges of skeptics and atheists, as well as the fiercely reductive faith of the fundamentalists of our own day." "Armstrong suggests that any particular idea of God must - if it is to survive - work for the people who develop it, and that ideas of God change when they cease to be effective. She argues that the concept of a personal God who behaves like a larger version of ourselves was suited to mankind at a certain stage but no longer works for an increasing number of people." "Understanding the ever-changing ideas of God in the past and their relevance and usefulness in their time, she says, is a way to begin the search for a new concept for the twenty-first century. Her book shows that such a development is virtually inevitable, in spite of the despair of our increasingly "Godless" world, because it is a natural aspect of our humanity to seek a symbol for the ineffable reality that is universally perceived."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

A History of God

46fc7e3b-9b23-45f0-b4b5-b3c13c0643dd-1

Florida

Restoring Our Ancient Bond with the Natural World

From one of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world, a profound exploration of the spiritual power of nature--and an urgent call to reclaim that power in everyday life.

"Much has been written on the scientific and technological aspects of climate change.... But Armstrong's book is both more personal and more profound. Its urgent message is that hearts and minds need to change if we are to once more learn to revere our beautiful and fragile planet." --The Guardian

Since the beginning of time, humankind has looked upon nature and seen the divine. In the writings of the great thinkers across religions, the natural world inspires everything from fear, to awe, to tranquil contemplation; God, or however one defined the sublime, was present in everything. Yet today, even as we admire a tree or take in a striking landscape, we rarely see nature as sacred.

In this short but deeply powerful book, the best-selling historian of religion Karen Armstrong re-sacralizes nature for modern times. Drawing on her vast knowledge of the world's religious traditions, she vividly describes nature's central place in spirituality across the centuries. In bringing this age-old wisdom to life, Armstrong shows modern readers how to rediscover nature's potency and form a connection to something greater than ourselves.

Sacred Nature

9b4e82ab-8ad3-43c0-a4c0-de225aa1d765-1

My Climb Out of Darkness

The author relates her decision to leave her convent after failing to find religious fulfillment, her struggles with depression and epilepsy, her realization of her calling, and her career working with sacred texts.

The Spiral Staircase

03bd8028-b90f-47b3-9e36-895bec66e4d3-1

Massachusetts

A New Interpretation of Genesis

"Karen Armstrong is a genius."--A. N. Wilson

As the foundation stone of the Jewish and Christian scriptures, The Book of Genesis unfolds some of the most arresting stories of world literature--the Creation; Adam and Eve; Cain and Abel; the sacrifice of Isaac. Yet the meaning of Genesis remains enigmatic. In this fascinating volume, Karen Armstrong, author of the highly acclaimed bestseller A History of God, brilliantly illuminates the mysteries and profundities of this mystifying work.

"A lyrical chronicle of one woman's wrestling with Genesis that can serve as a guide to others . . . As notable for its scholarship as it is for its honesty and vulnerability."--Publishers Weekly

"Armstrong can simplify complex ideas, but she is never simplistic."--The New York Times Book Review

In the Beginning

ab21817a-d214-420b-82b9-0f952d47b10b-1

Paperback (1 to 2 lbs)

Virginia

A History of Fundamentalism

Reveals how the fundamentalist movements in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam were born out of a dread of modernity.

The Battle for God

fa46022a-bdc4-474a-a50c-c450422461a0-1

Illinois

One of the most original thinkers on the role of religion in the modern world--author of such acclaimed books as A History of God, Islam, and Buddha--now gives us an impassioned and practical book that can help us make the world a more compassionate place.

Karen Armstrong believes that while compassion is intrinsic in all human beings, each of us needs to work diligently to cultivate and expand our capacity for compassion. Here, in this straightforward, thoughtful, and thought-provoking book, she sets out a program that can lead us toward a more compassionate life.

The twelve steps Armstrong suggests begin with "Learn About Compassion" and close with "Love Your Enemies." In between, she takes up "compassion for yourself," mindfulness, suffering, sympathetic joy, the limits of our knowledge of others, and "concern for everybody." She suggests concrete ways of enhancing our compassion and putting it into action in our everyday lives, and provides, as well, a reading list to encourage us to "hear one another's narratives." Throughout, Armstrong makes clear that a compassionate life is not a matter of only heart or mind but a deliberate and often life-altering commingling of the two.

Utah

The 4,000-year quest of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.

Remainder mark. Inscribed with name cover sheet.

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

Idaho

One City, Three Faiths

With 8 pages of color photographs and 82 illustrations in text.

Jerusalem

0b64a409-453d-45ee-abee-c345fa0303ed-1

New York

Rescuing the Sacred Texts

In our increasingly secular world, holy texts are at best seen as irrelevant, and at worst as an excuse to incite violence, hatred and division. So what value, if any, can scripture hold for us today? And if our world no longer seems compatible with scripture, is it perhaps because its original purpose has become lost? Today we see the Quran being used by some to justify war and terrorism, the Torah to deny Palestinians the right to live in the Land of Israel, and the Bible to condemn homosexuality and contraception. The holy texts at the centre of all religious traditions are often employed selectively to underwrite arbitrary and subjective views. They are believed to be divinely ordained; they are claimed to contain eternal truths. But as Karen Armstrong, a world authority on religious affairs, shows in this fascinating journey through millennia of history, this narrow reading of scripture is a relatively recent phenomenon. For hundreds of years these texts were instead viewed as spiritual tools- scripture was a means for the individual to connect with the divine, to transcend their physical existence, and to experience a higher level of consciousness. Holy texts were seen as fluid and adaptable, rather than a set of binding archaic rules or a 'truth' that has to be 'believed'. Armstrong argues that only by rediscovering an open engagement with their holy texts will the world's religions be able to curtail arrogance, intolerance and violence. And if scripture is used to engage with the world in more meaningful and compassionate ways, we will find that it still has a great deal to teach us.

The Lost Art of Scripture

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Why does God exist? How have the three dominant monotheistic religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—shaped and altered the conception of God? How have these religions influenced each other? In this stunningly intelligent book, Karen Armstrong, one of Britain's foremost commentators on religious affairs, traces the history of how men and women have perceived and experienced God, from the time of Abraham to the present. The epic story begins with the Jews' gradual transformation of pagan idol worship in Babylon into true monotheism—a concept previously unknown in the world. Christianity and Islam both rose on the foundation of this revolutionary idea, but these religions refashioned 'the One God' to suit the social and political needs of their followers. From classical philosophy and medieval mysticism to the Reformation, Karen Armstrong performs the near miracle of distilling the intellectual history of monotheism into one superbly readable volume, destined to take its place as a classic. Praise for History of God “An admirable and impressive work of synthesis that will give insight and satisfaction to thousands of lay readers.”—The Washington Post Book World “A brilliantly lucid, spendidly readable book. [Karen] Armstrong has a dazzling ability: she can take a long and complex subject and reduce it to the fundamentals, without oversimplifying.”—The Sunday Times (London) “Absorbing . . . A lode of learning.”—Time “The most fascinating and learned study of the biggest wild goose chase in history—the quest for God. Karen Armstrong is a genius.”—A.N. Wilson, author of Jesus: A Life

Louisiana

Wisconsin

The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions

Examines the origins of the religious traditions of the world during the ninth century B.C.E. in four distinct regions--Confucianism and Daoism in China, Hinduism and Buddhism in India, monotheism in Israel, and philosophical rationalism in Greece.

The Great Transformation

ef7c7dae-92ea-4d0f-a239-f7233ba48347-1

Stamp on bottom spine and inside cover. One page has yellow highlights. Overall book looks new.

Arizona

This book is a clean copy with a good spine and binding. The contents and Graphics are in the condition. There is minimal wear inside. There is slight wear on the paperback cover. Will ship within hours after your order is received. Thanks for stopping by and please stay safe.

B112

Texas

Evaluates the role of religion in history and the modern world, stating that today's expressions of faith are considerably removed from those of previous generations while arguing that an increased awareness of past insights may help to build a faith that speaks to an increasingly polarized society.

Delaware

Hardcover is like new. Dust jacket has some minor wear. Name on inside cover.

Explores the ways in which the "idea" and "experience" of God evolved among monotheists--Jews, Christians and Muslims.

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Karen Armstrong

The Case for God

Karen Armstrong

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

Karen Armstrong

The Bible

Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong

Sacred Nature

Karen Armstrong

The Spiral Staircase

Karen Armstrong

In the Beginning

Karen Armstrong

The Battle for God

Karen Armstrong

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong

Jerusalem

Karen Armstrong

The Lost Art of Scripture

Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

Karen Armstrong

The Great Transformation

Karen Armstrong

The Spiral Staircase

Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong

The Case for God

Karen Armstrong

The Case for God

Karen Armstrong

Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life

Karen Armstrong

A History of God

Karen Armstrong

A History of God