[[File:Tissot Solomon Dedicates the Temple at Jerusalem.jpg|thumbnail|left|Depiction of an Israelite worshiping Yahweh, who becomes the foundation and name of God in the ancient Jewish faith.]]
==Background to the List==
The concept of God and his historical development is an extraordinarily complex topic and it is not easily addressed in ten books. Some works These books seek attempt to provide explain a complex but also more easily explained set of ideas story on how the concept of God, or single devine divine being, developed in different cultures, places, and across time. The history of the idea of God is long and has its roots from prehistoric to early historic periods in the ancient Near East. Later cultures developed concepts that derive from ancient Iran, Greece, Egypt, and perhaps other regions. In a period over several hundred years, in the late first millennium BC and during the first centuries AD, several faiths, including Judaism, Christianity, and Zoroastrianism emerged that took the idea of God to levels that influence us today. While no easy task, here are the ten best books that try to make sense of this complex history.
==Top Ten Book List==Armstrong, Karen. 1999. <i>[[Filehttps://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0345384563/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0345384563&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c5f79436e48ccd70fe128e130224ab49 A History of God]</i>. London: Vintage.:Tissot Solomon Dedicates the Temple The book is somewhat more narrow that later books, looking mainly at JerusalemJudaism, Christianity and Islam, along with Buddhism and Hinduism, as examples of different religions that emerged.jpg|thumbnail|Depiction The evolution of an Israelite worshiping Yahweh, who becomes the foundation and name idea of God is investigated in the ancient Jewish faithNear East, where the book looks at how the idea of God developed up to the modern day.]]
Smith, Mark S. 2002. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080283972X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=Top Ten Book ListUTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=080283972X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=e18df244ebafba6c3c09b25951123f7d The Early History of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel]</i>. 2nd ed. The Biblical Resource Series. Grand Rapids, Mich: William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.: This book provides a detailed analysis on the early history of Judaism as it developed in ancient Judah and Israel. The book discusses the surrounding cultures and states that developed along these two states, explaining how cultural influence and regional politics begin to shape the idea of God as it emerged.[[File:A_History_of_God.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|<i>A History of God</i> by Karen Armstrong]]Bowker, John Westerdale. 2002. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0521194164/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521194164&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=452915a4512a8241fda1a27c417e5a53 God: A Brief History]</i>. 1st American ed. London ; New York: DK Pub.: The book looks at the origins of the Israelites, their development of the ideas of God, and then later influences that come on the Near East, in particular Greek influences that integrate new philosophies in the Near East. However, the book looks more at later views of god from other cultures and does not so much focus on the original ideas and how they evolved.
ArmstrongWinston, KarenRobert M. 1999L. 2006. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/History-God-Karen-Armstrongproduct/dp0553817434/0099273675 A History ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553817434&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4c47a8a74694ef71e10bee2e20813274 The Story of God]</i>. London: VintageBantam Books.: The This book is somewhat more narrow that later books, looking mainly looks at the development of the concept of God from prehistory to the historical development in ancient Judaism, and Christianity and . It looks then how the concept developed in Islam, along with Buddhism and Hinduism, as examples how modern ideas of different religions that emergedGod are shaped by the modern world. The evolution of the idea of God is investigated in the ancient Near East, where the book looks at how the idea science has affect modern understanding of God developed up to the modern day.
SmithMitchell, Mark SStephen, and Peter van Nuffelen, eds. 20022010. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/Early-History-God-Biblical-Resourceproduct/dp0521194164/080283972X The Early History of ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521194164&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f8f436f6b39349db5dfa1df35f82440c One God: Yahweh and Pagan Monotheism in the Other Deities in Ancient IsraelRoman Empire]</i>. 2nd ed. The Biblical Resource Series. Grand Rapids, MichCambridge ; New York: William B. Eerdmans Pub. CoCambridge University Press.: This book provides a detailed analysis Unlike some of the other books, this one focuses on how polytheistic faiths in the Roman Empire may have influenced early history of Judaism as it developed in ancient Judah Christian and Israelmonotheistic developments. The book discusses Cults around individuals gods or a "higher god" developed during the surrounding cultures Roman Empire and states that developed along these two statesare seen as influential, explaining how cultural influence and regional politics begin in some circles, in developing concepts of monotheism that began to shape mature in the idea period of God as it emergedthe early Roman Empire.
BowkerLudwig, John WesterdaleTheodore M. 20022006. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/God-Brief-History-John-Bowkergp/product/dp013153906X/0789480506 God: A Brief Historyref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=013153906X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=53f2f05e5a59e8242bb8e70b2b0aeb7e The Sacred Paths of the West]</i>. 1st American 3rd ed. London ; New YorkUpper Saddle River, N.J: DK PubPearson Prentice Hall.: The This book looks at the origins development of the Israelites, their Western theology in ancient periods. The development of Western religion has multiple roots, from its polytheistic origins to influences from the ideas of Godeast, including Persia and then later influences that come on the Near EastZoroastrian religion.[[File:One_God.jpg|thumbnail|250px|<i>One God: Pagan Monotheism in the Roman Empire</i>]]Porter, Barbara N., ed. 2000. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/096742500X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=096742500X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=12309b624e9ea34fb80b864572efd890 One God or Many?: Concepts of Divinity in particular Greek influences that integrate new philosophies in the Near EastAncient World]</i>. Transactions of the Casco Bay Assyriological Institute 1. HoweverChebeague, the ME: Casco Bay Assyriological Institute.: This book looks more at later views the polytheistic faiths in the ancient Near East and the concept of gods and god that developed in the region. The way in which an idea of a singular god from other cultures and does not so much focus on develops is discussed in the original ideas and how they evolvedvolume.
WinstonStreeter, Robert M. L. 2006Jarvis. 2016 <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/Story-Professor-Lord-Robert-Winstonproduct/dp1498236782/0553817434 The Story ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1498236782&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c1772155304d5a7a191645c1b1fb72f8 God and the History of Godthe Universe]</i>. London2016. Eugene, OR: Bantam BooksPickwick Publications. : This book volume looks at the development of and ideas revolving around God as well as the scientific developments that occurred in more modern times to understand the concept concepts of God from prehistory to the historical development in ancient Judaism and Christianitycosmos. It looks then how argues for the concept developed Christian God using scientific discoveries made mostly in Islam and how modern ideas of God are shaped by the modern world. The book looks at how science has affect modern understanding of Godlast century.
MitchellDimont, StephenMax I, and Peter van Nuffelen, edsEthel Dimont. 20102004. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/One-God-Pagan-Monotheism-Empireproduct/dp0451529405/0521194164 One ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451529405&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7f9374daf8b0d29ce409ff1e9d4c6ce7 Jews, God: Pagan Monotheism in the Roman Empire, and History]</i>. Cambridge ; New York: Cambridge University PressNew American Library.: Unlike some This book looks at the history of the other books, this one focuses on how polytheistic faiths in the Roman Empire may have influenced early Christian Jews from ancient to more modern periods. The history and monotheistic developments. Cults around individuals gods or a "higher god" developed during struggle of the Roman Empire Jews has also shaped their views on God and these are seen as influential, in some circles, in developing concepts of monotheism that began to mature in this has had an influence on the period theologies of not only the early Roman EmpireJews but also other monotheistic faiths.
LudwigWright, Theodore MEric and Miles Braun. 20062010. <i>[https://www.amazonbol.com/Sacrednl/p/god-specific-Pathsconceptions-Westfrom-Theodorearchitect-Ludwigto-zoroastrianism/dp1001004011374488/013153906X The Sacred Paths of the WestGod: Specific Conceptions From Architect to Zoroastrianism]</i>. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.JCharleston: Pearson Prentice HallBiblioBazaar.: This The book looks at investigates major conceptions that develop in relation to God, dealing with the development concepts of Western theology creator, devil, lord, father, supreme being, Trinity, salvation, resurrection, and other concepts that have developed in ancient periodsdifferent faiths. The development of Western religion has multiple roots, from its polytheistic origins book looks at these concepts and their relationships to influences from the east, including Persia and the Zoroastrian religioneach other.
Porter, Barbara N., ed. 2000. <i>[https[Category://www.amazon.co.uk/One-God-Many-Transactions-Assyriological/dp/096742500X One God or Many?Booklists]] [[Category: Concepts of Divinity in the Ancient WorldReligious History]</i>. Transactions of the Casco Bay Assyriological Institute 1. Chebeague, ME] [[Category: Casco Bay Assyriological Institute.History Booklists]][[Category: This book looks at the polytheistic faiths in the ancient Near East and the concept of gods and god that developed in the region. The way in which an idea of a singular god develops is discussed in the volume.Expert Booklists]]
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Dimont, Max I, and Ethel Dimont. 2004. <i>[https{{Mediawiki://www.amazon.com/Jews-God-Religious History-Max-Dimont/dp/0451529405 Jews, God, and History]</i>. New York: New American Library.: This book looks at the history of the Jews from ancient to more modern periods. The history and struggle of the Jews has also shaped their views on God and this has had an influence on the theologies of not only the Jews but also other monotheistic faiths.}}
