[[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. [[File:Tissot Solomon Dedicates the Temple at Jerusalem.jpg|thumbnail|Depiction of an Israelite worshiping Yahweh, who becomes the foundation and name of God in the ancient Jewish faith.]]
==Top Ten Book List==
Armstrong, Karen. 1999. <i>[https://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.: The book is somewhat more narrow that later books, looking mainly at Judaism, Christianity and Islam, along with Buddhism and Hinduism, as examples of different religions that emerged. The evolution of the idea of God is investigated in the ancient Near East, where the book looks at how the idea of God developed up to the modern day.
ArmstrongSmith, KarenMark S. 19992002. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/History-God-Karen-Armstrongproduct/dp080283972X/0099273675 A ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&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>. London2nd ed. The Biblical Resource Series. Grand Rapids, Mich: VintageWilliam 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 is somewhat more narrow discusses the surrounding cultures and states that later booksdeveloped along these two states, looking mainly at Judaism, Christianity explaining how cultural influence and Islam, along with Buddhism and Hinduism, regional politics begin to shape the idea of God as examples it emerged.[[File:A_History_of_God.jpg|thumbnail|250px|left|<i>A History of different religions that emergedGod</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 evolution book looks at the origins of the Israelites, their development of the idea ideas of God is investigated , and then later influences that come on the Near East, in particular Greek influences that integrate new philosophies in the ancient Near East. However, where the book looks more at how the idea later views of God developed up to god from other cultures and does not so much focus on the modern dayoriginal ideas and how they evolved.
SmithWinston, Mark SRobert M. 2002L. 2006. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/Early-History-God-Biblical-Resourceproduct/dp0553817434/080283972X ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553817434&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4c47a8a74694ef71e10bee2e20813274 The Early History Story of God: Yahweh and the Other Deities in Ancient Israel]</i>. 2nd ed. The Biblical Resource Series. Grand Rapids, MichLondon: William BBantam Books. Eerdmans Pub. Co.: This book provides a detailed analysis on looks at the early history development of the concept of God from prehistory to the historical development in ancient Judaism as it and Christianity. It looks then how the concept developed in ancient Judah Islam and Israelhow modern ideas of God are shaped by the modern world. The book discusses the surrounding cultures and states that developed along these two states, explaining looks at how cultural influence and regional politics begin to shape the idea science has affect modern understanding of God as it emerged.
BowkerMitchell, John WesterdaleStephen, and Peter van Nuffelen, eds. 20022010. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/God-Brief-History-John-Bowkergp/product/dp0521194164/0789480506 ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521194164&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f8f436f6b39349db5dfa1df35f82440c One God: A Brief HistoryPagan Monotheism in the Roman Empire]</i>. 1st American ed. London Cambridge ; New York: DK PubCambridge University Press.: The book looks at the origins Unlike some of the Israelitesother books, their development of this one focuses on how polytheistic faiths in the ideas of God, Roman Empire may have influenced early Christian and then later influences that come on monotheistic developments. Cults around individuals gods or a "higher god" developed during the Near EastRoman Empire and these are seen as influential, in particular Greek influences some circles, in developing concepts of monotheism that integrate new philosophies began to mature in the Near East. However, the book looks more at later views period of god from other cultures and does not so much focus on the original ideas and how they evolvedearly Roman Empire.
WinstonLudwig, Robert Theodore M. L. 2006. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/Story-Professor-Lord-Robert-Winstonproduct/dp013153906X/0553817434 ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=013153906X&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=53f2f05e5a59e8242bb8e70b2b0aeb7e The Story Sacred Paths of Godthe West]</i>. London3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Bantam BooksPearson Prentice Hall. : This book looks at the development of the concept Western theology in ancient periods. The development of God Western religion has multiple roots, from prehistory its polytheistic origins to influences from the east, including Persia and the Zoroastrian 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 the Ancient World]</i>. Transactions of the Casco Bay Assyriological Institute 1. Chebeague, ME: Casco Bay Assyriological Institute.: This book looks at the historical development polytheistic faiths in the ancient Judaism Near East and Christianity. It looks then how the concept of gods and god that developed in Islam and how modern ideas of God are shaped by the modern worldregion. The book looks at how science has affect modern understanding way in which an idea of Goda singular god develops is discussed in the volume.
MitchellStreeter, Stephen, and Peter van Nuffelen, eds. 2010Jarvis. 2016 <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/One-God-Pagan-Monotheism-Empireproduct/dp1498236782/0521194164 One ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1498236782&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c1772155304d5a7a191645c1b1fb72f8 God: Pagan Monotheism in and the History of the Roman EmpireUniverse]</i>. Cambridge ; New York2016. Eugene, OR: Cambridge University PressPickwick Publications.: Unlike some of the other books, this one focuses on how polytheistic faiths in This volume looks at the Roman Empire may have influenced early Christian development and monotheistic developments. Cults ideas revolving around individuals gods or a "higher god" developed during God as well as the Roman Empire and these are seen as influential, scientific developments that occurred in some circles, in developing more modern times to understand the concepts of monotheism that began to mature the cosmos. It argues for the Christian God using scientific discoveries made mostly in the period of the early Roman Empirelast century.
LudwigDimont, Theodore MMax I, and Ethel Dimont. 20062004. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Paths-West-Theodore-Ludwiggp/product/dp0451529405/013153906X The Sacred Paths of the Westref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451529405&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7f9374daf8b0d29ce409ff1e9d4c6ce7 Jews, God, and History]</i>. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.JNew York: Pearson Prentice HallNew American Library.: This book looks at the development history of Western theology in the Jews from ancient to more modern periods. The development history and struggle of Western religion the Jews has also shaped their views on God and this has multiple roots, from its polytheistic origins to influences from had an influence on the east, including Persia and theologies of not only the Zoroastrian religionJews but also other monotheistic faiths.
PorterWright, Barbara N., edEric and Miles Braun. 20002010. <i>[https://www.amazonbol.co.ukcom/nl/p/Onegod-specific-conceptions-Godfrom-Manyarchitect-Transactionsto-Assyriologicalzoroastrianism/dp1001004011374488/096742500X One God or Many?: Concepts of Divinity in the Ancient WorldSpecific Conceptions From Architect to Zoroastrianism]</i>. Transactions of the Casco Bay Assyriological Institute 1. Chebeague, MECharleston: Casco Bay Assyriological InstituteBiblioBazaar.: This The book looks at the polytheistic faiths investigates major conceptions that develop in relation to God, dealing with the ancient Near East and the concept concepts of gods creator, devil, lord, father, supreme being, Trinity, salvation, resurrection, and god other concepts that have developed in the regiondifferent faiths. The way in which an idea of a singular god develops is discussed in the volumebook looks at these concepts and their relationships to each other.
Streeter, Jarvis. 2016 <i>[https[Category://www.amazon.com/God-Booklists]] [[Category:Religious History-Universe-Jarvis-Streeter/dp/1498236804 God and the ]] [[Category:History of the Universe</i>. 2016. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.Booklists]][[Category: This volume looks at the development and ideas revolving around God as well as the scientific developments that occurred in more modern times to understand the concepts of the cosmos. It argues for the Christian God using scientific discoveries made mostly in the last century.Expert Booklists]]
Dimont, Max I, and Ethel Dimont. 2004. <idiv class="portal" style="width:85%;">==Related DailyHistory.org Articles==*[https://www.amazon.com/Jews-God-History-Max-Dimont/dp/0451529405 Jews, God, and History[How did Monotheism Develop?]]</i>. New York: New American Library.: This book looks at *[[How did the history concept of paradise develop?]]*[[How did the Sharia Law develop?]]*[[Why was the Jews from ancient to more modern periods. The history and struggle worship of the Jews has also shaped their views on Mithra so popular?]]*[[How Did God and this has had an influence on Influence the theologies of not only Wounded in the Jews but also other monotheistic faiths.American Civil War?]]</div>
Wright, Eric and Miles Braun. 2010. <i>[https{{Mediawiki://www.bol.com/nl/p/god-specific-conceptions-from-architect-to-zoroastrianism/1001004011374488/ God: Specific Conceptions From Architect to Zoroastrianism]</i>. Charleston: BiblioBazaar.: The book investigates major conceptions that develop in relation to God, dealing with the concepts of creator, devil, lord, father, supreme being, Trinity, salvation, resurrection, and other concepts that have developed in different faiths. The book looks at these concepts and their relationships to each other.Religious History}}
