[[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==
Smith, Mark S. 2002. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/080283972X/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>. 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.
BowkerWinston, John WesterdaleRobert M. 2002L. 2006. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/God-Brief-History-John-Bowkergp/product/dp0553817434/0789480506 ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0553817434&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=4c47a8a74694ef71e10bee2e20813274 The Story of God: A Brief History]</i>. 1st American ed. London ; New YorkLondon: DK PubBantam Books.: The This book looks at the origins of the Israelites, their development of the ideas concept of God, from prehistory to the historical development in ancient Judaism and Christianity. It looks then later influences that come on how the Near East, in particular Greek influences that integrate new philosophies concept developed in Islam and how modern ideas of God are shaped by the Near Eastmodern world. However, the The book looks more at later views how science has affect modern understanding of god from other cultures and does not so much focus on the original ideas and how they evolvedGod.
WinstonMitchell, Robert M. LStephen, and Peter van Nuffelen, eds. 20062010. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.ukcom/gp/Story-Professor-Lord-Robert-Winstonproduct/dp0521194164/0553817434 The Story of ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0521194164&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=f8f436f6b39349db5dfa1df35f82440c One God: Pagan Monotheism in the Roman Empire]</i>. LondonCambridge ; New York: Bantam BooksCambridge University Press. This book looks at the development : Unlike some of the concept of God from prehistory to other books, this one focuses on how polytheistic faiths in the historical development in ancient Judaism Roman Empire may have influenced early Christian and Christianitymonotheistic developments. It looks then how Cults around individuals gods or a "higher god" developed during the concept developed Roman Empire and these are seen as influential, in some circles, in Islam and how modern ideas developing concepts of God are shaped by monotheism that began to mature in the modern world. The book looks at how science has affect modern understanding period of Godthe early Roman Empire.
MitchellLudwig, Stephen, and Peter van Nuffelen, edsTheodore M. 20102006. <i>[https://www.amazon.cocom/gp/product/013153906X/ref=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>.uk/3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson Prentice Hall.: This book looks at the development of Western theology in ancient periods. The development of Western religion has multiple roots, from 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:/dp/0521194164 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 Godor Many?: Pagan Monotheism Concepts of Divinity in the Roman EmpireAncient World]</i>. Cambridge ; New YorkTransactions of the Casco Bay Assyriological Institute 1. Chebeague, ME: Cambridge University PressCasco Bay Assyriological Institute.: Unlike some of This book looks at the other books, this one focuses on how polytheistic faiths in the Roman Empire may have influenced early Christian ancient Near East and monotheistic developments. Cults around individuals the concept of gods or a "higher and god" that developed during in the Roman Empire and these are seen as influential, region. The way in some circles, in developing concepts which an idea of monotheism that began to mature a singular god develops is discussed in the period of the early Roman Empirevolume.
LudwigStreeter, Theodore M. 2006Jarvis. 2016 <i>[https://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Paths-West-Theodore-Ludwiggp/product/dp1498236782/013153906X The Sacred Paths ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1498236782&linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=c1772155304d5a7a191645c1b1fb72f8 God and the History of the WestUniverse]</i>. 3rd ed2016. Upper Saddle RiverEugene, N.JOR: Pearson Prentice HallPickwick Publications.: This book 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 Western theology in ancient periodsthe cosmos. The development of Western religion has multiple roots, from its polytheistic origins to influences from It argues for the east, including Persia and Christian God using scientific discoveries made mostly in the Zoroastrian religionlast century.
Porter, Barbara N., ed. 2000. <i>[https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-God-Many-Transactions-Assyriological/dp/096742500X 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 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. Streeter, Jarvis. 2016 <i>[https://www.amazon.com/God-History-Universe-Jarvis-Streeter/dp/1498236804 God and the History of the Universe</i>. 2016. Eugene, OR: Pickwick Publications.: 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. Dimont, Max I, and Ethel Dimont. 2004. <i>[https://www.amazon.com/Jews-God-History-Max-Dimontgp/product/dp0451529405/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0451529405 &linkCode=as2&tag=dailyh0c-20&linkId=7f9374daf8b0d29ce409ff1e9d4c6ce7 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.
Wright, Eric and Miles Braun. 2010. <i>[https://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.
