Eighteen Takes on God: A Short Guide for Those Who Are Still Perplexed [Hardcover]

Who is God? How should we think about the concept of God? How have religions defined and altered conceptions of God over the ages? Are modern conceptions of God so different from our ancestors'? Philosopher Leslie Stevenson here offers eighteen short and lively takes on God to help orient readers to this vast and confusing subject. Surveying everything from the idea of God as an old man in the sky to the more abstract idea of a metaphysical God, among other ways of imaging the divine, Stevenson presents a clear and helpful guide for curious readers. Stevenson expresses no overall pre-commitment to theism, atheism or agnosticism; rather he offers a sympathetic account of a variety of views, combined with critical questioning about their meaning and practical application.Who is God? How should we think about the concept of God? How have religions shaped and altered various conceptions of God over time? Many use language about God which, if taken at face value, implies that he inhabits a human body (usually male) and walks and talks as we do. Yet to other traditions God is a genderless and spiritual form unconstrained by space or time. And while some people are firm in their faith in God, however conceived, many others are uncertain what they think--what they believe, what they think they know, and how much they think one can know rather than believe. Even among believers, there are many conceptions of God from different points in time and parts of the world--even within faiths.For readers who are puzzled by religion, it helps to have an entry point into this confusing range of possibilities. In this short and friendly guide, Leslie Stevenson walks the reader through eighteen conceptions of God, tracing how women and men have perceived him (or her) since the time of Abraham.As Stevenson acknowledges, there can be no such thing as a completely detached and neutral approach to this subject. Everyone has their own upbringing, life experiences, prejudices, and commitmentl!