Why God?: Explaining Religious Phenomena
- ISBN-10
- 1599475219
- ISBN-13
- 9781599475219
- Series
- Why God?
- Category
- Religion
- Pages
- 304
- Language
- English
- Published
- 2017-03-30
- Publisher
- Templeton Foundation Press
- Author
- Rodney Stark
Description
Why is it that the majority of people, from all socio-economic, education, and ethnic backgrounds, ascribe to some sort of faith? What draws us to religion? What pushes us away? And what exactly is religion anyway? Defining religion over the past century has, ironically, led to theories that exclude belief in God, proposing that all systems of thought concerning the meaning of life are religions. Of course, this makes it impossible to distinguish the village priest from the village atheist, or Communism from Catholicism. Worse yet, it makes all religious behavior irrational, presuming that, for example, people knowingly pray to an empty sky. Renowned sociologist of religion Rodney Stark offers a comprehensive, decisive, God-centered theory of religion in his book, Why God: Explaining Religious Phenomena. While his intent is not to insist that God exists, Stark limits religions to systems of thought based on belief in supernatural beings—to Gods. With this God-focused theory, Stark explores the entire range of religious topics, including the rise of monotheism, the discovery of sin, causes of religious hostility and conflict, and the role of revelations. Each chapter of Why God? builds a comprehensive framework, starting with the foundations of human motivations and ending with an explanation of why most people are religious. Stark ultimately settles what religion is, what it does, and why it is a universal feature of human societies. Why God? is a much needed guide for anyone who wants a thorough understanding of religion and our relationship to it, as well as a firm refutation to those who think religion can exist without the divine.
Get the book
Other editions
-
- 2019-05-01
- 32 pages
- Ebook
- B&H Publishing Group
Similar books
-
Why, God, Why?: What to Do When Life Doesn't Make Sense
By Karen JensenYou are standing on the rock. The rock isn't moved by the storm. It is staying in the same place, strong and firm. When the storm ends, you will still be standing there too, because your rock didn't budge. First Corinthians 10:4 refers ...
-
Why God Won't Go Away: Brain Science and the Biology of Belief
By Andrew B. Newberg, Eugene G. D'Aquili, Vince RauseWhy have we humans always longed to connect with something larger than ourselves? Why does consciousness inevitably involve us in a spiritual quest? Why, in short, won't God go away?...
-
Why, O God? (Foreword by Randy Alcorn): Suffering and Disability in the Bible and the Church
By Roy B. Zuck, Larry J. WatersThis unprecedented work, which includes a foreword by Randy Alcorn, belongs in the hands of every Christian worker and caring individual who is seeking a real-world, biblical perspective on suffering.
-
God, Why?: Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People?
By Chas StevensonYes, it is time. In God, Why? Chas Stevenson presents powerful, precise, scriptural logic that eradicates popular spiritual myths and flawed teaching that has misled and confused people about God's character and God's good will.
-
Why, God?
By Burton Z. CooperThis book is a sensitive inquiry for anyone who has ever suffered and who wants to think through it theologically. It is a compassionate resource for coming to grips with pain, suffering, and evil.
-
Why, God, Why?: How to Be Delivered from Confusion
By Joyce MeyerIf you're asking "Why, God, why?" you're asking the wrong question. This wonderful, indispensable book will help you to find the way to God and enjoy life as never before!
-
The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism
By Timothy KellerTimothy Keller, the founding pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, addresses the frequent doubts that skeptics, and even ardent believers, have about religion.
-
Why God?: A Skeptic's View of Religion
By McLean Countebelief in God in today's world creates perhaps even more. As a result many simply go along with the crowd to avoid problems. But, there are always doubts about a belief in God. Anyone who says they never bud doubts or have no doubts ...
-
Why, God?
By Kevin KozarBecause justice is so important to human beings, living in an often unjust world makes having faith in God difficult. To many, God does not seem just at all. I talked about this in the first chapter, “Why God, Do You Allow Suffering?
-
Why, God?: Suffering Through Cancer into Faith
By Margaret Cupit-Link, Edward Hugh HendersonI hope that readers struggling with the reality of suffering and death will find here that it is possible to take the “Why, God?” question seriously and in facing it find help for their souls. Maggie's encounter with deadly disease is ...