On the surface this book seems like a straightforward rational history of how the idea of God evolved in the conscious human mind as a way to explain existence and the nature of the universe. Look deeper and you'll see that the author is leading the reader to what he believes is the ultimate view of the nature of God and the universe: pantheism. This philosophy, as explained in this book, strikes me as a desperate attempt to reconcile the irreconcilable. It was a disappointing conclusion to an otherwise excellent book.

This is a well researched history of religion that I enjoyed reading. There was opinion mixed in--especially in the conclusion, which has a distinctly different tone and feel that separates it from the rest of the book. I don't find other people's religious views offensive, however, so it didn't bother me too much. I would compare this book to "A Brief History of Time" except it's religious history instead of wormholes. If you feel like you would be offended by a strongly-presented scholarly opinion that differs from your own, just skip reading the conclusion.

I had a hard time getting started on the book, but when it got to the religions of the Middle East it got better. Some people will be furious about the book.

no, it's non-fiction.

This is Fiction, right?