Living with the Gods

"Until fairly recently, religion as a major influence on the nature of individual societies around the world seemed to be on the wane. Now, far from being marginalized, the relationship between faith and society has moved to the center of politics and global conversation. Neil MacGregor's new book traces the ways in which different societies have understood and articulated their places in the cosmic scheme. It examines mankind's beliefs not from the perspective of institutional religions but according to how shared narratives have shaped societies--and what happens when different narratives run up against each other. As he did in A History of the World in 100 Objects and Germany: Memories of a Nation, MacGregor brilliantly combines objects, places, and ideas to examine and, ultimately, illuminate these pressing contemporary concerns"--… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member CarltonC

Although I have dipped into his other books and listened to his History of the World in 100 objects, this is the first of MacGregor's book that I have read properly.
Constructed as 30 chapters covering a variety of aspects to religions, it provides enlightening approaches to religious belief by

looking at different objects held mainly in the British Museum's collection (as he was director of the museum and so is most familiar with these), but also elsewhere.
Extremely knowledgeable and (for me) well thought out explorations of human beliefs through time, but all provided in easily read sections.
The only failing is my own in not being able to remember so much, but a very worthwhile and enjoyable read.
I read the hardback edition which was well laid out and illustrated.

For example from the chapter on "Rejecting the Image, Revering the Word" (page 295): The life changing image is a very loose cannon. It was partly for this reason that most Protestant reformers were profoundly hostile to them. Like many religious movements, they believed that the only reliable way of communicating the truths of religion was by the word: the image was a danger to true faith and best destroyed.

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LibraryThing member ritaer

impressively illustrated but in my opinion relatively shallow view of the role of religion in human life in most societies.

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