God Is Not One Review – Do the big questions get answered?

“God Is Not One”" seems to a be fair and well-researched book clearly introducing the many major world religions. Stephen Prothero has a unique method of introducing the problem and the solution that each of the rival religions faces. As with his previous bestsellers “Religious Literacy” and “American Jesus”, Stephen makes us realise how little we know of our own religion let alone other religions.

It is often thought that all religions are essentially the same and that they are all headed for the same spiritual goal. What Professor Prothero points out is that the different doctrines, rituals, and worldviews perceived by these different religions are not in fact headed in the same direction. Huge differences exist within religions and “God Is Not One” shows what these differences are and makes it obvious that we need to be aware of the different perceptions each religion has of itself. The major religions the Professor refers to are Islam, Christianity, Confucianism, Hinduism, Buddhism, Yoruba Religion, Judaism, Daoism and atheism.

There seems to be some confusion in relation to the title “God Is Not One”. The statement that god is not one seems in direct contradiction of what the whole idea of god is. This is where we need to remind ourselves of the difference between God and religion. People are often confused by the issue of god being independent of religion. God is one but the perceptions of god created by hundreds of years of tradition, ritual and the very different origins of tribal and pagan customs seems to create extremely different ideas of not only what god is, but the ways in which we can aspire to become closer to him, her or it. It is the perceptions or beliefs created by these eight rival religions which presents conflict in our world.

In the context of “God Is Not One”, Stephen is correct in his title in respect to the different ideas and expectations created over time by these organisations of men which we call religions. Time has a way of changing the purity of the original Guru’s ideas. In fact these Guru’s were also men and were influenced by the environment and by their personal experiences at the time they lived. “I am the son of God and the son of man”. Men who have evolved to a high spiritual level.

I think Professor Prothero has done a fantastic job in researching and putting together this easy to read book covering many of the controversial issues relating to religions worldwide and showing how they impact on our world society on a physical plane. God may be one but our eight rival religions are definitely not.

I highly recommend it! Please watch the video below for a preview by the author on “God Is Not One”.