A History of God: The 4000-Year Quest of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam

In A History of God, Karen Armstrong contends that religiosity is intrinsic to human nature, asserting, “human beings are spiritual animals. Indeed, there is a case for arguing that Homo sapiens is also Homo religious” (17). Drawing upon historical, anthropological, and philosophical insights, she posits that human beings have always been spiritually inclined. She regards humankind’s spiritual preoccupations as analogous to the creation of art, with both endeavors representing a quest for meaning, an exploration of the world’s enigmas, and a means of expressing reverence for the transcendent.    

Armstrong’s assertion that humanity is “Homo religious” captures her conviction that religious expression has an element that is universal. As a species, throughout history, humans seem compelled to find solace and meaning in a dimension beyond the tangible, whether through ritualistic practices, moral codes, or theological contemplations. Armstrong’s work assumes that this spiritual dimension isn’t a mere cultural or social construct but a vital aspect of human consciousness. Even secularism, as she notes, is a fresh experiment in a grand tapestry of human history, and our current secular ethos may be viewed as a non-theistic religious perspective. This suggests that even in seemingly irreligious frameworks, the intrinsic human, religious quest for meaning persists.