God: An Anatomy - As heard on Radio 4

God: An Anatomy is a fascinating and often controversial examination of the real God of the Bible, in all his bodily, uncensored, scandalous forms. It reveals that the Western idea of God developed centuries before the Bible was written and persists in the tics and twitches of our own society. The book explores the places and artefacts that shaped our view of this singular God and the ancient religions and societies of the biblical world, and analyses the origins of our oldest monotheistic religions and Western culture.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 608 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: Pan Macmillan

Winner of The PEN Hessell-Tiltman Prize, Shortlisted for The Wolfson History Prize, and A The Times Books of the Year, this captivating exploration delves into the enigmatic and often controversial figure of the real God of the Bible. Spanning three thousand years, in the lands now known as Israel and Palestine, a group of people worshipped a diverse pantheon of deities, with a father god called El at the helm. Among El's seventy children, one stood out as Yahweh, a minor storm deity with a body, a wife, offspring, and colleagues. Yahweh engaged in battles against both monsters and mortals, indulged in feasts, authored books, and took leisurely strolls and naps. However, his journey would lead him to transcend his physical existence and become the God of the great monotheistic religions.

Yet, as Professor Francesca Stavrakopoulou reveals, the cultural DNA of God extends far beyond the confines of the Bible, permeating the very fabric of our society. Whether we are believers or not, the tics and twitches of our culture bear the imprint of this ancient deity. The Bible has not only shaped our ideas about God and religion but also influenced our cultural preferences regarding human existence, experience, life and death, attitudes towards sex and gender, dietary habits, and historical understanding.

In her meticulously researched and passionately argued book, God: An Unconventional History, Professor Stavrakopoulou takes us on a journey to examine the body of God, from his head to his hands, feet, and genitals. Through this comprehensive exploration, she unravels the development of the Western idea of God, tracing its roots back centuries before the Bible was even written. She delves into the places and artifacts that shaped our perception of this singular deity and the ancient religions and societies of the biblical world. Moreover, she goes beyond the origins of our oldest monotheistic religions and delves into the very foundations of Western culture itself.

Written with elegance and clarity, God: An Unconventional History is a thought-provoking and frequently controversial read. It challenges our preconceived notions and invites us to reevaluate our understanding of the divine. With its rich historical and cultural insights, this book is a must-read for anyone interested in exploring the complexities of religion, history, and human existence.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 131 x 196 x 45 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781509867370