Living with the gods : on beliefs and peoples / Neil MacGregor.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

MacGregor, Neil, 1946- author.

Contributor:

British Museum

BBC Radio 4.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religion and sociology.

Religion and culture.

Mythology.

Civilization.

Gods.

Religions.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 488 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

[London] : Allen Lane, an imprint of Penguin Books, 2018.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Our place in the pattern

Fire and state

Water of life and death

The return of the light

Harvest and homage

Powers earthly and divine

Thy kingdom come

Turning the screw

"There is no God!"

Living with each other.

Notes:

"Based on the award-winning BBC Radio 4 series"--Cover.

"BBC Radio 4, The British Museum"--Title page.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9780241308295

0241308291

OCLC:

1052900739

Publisher Number:

99978078996