# Recommend me some history of religion
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-history-of-religion/497270
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Created:** [May 22, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-history-of-religion/497270 "2009-05-22T04:10:34Z")
**Posts on this page:** 2
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Hung\_Mung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hung_Mung)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2009, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-history-of-religion/497270/1 "2009-05-22T04:10:34Z")
I couldn’t think of a brief, yet accurate, title for this request. What I’m asking for is any recommendations of scholarly attempts to describe the major religions of the world in a broader historical context. (I’m going to start with the sources from the Who Wrote the Bible article, I think.)
For instance, are there books or articles that try to describe the origins of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism or, for that matter, any other -Isms I’ve left out in terms of their actual historical situation? More specifically, I know that non-canonical Jewish demonology is sometimes related to Zoroastrianism. I would like to see a non-crackpot analysis of the relationship between the two. Or, perhaps an objective look at the “histories” of the Old Testament. Please don’t limit recommendations to these specific subjects; I’m trying to broaden my horizons a bit.
DISCLAIMER: This ain’t for school or work. I’m not trying to get others to do any legwork for me. I just don’t quite know where to begin looking for quality material that would satisfy my nebulous curiosity. Also, I’m not specifically looking for anything that’s necessarily _debunking_ the Bible or Koran, etc., but hopefully looking at them with a broader historical and social view. I’m not saying I won’t look at such material, though, if someone says it’s definitely worthwhile.
I’m afraid I’ve rambled a bit; I hope this all makes sense. I’ll try to clarify what I mean if I need to. Thanks, kids.
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### Author:  [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)
#### Post date: [May 22, 2009, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-me-some-history-of-religion/497270/2 "2009-05-22T04:21:17Z")
I’ve heard good things about [this](http://www.amazon.com/History-God-000-Year-Judaism-Christianity/dp/0345384563/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242965860&sr=1-1). I haven’t gotten to it yet, but I’ve read a couple other of Karen Armstrong’s books, and on that basis I’d think it’d have to be good.
It doesn’t cover anything but Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, though. She has a book on the Buddha, which I have read and can recommend highly.
Somebody else will have to come up with a history that covers all religion, though.
This is not really the best forum for this question, BTW.