Karen Armstrong

Armstrong argues that historically, atheism has rarely been a denial of the sacred itself, but has nearly always rejected a particular conception of God. She suggests that if we draw creatively on the insights of the past, we can build a faith that speaks to the needs of our troubled, polarized world.

An absorbing history from early biblical times to the present day of a city celebrated and revered for centuries by Jews, Christians and Muslims.

The foundation stone of Jewish and Christian scriptures lies in its stories. These ancient tales illuminate some of our most enduring and profound problems. Karen Armstrong traces the themes and meanings of these stories, examining what they can still tell us about the human quest for meaning.

Through comparison with other prophets and mystics the author examines Muhammad's spiritual ideas, and uses the facts of his life - from which Muslims have drawn instruction for centuries - to make the tenets of Islam clear and accessible for readers of all faiths.

Sequel to 'Through the Narrow Gate' (5713). The author, a former nun, describes her 'flight from institutional religion' and how through studying other religious traditions she found a very different kind of faith which drew from Christianity, Judaism and Islam and,eventually, spiritual and personal calm.

At the age of seventeen the author decided to devote her life to God as a nun. When she embarked on her spiritual training she found herself in an oppressive world which pushed her to the limit of her endurance.