A Little History of Religion

By: Richard Holloway

Narrated by: James Bryce

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's summary

In an era of hardening religious attitudes and explosive religious violence, this book offers a welcome antidote. Richard Holloway retells the entire history of religion - from the dawn of religious belief to the 21st century - with deepest respect and a keen commitment to accuracy.

Writing for those with faith and those without, and especially for young listeners, he encourages curiosity and tolerance, accentuates nuance and mystery and calmly restores a sense of the value of faith.

Ranging far beyond the major world religions of Judaism, Islam, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism, Holloway also examines where religious belief comes from, the search for meaning throughout history, today's fascinations with Scientology and creationism, religiously motivated violence, hostilities between religious people and secularists and more.

Holloway proves an empathic yet discerning guide to the enduring significance of faith and its power from ancient times to our own.

©2016 Richard Holloway (P)2016 Audible, Ltd

Good summary of religion

As the title suggests, this book is a short history of religion, but it has just enough information to cover the basis of most religions. It doesn't get very deep into specific events or details, but I feel like i can have a more insightful conversation with people of all religions. Good for beginners with no understanding of other religions.

More people should read this book to understand the similarities between everyone's beliefs.

The narrator is a little hard to understand with his accent and sounds like he whispers occasionally, but wasnt too bad once I got uses to it.

Well crafted !!

This book is a carefully curated collection of historic facts, religious stories and connecting comments with few reflective observations.
It tries to keep objective views, though at times you can read opinions between lines.
I truly enjoyed this book!!!
Highly recommended !!!

Right amount of information on the history of religion

Couldn’t recommend a better book for a brief history of most of the religions. This book is as straightforward as it can be with no inclination to a particular extreme view. It lays information before you and allows you to ponder about it, makes you comprehend your own views. As a reader, this book probably liberated my mind regarding my thoughts on the subject and inspired me to know more and for that I would give it 5 stars.

Everything makes so much more sense now...

Honestly, stop reading this review and just download the book.

The author brilliantly covers the history of religion and sheds light on the silly and petty ways religions bicker or start wars.

It's so obvious to me after reading this that all religions are just as silly as the next. I also found it interesting how my parents' views on protestants and atheists as Lutherans were a subject of their upbringing in strict Catholic/Lutheran homes as children.

Proving indoctrination is dangerous to our society.

I wished he touched on Lutherans, Baptists (especially that of the Westboro Baptists), and the Jefferson Bible (or did he, I can't recall now)... but it was a great story and great narrator through and through.

Phenomenal book

Unbiased overview to a very sensitive subject. The cause and effect approach, the natural sequencing of historical events and the ease of connecting the dots makes it both pleasant and thought-provoking.

The narration is a very important part of the experience. He did a fantastic job conveying the writer’s state of mind while writing the different chapters.

A must listen (rather than read) for anyone interested in peace and harmony among humans.

Great secular survey of religions

Factual but compassionate. Nice level of detail and narrative flow as well as connections among religions. It has a pro-secular bent which speaks to me. It may not appeal to reactionary fundamentals

The best overview I’ve read of the world’s religions.

Well balanced and respectful. A lot of knowledge to be gained from this book. Covers both positive and negative aspects of religion. Doesn’t push an agenda.

Excellent History of Religion

Very informative and easy to follow. I would highly recommend to those seeking to understand the origins of the various religions.

essential study

A must for anyone who has ever wondered about the many different religions and why.

Excellent "in a nutshell" book!

This is a great book for all ages and gives you a well rounded view of religions of the world, views of God and where we started all the thinking from. Great narration, great info, great book.