
The Great Transformation
The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions
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Narrated by:
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Karen Armstrong
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By:
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Karen Armstrong
About this listen
From one of the world's leading writers on religion and the highly acclaimed author of the best-selling A History of God, The Battle for God, and The Spiral Staircase, comes a major new work: a chronicle of one of the most important intellectual revolutions in world history and its relevance to our own time.
In one astonishing, short period - the ninth century BCE - the peoples of four distinct regions of the civilized world created the religious and philosophical traditions that have continued to nourish humanity into the present day: Confucianism and Daoism in China; Hinduism and Buddhism in India; monotheism in Israel; and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Historians call this the Axial Age because of its central importance to humanity's spiritual development. Now, Karen Armstrong traces the rise and development of this transformative moment in history, examining the brilliant contributions to these traditions made by such figures as the Buddha, Socrates, Confucius, and Ezekiel.
Armstrong makes clear that despite some differences of emphasis, there was remarkable consensus among these religions and philosophies: each insisted on the primacy of compassion over hatred and violence. She illuminates what this "family" resemblance reveals about the religious impulse and quest of humankind. And she goes beyond spiritual archaeology, delving into the ways in which these Axial Age beliefs can present an instructive and thought-provoking challenge to the ways we think about and practice religion today.
A revelation of humankind's early shared imperatives, yearnings, and inspired solutions - as salutary as it is fascinating.
Excerpt from The Great Transformation:
"In our global world, we can no longer afford a parochial or exclusive vision. We must learn to live and behave as though people in remote parts of the globe were as important as ourselves. The sages of the Axial Age did not create their compassionate ethic in idyllic circumstances. Each tradition developed in societies like our own that were torn apart by violence and warfare as never before; indeed, the first catalyst of religious change was usually a visceral rejection of the aggression that the sages witnessed all around them.... All the great traditions that were created at this time are in agreement about the supreme importance of charity and benevolence, and this tells us something important about our humanity."
©2006 Karen Armstrong (P)2006 Books on TapeListeners also enjoyed...
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Critic reviews
"Dazzling prose with remarkable depth and judicious breadth." (Publishers Weekly)
"This could very possibly be one of the greatest intellectual histories ever written." (Library Journal)
"A lucid, highly readable account of complex developments occurring over many centuries....A splendid book." (The New York Times)
"Armstrong at her best - translating and distilling complex history into lucid prose that will delight scholars and armchair historians alike." (The Washington Post Book World)
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-
Story
Few books in history have been as poorly understood as the Qur'an. In this audiobook, the distinguished historian of religion Bruce Lawrence shows precisely how the Qur'an is Islam. He describes the origins of the faith and assesses its influence on today's societies and politics. Above all, he emphasizes that the Qur'an is a sacred book of signs that has no single message. It is a book that demands interpretation and one that can be properly understood only through its history.
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Not quite enough
- By Leigh A on 06-27-07
By: Bruce Lawrence
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Buddha
- By: Karen Armstrong
- Narrated by: Kate Reading
- Length: 6 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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This rich, timely, and highly original portrait of the Buddha explores both the archetypal religious icon and Buddha the man. In lucid and compelling prose, Armstrong brings to life the Buddha's quest, from his renunciation of his privileged life to the discovery of a truth that he believed would utterly transform human beings and enable them to live at peace in the midst of life's suffering.
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Eminently Listenable
- By JerryT on 01-23-05
By: Karen Armstrong
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God
- A Human History
- By: Reza Aslan
- Narrated by: Reza Aslan
- Length: 5 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
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In layered prose and with thoughtful, accessible scholarship, Aslan narrates the history of religion as one long and remarkably cohesive attempt to understand the divine by giving it human traits and emotions. According to Aslan, this innate desire to humanize God is hardwired in our brains, making it a central feature of nearly every religious tradition. As Aslan writes, "Whether we are aware of it or not, and regardless if we are believers or not, what the vast majority of us think about when we think about God is a divine version of ourselves."
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His best work yet
- By Jeff M on 11-15-17
By: Reza Aslan
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The Great Transformation
- The Beginning of Our Religious Traditions
- By: Karen Armstrong
- Narrated by: Karen Armstrong
- Length: 12 hrs and 4 mins
- Abridged
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In one astonishing, short period–the ninth century BCE–the peoples of four distinct regions of the civilized world created the religious and philosophical traditions that have continued to nourish humanity into the present day: Confucianism and Daoism in China; Hinduism and Buddhism in India; monotheism in Israel; and philosophical rationalism in Greece. Historians call this the Axial Age because of its central importance to humanity’s spiritual development.
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WTF
- By A.B. Normal on 06-12-11
By: Karen Armstrong
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Islam
- A Short History [Modern Library Chronicles]
- By: Karen Armstrong
- Narrated by: Richard M. Davidson
- Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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Best-selling author and renowned religious scholar Karen Armstrong presents a concise and articulate history of Islam, the world's fastest-growing faith. Beginning with the Prophet Muhammad's flight from Medina and concluding with an examination of modern Islamic practices and concerns, Armstrong delivers an unbiased overview. She contends that no religion is more feared and misunderstood by the Western world as Islam, and firmly challenges the notion that these two civilizations are on a collision course.
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Read the Book, pass on the audible!
- By J********** on 08-21-06
By: Karen Armstrong
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How Jesus Became God
- The Exaltation of a Jewish Preacher from Galilee
- By: Bart D. Ehrman
- Narrated by: Walter Dixon
- Length: 10 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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In a book that took eight years to research and write, leading Bible scholar Bart D. Ehrman explores how an apocalyptic prophet from the backwaters of rural Galilee crucified for crimes against the state came to be thought of as equal with the one God Almighty Creator of all things. Ehrman sketches Jesus's transformation from a human prophet to the Son of God exalted to divine status at his resurrection. Only when some of Jesus's followers had visions of him after his death - alive again - did anyone come to think that he, the prophet from Galilee, had become God.
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Wishing for a bit more meat on the bones
- By Darwin8u on 04-09-14
By: Bart D. Ehrman
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The Battle for God
- A History of Fundamentalism
- By: Karen Armstrong
- Narrated by: Lisa Armytage, Karen Armstrong
- Length: 22 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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In the late 20th century, fundamentalism has emerged as one of the most powerful forces at work in the world, contesting the dominance of modern secular values and threatening peace and harmony around the globe. Yet it remains incomprehensible to a large number of people. In The Battle for God, Karen Armstrong brilliantly and sympathetically shows us how and why fundamentalist groups came into existence and what they yearn to accomplish.
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The most important book you haven’t read yet
- By D. A. Vail on 12-29-20
By: Karen Armstrong
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Egyptian Mythology
- A Guide to the Gods, Goddesses, and Traditions of Ancient Egypt
- By: Geraldine Pinch
- Narrated by: TJ Johnson
- Length: 7 hrs and 29 mins
- Unabridged
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From stories of resurrected mummies and thousand-year-old curses to powerful pharaohs and the coveted treasures of the Great Pyramids, ancient Egypt has had an unfaltering grip on the modern imagination. Now, in Egyptian Mythology, Geraldine Pinch offers a comprehensive introduction that untangles the mystery of Egyptian myth.
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does not tell mythology
- By Carlos on 07-12-21
By: Geraldine Pinch
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Anathem
- By: Neal Stephenson
- Narrated by: Oliver Wyman, Tavia Gilbert, William Dufris, and others
- Length: 32 hrs and 25 mins
- Unabridged
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Fraa Erasmus is a young avout living in the Concent of Saunt Edhar, a sanctuary for mathematicians, scientists, and philosophers, protected from the corrupting influences of the "Saecular" world by ancient stone, honored traditions, and complex rituals. Over the centuries, cities, and governments have risen and fallen beyond the concent's walls. Three times during history's darkest epochs, bloody violence born of superstition and ignorance has invaded and devastated the cloistered mathic community.
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I love Neal, but Good lord... ugh!
- By SpiderGrrl on 10-08-19
By: Neal Stephenson
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Miracles and Wonder
- The Historical Mystery of Jesus
- By: Elaine Pagels
- Narrated by: Eunice Wong
- Length: 8 hrs and 54 mins
- Unabridged
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Early in her career, Elaine Pagels changed our understanding of the origins of Christianity with her work in The Gnostic Gospels. Now, in the culmination of a decades-long career, she explores the biggest subject of all, Jesus. In Miracles and Wonder she sets out to discover how a poor young Jewish man inspired a religion that shaped the world.
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I had high hopes for this title
- By Christine on 04-02-25
By: Elaine Pagels
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The Selfish Gene
- By: Richard Dawkins
- Narrated by: Richard Dawkins, Lalla Ward
- Length: 16 hrs and 12 mins
- Unabridged
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Richard Dawkins' brilliant reformulation of the theory of natural selection has the rare distinction of having provoked as much excitement and interest outside the scientific community as within it. His theories have helped change the whole nature of the study of social biology, and have forced thousands to rethink their beliefs about life.
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Better than print!
- By J. D. May on 07-31-12
By: Richard Dawkins
What listeners say about The Great Transformation
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- James Lawless
- 01-21-20
minor complaint
I have one minor complaint. The book chapters and the audible chapters don't line up.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Ernest Cline
- 11-01-21
Okay, but nothing new
This was a decent summary of its topic, but I didn't notice anything particularly new or insightful in it. Worth getting if you haven't already been exposed to the topic, but probably not if you're already familiar with the subject matter and its thesis. The only significant difference was that in addition to the traditional coverage of the trio of the Daoic (East Asian), Dharmic (South Asian), and Abrahamic (Middle Eastern) religions/philosophies when discussing this topic, she also added in Greek religion/philosophy.
tl;dr Get if you're new to the topic, are interested in the extension to Greek religion/philosophy, or are heavily into the topic; otherwise find something else to occupy your time and Audible credits.
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- Marjory Kempe
- 04-04-24
Worth the Journey
This book almost killed me. It took me two years to read. I had to divide and conquer owning both a hard copy as well as the audio book. The author reads her own work. She constantly mispronounces the prophet Isaiah’s name or perhaps she doesn’t and it’s me who says it wrong. There is so much to unpack and learn about the Axial Age that rather than being a one and done, this book inspires me to keep going in my studies.
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- Laura A. Johnson
- 05-24-21
Great book!
A Must Read for our time. Open yourself to a new perspective on humanity, as related to religion and ego.
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- Agape Beacon
- 03-16-15
For serious study.
I would not suggest this for light reading or listening, but if you are dedicated to understanding the subject, it is an awesome resource.
This is a very informative, perspective enriching content, however, I found the style the content is presented in and the vocal performance were very formal and dry. I found it a bit lacking in personality and humor that could have made it a more pleasant experience for the listener/reader.
This book is definitely worth the investment and time for serious students of comparative religion and philosophy.
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- skycrystal
- 04-30-21
So far so good
Good content. Less citations than I expected, but I am only partway through. eagerly looking forward to the rest of the book. The Audible narration is what made me want to post a review right away. The author's queen's english is beautiful. But did no editor or production manager tell her that she was butchering all the Chinese words? It cracked me up when she tried saying "Chunqiu" (spring and autumn). I sound NOTHING like the Chinese. 😂
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- Dominique
- 01-04-20
Informative Solid Listen
As a Seminary graduate, I found this book very refreshing. It discusses the development of religious ideas from the perspective of a historical approach to idea development that is chronological and cross-cultural. This is not a good book for a person interested in faith formation within a particular tradition but an enticing listen for a student of religion, person interested in ecumenical/Interfaith discussions, and/or a person seeking to identify undergirding precepts that can be found in Ancient Near Eastern and East Asian spirituality.
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1 person found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 01-13-22
long and detailed.
tough read for someone just generally curious. felt like i would need to be part of a lecture series to really understand it, but im not the brighest scholar out there...
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- Abbissio
- 11-25-23
Superb - Religiously
Wonderful book, Informative And Thought Provoking.
Makes you take a deep look at your inner self. .
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- Roy
- 06-30-24
Armstrong is the perfect reader for this text.
Informative and fascinating. Encourages self-reflection and perspective on the role of non-rational values in living the human life.
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