In the Beginning God: A Fresh Look at the Case for Original Monotheism
Digital Logos Edition
Overview
Christians believe that religion began when God created human beings and revealed himself to them. But is there scholarly evidence for this belief?
In the nineteenth century academic world a stormy debate took shape over the origin of religion. Scholars explored the ancient languages of mythology and then considered evolutionary anthropology. A dominant view emerged that religion began with animism — the reverent honoring of spirits — and from there evolved into higher forms, from polytheism on to monotheism.
However, scholars Andrew Lang and Wilhem Schmidt contended there were cultures throughout the world — pygmy people in Africa and Asia, certain Australian Aboriginal groups and Native American tribes — that originated as monotheistic, acknowledging the existence of one supreme God who created the world and holds people accountable for living morally upright lives.
The debate wore on, and Schmidt, a member of the Catholic order and a priest, was accused (without evidence) of letting his faith interpret the facts. By the mid-twentieth century a silent consensus formed among scholars not to discuss the origin and evolution of religion any further. The discoveries of Lang and Schmidt have since been largely ignored.
However, the evidence on which these scholars based their conclusion of monotheism is still out there. In the Beginning God attempts to educate Christians about the debate on this topic, the facts that were accepted and those that were ignored, and the use to which Christians can put all of this material in making a case for the truth of Christianity.
- Focuses to a great extend on those who have analyzed the topic of original monotheism: Taylor, Lang, Schmidt, Eliade, among others
- Explores Willhelm Schmidt's studies and conclusions as a centerpiece for the story presented in the book
- Seeks to present factual and scientific issues
"Were the first religions in the world polytheistic or monotheistic? As someone who has spoken on college campuses for decades, I can attest to the fact that most faculty and students would select the first option rather than the second. Win Corduan provides a service to scholarship on religion by making the case for the second option. Many start with an evolutionary assumption that naturally leads them to the conclusion that the first religion was animism or polytheism. But early on in the book Win Corduan makes the case that no matter what view you have about the origin of human beings, you cannot escape the fact that the first religion was monotheism. As the title says, in the beginning was God, a monotheistic God. This book deserves a hearing and a wide audience. I commend it to you."
Kerby Anderson, president of Probe Ministries, host of the Point of View radio talk show
In the Beginning God deals with an immensely important topic in an in-depth and thoughtful manner. It is well researched and deals with all of the relevant sides in the scholarly discussion concerning the origin and development of humanity's religious quest. Building on the work of Willhelm Schmidt and others, the book adds a new and powerful voice in support of the belief that the human race's origial spiritual focus was on one all-powerful and morally inclined creator God. I highly recommend it for any and all who are interested in the topic of our pursuit of the sacred."
Michael J. Cuba, dean of faculty, Kilns College
"This book is one of the most important contributions to religious apologetics in the last generations by the most qualified religious apologist on the topic within evangelicalism. It is a must read for every Christian apologist."
Norman Geisler, Ph.D., professor of Apologetics, Veritas Seminary
- Title: In the Beginning God: A Fresh Look at the Case for Original Monotheism
- Author: Winfried Corduan
- Publisher: B&H
- Print Publication Date: 2013
- Logos Release Date: 2021
- Era: era:contemporary
- Language: English
- Resources: 1
- Format: Digital › Logos Research Edition
- Subjects: God; Monotheism; Philosophy & Religion; Religions
- ISBNs: 9781087793955, 9781433683008, 9780805447781, 1433683008, 0805447784, 1087793955
- Resource ID: LLS:9781433683008
- Resource Type: Monograph
- Metadata Last Updated: 2024-03-06T20:56:38Z