God Is Not One challenges the notion that all religions are essentially the same. Prothero examines eight major religions, highlighting their unique problems and solutions. While some readers appreciate the book's informative overview and thesis, others criticize its superficial treatment of complex belief systems. The chapter on atheism is particularly controversial, with many finding it biased. Despite its flaws, many readers found the book enlightening, especially regarding lesser-known religions like Yoruba. Overall, it serves as a decent primer on world religions, though its main argument remains contentious.
Religion is diverse: Eight rival religions offer unique paths to human flourishing
Islam emphasizes submission to Allah and following the Five Pillars
Christianity focuses on salvation from sin through faith in Jesus Christ
Confucianism teaches self-cultivation through ethics and ritual
Hinduism seeks liberation from the cycle of rebirth through various spiritual paths
Buddhism aims to end suffering by achieving enlightenment
Yoruba religion connects practitioners to their destiny and sacred power
Judaism centers on the story of exile and return, following God's law
Daoism pursues harmony with nature and spontaneous living
Atheism challenges religious beliefs, emphasizing reason and skepticism
Religious literacy is crucial for understanding our diverse world
"Religions have put God's stamp of approval on all sorts of demonic schemes, but religions also possess the power to say no to evil and banality."
Diverse approaches to life. The world's major religions offer distinct diagnoses of the human condition and prescribe different solutions. Each tradition has its own set of beliefs, practices, and exemplars that guide followers toward what they consider a fulfilling life. For instance:
Islam emphasizes submission to Allah
Christianity focuses on salvation through Jesus
Confucianism teaches self-cultivation through ethics
Hinduism seeks liberation from the cycle of rebirth
Buddhism aims to end suffering through enlightenment
Impact on society. While religions have been used to justify harmful actions, they have also inspired great works of art, literature, and social reform. Religious beliefs and practices continue to shape cultures, politics, and individual lives around the world. Understanding this diversity is crucial for navigating our increasingly interconnected global society.
"The problem is self-sufficiency, the hubris of acting as if you can get along without God, who alone is self-sufficient."
Submission to Allah. Islam, meaning "submission," teaches that peace and fulfillment come through surrendering oneself to God's will. This surrender is not seen as oppressive, but as aligning oneself with the natural order of the universe. Muslims believe that human beings are inherently good but prone to forgetfulness of their true nature and purpose.
Five Pillars of practice. The core of Islamic practice revolves around five fundamental acts:
Shahadah: Declaration of faith
Salat: Prayer five times daily
Zakat: Giving charity
Sawm: Fasting during Ramadan
Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca
These pillars provide a framework for Muslims to structure their lives around remembrance of God and service to their community. Through these practices, Muslims aim to cultivate a sense of God-consciousness (taqwa) that permeates all aspects of their lives.
"Christianity is a 'rescue religion,' and this rescue was made possible as Jesus was dying on the cross."
Central belief in salvation. Christianity teaches that humanity is fundamentally flawed due to sin, which separates people from God. The core message of Christianity is that God became human in the person of Jesus Christ to reconcile humanity with God through his life, death, and resurrection. This act of divine love offers salvation to all who put their faith in Jesus.
Diverse expressions. While united by this central belief, Christianity has developed into various denominations and traditions over time:
Catholicism: Emphasizes tradition, sacraments, and the authority of the Pope
Protestantism: Focuses on scripture alone and salvation by faith
Eastern Orthodoxy: Stresses mystical union with God through liturgy and icons
Each branch offers different interpretations and practices, but all center on the figure of Jesus and the concept of grace – God's unmerited favor toward humanity.
"To be fair, Confucians agree on the problem of social chaos and the solution of social harmony, but they divide largely over how to reach this goal."
Ethical foundation. Confucianism, rooted in ancient Chinese wisdom, focuses on cultivating virtue and maintaining social harmony. It emphasizes the importance of proper relationships, filial piety, and continuous self-improvement. Key virtues include:
Ren: Benevolence, humaneness
Li: Propriety, etiquette
Yi: Righteousness
Xin: Integrity, trustworthiness
Ritual and education. Confucianism places great importance on ritual (li) as a means of cultivating virtue and maintaining social order. Education is seen as crucial for personal and societal development. The goal is to become a junzi (exemplary person) who embodies moral excellence and can positively influence others.
While not typically considered a religion in the Western sense, Confucianism has profoundly shaped East Asian cultures and continues to influence modern interpretations of ethics and governance.
"More than any other great religion, Hinduism is the least dogmatic and the most diverse."
Diverse approaches. Hinduism encompasses a wide range of beliefs, practices, and philosophies. It recognizes multiple paths (margas) to achieve moksha (liberation from the cycle of rebirth):
Jnana yoga: Path of knowledge and wisdom
Bhakti yoga: Path of devotional love to a personal deity
Karma yoga: Path of selfless action
Raja yoga: Path of meditation and self-discipline
Key concepts. Despite its diversity, Hinduism shares some fundamental ideas:
Samsara: The cycle of rebirth
Karma: The law of cause and effect
Dharma: Cosmic order and individual duty
Atman: The eternal self or soul
Brahman: The ultimate reality or universal soul
Hinduism's flexibility has allowed it to absorb and adapt to various cultural influences throughout its long history, resulting in a rich tapestry of spiritual traditions.
"Buddhism never had a creed or a catechism until the American convert Henry Steel Olcott decided in the late nineteenth century that any self-respecting religion needed both."
Four Noble Truths. Buddhism's core teaching revolves around understanding and overcoming suffering:
Life is characterized by suffering (dukkha)
Suffering arises from attachment and craving
It is possible to end suffering
The Eightfold Path leads to the cessation of suffering
Diverse schools. Buddhism has developed into various traditions, each emphasizing different aspects of the Buddha's teachings:
Theravada: Focuses on individual enlightenment through monastic discipline
Mahayana: Emphasizes compassion and the bodhisattva ideal of helping all beings
Vajrayana: Incorporates esoteric practices and tantric techniques
Central to all forms of Buddhism is the concept of mindfulness – cultivating awareness of the present moment without judgment. This practice is seen as key to overcoming the delusions that lead to suffering.
"To be human is to be connected, but all too often we are disconnected from one another, from nature, from the orishas, and from the High God Olodumare."
Spiritual connection. Yoruba religion, originating in West Africa, emphasizes the importance of maintaining connections between the human and divine realms. Practitioners believe that each person has a unique destiny (ori) chosen before birth, which they must discover and fulfill in life.
Key practices. Central to Yoruba religion are:
Divination: Consulting oracles to gain spiritual guidance
Sacrifice: Offering to maintain relationships with spiritual entities
Possession rituals: Allowing orishas (spiritual forces) to communicate through human vessels
The concept of ashe – the power to make things happen – is fundamental to Yoruba spirituality. By aligning oneself with one's destiny and the cosmic order, practitioners aim to harness this sacred power for personal and communal well-being.
"Judaism is both the least and the greatest of the great religions."
Narrative foundation. Judaism is built around the story of the Jewish people's relationship with God, characterized by cycles of exile and return. Key elements include:
Covenant: God's special relationship with the Jewish people
Torah: Divine teachings and laws given to guide Jewish life
Tikkun olam: The obligation to repair and perfect the world
Law and ethics. Jewish practice centers on following halakha (Jewish law), which governs all aspects of life. This includes:
Observing Shabbat (the Sabbath)
Keeping kosher dietary laws
Performing mitzvot (commandments)
Judaism emphasizes ethical monotheism, combining belief in one God with a strong focus on moral behavior and social justice. The tradition values study, debate, and interpretation of sacred texts as a means of understanding God's will and applying it to contemporary life.
"To be human is to be natural. We are least ourselves when those bodies are stuck in the concrete of a city sidewalk. We are most ourselves when walking through the mountains."
Natural harmony. Daoism teaches that the path to fulfillment lies in aligning oneself with the Dao – the fundamental principle of the universe. Key concepts include:
Wu wei: Effortless action in harmony with nature
Yin and yang: Complementary forces that create balance
Qi: Vital energy that flows through all things
Simplicity and spontaneity. Daoism encourages:
Letting go of societal conventions and expectations
Cultivating simplicity and naturalness
Embracing change and going with the flow of life
Daoist practices often involve meditation, qigong exercises, and traditional Chinese medicine. The goal is to achieve longevity, wisdom, and spiritual immortality by living in accordance with nature's rhythms.
"Religion is hazardous to your health and poisonous to society."
Rejection of theism. Atheism is characterized by the absence of belief in deities or supernatural beings. Atheists argue that:
There is insufficient evidence to support religious claims
Scientific explanations are more reliable than religious ones
Morality can exist without religious foundations
Diverse perspectives. Atheism encompasses a range of views:
Strong atheism: Actively denies the existence of gods
Weak atheism: Simply lacks belief in gods
Secular humanism: Promotes ethical living without religious beliefs
While not a religion itself, atheism has become an important voice in conversations about the role of religion in society, often advocating for separation of church and state and promoting scientific literacy.
"To reckon with the world as it is, we need religious literacy."
Global impact. Religion continues to shape cultures, politics, and individual lives worldwide. Understanding religious diversity is essential for:
Navigating international relations and conflicts
Promoting interfaith dialogue and cooperation
Appreciating cultural differences in our increasingly interconnected world
Beyond stereotypes. Religious literacy involves:
Recognizing the internal diversity within religious traditions
Understanding the historical and cultural contexts of religious beliefs and practices
Distinguishing between scholarly analysis of religion and personal faith claims
By developing religious literacy, we can move beyond simplistic stereotypes and engage more meaningfully with the complex realities of our multi-religious world. This knowledge is crucial for fostering mutual understanding and addressing global challenges that require cooperation across religious and cultural boundaries.