Sophia C. reviewed on 5/24/2012 + 289 more book reviews

No god but God: the Origins, Evolution, and Future of Islam is an articulate, scholarly primer on the history of Islam. Starting with the religious beliefs of pre-Islamic Arabia, Resa Aslan describes the life of the Prophet, and the social, political, and economic context in which this new religion—based on religious pluralism and social egalitarianism—developed. It's the familiar story of how a prophet's message is altered by successors that have institutionalized it while sometimes promoting their own agendas. This engaging book argues that rather than a clash-of-civilizations or monotheisms, Islam can see seen in the midst of its own reformation, trying to reconcile Muhammad's message and centuries of legal and moral interpretations with the modern world and various forms of social organization, including democracy. Published in 2005, there is no mention of the Arab Spring, yet it could fit in with the overall arc of this book which will leave the reader with a more nuanced understanding of one of the world's great religions and current events.

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