First published 2017
James Kugel examines a fundamental puzzle within biblical history. Early scriptures show God speaking directly to Abraham, Sarah, Jacob, Moses, Isaiah, and Jeremiah. These figures receive clear divine messages and witness direct appearances. Then something changes. Later biblical peoples no longer see God or hear divine voices. Instead, they search for a distant deity through prayer, establishing patterns that continue today. Kugel draws from ancient texts, archaeological findings, anthropological research, and neuroscience to explain this transformation. He traces how this shift created the modern sense of self and established a worldview that still shapes human experience. The author combines scientific analysis with religious faith to explore both ancient spiritual encounters and contemporary searches for the divine.
Genres: history, science, anthropology, religion, non-fiction, academic
Vibes: academic, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: academic-investigation, religious-faith-and-science
Period: Ancient, Biblical
497 pages · Kindle Edition · Houghton Mifflin Harcourt