Religion is foundational to what it means to be human. Our quest for meaning is as ancient as our very existence, stretching back to a time when Neanderthal burials and Paleolithic figurines suggest our ancestors recognized a power that transcended visible reality. From ancient civilizations to the 21st century, belief in a higher power seems to be a universal human instinct. It tells us much about where we came from—and who we are today.
What’s fascinating is that this universal instinct has led some cultures to believe in one God while others worship a pantheon of higher beings. This divide between God and the gods offers unique insights into humanity’s search for existential meaning:
- What is the role of a higher power in human affairs?
- How do we reach out to a deity (or deities)?
- Do good and evil exist?
- What happens when we die?
Travel across time and around the world to explore these questions and more in God against the Gods: The History of Monotheism and Polytheism. Taught by acclaimed Professor Robert Garland of Colgate University, these 12 thought-provoking lectures introduce you to the world of comparative religion, giving you insights into a variety of religious expressions and human cultures.
From the pantheons of ancient Greece and Rome to the Abrahamic faiths and Hinduism today, you will learn that although religions can be divided into monotheism and polytheism, there are core ideas that tie us together in a common humanity.
