Leben mit den Göttern

A 40,000-year-old lion man made of ivory, a golden Qibla from the 16th century, a cross from Lampedusa - with unparalleled elegance, Neil MacGregor brings all these objects to life. His book takes us on a fascinating journey through the world of gods and religions. From the Arctic to India, from Mexico to Japan, from ancient Rome to contemporary Africa, this book tells how religious beliefs shape the lives of communities, the relationship between the individual and the state, and our self-image. However, Living with the Gods is not a history of religion nor a plea in favor of faith. It is about the stories that give shape to our lives and the various ways societies imagine their place in the world. By looking into history and around the globe, by questioning objects, places, and human actions, it seeks to understand what shared beliefs mean for public life in a community or nation, how they shape the relationships between the individual and the state, and how they help us understand who we are. For in deciding how we want to live with our gods, we also decide how we want to live with one another.