The Quest for God

April 29, 1996
Historian Johnson (A History of Christianity; A History of the Jews; The Birth of the Modern World Society) switches to a more intimate scale as he tries to provoke readers into examining their beliefs, or lack thereof, in God. Johnson's allegiance to the Catholic Church and its ritual are balanced by an assessment of the history of that institution and his agreement that for "some people, salvation is more likely outside my church-in other churches or no church." Necessarily, Johnson's view on Purgatory, Hell and the Last Judgment reflect his Catholic faith; however, statements such as "The Last Judgment is not so much delivering verdicts as confirming verdicts already reached in the heart of each individual" show Johnson's careful examination of free will and of God's intentions toward creation. Originally published in England, this American edition will invite discussion, introspection and controversy from both liberal and conservative readers in this country as it calls them to their own quest for God.