num_pages: 230
description: An Accidental God tells how, through a series of accidents, a person who lived at the dawn of civilization became God. It is a fictionalized but historically plausible interpretation of the story of the biblical patriarch Abraham, focusing on how coincidental events and human misperceptions lead him to believe a particular ancestor, named Yehhi, is a powerful god. An earthquake shakes the ancient Mesopotamian city of Ur; amid the devastation, Abraham sees that all the family idols have toppled over, all except for the statue of Yehhi, a revered ancestor. He is convinced that Yehhi has shown his power by remaining upright amid the collapse of the other gods, and he believes that this is Yehhi’s call for his clan to abandon Ur. Abraham’s young nephew Lot is swindled by a wily merchant into squandering the family fortune on a smelly herd of sheep and goats tended by slave boys, named Ishmael and Isaac. Abraham must now become a nomadic shepherd wandering in a strange wilderness. Ishmael, who was stolen from his family, secretly guides them back towards his home in Canaan. Along the way, events challenge Abram to think differently about his relationship with his god Yehhi.Abraham has been unable to conceive children due to a disease that he does not understand, so he develops a fatherly affinity for Ishmael and Isaac. Nevertheless, Abram becomes increasingly obsessed by his inability to produce children of his own. He bargains with his god Yehhi, and he seizes upon a local custom of genital mutilation to improve fertility. He engages in increasingly gory animal sacrifices and eventually resorts to human sacrifice. Customer Reviews on Amazon5.0 out of 5 stars Holy Bible Approved June 18, 2013By dankuck Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseIt's a fun journey through how things may have happened before the story got transformed into the Bible. And it's full of references to real life stuff, like blood sacrifices. Just wait until the circumcision scene, it's great fun for the whole family. Trust Me, you won't be disappointed.5.0 out of 5 stars Telling all my friends about it! June 6, 2013By John G.Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified PurchaseThis was one of the most unique things I have ever read, a combination of a page-turner story with a totally original take on the biblical story of Abraham. And, all of it ties into some really profound insights into the human condition, which underlie the story and are further discussed in essays at the end of the book.5.0 out of 5 stars Truly great! May 26, 2013By vt85Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseWhat an excellent book. Fictitious, sure, but it so eloquently illustrates how an ordinary man can become a god and then become GOD. I highly recommend this book!4.0 out of 5 stars Written from a different perspective. May 20, 2013By James A. WagamonFormat:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseIf you approach the Bible as a piece of fiction then you'll really enjoy this read as it takes the first part of the Old Testament and translates it into a really believable piece of fiction. It just confirms my belief in NOT believing in things over 2000 years old.4.0 out of 5 stars AN ACCIDENTAL GOD May 11, 2013By carolyn sutcliffeFormat:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified PurchaseIf you like to study religion and beliefs this is one that is a new approach…I found it interesting with lots of ideas that I have thought of but never found expressed.
language: English
title: An Accidental God: The Evolution of Religion, or How a Boy from the Dawn of Civilization Became the God of Jews, Christians, and Muslims
publisher: Double Triangle Press LLC