The Order of the Heavens

The order of the heavens is eternal. It reveals itself in the course of the stars and the changing of the seasons, is explored by priests and theologians, written down in the scriptures, confirmed in rituals, obeyed through ethics, passed on via myths and sermons to the next generation. But the truth is that this order is in a constant state of flux depending on the rise and fall of the wealthy, the migration of peoples and ideas, or the innovations of religious trailblazers. Bernhard Maier tracks these changes throughout the course of world history. He also portrays the peculiarities of large and small religions in succinct detail, points out parallel developments in key epochs and compares mythologies, concepts of time, and sacred sites. Everyone who reads this impressive survey will have a better understanding of why religions are still so powerful today and continue to fascinate even the most die-hard skeptics.