The Creation of God — Edition Insights
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Before opening The Creation of God — Edition Insights, the edition data offers a quick orientation: 126,373 words, 9 hr 10 min estimated reading time, and 32 detected text sections.
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- Text length15 pts
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CHAPTER I. The Universal Aspect, 9 II. The Earth, 21 III. The Chemical Aspect, 39 IV. The Sun, 51 V. Genesis--The Creation, 67 VI. Genesis--The Garden of Eden, 80 VII. The Deluge, 92 VIII. The Scriptural God--The Creation, 101 IX. The Creation of God--Abraham, 112 X. Moses--Confirmation of the Idea of God, 119 XI. Samuel the Kingmaker, 138 XII. God Save the King, 147 XIII. Jehova Takes a Rest, 170 XIV. The End of National Life, 178 XV. The Christian Era, 200 XVI. Organic Life--Vegetable, 212 XVII. Organic Life--Animal, 221 The Master Tissues. The Muscular Tissues. The Nervous Tissues. XVIII. Food and Food-Substances, 242 XIX. Elimination of Waste Substances, 250 In General. By the Lungs. By the Skin. By the Kidneys. XX. Digestion, Nutrition, 278 XXI. The Elementary Substances, 300 XXII. Alcohol and Its Effects on the System, 310 XXIII. The Soul--What is it? 321 The Mind. XXIV. Sin and Salvation, 340 XXV. The Ecclesiastical Kindergarten, 353 XXVI. Rational Review, 372 XXVII. Visions--Bible Dreams-Revelations, 380 XXVIII. The Planetary Gods, 392 XXIX. Every Man His Own God, 403 Tables { Gateways to Knowledge. { Morals: Whence They Spring. XXX. The Non Credo, 418 Rules for Human Conduct.
Map of the Intellectual Faculties--The Mind, opp. title-page. Map of Theological Retrogression, opp. p. 390 Map of the Deluge and Garden of Eden, opp. p. 432
"Si les nommes étaient capables de gouverner toute la conduite de leur vie par un dessein reglé, si la fortune leur était toujours favorable, leur âme serait libre de toute superstition."
"Il n'y a pas de moyen plus efficace que la Superstition pour gouverner la multitude."
"But in the temple of their hireling hearts Gold is a living god, and rules in scorn All earthly things but virtue."
"Falsehood demands but gold to pay the pangs Of outraged conscience; for the slavish priest Sets no great value on his hireling faith."
"But human pride Is skillful to invent most serious names To hide its ignorance."
At this time, in this age of agitation, unrest, dissatisfaction, and doubt among the masses, and all classes, in every civilized part of the globe, in all communities and human organizations, in church and out of church, ecclesiastical bodies of all shades; besides the vast number of theories and doctrines of a popular socialistic, anti-poverty, communistic order, etc., a prevailing skepticism has seized the minds of men, as to the truth, validity, and stability of the entire religious fabric. The unsettled condition of the minds of men, the disturbing elements of the laboring classes, the church quarrels, clerical litigations, disputes, wrangling, and mutual hate about scriptural authenticity, its truth and supernaturalism, the heresies and blasphemies, the unsatisfactory condition of the Roman church, the constant and unremitting papal correspondence, the petty bickering, the selfish zeal, the greed for money, the anxiety to raise funds for all kinds of ecclesiastical establishments, naturally arouse suspicion whether the idea of a God is not going out of fashion, whether the clergy has not lost faith in the Book, whether the Jew, the Jehovistic aristocrat, has not been the primary inventor of these supernatural wares, whether the Christian theologians are not beginning to lose their sway and grip and their pretended supernatural authority over their ignorant devotees. We may ask frankly, honestly, truthfully, and in perfect good faith:
Has not the time arrived for a grand and human reformation? For new methods of teaching, for new and more accurate ideas, for a more precise knowledge of the natural, for instructions in absolute facts, for a more thorough understanding of natural laws, for a broader comprehension of man himself and his surroundings, for an abandonment of all the supernatural subterfuge, ignorance, and superstition, of religious fables, miracles, false theories, and misleading doctrines as to God, with their immense sacrifice of human life.
Jacob Hartmann, a physician with credentials from multiple institutions, opens The Creation of God not with a theological proposition but with a chapter on the "Universal Aspect," immediately signaling his materialist approach. The book's structure is striking: after early chapters on Genesis and the scriptural God, it shifts into detailed physiological expositions on tissues, digestion, and alcohol's effects, before returning to religious critique. This juxtaposition suggests Hartmann sees the human body—particularly the muscular and nervous systems—as the key to understanding how the idea of God was formed.
From Genesis to Physiology
The table of contents reveals a deliberate arc. Chapters V through XIV engage directly with biblical narratives—creation, Eden, the deluge, Abraham, Moses, Samuel, and the monarchy—treating them as historical or literary artifacts. Then, from Chapter XVI onward, Hartmann shifts to organic life, animal tissues, food, elimination, and the soul. This transition implies that the same analytical lens applied to scripture can be turned on the human organism. The chapter "The Scriptural God—The Creation" (VIII) is followed by "The Creation of God—Abraham" (IX), suggesting a progression from deconstructing divine attributes to tracing how a patriarch became a vehicle for the god-idea.
The Body as a System of Masters and Servants
In the excerpt on master tissues, Hartmann divides the body into two hierarchies: the voluntary muscular and nervous tissues, which he calls "the all-important tissues," and the involuntary organs that serve them. He writes that the former are "capable of development, progressively, acquiring intelligence," while the latter "perform their functions in the same manner instinctively all through life." This distinction mirrors his broader argument about religion: just as the body has a ruling class of tissues, so human societies and their gods may be products of an evolved, educable faculty—the nervous system—that generates ideas and then treats them as sovereign.
The Nervous Tissue and the Mystery of Mind
Hartmann acknowledges that the nervous tissue is "a little more difficult to comprehend" than muscle, because its operations—sensation, memory, thinking—are hidden inside the skull. He notes that "among the masses it is a mystery to-day." This admission is key to his project: by grounding thought in physical tissue, he aims to demystify the soul and, by extension, the concept of God. The chapter "The Soul—What is It?" (XXIII) follows logically from the physiological sections, suggesting that Hartmann intends to explain religious belief as an emergent property of neural processes, not as evidence of a supernatural realm.
Readers should note that Hartmann's argument depends on the completeness of his physiological claims, which reflect late-nineteenth-century science. The book's value lies less in its medical accuracy than in its ambitious attempt to synthesize biology, biblical criticism, and rationalist philosophy into a single naturalistic account of religion. Pay attention to how he uses the body's hierarchy as a metaphor for social and theological structures.
Reading Hartmann’s calm dissection of belief, I thought of my grandfather’s worn Bible, the pages soft as cloth. He never questioned, just read. Nehemiah’s rebuilding felt like that—a quiet, stubborn construction of hope. This other book, The Bible, King James version, Book 16: Nehemiah — Inside the Classic, gave me the same strange feeling: that we build our shelters, and then call them home.
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Edward Matthew Lutz - 1 month ago
‘The Creation of God’ is a thought-provoking read that beautifully weaves together scripture and theological reflection. The author presents the concept of creation in a way that is both reverent and intellectually engaging. Each chapter builds on the last, offering fresh perspectives on familiar narratives. The writing is clear and inspirational, making it suitable for devotional reading as well as study groups. I came away with a deeper appreciation for God's creative work and my place in it. Highly recommended for anyone seeking to enrich their faith. -
Jennifer Lauren Davis - 1 month ago
This book offers some interesting insights into the theology of creation, but it's not without shortcomings. The author's arguments are well-structured, and the biblical references are helpful. However, the writing can be quite dense at times, making it hard to stay engaged. The lack of practical application also means it might not appeal to readers looking for everyday inspiration. Overall, it's a decent theological work, but it may not be for everyone. -
Alex Soto - 4 weeks ago
I was expecting a more comprehensive exploration of creation, but this book falls flat. The author spends too much time on repetitive points and fails to address critical questions with depth. The arguments feel shallow, and the writing lacks coherence, jumping between topics without clear connections. Additionally, the book seems more like a personal manifesto than a scholarly work, with little engagement with other perspectives. For those familiar with the subject, this offers nothing new; for novices, it may confuse more than clarify.
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Benjamin Green
1 month ago