This contributed two-volume work tackles a fascinating topic: how and why God plays a central role in the modern world and profoundly influences politics, art, culture, and our moral reflection—even for nonbelievers.

• Supplies a broad conception of "God" that provides readers with a fuller and more accurate portrait of a phenomenon that evolved substantially over time but also remains an enduring—and enduringly influential—element of popular culture

• Explores not only how individuals grapple with the question of God, but also how God invariably and unintentionally enters people's thinking

• Supplies direct examples of the key role that God plays in everyday life that readers will find compelling from both a personal and cultural perspective

• Comprises essays from sociologists, theologians, cultural critics, and journalists that present a wide range of perspectives and approaches to this universally relevant topic