Her introduction begins with her recollection of her visit to Jerusalem back in 1983. She sets the groundwork for applying an alternative framework of thought in understanding the conflict(s) and the city. Through this she builds on the beliefs and philosophies of past times and religions (cults, as she favorably labels them). She defines images and symbols as the focus of past peoples in their way of explaining or more properly termed "defining" the divine. One thing is evident throughout, she carries a lot of baggage from her experiences.
Armstrong describes herself as a freelance monotheist. A believer who does not accept the supernatural as a proved proposition nor as an acknowledged given, rather a believer who conceives that deity in the image of void and confusion. A deity understood as supreme without the status. A deity that withers when not in need. A deity based on the 'progression' of intellect. A deity malleable in every sense!!
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The book begins by recounting the history of Zion, where little to nothing is known. Zion as the author explains was inhabited at one junction by the Canaanites. The Canaanites were "irresistibly" drawn to experience the divine in the area known as present day "Jerusalem" and thus dwelled there for some time. Mounts Hermon, Carmel and Tabor were all revered places because they've "stood out" from the dramatically surrounding hills as sacred. Little is known about the way of life back then as little evidence exists. Armstrong in recounting history tries to identify the different beliefs of the people living then. Ancient peoples as Armstrong tells us "exalted Zion because they felt closer to heaven there". The recurrent theme begins from here, where it's implied that peoples exalted for the people rather than the opposite.
The second chapter discusses the history of the ancient land of Israel, she flip-flops around different archaeological evidence piecing history together, 5 steps at a time. At one point she mentions how El was “fused imaginatively with Yahweh, the God of Moses”.
In chapter three time is devoted to discussing the city of David, the city under Solomon and preceding leaders. Armstrong in this section decrypts David's character into a “poet, musician, warrior, rebel, traitor, adulterer and terrorist”.
Armstrong through her discourse detaches herself from any presumed history. She goes on through her narration to tell the history of the city of Judah. All while insisting the people of that time lived under a reality of willing henotheism. She discusses the influence of Greek mythology onto the development of Judaism. The destruction of the temple, and then introduces Jesus (pbuh). Islam is introduced shortly afterwards as a "quest for wholeness", right before the crusades are ushered in..
Armstrong after discussing the crusades offers her viewpoint on Islam, a "distorted" one I must say. She in her introduction suggests that Arabs were taunted for not having a prophet, this in Islam contradicts the teaching that every nation and tribe were sent a prophet. She then discusses the Muslim rule of Jerusalem, and elaborates on how coexistence played seamlessly through life back then. And finally highlights the conquest of Salahiddin. Armstrong does no justice to the concept of Jihad, and again fails miserably in explaining the meaning of this notion. A Holy war is made to seem as a part of Jihad, this analysis is again in contradiction to the accepted definition both in doctrine and in practice. She afterwards mentions the "Turkish wars" history, then delves into the revival of the city along with the tensions between different sects within Christianity.
The book finally concludes with the retelling of contemporary history, the establishment and role of Zionism as a movement and then the many wars that unfolded afterwards.
Armstrong tries in her book to offer an alternative view, an interesting perspective for any skeptic reader looking for a steady attack on mainstream beliefs.
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