Armstrong claims that the fundamental reality, later called God, Brahman, nirvana or Tao, transcends human concepts and thoughts, and can only be known through devoted religious practice.

[1][2][3][4][5] In 2009, the book was awarded the Dr. Leopold Lucas Prize by the University of Tübingen (Germany) in recognition of its contribution to the fields of theology, philosophy and intellectual history, and for improving international understanding and tolerance among faiths.

[6] In the introduction, Armstrong presents two forms of knowledge, mythos and logos.

[7] Since the 16th and 17th century, she says logos governed civilization, resulting in two phenomena: fundamentalism and atheism.

She states, "I can sympathize with the irritation of the new atheists", but she maintains that they have focused primarily on fundamentalism.