Book Description
Throughout history, arguments for and against the existence of God have been largely confined to philosophy and theology. In the meantime, science has sat on the sidelines and quietly watched this game of words march up and down the field. Despite the fact that science has revolutionized every aspect of human life and greatly clarified our understanding of the world, somehow the notion has arisen that it has nothing to say about the possibility of a supreme being, which much of humanity worships as the source of all reality. Physicist Victor J. Stenger contends that, if God exists, some evidence for this existence should be detectable by scientific means, especially considering the central role that God is alleged to play in the operation of the universe and the lives of humans. Treating the traditional God concept, as conventionally presented in the Judeo-Christian and Islamic traditions, like any other scientific hypothesis, Stenger examines all of the claims made for God's existence. He considers the latest Intelligent Design arguments as evidence of God's influence in biology. He looks at human behavior for evidence of immaterial souls and the possible effects of prayer. He discusses the findings of physics and astronomy in weighing the suggestions that the universe is the work of a creator and that humans are God's special creation. After evaluating all the scientific evidence, Stenger concludes that beyond a reasonable doubt the universe and life appear exactly as we might expect if there were no God.
Customer Reviews:
Excellence.......2007-10-18
I absolutely enjoyed this book. It truly deals with the scientific opinion of the beliefs and fears, that religion has weighted our society down with. excellent scientific study
An excellent analysis!.......2007-10-17
Dr. Victor Stenger has made a very solid analysis of religion based on the scientific method. Throughout the book, Dr. Stenger painstakingly goes item by item debunking every conceivable religious argument. The author, as a scientist also leaves the door open to probability. Even when the possibility of a contrarian probability is implausible!
The author has a poignant flair for the classical apologist and pseudo-scientific religious apologists. The book is a required to reading for the serious student of the religious/faith/logic and reason.
Without any reserve, I do recommend the book!
Another Good Book On The Subject .......2007-10-13
I read this book by Stenger in just over an hour. Stenger is correct in his title of the book. The hypothesis of a god does not hold up to any scrutiny. It falls apart and its adherents always fall back on the sacred fictional book known as the bible. Very good book from a well known scientist. Dawkins, Hitchens and Harris are trying to open the eyes of the western world and I applaud them for it. My profession is science and I do hold graduate degrees as does Dawkins and Stenger. This subject and its exposure has long been overdue.
Basically there is no evidence for a supreme being. You may want to consider this.
Some questions you may want to ask yourself as a Christian:
1. Where is heaven? Christians believe in it so it begs the question of "Where is it located specifically or even generally?" In all my studies of astronomy, I can't seem to remember any place labeled heaven. Is it near Saturn or Jupiter?
2. Where is hell? In my studies in geology, I don't remember a place called "Hell" being labeled somewhere on this earth.
3. Where is God? Does he exist somewhere in our solar system or someplace else in the universe? If he exists, he sure makes himself, herself, itself conveniently mysterious and absent.
4. The Islamic god must be more powerful than the Christian god, because the Christian god sure didn't do anything to stop 9/11 from happening. The Christian god didn't lift a finger when more than 6 million people were murdered by the Nazis in concentration camps known as the "Holocaust". Not to mention all the other disasters, diseases and such that have occurred throughout history.
This god seems to impotent and very much absent.
This whole concept of god etc.. is all in your minds, put there by parents, pastors etc... You are basically playing psychological mind games with yourself.
As a PhD myself in the biological sciences, I have given up trying to explain things to Christian fundamentalists and Christians in general regarding their irresponsible disinformation that they put out about science and theories. I have (my own personal experiences) found that many "Christians" will bend, distort and even outright lie about scientific findings in order to twist it so they can either discredit a finding or distort things to the point that they are trying to put a square peg into a round hole. The Christian believe that a "god" created everything and that the bible as factual is an agenda of most Christians. Most Christians I have spoken to do not have the correct definition of "theory" Almost like robots, they recite the rhetoric "Evolution is just a theory" Their meaning that Evolution is just a hunch or a guess, when in fact this is not so.
You throw out the theory of evolution and that throws out the foundations of biology and microbiology. So we throw Darwin's theory, do we start teaching biology from the perspective of the bible and the Christian way of thinking. As scientists, we would scrap it in a heartbeat and replace it with a new theory if it did not work anymore; however, we do not scrap it because the evidence supports Darwin's theory. I have talked to several Christians who say, "The theory of Evolution has been discredited and proven false". Well that's news to me because most of the major universities (i.e.: University of California etc.) teach evolutionary biology. Another disturbing thought process by some Christians is that they also believe that the "Big Bang Theory" has been discredited. News to me again. So you can understand why I do not have time for people who distort the truth.
I find my encounters with Christians as being either having hostility toward those who do not believe in their god or they are very much lacking in basic understanding of biology and science in general, therefore, they express hostility toward science and are very convinced that they are right. If they want to think they are right, that is okay with me, but it is not the atheists and scientists who are knocking on people's doors, congregating in buildings to spread the word. It is the religious who want everyone else to think like them. I do not wish to bend and twist my mind around a bunch of untruths and I am sure many millions of others (Atheists) agree. The thing I find so insidious about the church is the "getting to the children when they are young" Putting this belief into a child's mind when their brains have not fully developed yet. I think this is something that is very bad in our society. So excuse me if I do not have time to convince every die in wool Christian that their thinking is faulty. Unfortunately at this time in history, it is the minority (The Atheists) who has it right. However, hopefully over the next 100 years that will change and the majority will have it right and only a minority will still believe in religion and all it's dogma that surrounds it. People will look back at the late 20th century and early 21st century and not understand why so many held on to a medieval way of thinking. We look back on the people who thought the earth was flat (a majority 300-400 years ago) and wonder how anyone could have such faulty thinking. Hopefully the majority of our citizens will be saying the same thing about us 100 years from now.
I am amazed how aggressive some(not all) Christians get if you challenge their belief in this "God". Why does this all powerful "God" need you to come to his/her/it's or whatever defense.
How do you prove the unprovable?.......2007-10-10
Stenger has bitten off a large argument here, and done a fairly admirable job at tackling certain aspects of it, but his larger premise is faulty based on his belief that humans, at present, have the ability to disprove the existence of a supreme being. While I agree with some of his goals, he takes it one step too far. Rational scientific evidence suggests that a god does not exist, and never has. This, however, is far from conclusive. Strong atheism requires almost as much faith as fundamentalism.
Perhaps the day will come when human knowledge will be such that we can provide a scientific proof against the existence of a god, but that day has not yet arrived. Stenger can disprove the "proofs" of the faithful quite convincingly, but that is all. The larger question remains unanswered, and will for some time; perhaps for all time.
Conversely, Stenger IS convincing in his assertions against religious visitations, miracles, and the answering of prayers. These are mythical stories perpetuated by those who want to believe. In all cases of so-called miracles there is a logical scientific alternate explanation. Remember Occam's Razor: the simplest solution should be the right one. Are we to believe a scientific explanation, or call it divine? Science is simpler and makes much more sense. Same goes for prayers allegedly being answered.
As for the historical evidence of the resurrection, I'm afraid the tales in ancient books of mythology do little to sway me. Many have faith that it, along with other biblical claims, did indeed happen. Faith does not equal proof.
Perhaps a god does exist, and perhaps he/she/it did create the universe. The limits of human knowledge at present are such that this can neither be proven nor disproved. However, the burden of proof is on the faithful. If I claim that the Loch Ness Monster exists, I need to provide some proof. It is not the job of unbelievers to disprove my assertion. While I find Stenger's arguments interesting, we as a species do not yet have the ability to irrefutably claim that god does not, or never has existed. Just as the faithful cannot prove that a god does exist. Perhaps we should stop trying and just agree to disagree.
Whether a god exists or not, there is substantial evidence that such a god does not intervene in worldly affairs. The stories of divine intervention on Earth have a more rational, scientific explanation. For example, Dr. Michael Persinger offers a reasonable explanation for why people can feel as though they have communed with a divine spirit. Did the Virgin Mary really appear in a grilled cheese sandwich, or is there a more rational explanation? Did Moses really see a god in a burning bush, or did he perhaps make it up? He may even have been schizophrenic. Again, Occam's Razor.
My basic point is that we can't prove that a supreme being does not exist. The evidence against it leads me to believe that a god does not exist, but this is far from conclusive. However, there is ample convincing evidence against such a god being involved in the daily happenings of its creation.
Let's say, for sake of argument, that there was a god that created the universe. What has he been up to since then? Scientific evidence indicates that he/she/it has left the universe to its own devices. Is he collecting unemployment insurance? Did he tire himself out and decide to sleep away the eons? Is he like an innocent bystander who just doesn't want to get involved? Did he figure he was finished his work and willed himself out of existence? Did he die? We can't know.
IF a god created the universe, then I guess he deserves our thanks. So, just in case, "Thanks, dude." That is all you will get from me. Daily or weekly groveling and prayer accomplishes nothing tangible, from my perspective. For the faithful, it can act as a shield against the some of the universe's harsh realities. It can also compel less thoughtful individuals to live more ethically.
As for me, I believe and accept that this is the only life I have, so I should live it fully. I can live a moral life without divine guidance. Unlike militant atheists, I can also respect the beliefs of those who disagree with me. If faith provides you with comfort and/or guidance, who am I to try and convince you otherwise? Unless you are a Scientologist, in which case I might want to call you a wack-job.
I am uncertain that strong atheism does anything to further the cause of rational scientific thought. It merely polarizes viewpoints, resulting in, as an example, a mixture of five-star and one-star reviews.
Many strong atheists see the faithful as deluded and irrational, while fundamentalists see atheists in a similar light. One interesting difference between the two groups is who holds the political power in the United States. The first President Bush once made a claim that atheists should not be considered citizens and not have the right to vote; how very enlightened from a man who once had control of a nuclear arsenal.
The atheist/agnostic movement has much to overcome to be accepted by society at large. I am not convinced that this book will help the cause.
Pseudoscience and bad history.......2007-10-07
Firstly, I would just like to point out that Professor Stenger has no historical credentials whatsoever. He is a physicist and an astronomer, not a historian! It is quite apparent that the little historical research he did, if any, is extremely skewed and faulty.
Secondly, I would like to mention how science cannot disprove any event in history, such as the resurrection of Christ. It is pseudoscientific to the extreme if any scientist attempts to do so! What happened in history happened, regardless of where science takes us.
I will now reveal the most important historical fallacies Stenger made in this book. The first historical error in this book is the claim that no extra-biblical records corroborating the darkness and earthquake during the crucifixion of Jesus exist. That is simply incorrect! There were two ancient Greek historians, who were extremely critical to the early church, who acknowledge this event in their writings. Thallus writes that this darkness was the result of an eclipse, even though he tries to explain the reason he is indeed aware of this event in history. Another Greek historian, Phlegon, also describes the darkness and the earthquake as well. He includes in his writing that the earthquake destroyed the temple in Jerusalem and killed thousands of cattle. He also includes the fact that the entire Mediterranean area was affected by the darkness.
Another major fallacy in Professor Stenger's book is his reliance on the King James Version of the Bible. I would just like to point to the fact that the KJV Bible has been shown to contain several fatal misinterpretations of the original manuscripts of the Old and New Testaments. This is due to the fact that when the KJV was written, the writers had a scarce amount of the original manuscripts. Today, we have a vast amount of the original manuscripts, thanks to archaeology. The KJV Bible should no longer be used as a source of information!
Dr. Stenger's third error, more of a speculation, in his book is the claim that some of the prophecies from the Old Testament were not fulfilled in the life of Jesus. Now, the ancient Jews thought that the fulfillment of prophecies in the time of the messiah would depend upon Israel's moral state. When Jesus of Nazareth came, he fulfilled about half of the prophecies from the Hebrew Bible. The rest of the New Testament shows that the second half of the prophecies will be fulfilled at the end of time, when Christ comes again. It is a matter of time which describes how the prophecies were, and will be, fulfilled, not Israel's moral state or a "failure" of certain prophecies!
Book Description
From Elaine Pagels’s Beyond Belief to Jim Wallis’s God's Politics, investigations into the relationship between the historical foundations of Christianity and the role of religion in today’s world have risen to the top of bestseller lists. Obery Hendricks, Jr., who was Pagels’s first graduate student at Princeton University, adds an important new voice to the ongoing discussion in THE POLITICS OF JESUS. Filled with riveting, original insights, it confirms Cornel West’s declaration that “Obery Hendricks is not just on the cutting edge, he’s the knife.”
Focusing on a powerful but little-examined aspect of the Gospels, Hendricks portrays Jesus as a political revolutionary whose teachings are meant to lead the way to freedom from the tyranny of principalities and unjust rulers in high—and low—places. Throughout the Gospels, Jesus employs various tactics to address the social, economic, and political conditions of his day and exposes the terrible effects of oppression and poverty on the mind, body, and soul.
In an in-depth examination of Christianity’s history, from its foundation through the time of Paul to the reign of Constantine to the present day, Hendricks traces how the church became a hierarchical structure, protective of the powerful and intent on maintaining the status quo. THE POLITICS OF JESUS recaptures the revolutionary implications of Christianity, and calls on Christians to embrace anew the core values of Jesus’ message and restore his fight to alleviate the suffering of underprivileged and abused peoples.
Customer Reviews:
Republicans make Jesus cry :o(.......2007-10-12
2 Stars, I like the way this book reminds Christians to open there faith up to the entirety of human existence, including the political realm. The Lord is glorified in the administration of justice. And to be loving and merciful is a call for whole people groups not just individuals.
That being said the author takes this idea and runs headlong into the camp of the leftist, bordering on extreme socialism or anarchy. The author disregards teachings from the Bible such as capital punishment, with out attempting to explain why. He does this to make his point on feel good Social Gospel. The author makes no attempt to hide a bias against Republicans, and praise for Democrats. Book is biased don't waste you time.
Powerful - A Must Read.......2007-07-24
Reading Obrey Hendricks, Jr's book, the Politics of Jesus, is like sitting at the feet of a contemporary griott, and having the story of a hero told in a fashion that makes that hero larger than life. Given that the hero, Jesus Christ, is already larger than life, the story becomes all the more enriching because of the many historical interpretations of today. Hendricks' portrayal of Jesus actions, emotions and intentions are no less than radical as his political agenda is analyzed. The meek, mild Jesus of our childhood is exchanged for a radical portrayal of a man who fought for justice, defied authority, and challenged the status quo with fiery temerity.
Hendricks describes the political climate in which Jesus was born and lived in vivid detail, providing historical support for his contention that today's King James' Version of the bible was interpreted in favor of the whims of a Roman political leader by the name of Constantine. Hendricks speaks out against ministers who embrace Constantine's transformation of their roles as they accept privileged treatment and exalted status. Hendricks maintains that the story of an exorcism described in Mark 5:1-10 can actually be interpreted as an allegorical tale, in which the demon-possessed man represents the country of Israel, and the legion which possesses it represents the Roman army. Hendricks states " So though on one level Mark 5:1-13 is an account of an exorcism, on another level it is a radical political parable in the guise of a healing story, a parable that tell the people of Jesus that it is not God's displeasure that has bedeviled them, but the misdeeds of those who lord it over them (147). Additionally, The "Politics of Jesus" is a clarion call to leaders everywhere to "treat the needs of the people as holy". It reminds us that "There must only be servant leaders, just as the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve" (332).
Alicia Latimer
Sisters Sippin' Tea Literary Group - Tulsa Chapter
A True Revolutionary.......2007-06-02
This book will blow your mind. You will see and understand Jesus in away that you have never done before. This book is a quick read, so don't let the thickness scare you. This book is also awesome for bible study and discussion.
Speaking Truth to Power.......2007-05-11
The politics of Jesus is must read for anyone who is on a journey of liberation. This book came into my hands as a gift from Santita Jackson the daughter of Jesse Jackson. When I got the book I could not put it down. It began to wake up some of the Liberation Theology that I was exposed to in some of Dr. James Cone lectures. Obery M. Hendricks Jr. brings us to a place where we see Jesus as the political revolutionary. He points out that Jesus message is not only called to change the individual heart but also to demand sweeping and comprehensive change in the political, social, and economic structures in our lives today as it was in the days of Jesus walk here on earth.
This book will also cause you to see the work of Jesus and make you take a deep look within yourself to see where we as the church have failed in the mission here on planet earth. Hendricks, points out that Christians understand that his message has a political dimension but they reject the notion that Jesus was a political revolutionary. He did not only address issues in people heart but he advocated revolutionary changes in a political order that militated against the happiness and wholeness of the people he came to serve. Jesus actively opposed the oppressive system of his day.
Hendricks shows us that Jesus makes a reference to the year of Jubilee in Leviticus where at the end of a fifty year cycle everything was restored that was taken away unjustly. This is the release of the captives which was unjustly imprisoned. Exodus is a liberation moment that is very political. Where God hears the cries of the oppress He raises up a liberator to bring them out of bondage. The author brings us to a term in the book called Hebrews which means literally he crossed over. The sense of outsider class status comes with this understanding of the term Hebrew. Now the author tells us that the Exodus liberation experience is also the root event of Jesus faith and his message. This is revealed by Jesus evoking the memory of the Exodus often in the Gospel by repeatedly invoking Moses' name.
The author makes a bold statement to those that are called to the prophetic. He tells us "Their unwillingness to speak truth to power or to empower others to do so represents a refusal to prophesy for justice and a betrayal of their sacred calling. Moreover, ministers who are cozy with those in power run the abiding risk of becoming servants of Baal, the god of the privileged few. That is why a conservative prophet, a prophet aligned with the ruling class, in reality is no prophet at all." Wow this is much to consume because now we see that the work of the prophet is to comfort the afflicted and now they have a calling to afflict the comfortable. In this work we come to this point that we have a responsibility to give a voice to the voiceless. This is a powerful strategy for political change. This book tells us that we come to a place of speaking truth to power.
Hendricks lay out a strategy and one of the strategies is to call the demon by name. In Mark chapter 5 we see the exorcism of a man gone wild with self-destruction. The author tells us to call the demons out by and name and the names are some of the forces that are oppressing the downtrodden of our day. A great work and a must read for those that are ready to understand the politics of Jesus.
Social Gospel.......2007-04-27
The author freely reinterprets scripture to suit his agenda, without any convincing logic to support his assumptions. I was unable to endure much of this book in spite of my desire to really understand an apposing view. In my opinion, it's just another attempt to invent a social gospel rather than to accept the gospel of salvation.
Book Description
Though it is the fastest-growing religion in the world, Islam remains shrouded in ignorance and fear for much of the West. In No god but God, Reza Aslan, an internationally acclaimed scholar of religions, explains this faith in all its beauty and complexity. Beginning with a vivid account of the social and religious milieu in which the Prophet Muhammad forged his message, Aslan paints a portrait of the first Muslim community as a radical experiment in religious pluralism and social egalitarianism. He demonstrates how, after the Prophet’s death, his successors attempted to interpret his message for future generations–an overwhelming task that fractured the Muslim community into competing sects. Finally, Aslan examines how, in the shadow of European colonialism, Muslims developed conflicting strategies to reconcile traditional Islamic values with the realities of the modern world, thus launching what Aslan terms the Islamic Reformation. Timely and persuasive, No god but God is an elegantly written account of a magnificent yet misunderstood faith.
Customer Reviews:
A good begining .......2007-08-27
If your interest in Islam stems from the media attention the religion receives then this book is a wonderful way of learning about the beginning of it all. Aslan's work is clearly structured and unbiased. I wants the reader to understand the gentleness of the religion as well as the powerful protectiveness of the muslims that practise this faith.
War can be found within any religion, just look at the Crusades.
The book is a wonderful piece that I would highly recommend to people who would like to learn more and make their own opinion rather than rely on the views of others.
Excellent Intro to Islam.......2007-08-18
After 9.11, there has been a sudden obsession with Islam. The extreme right-wing media would like to portray the religion as spewing hate and preaching violence. But what is the truth? There are so many versions out there trying to explain Islam to you -- but as an ignorant person, how do you determine what is true and what is fiction?
My knowledge of Islam is practically nil. With growing interest in the religion and my curiosity to learn the origin and spiritual leanings of Islam and the reasons behind the fanaticisms that seem to pervade through a section of the middle east - I decided to read No God but God. Basically, I wanted to form my own opinion rather than being fed with half-baked truths by the media, erroneously termed as facts.
I should also confess - I chose this book because of the author. Reza Aslan has appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher and on the Daily Show. On these shows, he appeared intelligent, eloquent, and exuded a firm grasp of the politics and history of the underpinings of the Islamic movement and the religion itself.
Needless to say, I was impressed. I wikkipedia-ed and googled him; read through his website and discovered he was a scholar - a major plus. Obviously, there are many books out there on Islam. However, as a researcher myself, I decided to go with my kind. I was not wrong with my choice.
The book is very well written. At no time, do you feel that you are getting a boring history lesson. The information is overwhelming, but at the back of my mind, I kept thinking - Does the author have an ulterior motive? Is there a hidden agenda? Is he espousing something specific? Unfortunately, it is difficult to know because I have nothing to compare to. He is a research scholar not the average novelist and therefore, I am inclined to accept his explanations and historical accounts.
The book does not disappoint, it is a fascinating read. I learned a lot and now have a better understanding of the nature of Islam and also, why a faction of Muslims are imposing their myopic interpretation of Islam.
He does a great job in narrating and combining history with current happenings. He beautifully leads us through the origins of the Prophet, his beliefs, principles, and persuasions behind the characterization of the Quran. You also read about the Ka'ba at Mecca, its inextricable link with the origins of Islam and the politics of the rulers that came and went. You learn about the struggle to dissociate Islam, the religion, from the politics of establishing law and governance, as espoused by the various Islamic sects. And finally, you learn about the continuing struggle - as Islam and its believers unravel what the Prophet truly hoped to establish and the future direction of this massive religious movement.
What I found most interesting was the confluence of the origins and teachings of Islam, Christianity, and Judaism. Ironically, despite the clear commonalities between these main religions, there is so much strife and hate.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more of Reza's work.
[...]
3 1/2 Stars. Not objective like the author intends, but still a good read.......2007-06-20
As a Muslim, I read this book with interest. In NO GOD BUT GOD, Reza Aslan attempts to narrate and analyze the Origins and Evolution of Islam, and a vision of its Future.
Starting with an exploration of Pre-Islamic Arabia, he details the life of the Prophet Muhammad (s), and follows up with the 4 Rightly Guided Caliphs. He then focuses on the evolution of Islamic thought, including the development of the Ulama in Sunni Islam, and the development of other schools of thought/sects such as Shiism and Sufism. He finishes by detailing the response of the Muslim world to colonialism, and modern issues today, especially Islam's struggle towards democracy.
Aslan aims to portray what he feels is an 'objective' portrayal of Islamic history, by correcting what he feels are errors by past scholars, especially Muslim scholars with idealized views. However, ultimately, he is not very successful in his quest. While he criticizes early Islamic historians for portraying '9th century Baghdad' rather than '7th century Madina', one can argue that his view of Islamic history is '21 century American' rather than '7th century Madinan.' His biases are evident, and are typical of 21st century America and the West: Denial of supernatural events, resistance to established historical (especially religious) authority, preference for free-flowing spirituality versus formalized doctrines of law, and importance given to issues such as democracy. (Note, as an American, I share some of these biases, but its important to note their existence as biases in a quest for objectivity.)
Aslan usually starts each section by presenting 'the idealized' view of a topic, as narrated by early Muslim scholars (what he terms as 'myth') and then presents what he believes 'really happened' (history). Myth typically includes miracles, and heroic portrayals of people involved. Those inclined to believe in miracles (and I am one) may have difficulty with this approach, as he flatly says that it doesn't matter whether or not miracles happened (ie, whether Jesus raised the dead) but rather, what role such myths play in shaping the beliefs of a particular religious community. I heartily disagree with Aslan here- I believe it matters a great deal whether or not the beliefs of a religious community are shaped by actual historical events (including wonderous, amazing ones) or whether such beliefs are based on, in the end, lies and falsehood. In any case, Aslan was not there to witness events such as Lazarus rising from the dead, and neither were the early historians, so ultimately, it is up to each person to make up their own mind about the actual historicity of such supernatural events.
Aslan also occasionally over stretches himself in his attempts to deny miracles. For instance, he suggests that its unlikely that the Prophet (s) was illiterate, because as a merchant, he supposedly had to be able to read and write. Clearly Aslan has not spent much time with illiterate people- and is unable to recognize just how much these people can do without reading and writing. (illiterate people today are health workers treating pneumonia and malaria using complex medical regimens, and performing internationally recognized research, including recording results, about endangered species).
However, I must admit that I greatly appreciated Aslan's candor about the religious personalities involved. Sunni Islamic scholarship presents early Islamic historical figures (such as the first 4 Caliphs) and the early Muslim community as incredible, nearly error free, almost absolutely perfect, human beings- almost super-beings. I was always struck at the incongruity of such idealized descriptions and the fact that within a few decades after the death of the Prophet (s), the early Islamic community entered a massive civil war from which one could argue Islam never recovered. I wondered, how could such a supposedly perfect community made with such supposedly perfect people get into such a serious mess so quickly? Reading Aslan's descriptions (which included Sunni, Shii, and western sources) of the personalities involved was very helpful in this regard: they weren't perfect people, but were deeply religious, well meaning people who, yes, had their share of faults, misunderstandings, and disagreements (about Islam and a lot of other things) which built up over the years, and in the chaotic transition after the Prophet's death, exploded into civil war.
Aslan is unable to hide his obvious disdain of the Ulama (Islamic Scholars who have codified Islamic Law, or Shariah). He paints them entirely in a negative light, as a power hungry, control-mad group which has stifled all flexibility from the religion. While this view undoubtedly has a good deal truth to it (I am extremely sympathetic), it must also be admitted that the Scholars did a great deal of work to preserve the religion, and its history, without which we may not even have the religion today, and certainly would know far less about the events surrounding its birth and rise. Aslan is equality negative about the Ayatollah Khomeni, who he feels promised democracy but in reality bamboozled the Iranian people into accepting a theocracy (in reality, a dictatorship under his rule) through his powerful persona. Aslan's views on Khomeni are understandable given the fact that he lived his early life in Iran, experienced the hope that the Iranian people felt during the revolution, only to have to flee the country with his family.
On the other hand, Aslan is quite positive about Sufism, the spiritual branch of Islam, defending all its variations, despite admitting that at least some Sufi beliefs don't square very well with the basic Islamic creed, "No God but God." Aslan correctly states that Sufism is quite complex, and is not generalizable. However, he occasionally tries to generalize anyway, with a view of defending Sufism against the barrage of negative criticism it has received for the unorthodox views of some of its branches. However, this approach leads to occasional contradictions: for example Aslan states that all Sufis follow Islamic acts of worship such as 5 daily prayers, but then also says that some Sufis believe acts of religious worship are only important for the masses, and others believe it is a shell that can be cast off once deeper layers of spirituality are realized.
Aslan's biases are finally represented in his vision of Islam's future. He clearly believes in Islamic pluralism, and believes that it can best be represented by a democracy. Furthermore, he believes that when God's law and the popular will contradict, the popular will should win out. The limits of Islamic pluralism is hotly debated today in the Muslim world, but for me, the claim, "No God but God" is the key to Islam, along with the belief in Muhammad (s) Prophethood. These two aspects should be the backbone of anyone calling themselves a Muslim.
The issue of popular sovereignty over divine law (properly understood and contextualized) is considerably more complex. I ultimately agree with Aslan, one cannot force on a community any law, including a law from God, over a people who do not believe in it, or do not want it implemented in their community. However, Aslan leaves it there, as if that is the end of the story. I would argue that every effort should be made to make the community see the wisdom of divine laws, emphasizing positive consequences in implementing them (improved justice, equality, social harmony, etc) and pointing out negatives of not following them (chaotic society, broken down families, etc), both in this world and in the afterlife.
As other reviewers mention, Aslan is a good writer. His writing is clear and he is able to explain complex concepts deftly. I actually found his 'idealized' sections (the 'myths') often even better written and more powerful than this supposedly objective analysis that follows: his 'myths,' whether of the Prophet (s), the companions, the Caliphs, or Sufi legends are dramatic and pulsating with life. After reading them, it was a bit of a let down (and at times, even irritating) to be told, 'well this is what REALLY happened' and reading an analysis of events that I did not find objective. Aslan should try his hand at fiction!
Know thy enemy.......2007-06-10
Being an agnostic, I look at this book as an analysis of Islam from a present and future aspect. I did not realize that there were so many sects within Islam. Most members of this faith that I have known or been acquainted with have been normal members of society,mainly of Pakistani origin. I am of Jewish origin and some Islamists, mainly from Egypt, would not talk to me. This is against the teachings of Mohammed, a fact unknown by most Mohammedans. The politicalization of this faith is also contrary to his teachings.Since there is so little organization within the relgious factions, I can now understand how the faith can be manipulated by a few. It is almost like the takeover of Germany in the 1930's by Adolph Hitler and his group. I used to think it was sloganism when people said that the faith was hijacked by radical politicians. Now It seems to me, after reading this text, to be a reality .I think it should be a must reading especially by our politicians,but also people of all faiths, especially Islamists!
Wishfull thinking.......2007-06-08
Not in our grandchildren's lifetimes will they see anything remotely resembling enlightened Islam. The author's major problem is that he grew up in America, and understanably, sees the Islamic world and history from that Christianized perspective. The Koran is written in an old fashioned language and script that is not easily accessible to the modern arabic reader. Couple that with the fact that illiteracy rates are very high in many Islamic-dominant countries, except his home country of Iran, and they are at the mercy of the mullahs who preach and teach whatever they interpret as "holy writ". With over 240 admonitions to control, convert, or kill the infidel, and only one or two mentions of Love in a Christian sense, it's no wonder the Islamic fundamentalist have won the reformation battle. Game over. Anyone who espouses a modernistic reform agenda will be be rooted out, and struck down. It's dangerous wishful thinking otherwise.
Customer Reviews:
A REAL CONVERSATION? PERHAPS; BUT A GREAT READ!.......2007-10-15
Like most, I read this book out of curiosity. It's hard to believe that any one person can have a two-way conversation (interaction) with the Almighty. Nevertheless, I kept an open mind and suspended my doubts.
What I learned is that perhaps our Higher Power or G-d Force speaks directly to us through insight. I grew up believing in a witholding god; if we obey the rules and conform to religious standards and basically "be good," we will be rewarded. All well and good to encourage appropriate and moral behavior.
Many have strayed from their path of rightfulness and behaved badly at times. As a therapist, I've known many who can't let go of guilt and shame for what has been done -- especially when ammends can not be made for a variety of reasons.
We have learned to condemn ourselves to a living hell through our actions. What I get from this book is that there are consequences for our actions.
If you have a spiritual curiosity or are looking to view life and death from a newer perspective, definitly check this book out.
What IF.......2006-08-30
It seems to me that the people who have given this book a less than desireable review are the ones who are steeped heavily into the brainwashed religious diatribes of what religions have been pushing down their throats as the truth. What they forget is that the bible was written and re written and edited so many times over and over, that one can only believe that the end result is nothing more than what those religions want you to believe....which of course is for their own agenda.
After being a student of many books along these lines, it only comes to say that these people are "young souls" and are NOT ready for the next step. So you can only go by what they say, with that in mind. Eventually in some life time they will awaken.
This book is one of the best ones I have read, other than Sheppard Hoodwin's "The Journey of Your Soul." These two books together answer and explain any question that you may ever have. I belong to no organized religion, nor ever will be as I find that the "rules" that have been made up in them are just not believable at all.
Open your mind and really look inside these books. You will find a wealth of information beyond anything that you could ever hope for. A world so totally amazing it will boggle your mind.
Guidebook.......2006-02-24
It goes one more further step in the book of the Conversation with God (Book1). Very analytical and offers tips and guidance along CWG book1.
Hilarious.......2006-02-24
It's amazing what some people believe. This is basically
blasphemy. The author's definitely inspired from something,
but it's not God. And all of you so-called "ministers" that
are buying into this trash is mind-boggling.
When the Bible says in 2 Tim.3:16 that God's Word is inspired by God, God was saying through Paul that it is God-breathed, that these words are actually God's Words to us of the salvation story. NO ONE since the conclusion of the writing of the books of the New Testament are inspired by God in the same way. No one
can write or speak today without fallacy or error. Those writers of the Bible wrote what God said to write without error or contradiction. Those words are life-changing words as no other writings are. They are living words from God's mouth.
Christians beware............2006-02-22
If you are a Christian and believe in the Bible, then you need to stay away from this book. As the old adage goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover".
The author purports to answer various questions from kids using the "voice of God". However, the "answers" that he gives are not Bible-based and go against the very infallible word of God. For instance (and I paraphrase), when a girl asks the question "Why am I a lesbian?" His answer is that she was born that way because of genetics (just as you were born right-handed, with blue eyes, etc.). Then he tells her to go out and "celebrate" her differences.
Another girls poses the question "I am living with my boyfriend. My parents say that I should marry him because I am living in sin. Should I marry him?"
His reply is, "Who are you sinning against? Not me, because you have done nothing wrong."
Another question asks about God's forgiveness of sin. His reply "I do not forgive anyone because there is nothing to forgive. There is no such thing as right or wrong and that is what I have been trying to tell everyone, do not judge people. People have chosen to judge one another and this is wrong, because the rule is "'judge not lest ye be judged.'"
And the list goes on. Not only are these books the false doctrine, but in some instances, it even quotes the Word of God in error.
Book Description
It is not by accident that you just picked up When God Winks. Whether you call it synchronicity or coincidence, what brought you to this book today is worth remembering. In fact, you may have suspected all along that there is more to coincidence than meets the eye. These seemingly random events are actually signposts that can help you successfully navigate your career, relationships, and interests. SQuire Rushnell shows us that by recognizing our "God Winks," we can use the untapped power of coincidence to vastly improve our lives.
The author applies his compelling theory as to why coincidences exist to fascinating stories in history, sports, medicine, and relationships involving both everyday and famous people including Barbra Streisand, Charles Schulz, Oprah Winfrey, Kevin Costner, Mark Twain, and Presidents John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.
Customer Reviews:
Quite Disappointing.......2007-09-28
This book was extremely disappointing. I was very excited about it. I've had times in my life when I KNOW the Lord has worked and I was hoping this book would help me be more in tune to the Lord's work in my life and help me see specific situations I may have missed. What a joke!!!
The book seems to be more of a manual for how to use coincidences to do what you want and feel good about it. Many of the examples of "God Winks" lead people to do things that our Lord would not approve of (one example being divorce).
But my biggest complaint is that the vast majority of the author's examples of "God Winks" comes from the rich and famous. I got the impression that the author apparently can not even relate to or understand the work of God in the average person's life. This mistake on the author's part could lead to a reader becoming hopeless rather than hopeful that the True God is working in their life.
I did not come away from the reading believing that the author knew and understood the True God of the Bible, though I did gain some benefit from reading the book. Reading it did remind me that God does work in my life in a personal way and that I need to always be looking for that work - and more importantly that I need to acknowledge, cherish and remember that work.
I would like to share two instances that I know God worked in my life. One could be considered a "coincidence" but the other is just God's work. And both are simple, average examples of the Lord working in an ordinary person's life. They do not describe any life-changing events, but they are God's work non-the-less.
1) My car - a Subaru Justy - was doing it's job getting my family of 5 around (two in car seats!). We joked about it being the clown car because we could all squeeze in and it looked funny; all of us piling out. The driver's side seat belt broke. We called to find out how much it would cost to fix and discovered that we really, really could not afford it, but what else could we do? Days later we received a letter in the mail informing us that the seat belts had been recalled and we could have it repaired at a dealership for free. What a BLESSING! This seems like a coincidence (or a "God Wink") but I took it for what it was....the Lord watching over us and taking care of our needs.
2) Shortly before my grandfather died we made a trip to visit him. He was my favorite person in the world. The whole time we were there (as other times before) I would get on to my boys for being loud and rambuctious. My grandfather would sit in his chair in the living room and seemed to be sleeping. He was very frail. I was afraid that my boys would bother him. At one point the boys came bouncing loudly into the room. As I was about to get on to them and scold them for being loud I looked over at my grandfather. He was sitting in his chair laughing! He was wasting away at the end of his life, yet he was enjoying his grandsons' romping around his house. That was pure gold to me. You can't call this a coincidence. You could call it a "God Wink", but after reading Rushnell's book I have an aversion to that term. God did move and speak into my life, but it was absolutely nothing like what Rushnell describes in his book.
I could give many more boring examples of how God has worked in my ordinary life. They probably wouldn't be as appealing as Rushnell's examples because they weren't coincidences on my path to being rich and famous. But they are real examples of a real God working in an ordinary person's life. And they didn't lead me to do something that God would not approve of, quite the opposite. All of the personal experiences I've had with God working in my life have led me away from sin and toward God.
All that to say that if you believe in the God of the Bible don't waste your time reading this book. Instead spend the time really thinking on and praying about how the Lord has worked in your life. Thank Him for it and rejoice!
titus2want2b
Inspiration in a Wink.......2007-03-16
I really enjoyed reading this book. It is a quick read and has a lot of short stories to illustrate how God is making Himself known in our lives. I came away with the hope that the coincedences in my own life really are signs that God is touching my life.
When God Winks:How the Power of Coincidence Guides Your Life.......2007-03-15
Wonderful book! I've given copies to 20 plus friends.
Amazing how it helps you see life differently.
God Winks has changed the way I view everyday happenings.
Highly recommendthis book!
Love It!.......2007-01-30
This book is an easy read, but it makes you think about different events in your life. It also helps give you a new perspective on your life. I highly recommend it!
Everyone should read this book!.......2007-01-19
Great book for young and old. I encourage everyone to read this book. It really makes you think about your life and the path that we choose. Pay attention to the signs in life!!!
Average customer rating:
- An excellent vision of a Christian orthodoxy
- a few good bits
- The Best of All Worlds
- A repentant look at Christianity
- McLaren the theologian?
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A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I am a missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetic, biblical, charismatic/contemplative, fundamentalist/calvinist, ... anabaptist/anglican, metho (Emergentys)
Brian D. McLaren
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A Generous Orthodoxy: Why I Am a Missional, Evangelical, Post/Protestant, Liberal/Conservative, Mystical/Poetic, Biblical, Charismatic/Contemplative, Fundamentalist/Calvinist, Anabaptist/Anglican, Methodist, Catholic, Green, Incarnational, Depressed-yet-Hopeful, Emergent, Unfinished CHRISTIAN
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Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith (Cover Image May Vary)
ASIN: 0310258030 |
Book Description
By celebrating strengths of many traditions in the church (and beyond), this book will seek to communicate a “generous orthodoxy.â€
Customer Reviews:
An excellent vision of a Christian orthodoxy.......2007-09-29
I absolutely loved Brian McLaren's "A New Kind of Christian", a book that opened up a whole new world for me of possibilities of staying within the Christian faith, something on which I had almost given up. Rob Bell's "Velvet Elvis", in a different way, did the same. So I approached this next book by McLaren feeling exceptionally positive towards him and his writing.
I wasn't disappointed. However this book is very different than "A New Kind of Christian". Once you get past the amusingly-titled but a little wordy Chapter 0 McLaren goes on a tour through different denominations and styles within Christianity, highlighting the good points about them (as well as looking at the bad), showing what we can all learn from this part of the church, and taking those good parts in order to build them into a new 'generous' orthodoxy. It's a great idea and it's also good to read a book which is very positive about so many denominations.
Of course there are the negatives, and Brian says that he is from a particular part of the church and so perhaps he gives them a harder time (the conservative evangelical/fundamentalist wing). As this coincides very much with how I feel about that branch of Christianity that's no problem for me but I suppose readers from that tradition might find it uncomfortable reading at times. We're left in no doubt that McLaren is not a big fan of televangelists but he is a strong supporter of the green movement, that he is learning more to value the Roman catholic and Anglican ideas about liturgy and the mystical side of the church.
What works very well is that each of the different elements in the book (missional, evangelical, post/protestant, liberal/conservative, mystical/poetical, biblical etc) get their own chapter where he delves into that tradition/idea and often gives the history of the movement which was fascinating for me with many of these. He seems able to see the bigger picture with many of these denominations and, as usual in his style, he is positive about many things within them. It was good to read an upbeat book although there were also parts where, with Brian, I almost despaired. The chapter arrangement meant that I read this book over a couple of weeks, dipping into a chapter here and there, and it gave me time to mull over what he was saying and to think about the overall point.
I salute Brian McLaren for this excellent look at a generous orthodoxy (or at least working towards creating one), a church for our 21st century which learns from the mistakes of the past but also doesn't throw out the baby with the bathwater but picks up those good aspects of the traditions and incorporates them into our postmodern world. This was an excellent read, a book I am sure I will return to many times, and of course the author's humble writing style is, as always, appealing.
a few good bits.......2007-08-25
Its hard to pin this guy down. he doesn't seem to want to take a stand on much that is not PC. That does make him controversial.
His point about the Bible being narrative theology was well done, though I've thought about the Hebrew taking of the promise land in quite the terms he described. He seems to be open to evolution as an idea, which may bother some, but he doesn't really dwell on this. At one points he mentions that the substitutionary atonement was not in the original creeds and seems to infer that perhaps shouldn't be among our fundamentals (though he doesn't say this directly). Many others, including myself, see this as one of the very foundations of Christian belief and how one can practice the presence of God (which he calls us to) without experiencing this truth atonement puzzles me. I also am not sure what he has against the Patriarchs in the Bible bt he apologises for the fact that patriarchy is there.
His presentation of the Anabaptists was great. So was his presentation of Pentecostals and contemplatives, two groups that aren't often associated. He does sight the reformed faith as being a creed which led to slavery in the new world or at least justified it. As far as I know, it was the Northern part of America which tended to be of the reformed faith and the south (especially the rich slave owning ones) tended to adhere mostly to the Anglican Church. (I am neither)
I would disagree with one of his presuppositions, namely, that we need to change our message because we live in a dynamic context. I disagree. There is nothing new under the sun. The problems of sin, immorality, evil, depression that faced my parent's (and McLaren's) generation are the same today. Our reaction to them maybe different and our culture may be different, but our problems are the same and we need the eternal gospel preached to us, though perhaps in a different form, we need the same message.
The Best of All Worlds.......2007-08-22
Instead of criticizing and bashing those believers and sects of the Christain Faith who see and beleive things differently than he does, Brian McLaren takes a new and novel approach.
Instead of concentrating on and ferreting out things, views and perspectives that divide, sometimes little and insignifican things, he chooses instead to concentrate on things, views, perspectives, beliefs and actions that unite.
He seeks out and finds common ground of Christians of different persuasions...an impressive piece of work, as most of his books are.
Fresh, novel approach...a good addition to Christian thought and literature. An especially good book for those who are beginning to doubt and question the faith as a whole because of the actions of a fanatic few.
A repentant look at Christianity.......2007-06-06
So I had purposely put this book off in my "emerging/emergent" reading list until now because I was afraid of it. I was afraid of it because I heard all sorts of stuff about McLaren's views of scripture, atonement, doctrine, ec --- and I had heard that those views wouldn't jive with a good ole Lutheran boy such as myself.
They were partially right. There are some things in this book that I patently don't agree with because they're not really Scriptural. The whole idea of the Anonymous Christian is one of those ideas that I don't agree with that keep on popping up (an 'Anonymous Christian' is a Christian who doesn't know he/she is a Christian but is a 'Christian' by proxy through being led to do good works --- Click here for an explanation of the Anonymous Christian by Karl Rahner, one of the idea's main proponents) Part of that problem is alleviated for McLaren because he has a different view of Scripture than what I do, one that would be very comfortable in some of the more liberal branches of mainline protestantism.
Liberal theology is no new thing, however. Even the title of this brand of theology that tends to deemphasize Scripture and overemphasize acceptance shows its age. Putting "Liberal" and "Conservative" on opposite ends of a spectrum anymore is like putting "Communist" and "American" on opposite ends --- it still may be true, but it's missing the crux of the argument.
A Generous Orthodoxy seeks to momentarily deprive the reader of their security in their "spectrum opposite" thinking. It shows up on the cover --- an amalgamation of words that seek to explain who Brian McLaren is while being careful not to put him on a spectrum between "Liberal Protestant" and "Fundie" or "Heretic" and "Doctor of the Church."
Some have called this work by McLaren, "a manifesto of the emergent church." That's not what it is. It's a call to repentance that we should maybe pay some attention to no matter if we agree with McLaren on the atonement or not.
Manifestos and heresies often contain one thing that this book is very short on: answers. Don't read this book if you want "5 steps to a better church." First of all - answers don't sell nearly as well as questions do, which McLaren clearly identified when he put out his other book "The Secret Message of Jesus" alongside the DaVinci Code blow up. Instead, read this book if you're one of two kinds of people:
1. You're pretty sure that most everything your church body does and says is without error...even if you wouldn't agree to that sentence in public.
2. You would like to know what kinds of questions are fueling a national drop in church attendance across the United States.
Also - don't read this book if you're trying to figure out what Lutherans believe, because in the 3 or 4 times he mentions us - he gets us way wrong (i.e. McLaren says Lutherans go back and forth in between believing Baptism is a saving work of God instead of a human rite. Wrongo. Lutherans believe Baptism is God's Saving work, period.)
McLaren never went to a seminary. He's kind of a hack when it comes to some of this theological stuff.....ok, maybe amateur is a better way to put it than "hack." What McLaren is good at pointing out, however, is the dissatisfaction with "boomer-churchism" that has given us Emergent Village, Shane Claiborne, and Open Source Theology.
Oh...and no, I wouldn't give this book to an 11 year old to read because it has some glaring problems theologically - but it is hardly the "we're-gonna-burn-this-one-at-the-stake" kind of heretical work that everyone told me it was. Take heart, you're not going to go to hell if you read it as some might tell you, just don't swallow everything you read.
This book doesn't offer answers, but a call to repent. Honestly, that mirrors our own faith lives. We are called to repent because we know something is right. We know that we're not good enough inside to know what the right answer is. For answers we look to God. For questions, sometimes it helps to look at people we disagree with.
McLaren the theologian?.......2007-05-04
This reads like a theological autobiography with McLaren exploring the positive contributions of various theological perspectives. This is the main point of the book and as such it kind of leaves me wondering: What was the point? People who are generous probably already appreciate various perpectives, and those who are not generous will find in this book ample opportunity to attack McLaren on theological grounds - they have plenty of room to do so, because McLaren merely skates over many complex theological and historical issues.
That is why I was bored for the first 215 pages. I have mixed feelings about McLaren's appreciation for various viewpoints of Orthodoxy (and other religions, crf. chpt. 17). On the one hand Christians need to be generous and charitable. On the other hand, I fear that by appreciating all perspectives I wonder if we risk losing the real distinctives of any perspective. This feeds into our current culture's fascination for buffet style religion and doctrine: Take a little of this and a little of that and mix and match to suit your tastes. Fact: McLaren, himself, does not endorse this approach. But this goes back to my above question about what this book accomplishes.
But there is real genius in McLaren's writing and thinking, and this book is no exception. This first reveals itself at page 215:
"Each of these new challenges and opportunities requires Christian leaders to create new forms, new methods, new structures - and it requires them to find new content, new ideas, new truths, new meaning to bring to bear on the new challenges. These new messages are not incompatible with the gospel of the kingdom Jesus taught. No, they are inherent in it, but previously undiscovered, unexpressed, perhaps unimagined."
To conservative theological watchdogs this seems very threatening. However, the faith must be expressed anew in each generation. We can never be satisfied to pass down a doctrinal statement that is devoid of meaning and significance. This is all the more true in this generation where culture is moving at the speed of light. Frankly, I think most conservative theologians simply don't get it. They either are deficient in their understanding of postmodern culture or postmodern theory or both. But McLaren thinks outside of the box and understands the need to radically rethink how we express the Christian faith in the 21st Century. Unfortunately, as he himself would confess, he is no theologian. So, the more he wades into theological waters the more he is out of his element.
Book Description
A noted historian of religion traces manifestations of the sacred from primitive to modern times, in terms of space, time, nature and the cosmos, and life itself. Index. Translated by Willard Trask.
Customer Reviews:
A brilliant introduction to the study of religion.......2007-09-30
I decided to read this book for a religion-course I'm taking, and I must say I'm happy I did! Mircea Eliade was a Rumanian historian of religions, philosopher and author, in addition to being a vaguely religious man himself. This book was written to serve as an introduction to the study of religion for new students and the interested layman, and it does so excellently. Eliade was interestingly enough a member of the Legion of the Archangel Michael, back home in Rumania, the organization of Corneliu Codreanu. In addition to this wonderful fact, he was also acquainted with Baron Julius Evola, so this is certainly one of "our own boys".
The book itself is, as the title implies, an attempt to show the difference between the archaic mans sacred conception of the cosmos, and the profane view of the world of today's "modern man". The first part of the book details the sacred space and the sacralisation of the world. What he means by this is the fact that so-to-speak all religions and the various races have traditions of themselves living near the centre of the world, axis mundi. This world pillar, known as Irminsûl to my own Germanic ancestors, was the place (mountain, tree, building, pillar etc.) where the world traditionally was highest and hence the underworld, the human world and the higher realm of heaven was connected the closest. The various races and peoples then thought that this was where Creation had begun, where the cosmos has flowed out from, and hence the most sacred space on Earth. Eliade then delves into some depth about this subject.
The second chapter is about holy time and myths. He shows how the archaic peoples thought of time as always recurring, going in cycles. The first break with this line of thought was with Judaism and later Christianity, who thought of history as a unique happening, centred on Christ and his coming. The archaic peoples did their rites and their religious cultism so that they could transform themselves back into the sacred eternal present time when the Gods performed the actions the myths mirror today.
The third chapter is about the holiness of nature and the comical view of ancient religion. He shows how ancient man conceived of their own role in the cosmos, and how their actions were supposed to mirror the actions of the creation of the cosmos. It's a very wide chapter that is difficult to summarize, but as everywhere else in the book he fills it up with example upon example from all over the world.
The final chapter is about the existence of humans and the holiness of life. He tells us how many traditions thought of the human body as its own cosmos. The opening at the top of the scull was the place where the soul would leap from at death, and hence some Indians have the tradition of crushing the scull of a recently deceased priest to ensure his soul's easy transcendence. He also mentions männerbunde and various initiations that served to give birth to man anew, after the initiation was complete, and the new sacred man arose. This chapter is also very wide and difficult to summarize, but the richness of the examples is splendid.
All in all, a book that is hard to characterize, but I've read it twice in two weeks now, so I guess that says it all. An excellent book that nearly is enough to make the most profane person catch a glimpse of the holy. Highly recommended!
(I read a different edition)
A compelling foundational model.......2007-07-11
Eliade's book is by nature limited to making general statements without extensive illustration and qualification. But the general statements he makes are fascinating. He makes the birth of the "world" and the birth of religion identical, since the "world" is by definition a meaningful and ordered space, and only a divine "hierophany" can establish a reference point for meaningful (& chaotic) space. Pre-religious man lives in a meaningless, homogeneous space, and therefore has no concept of the world.
This view sheds light on the association between religion and violence. The collision of two religions also represents the collision of two worlds, and the nothing is more terrifying that the destruction of the world. Of course religion is only the first source (on Eliade's account) of the "world"; today we have many non-religion sources of value from which a world-sense can emerge. Or perhaps "religion" has just taken on many new guises, even "non-religion" ones.
Eliade also discusses the recurrence of sacred time vs. the linear movement of profane time.
There are valuable reflections in the book on the hidden religiosity of modern, profane man. For all human beings without exception, meaningful existence is only possible when we respect some version of sacred space and sacred time.
Rich ideas for such a short book. Highly recommended, even if it does get a little repetitive.
A Magisterial Work on the Nature of the Sacred.......2007-02-12
In this book, Eliade writes first in an accesible, then in a most respectful style on religion, magic, initiation, mysticism, and the profane. From the outset, though the book's title states it concerns religion, in which the object of study begins with the Divine, and then continues on consequently to man, Eliade rather begins with man and then continues on consequently to God. Man is shown to create himself, his house, his cosmos, and his existential situation precludes the religious right up until a.d. 1950 (the date of this book's first publication). The author wisely points out profane man is a rather unique and new phenomenon in human history. Whether he is descriibing the initiation rituals of primitive societies, or the construction of a modern abode, Eliade skillfully shows like it or not, we are recreating the cosmos as the gods did before history. Without the slightest hint of a sense of humor, Eliade points out repeatedly that no matter how much modern profane man has attempted to divest Nature of the sacred, he still stubbornly, if unconsciously, sacralizes his environment. Over and over again.
This is a nice little book that provides a glimpse into what we are stubbornly trying to leave behind, to our own obvious detriment.
Very insightful look at religion and community.......2007-01-31
This book was my first foray into Eliade's work and was it ever a powerful place to start. His insights into the delineation of sacred space and what it signifies for a community - repetition of the cosmogonic acts, the establishment of what is termed the axis mundi, or world center and point of contact between the heavens and the earth (as Delphi was viewed by the ancient Greeks, or Mount Meru by the Indians, etc...) and so on - are brief yet fully packed. He covers sacred time as well, with sections that tie in with another of his excellent books, The Myth of the Eternal Return.
If you're interested in the study of world religions, I would highly recommend this book. In my opinion, Eliade is a standout in this area.
Remarkable mettle; egregious thinker!.......2007-01-09
The apparition of this book was pointed out like an important date in the history of religions. Using articulately a rich mass of documents, studying symbols, myths, magic rituals, allying the philological and archeological investigations that really supported the whole structure and working out of the mythic thinking, Eliade gets a dense and fascinating synthesis that engages not only the fervent student of the religions but besides to any cultivated man, interested in distinguish between the holy and the profane. The solar cults as well as the fecundity, the celestial symbols, the lunar mystic, the sacred stones, the renovation rituals, the sacred times and spaces, are analyzed from the double trouble that the work implies. What's the religion? What is the level it may be talked about the history of religions?. The book as his author marks, introduces the reader into the complex labyrinth of the religious facts, familiarizing us with the fundamental structures and with the diversity of the cultural circles, since which they merge they merge.
Amazon.com
Shortly after Elaine Pagels' two-and-half-year-old son was diagnosed with a rare lung disease, the religion professor found herself drawn to a Christian church again for the first time in many years. In Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas Pagels, best know for her National Book Award-winning The Gnostic Gospels, wrestles with her own faith as she struggles to understand when--and why--Christianity became associated almost exclusively with the ideas codified in the fourth-century Nicene Creed and in the canonical texts of the New Testament. In her exploration, she uncovers the richness and diversity of Christian philosophy that has only become available since the discovery of the Nag Hammadi texts.
At the center of Beyond Belief is what Pagels identifies as a textual battle between The Gospel of Thomas (rediscovered in Egypt in 1945) and The Gospel of John. While these gospels have many superficial similarities, Pagels demonstrates that John, unlike Thomas, declares that Jesus is equivalent to "God the Father" as identified in the Old Testament. Thomas, in contrast, shares with other supposed secret teachings a belief that Jesus is not God but, rather, is a teacher who seeks to uncover the divine light in all human beings. Pagels then shows how the Gospel of John was used by Bishop Irenaeus of Lyon and others to define orthodoxy during the second and third centuries. The secret teachings were literally driven underground, disappearing until the Twentieth Century. As Pagels argues this process "not only impoverished the churches that remained but also impoverished those [Irenaeus] expelled."
Beyond Belief offers a profound framework with which to examine Christian history and contemporary Christian faith, and Pagels renders her scholarship in a highly readable narrative. The one deficiency in Pagels' examination of Thomas, if there is one, is that she never fully returns in the end to her own struggles with religion that so poignantly open the book. How has the mysticism of the Gnostic Gospels affected her? While she hints that she and others have found new pathways to faith through Thomas, the impact of Pagels' work on contemporary Christianity may not be understood for years to come. --Patrick O'Kelley
Book Description
Special edition including the complete text of the Gospel of Thomas
Elaine Pagels, one of the world’s most important writers and thinkers on religion and history, and winner of the National Book Award for her groundbreaking work The Gnostic Gospels, now reflects on what matters most about spiritual and religious exploration in the twenty-first century. This bold new book explores how Christianity began by tracing its earliest texts, including the secret Gospel of Thomas, rediscovered in Egypt in 1945.
When her infant son was diagnosed with fatal pulmonary hypertension, Elaine Pagels’s spiritual and intellectual quest took on a new urgency, leading her to explore historical and archeological sources and to investigate what Jesus and his teachings meant to his followers before the invention of doctrine–and before the invention of Christianity as we know it.
The astonishing discovery of the Gospel of Thomas, along with more than fifty other early Christian texts unknown since antiquity, offers startling clues. Pagels compares such sources as Thomas’s gospel (which claims to give Jesus’ secret teaching, and finds its closest affinities with kabbalah) with the canonic texts to show how Christian leaders chose to include some gospels and exclude others from the collection we have come to know as the New Testament. To stabilize the emerging Christian church in times of devastating persecution, the church fathers constructed the canon, creed, and hierarchy–and, in the process, suppressed many of its spiritual resources.
Drawing on new scholarship–her own, and that of an international group of scholars–that has come to light since the publication in 1979 of The Gnostic Gospels, Pagels shows that what matters about Christianity involves much more than any one set of beliefs. Traditions embodied in Judaism and Christianity can powerfully affect us in heart, mind, and spirit, inspire visions of a new society based on practicing justice and love, even heal and transform us.
Provocative, beautifully written, and moving, Beyond Belief, the most personal of Pagels’s books to date, shows how “the impulse to seek God overflows the narrow banks of a single tradition.” Pagels writes, “What I have come to love in the wealth and diversity of our religious traditions–and the communities that sustain them–is that they offer the testimony of innumerable people to spiritual discovery, encouraging us, in Jesus’ words, to ‘seek, and you shall find.’”
Customer Reviews:
She writes convincing material, but.......2007-08-27
WOW! She really writes convincing material and writes it well! She made me scared to study Gnostic writings, I was afraid they'd be right and I'd have to rework my faith of almost 40 years. As another reviewer pointed out, she does not really explore the Gospel of Thomas in this book...instead she trashes the Gospel of John. I found this curious. If the Gnostic writings are so great, then let's study them! But I have come to understand that the modern Gnostic movement is not about believing in Gnosticism...it is about NOT believing in the books of the New Testament. For after reading her book, I went on a journey of studying Gnostic writings as well as how the New Testament Canon was formed. Some of the major themes that are ascribed to Gnosticism by Pagels and others today are simply incorrect. The Gnostics did not believe in tolerance, they were a 'holier than thou' elistest group. And they also believed that salvation was only for men (Jesus is quoted as saying that he would turn Mary into a man so she would reach her spiritual path). The Gnostics were also strongly antisemitic. But Pagels doesn't share this information. And all this was the opposite in the teachings and actions of the apostles and early church, who were open,tolerant, and believed all were equal in Christ-including women.
However, in accepting books as being holy and to be used for doctrine, the early church followed some basic rules. The book had to be written by an apostle or someone who had been with an apostle, and the book had to agree with the teachings the apostles had given. Paul's letters are the earliest documents, and the doctrines he taught are the basis of Christianity, and these doctrines agree with writings of the other apostles. These works were written while people who knew the apostles were still alive. The Gnostics writings came later and were recognized as forgeries. They completely disagreed with the earlier teachings of the apostles: they were not like a different denomination of Christianity, they were a different religion altogether. The early church was tolerant, except when it came to untruth, and therefore the early church leaders tried to expose the hoax of Gnosticism. George Washington worked to prove the letters which were supposedly from him as a spy to the English govenment were forged letters. He did not do this for power or in order to suppress some secret. He did it because the letters were forgeries. In the same way the early church denounced the writings of the Gnostics: they did so because the writings were forgeries.
But I as said at the beginning, Pagels writes very well and very convincingly. I'm glad I read the book, for it sparked an indepth study of the early church which I am still pursuing.
Well written.......2007-07-19
I found this book well written and compelling , but not over the top. A good work to introduce and explain the relevance and works discovered known as the Gospel of Thomas.
An Argument for Gnosticism.......2007-04-27
Raised within the confines of fundamentalist religion, we found that asking Biblical questions could be extremely hazardous to our religious existence. After being excommunicated for numerous such affronts to the sanctity of the written word, we are especially appreciative of Ms. Pagels and her untiring efforts to shed light on so many of the lesser known aspects of early Christianity. Some readers have expressed their disappointment, feeling the book devotes too much attention to the formation of orthodoxy, the evolution of the Gospel of John and the suppression of many books labeled Gnostic. But, as pointed out by Pagels, these events still play a role in our cultural history and untangling these, ". . .complex strands have practical consequences as well as intellectual ones." We may not be aware of the cultural wallpaper we have assimilated until it is pointed out that it is indeed wallpaper, and it may be in need of refurbishing. As noted in the book, "orthodoxy tends to distrust our capacity to make such discriminations and insists on making them for us." It would be difficult to fully appreciate the radical differences contained in the Gospel of Thomas if we did not examine the thought processes involved in suppressing it.
As Pagels develops her arguments, she demonstrates how orthodoxy created an ever widening chasm that placed God, His only-begotten son and the church fathers on one side, and the congregation of sinners on the other. The increased value bestowed on Jesus by the church, equaled the speedy demotion of a flock whose only hope lay in their unquestioning belief in him. The writer of the Gospel of Thomas had the effrontery to suggest that Jesus' real message lay in his knowledge that all men, including him, were one with God. And, "Thomas' Jesus directs each disciple to discover the light within" through gnosis, an experiential knowing gained through a connection with higher consciousness. Shockingly, this message took church fathers out of the loop by suggesting that each person had an equal opportunity to save themselves. It is not surprising then that heresy was originally defined as "the act of choice!"
Orthodoxy attempted to control the people through selective information and the lack of choice. We, on the other hand, can easily miss the gifts offered by the Gospel of Thomas because we are inundated with information and choke on the multitude of choices offered to us on a daily basis. If we dismiss the Gospel of Thomas as another curiosity, we will miss the invitation Thomas' Jesus extends," If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you." Books such as Pagels' "Beyond Belief" and Ehrman's "Misquoting Jesus" offer proof that there is little reason to take a literalist view of the Bible. This does not mean that Jesus' teachings are inaccessible. It does mean that we must each choose whether we will be one who accepts what is found outside us, or one who searches for the answers within. Pagels' book offers a great platform for exploration.
Lee & Steven Hager are the authors of Quantum Prodigal Son: Revisiting Jesus' Parable of the Prodigal Son from the Perspective of Quantum Mechanics
Orthodoxy vs. Gnosticism.......2007-03-19
My primary interest in reading this book was to better understand and appreciate the evolution of Christian thought and belief in the early church. On this score, Elaine Pagels definitely does not disappoint.
I found her choice of beginning this work with an intensely personal description of the spiritual journey she faced during her young son's fatal illness to be surprising at first, but through her book I came to understand why she introduced this work in such a way: all spiritual journeys are intensely personal. The authors of the "Secret Gospel of Thomas", the Gospel of John, and the later Church Fathers who built upon these writings, all faced challenging times. In seeking answers to the challenges they faced, they engaged in their own personal spiritual journeys, which resulted in their recording what they learned and believed in the texts that have been passed down to us.
Elaine Pagels engages us in the challenges and spiritual journeys of these early Christian writers, both known (mostly proponents of what became the roots of Christianity as we know it today); and unknown (mostly the authors of the Gnostic books found in the Nag Hammadi library, such as the Gospel of Thomas; and other works).
The Gnostic authors and their adherents found themselves marginalized if not actively persecuted as the well-organized and controlled universal Church took hold in the ancient world. Gnosticism is an intensely personal form of faith, where one seeks to find Spiritual truth for oneself instead of unquestioningly adopting an external authority's view.
Dr. Pagels referees for us the centuries-long debate between early Christian Fathers and their Gnostic counterparts - helping us see how the debate between control of doctrine vs. freedom of exploration changed and grew over time. She seeks to help us understand the complexities of the central question for us: What is truth, and what is lies? In making our spiritual journeys, how can we tell them apart? How do we find that truth for ourselves without falling into error?
The roots of that debate reach far back into Jewish history: centuries before Jesus started teaching. Therefore, Dr. Pagels knows she cannot answer the question. Instead, she seeks to help us understand the issues and the context within which we, as Christians, make our own journeys in search of spiritual truth.
The great authors of Orthodoxy - Tertullian, Athanaeus and Irenaeus, among others, all saw that allowing too much freedom of exploration often led to spiritual error and excess. On the other hand, they appreciated the importance of needing to explore one's own faith for oneself, and did not want to create a rigid and inflexible Christian faith that could not tolerate such journeys of faith. They understood that a balance between the two extremes must be found.
Ultimately, and as Dr. Pagels says in her book, it is not right, or wise, to accept spiritual authority without question, or to seek to eliminate the rich spiritual diversity found throughout the Christian world. Diversity brings strength and vitality, but too much diversity brings conflict and destruction. There is no simple answer to the question: we must each find an answer for ourselves.
Dr. Pagels' work is easy to read, well researched, well footnoted, and thought provoking. While I highly recommend this book, I would have to agree with what others here have said: that the title is misleading. This book focuses more on the evolution of orthodox Christianity than it does on the Gnostic tradition, or on the Gospel of Thomas itself. I give it a four star recommendation.
The Gospel of St John is more accurate.......2007-02-09
If you want a review of the gospel of Thomas look to the references cited in this book. The end notes are an excellent source of research in early Christian texts. This book is about the gospel of St John, how the politics of the time shaped what was written and how the work of Origen and the Emperor Constantine decided what gospels would constitute the New Testament. The writing is uneven or perhaps it needed tighter editing to have the work flow in a more even pace.
This mis-naming and awkward, read as uneven, pace seems to be characteristic of Pagels, her origin of Satan had similar problems. What she clearly possesses is the desire to ferret out the details and offer a plausible explanation.
Book Description
Every moment of your life is like a page in a Where’s Waldo book. God is there, the Scriptures tell us—on every one of them. But the ease with which he may be found varies from one page to the next. God is closer than you think!
Download Description
Two works of art help John Ortberg think about the presence of God. One is Michelangelo Buonarroti's brilliant painting of God and Adam on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. God is close. His hand comes within a hair's breath of the hand of the man. It seems to say that God is closer than we think-he's here, now, today, accessible to all who will but "lift a finger." The second work of art is Martin Hanford's cartoon character Waldo. He is on every page of the Where's Waldo? books, but he can be difficult to find. In the same way, even though God is present on every page of our lives, he's often not easy to spot. In God Is Closer Than You Think, John Ortberg examines this frustrating paradox of the Christian life. "When it is so easy to 'see' God all around me (in trees, in birds, in nature) why is it so hard to feel his presence-especially when I need him most?" Ortberg helps readers discover the secret to living daily in the reality of God's most frequent promise in Scripture, "I will be with you."
Customer Reviews:
Outstanding!.......2007-07-27
Ortberg is a master. Next to his book, If You Want To Walk On Water, You've Got To Get Out of the Boat, this was as good as it gets for relating to God in our limited human minds. Ortberg has tremendous way of taking ordinary stories, humor and life experiences and making them clear pictures of what Scripture communicates. Excellent, excellent book.
Where's Waldo?.......2006-11-10
I purchased this book for a small group setting and it fit the bill perfectly. Ortberg has a way of uncovering truth and in this book, encourages you to find Waldo, a God who wants to be part of your everyday life. I enjoyed it personally, was challenged by it and found the group setting enhanced my learning. I do look for God differently now since I've read the book. He is closer than we think.
I would have kept the orginial jacket cover. It focuses you to the subject matter much better.
Not bad.......2006-09-23
This book is a pretty decent book if you are interested in a mostly narrative style of discussion on Christian Living. Entertaining, well written, and clear, I would recommend it if you are looking for this type of book.
Don't try so hard!.......2006-07-19
This is a very helpful little book on how to find God in your everyday life. The discussion of Martha & Mary is particularly astute. My only complaint about the book is that Ortberg tries way too hard to be funny and even hip. (This is the first book of his that I've read, so I don't know if he does this all the time or not; I suspect he does.) Humor should be natural, not forced, as it is in this book. His attempts to be hip are merely pathetic. For instance, he quotes the line "The jerk store called & they've run out of you" attributing it to a friend of his. He obviously has no clue it comes from a Seinfeld episode! Still & all, a good book, though, for a Christian at any level.
I Am Convinced!.......2006-04-14
Upon a recommendation from my pastor, I picked this book up and I was not disappointed. John Ortberg writes with a Max Lucado approach. Taking everyday things and making us realize that they too have a place in our spritual walk. He challenges us to look for God in everyday occurences. His premise, as indicated by the title, is that God is more active in our everyday walk than we give Him credit for. In turn, he challenges us to do our part in praying that God bring His Kingdom to earth.
Book Description
"A colorful reinterpretation…. Stewart's wit and profluent prose make this book a fascinating read."—Publishers Weekly, starred review
Philosophy in the late seventeenth century was a dangerous business. No careerist could afford to know the reclusive, controversial philosopher Baruch de Spinoza. Yet the wildly ambitious genius Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, who denounced Spinoza in public, became privately obsessed with Spinoza's ideas, wrote him clandestine letters, and ultimately met him in secret.
"In refreshingly lucid terms" (Booklist) Matthew Stewart "rescues both men from a dusty academic shelf, bringing them to life as enlightened humans" (Library Journal) central to the religious, political, and personal battles that gave birth to the modern age. Both men put their faith in the guidance of reason, but one spent his life defending a God he may not have believed in, while the other believed in a God who did not need his defense. Ultimately, the two thinkers represent radically different approaches to the challenges of the modern era. They stand for a choice that we all must make.
Customer Reviews:
Philosophy for the Mass.......2007-10-17
The book is aptly named, except for the fact that it includes "the fate of God in the modern world". God seems to survive despite our best attempts to rationalize her out of human experience(Spinoza) or act so badly that no one would want to believe in a God who had ardent followers like Leibniz. Anyway, I found the book to be a "good read", but I am interested in these philosophical musing. Those readers who have little background in relatively "modern" philosophy might get lost in the intellectual discussion of the major protagonists' thought, but the narrative is fascinating. I enjoyed reading about these fellows' lives and how they intersected on so many levels. Whether the author intended this or not, Spinoza seems to get the nod for "best in philosophy" and "best person" awards. Leibniz becomes the sore "loser" with a prideful chip on his shoulder. Apparently, Leibniz never ate humble pie?
Baruch Wins by a Knockout!.......2007-08-30
So many reviews already! Mine will be brief. Matthew Stewart's exegesis of Spinoza is brilliant, the clearest I've ever encountered, and should be taken as a challenge from the past by all adherents of "Intelligent Design". Leibniz is portrayed less sympathetically, indeed as a bit of an intellectual opportunist, as if Voltaire had not already convinced all the world that "Pangloss" was a hapless fool. Even if you, dear reader, are utterly indifferent to the theological/philosophical issues of the 17th C (which are still with us), you may well find this book as sprightly and engrossing as any historical novel.
Of Course We Should Care!.......2007-08-18
If you are honest enough to ask "why do I exist?" or "is there a God?" then you should care. These "old philosophers" affirm the enduring and ever-present tension between the power of reason to understand and the necessity of faith (or an approximation of such) to carry on and to cope. It is rational to struggle with such notions, irrational not to. To peer under the context and understand the motivations, personalities, and failings of those who rose to intellectual heights is to assure oneself of an appreciation of how the greatest of us have sought answers. To suppose such things not worth a care is to sleep through life.
Do we really care what old philosophers have to say?.......2007-05-18
The book is quite readable for the layperson. It is historically interesting, especially the interplay of notables of the era. There is too much repetition of the basic philosophic positions of the principals. The philosophy of both men has for the most part been dicarded by modern thinkers. It would be more interesting if the author had spent more space explaining how more latter day thinkers appraise the contributions of Leibniz and Spinoza. On the whole it was good. R Stageman
Opposing Views on Religion.......2007-05-14
On the back of the paperback's cover, the author, Matthew Stewart, is described as philosopher having sold off his consulting business to live a life of contemplation in Santa Barbara. Intriguing and interesting! Stewart has woven together the ideas and story behind two very distinct minds and world viewpoints. A life of contemplation has been very good for him.
Spinoza, the heretic, lived a simple life not seeking luxury or fame. His atheistic view of an inanimate God is largely viewed as the start of modernity. Leibniz was everything Spinoza was not. He was paragon of superlatives. Fashion-conscious, materialist, well-educated, and overly ambitious seemed to be intrigued with the ideas of Spinoza. After recognizing the consequence of Spinoza's ideas, he defended traditional beliefs. Leibniz was largely forgotten by the world after his death, even though he invented calculus at roughly the same time as Newton and influenced the philosophy of Kant.
I do wish the author took the time to use modern words when presenting some of the philosophical concepts. The language of the late 1600s and early 1700s is hard to conceptualize. For example, Leibniz postulated that the universe is composed of countless conscious centers of spiritual force or energy, known as monads. What the heck is a monad? A small complaint in an otherwise wonderfully executed and researched book.
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