Though at times dense and hard to follow, still a useful reference to counter Christian claims that the Bible is a divinely...
A scholarly look at the Bible and its value as a moral guide.
This in-depth work begins by chronicling the history of how the Old and New Testaments were written. Through well-researched facts from other biblical scholars, Garcia supports his assertion that there is no evidence for most of the stories in the Bible; rather, they are legends invented by scribes to create a common cultural heritage for the Judeans and Israelites. The time gap between when events actually occurred and when they were recorded seriously undermines the credibility of its “prophesies,” which were written well after the fact. Garcia goes on to argue that Jesus was probably only one of many insurgents whom the Romans crucified. Garcia skewers the morality shown in the Bible; its directives are more concerned with how to worship rather than how to behave towards one another. He gives many examples from the Bible of God acting in an immoral way, deceiving and murdering, as well as the obvious immorality of the Bible’s acceptance of slavery, war, and rape. He addresses the existence of God, and not by falling into the common assumption that if the Bible is fictitious, then there must be no God. He asserts that our universe, and life itself, is so complex that it is statistically impossible that it arose out of pure chance. Here, his writing can get rather dense with scientific jargon. However, though he seems to believe in the existence of a creator, a “biochemist of omniscient intelligence,” in the end, he says, it doesn’t matter if God exists or not. His (Garcia uses the masculine pronoun exclusively when writing about God) existence isn’t essential to morality. Therefore, the author argues, we must create a morality based not on religion, but on human dignity. Garcia’s only real weakness is his habit of belaboring the point. In the end, though, the book offers a scathing criticism of religion (Christianity in particular) backed up with plenty of research.
Though at times dense and hard to follow, still a useful reference to counter Christian claims that the Bible is a divinely inspired historical record.Pub Date: March 10, 2011
ISBN: 978-1452876139
Page Count: 366
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: July 3, 2012
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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