An accessible yet simplistic introduction to Christianity.
A debut spiritual book makes a case for the veracity of Christianity.
Though raised by a “Christian schoolteacher” in a devout Baptist family, Glenn “began to question religion” as an adult. During his five years of spiritual scrutiny, he not only read the entire Bible “too many times to count,” he also explored Islam, Judaism, and other religions. Ironically, this independent research brought him back to where he started, as he became convinced that unlike “all other religions in the world,” Christianity offers “proof” that verifies its claims. The author’s case for the “Believability of the Bible” rests on two central arguments: a defense of the holy book’s inerrancy and the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies through Jesus. In addition to this well-trod, almost ubiquitous terrain of conservative Christian apologetics, Glenn delivers theological ruminations on various topics germane to the fundamentals of distinctly evangelical, Protestant Christian doctrine, including Jesus’ divinity, the nature of the Holy Spirit, and heaven. Openly admitting that he is “not any kind of scholar” and is “just your average, ordinary Christian,” the author employs a writing style that makes for an easy read. Glenn breaks down his arguments into concise chapters that are sometimes only two pages long. The book’s opening pages devote significant attention to how other monotheistic religions have “twisted” biblical stories. While conservative evangelicals may embrace the volume’s contentions, other readers may not be convinced by its reliance on questionable arguments to deconstruct alternate religions or may take offense to its rather blithe dismissal of other faith traditions as “crazy.” The work’s tendency to oversimplify complex issues that humanity has grappled with for centuries also extends to its approach to understanding the Bible, which the volume suggests is actually “not hard to do.” This overconfidence in its grasp of Christian Scripture means that the entire book relies on the Bible, and its own subjective interpretations thereof, as the basis for its arguments. Not a single footnote or reference is made to scholars or thinkers, including Christians, who have grappled with the complexities and nuances of the religion for centuries.
An accessible yet simplistic introduction to Christianity.Pub Date: Nov. 23, 2020
ISBN: 978-1-66-421437-8
Page Count: 108
Publisher: Westbow Press
Review Posted Online: Aug. 25, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
A pleasure for fans of old-school historical narratives.
Avuncular observations on matters historical from the late popularizer of the past.
McCullough made a fine career of storytelling his way through past events and the great men (and occasional woman) of long-ago American history. In that regard, to say nothing of his eschewing modern technology in favor of the typewriter (“I love the way the bell rings every time I swing the carriage lever”), he might be thought of as belonging to a past age himself. In this set of occasional pieces, including various speeches and genial essays on what to read and how to write, he strikes a strong tone as an old-fashioned moralist: “Indifference to history isn’t just ignorant, it’s rude,” he thunders. “It’s a form of ingratitude.” There are some charming reminiscences in here. One concerns cajoling his way into a meeting with Arthur Schlesinger in order to pitch a speech to presidential candidate John F. Kennedy: Where Richard Nixon “has no character and no convictions,” he opined, Kennedy “is appealing to our best instincts.” McCullough allows that it wasn’t the strongest of ideas, but Schlesinger told him to write up a speech anyway, and when it got to Kennedy, “he gave a speech in which there was one paragraph that had once sentence written by me.” Some of McCullough’s appreciations here are of writers who are not much read these days, such as Herman Wouk and Paul Horgan; a long piece concerns a president who’s been largely lost in the shuffle too, Harry Truman, whose decision to drop the atomic bomb on Japan McCullough defends. At his best here, McCullough uses history as a way to orient thinking about the present, and with luck to good ends: “I am a short-range pessimist and a long-range optimist. I sincerely believe that we may be on the way to a very different and far better time.”
A pleasure for fans of old-school historical narratives.Pub Date: Sept. 16, 2025
ISBN: 9781668098998
Page Count: 208
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: June 26, 2025
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2025
SEEN & HEARD
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
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