A strange and ultimately partisan reading of Christianity’s fate.
A firebrand interpretation of biblical Scripture envisions a unified faith.
Slobodzien (Hidden Bible Taboos Forbidden by Organized Christianity, 2012, etc.) opens his new book, a kind of follow-up to his preceding work, by urging readers to consider “the possibility that it may have been God’s plan from the beginning of time to unite all of his people into One Faith, One Hope, One Family—One Holy Nation!” But he begins his elaboration of this ambitious religious claim in the worst way possible: by misconstruing science, creating a false dichotomy between it and Christianity. His description of the Big Bang—“this speck of LIGHT (existing outside of space and time) appeared from nowhere, and for no reason, only to explode (start expanding) all of a sudden”—and his contention that “the ‘missing link’ (between the cave man and modern humans) is still missing” are some of the familiar fundamentalist misunderstandings he shares. Also in that category are his reference to creationism as a “theory” and preposterous claims like this one regarding the Nepililim mentioned in the Hebrew Bible: “Scientists today confirm the biblical record of these non-human species existing before God created Homo Sapiens (Adam and Eve) and after.” This opening section will likely repel readers who are non-fundamentalist Christians, resulting in their hesitation to plow through the rest of the book to discover the author’s insights. This is a shame, because once he gets down to the business of exegesis, analyzing the nature of Jesus and the true meaning of the prophesied Kingdom of God, he provides consistently compelling reading about “God’s ultimate plan to gather together all families through the shed blood of Jesus into his One Universal Holy Nation of ALL believers.” Some of these readings are rather odd. He characterizes Jesus as a “Cosmic King” foretold by Old Testament prophets. And the Book of Revelation does not identify the “Roman Catholic Institution” as the anti-Christ. But Slobodzien’s Christian readers should find his assessments intriguing nonetheless.
A strange and ultimately partisan reading of Christianity’s fate.Pub Date: April 20, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5413-9497-1
Page Count: 152
Publisher: CreateSpace
Review Posted Online: Feb. 5, 2018
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
© Copyright 2025 Kirkus Media LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Follow
Popular in this Genre
We can’t wait for you to join Kirkus!
It’s free and takes less than 10 seconds!
Already have an account? Log in.
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
Welcome Back!
OR
Sign in with GoogleTrouble signing in? Retrieve credentials.
