A personal study of scripture and biblical history with snippets of impassioned information.
A case for Christianity that covers a quick history of the church and an overview of scripture and biblical themes.
Using the Hebrew word root yacad (foundation) as a springboard to establish his spiritual cornerstone, Lantz begins with what he calls the “main ingredients”–Christians must build their lives around a church and must follow specific biblical themes to become worthy of the title. Lantz sets out to unpack his own spiritual journey, but his work offers little insights into him personally. He delves into the origins of Christianity, which many claim is Catholicism, then moves into the Reformation movement and Protestantism. In the final section, Lantz identifies and explains a series of subjects, including hate, greed, vanity and pride, that keep people from God. The author briefly mentions that he suffers from depression, yet does not explain his affliction, merely listing scriptures that somewhat address the condition. The grandson of a preacher, Lantz included his grandfather’s notes and sermons in the book, as he states in the beginning, which results in a compiled, cut-and-paste sensibility and a lack of strong narrative flow. Though much relevant scripture and information is included, especially an overview of major figures in significant religious movements, the passages often have weak transitions that don’t flesh out the overall themes. Mid-book, Lantz declares his statement of faith based on unity–that all Christians are one and must exist together in Christ. His statement is an impassioned one and might lead readers to debate a much-discussed topic–how Christians can unify–if only he more deeply delved into it.
A personal study of scripture and biblical history with snippets of impassioned information.Pub Date: April 16, 2008
ISBN: 978-1-4363-0890-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
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
© 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.
