A series of religious reflections by a well-versed author, hampered by opaque prose.
A debut treatise that aims to find new meaning in the biblical Book of Daniel.
Knutson takes readers on a deep dive into a short biblical passage: Daniel 11:20–45. It’s clear that the author is well versed in Scripture, church history, and linguistic critiques of the Bible. Unfortunately, his inelegant prose serves as an impenetrable barrier to reader understanding. His work apparently builds on the history of the Great Disappointment, when Baptist preacher William Miller’s prediction that Jesus would return on October 22, 1844, didn’t materialize. Miller’s prophecy was reworked by his followers, and soon, the Seventh Day Adventist movement was born. As the author explains it, “It would be discovered that Christ had come in the fulfillment of the prophecy, but not to the earth as expected. He had come to the Day of Atonement, Investigative Judgemnt [sic] phase of the parable of the heavenly sanctuary.” A strong knowledge of Millerite/Adventist theology might give a reader a bit more clarity, but for lay readers, Knudson’s conclusions are far too vague. Aside from a confusing, two-paragraph foreword, the author provides no explanation of the intent of his work. Some sentences are nonsensical, such as, “An inner and outer man manifestation since the incarnation the estate referred to also has both realities.” In other cases, the author’s use of metaphors is simply mysterious: “In the meat of the apple, or walnut meat, being analogy, between the core of stiffer substance of faith and the skin which also confessed faith in God, or walnut nut [sic] meat, under the hard outer shell of faith—Lucifer unexplainably chose to breakfaith [sic] in God.” Also, his intolerance of Catholicism, which he refers to in such terms as “the religio-politico vile person system of Roman Catholicism,” may put off many readers. Throughout, Knutson uses the Book of Daniel to refer to various eras in church history, displaying a definitive depth of knowledge in that area.
A series of religious reflections by a well-versed author, hampered by opaque prose.Pub Date: Dec. 14, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-5245-8213-5
Page Count: 408
Publisher: XlibrisUS
Review Posted Online: Aug. 29, 2019
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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