A well-written reinterpretation of early Christian history that lacks meaningful engagement with contemporary scholarship.
A lay scholar reevaluates the early history of Christianity in this spiritual book.
Raised in a Roman Catholic home, LaFond left organized Christianity in adulthood. Born out of “a personal quest to discover the real Jesus Christ,” the author calls into question prevailing—yet distorted, in his opinion—narratives supported by scholars and Christians alike. Contemporary scholars, the book suggests, have relied on “conservative” interpretations that sprang out of the historical Jesus movement that paint the man as a Jewish rabbi who was only later reinvented as a messianic figure. This approach, the work convincingly argues in its analysis of early Christian texts, too often minimizes contrary evidence. Alternately, far too many modern-day Christians have portrayed the early church era as a “golden age, free from the petty conflicts and squabbles that have plagued Christians since.” Through expert analysis of Paul’s epistles, this volume makes a strong case that from its very inception, Christianity has been plagued with divisions and “competing visions of Jesus Christ.” Indeed, by reading Paul’s epistles chronologically, rather than in the order in which they were placed in the Bible centuries later, LaFond demonstrates how Paul himself “did not have enough confidence to insist on any single projection of the meaning of Christ,” as his own writings are rife with “split” metaphors that lack “a single coherent structure.” But while the book has a solid grasp of early Christian history and theology, there should be more direct engagement with the scholarship that it is contesting, which rarely appears in the volume’s sparse footnotes. Because it targets vague, often unnamed “current scholarship,” the work tends to treat contemporary literature on the history of Christianity as far more monolithic than it really is, ignoring nuances, debates, and alternative perspectives that proliferate in the field. Nevertheless, the book’s strengths lie in its command of Paul’s epistles, and it is an excellent introduction to the history of his journeys across the Mediterranean world and the evolution of his theology. Ample appendix reproductions of nonbiblical early Christian texts are also a welcome addition.
A well-written reinterpretation of early Christian history that lacks meaningful engagement with contemporary scholarship.Pub Date: March 28, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4975-0432-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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
A remarkably thorough and thoughtful case for the reconciliation between science and faith.
A duo of French mathematicians makes the scientific case for God in this nonfiction book.
Since its 2021 French-language publication in Paris, this work by Bolloré and Bonnassies has sold more than 400,000 copies. Now translated into English for the first time by West and Jones, the book offers a new introduction featuring endorsements from a range of scientists and religious leaders, including Nobel Prize-winning astronomers and Roman Catholic cardinals. This appeal to authority, both religious and scientific, distinguishes this volume from a genre of Christian apologetics that tends to reject, rather than embrace, scientific consensus. Central to the book’s argument is that contemporary scientific advancements have undone past emphases on materialist interpretations of the universe (and their parallel doubts of spirituality). According to the authors’ reasoned arguments, what now forms people’s present understanding of the universe—including quantum mechanics, relativity, and the Big Bang—puts “the question of the existence of a creator God back on the table,” given the underlying implications. Einstein’s theory of relativity, for instance, presupposes that if a cause exists behind the origin of the universe, then it must be atemporal, non-spatial, and immaterial. While the book’s contentions related to Christianity specifically, such as its belief in the “indisputable truths contained in the Bible,” may not be as convincing as its broader argument on how the idea of a creator God fits into contemporary scientific understanding, the volume nevertheless offers a refreshingly nuanced approach to the topic. From the work’s outset, the authors (academically trained in math and engineering) reject fundamentalist interpretations of creationism (such as claims that Earth is only 6,000 years old) as “fanciful beliefs” while challenging the philosophical underpinnings of a purely materialist understanding of the universe that may not fit into recent scientific paradigm shifts. Featuring over 500 pages and more than 600 research notes, this book strikes a balance between its academic foundations and an accessible writing style, complemented by dozens of photographs from various sources, diagrams, and charts.
A remarkably thorough and thoughtful case for the reconciliation between science and faith.Pub Date: Oct. 14, 2025
ISBN: 9789998782402
Page Count: 562
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: Oct. 7, 2025
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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