Sprightly throughout, this volume portrays a belief system that is vehement though rarely novel.
A debut book offers a no-nonsense guide to biblical teachings, with a particular emphasis on the truth found in the Bible itself.
Setting the tone with the opening statement that “the Lord has inspired the author ‘Michael’…to declare his revelations of the Bible…so that they can stand on the truth,” this volume signals that the message that follows is assuredly a serious one. Exploring different biblical, largely evangelical topics such as the Antichrist (“Who is the Antichrist? When will he be revealed?”) and the Resurrection (“When will our resurrection occur? Is it a continuous or instantaneous event?”), the book presents information on these and similar items in a series of short chapters. Including Bible verses and the etymological backgrounds of certain words (in a chapter on the Garden of Eden, the reader is informed, “The word ‘Eden’ in the Hebrew means, pleasure, happiness, delight, joy, and peace”), the pages drip with outrage at a world full of “graven images and the confusion of the false teachings of the doctrines of men.” Vowing allegiance to no particular church, the author makes it clear that truth can be found in the words of Scripture and not in the “house of vain teachings and lies.” While other authors have argued similar cases, this volume sets itself apart by its investigation of words, a probe that includes a glossary in the final pages and frequent citations from Strong’s Concordance. Portions of editorializing may be of limited value (“Did you know that the only word that can be made from the letters in Santa is Satan?”), though taking the book as a whole, the reader can hardly doubt the consistency and energy of the author’s passion. While parts are clearly aimed to ruffle feathers (as when Michael states that “The more people rewrite or interpret [the Bible], the farther away they are from understanding the truth”), an attitude is nevertheless maintained that “This book is not written to condemn anyone…but to plead with all the religious systems to repent…so that the body of Christ can be unified according to the will of God.” Whether readers are won over to the author’s vision of unification depends greatly on their sympathies, or lack thereof, with similar views.
Sprightly throughout, this volume portrays a belief system that is vehement though rarely novel.Pub Date: May 12, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-4568-9588-4
Page Count: 364
Publisher: Xlibris
Review Posted Online: March 10, 2016
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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