Book Description
In The Lost Apostle award-winning journalist Rena Pederson investigates a little known subject in early Christian history—the life and times of the female apostle Junia. Junia was an early convert and leading missionary whose story was “lost” when her name was masculinized to Junias in later centuries. The Lost Apostle unfolds like a well-written detective story, presenting Pederson’s lively search for insight and information about a woman some say was the first female apostle.
Customer Reviews:
feminism and the early church.......2007-08-23
A reasonable read, which is well written. Whilst it does make a reasonable introduction to the subject of the role of women in the early church, it lacks academic depth and is rather one-sided in its views.
Well written.......2007-03-08
Pederson claims that the impetus for her book, The Lost Apostle, was to highlight an "invisible woman" who was written out of the pages of history, yet in less than 20 pages we learn that there are books on the subject and dozens of authoritative sources with facts and figures who are more than willing to talk about the missing Junia. One has to wonder then, what is the purpose of the book if there is already a sizable literature devoted to Junia.
Actually, the title of the book and the opening paragraphs are somewhat deceiving. Only a small part of the book is about Junia. The bulk of the book is about female issues in general, and goes on to discuss Mary Magdalene, Thecla, Priscilla, etc. Then, right in the middle of the book, there is a mini novel about the Templars. All very interesting and well written, although not exactly germane to Junia (there is an ever so slight relationship because the 13th Century Bishop who translated Junia as a masculine name helped another Bishop who later, when he became Pope, conspired with the King of France to bring down the Templars).
Pederson's background as a newspaper reporter creates a problem when it comes to a scholarly text. Apparently she believes that scholarship involves counting up who is for or against a position and then making a summary judgment. For example, she tells us whom she interviewed who believed that Junia was an esteemed apostle, and who believes she was known to the apostles, but not an apostle herself (page 39). In this case, there are two for "no" and five for "yes". While this is useful to a point, science (or scholarship) should not be reduced to a sums game.
Pederson also has the annoying habit of quoting from telephone conversations she's had with various scholars, rather than referencing their scholarly works. Of course it's easier to call someone on a Saturday afternoon and get a quick sound bite, rather than spending endless hours pouring over their books.
Then there's the mistakes. By relying on phone conversations for the bulk of her research, Pederson is prone to errors. Here's a few:
- "We know she [ Mary Magdalene] came from the town of Magdala... (p. 50)." Actually we don't know any such thing. There was no town called Magdala at that time. Some scholars also make this mistake. Refer to the works of Margaret Starbird for a proper understanding.
- "She [Mary Magdalene] first appears on the biblical scene in Capernaum... She has apparently heard of Jesus' healing powers and has come for help...(p. 50)." Actually, no. We never hear of Mary Magdalene in Capernaum. She is in Bethany and she is in Jerusalem, and she is said to follow Jesus from Galilee, but that's the extent of our knowledge of Mary. She never appears in Capernaum.
- "The Gospels place her at the crucifixion, along with Mary, the mother of Jesus, and John, the beloved disciple (p. 50)." Actually, no. The Gospel of John is the only gospel that has the "beloved disciple" at the crucifixion, and it is certainly not clear that John is the beloved disciple. In any event, "the gospels" place about a dozen people there, including several Marys and a bunch of "other women."
- Pederson writes - "Chapter 11 of the gospel of Nicodemus also says that Mary Magdalene, weeping about the death of Jesus...said `I shall go alone to Rome, to the Caesar...(p. 54)." Chapter 11 of Nicodemus does not mention Mary Magdalene. [...]
- "Mortality charts show that less than 10 percent of the population lived beyond the age of fifty...(p. 82)." Although technically true, that figure is misleading, because of the enormous number of infant and child deaths.
Now despite all these problems, this is a pretty good book with lots of useful information, and only a few mistakes. None of it is particularly new nor startling, but it is nicely put together and well written. There really isn't all that much to learn about Junia whose total description is found in less than a paragraph in Paul's letter to the Romans, but there's lots of stuff about early Christianity, women's roles, apostleship, etc. There's even the added bonus about the Templars.
It's difficult to rate a book like this. As a scholarly book about Junia, it comes up short (very short). As an interesting piece about women in Christianity it gets high marks.
A Reporter's Revelations into the Early Church Mother.......2007-02-03
By her own admission, Pederson is a reporter, and not a theologian. This books reads as an extended newspaper article. It is easy for the layman to comprehend, without complicated theological ideas or terms, as the author goes through her experiences and emotions in pursuit of the information. This is a journey of discovery, discovery both of Junia and who the author sees herself to be as a woman. I found it very easy to relate to her and was immersed in her travels and thoughts. I could clear picture places she's been to; those that I also have visited in Rome were accurately and imaginatively described.
Readers looking for novel theological insights should look elsewhere. This is a very personal look at Junia. There is a tendency in this book to be too accepting of hagiophora- where stories of powerful women are considered credible despite their lack of historical verifiability. Sometimes Pederson's lack of theological training shows in misunderstandings of subtle nuances, but most of the time she has done her homework. Thus her work becomes a compendium of others thoughts, and this becomes the go-to book for information on Junia.
While at times it felt that Pederson was trying to fill in the pages with extraneous information (like the chapter on Thecla), the book is so full of the stories of Junia that it becomes a necessary and central document for any research on this apostle. There really isn't much verifiable information out there on her, beyond the one verse in Romans. Of particular interest therefore is Pederson's extended look into the culture of ancient Rome and what it would have been like to be a married Christian Jewish woman in Junia's time.
Pederson has done an admirable job of looking into all the ramifications of this one verse. Using the primary research of others, Pederson proves without doubt that this was a woman, and that she was likely an apostle (and not just liked by the apostles). For the question of apostleship Pederson relies more on the consensus of modern theologians and ancient church fathers, rather than a clear indication in the Greek (for the Greek could provide either reading). Indeed, through Pederson's research into the gender-reversals of Junia through the centuries, a clear picture comes out of where the revisionist history comes from. The revision is clearly not in making her female, but in making her male- by the unanimous agreement of Christian theologians through the first 1000 years. Pederson traces how different translations will use different genders for Junia, based on how closely they adhere to the original Greek or not. She shows a copious provenance for the various translations to clearly illustrate why we have both male and female Junia's today. Through the research the reader will finally realize that feminism is an original Christian idea- an idea of Christ and Paul- that is lost as the centuries go on and the msyogyny of the early Church Fathers sets in. The modern world then battles that sexism of later Church elders, rather than the vision of the original Church.
After reading this book there really can't be any doubt as to Junia's gender. There have been perhaps some doubts because of the desire to remain traditional, and not to try to rewrite the Bible. Pederson has here shown that the rewrite is actually making a female apostle into a male.
Fascinating and Highly Readable.......2006-09-17
The Lost Apostle is fascinating and highly readable. It is a historical detective story -a search for the apostle Junia, whose story was lost because her name was changed in church literature to make her appear to be a man. Junia in fact was an apostle of high regard mentioned by Paul in his letters
Pederson finds in the person of Junia, the role model provided by the early church for today's women. The tragedy is, of course, that Junia's identity became obscured as responsibility for transcribing and editing the Bible moved through the generations, and generations of women were deprived of her positive image of women in the church.
Pederson also brings to life a dynamic early church, where both men and women both held leadership roles. I think everyone should read this book, but women in particular would benefit from its relevance today to their current issues in the church. It also puts into context the discrimination against women in the church over the centuries.
I was especially impressed with the breadth and depth and credibility of the sources used in researching this book. This is not only a wonderful read for the casual reader, it is also an excellent addition to the growing literature on early church history.
Average customer rating:
- Delicious fantasy story
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- A Great Series
- really good, would like to see more
- a great ending
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Lost Truth
Dawn Cook
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0441012280 |
Book Description
Alissa's dreams lead her to a distant land where countless Masters live in a flourishing magical society. Instead of being welcomed, Alissa finds that the Masters' leader, Keribdis, believes that she should be Alissa's teacher--whether Alissa likes it or not. And when Alissa rebels, she risks her magic--and her life.
Customer Reviews:
Delicious fantasy story.......2007-08-16
The fourth (and last!) in the "Truth" series by Cook is a definite keeper. The relationships between all the series characters are deepened and changed by the events of the book, and it's just a plain good read. Readers new to the series should start at book one, but my suggestion would be to get all four now if you like female-centered fantasy, strong characterization, and innovative dragon fantasies. A great series with a wonderful ending, though I wish Cook would continue it!
Slightly Disappointed.......2005-12-22
I've enjoyed this series. It keeps one's interest, and its a fast read. I was slightly disappointed with the love triangle resolution. Why the dilemma if the loser isn't even given much of a cursory glance? Also, with all of the action & conflict within the last few pages, the resolution was anti-climactic. I expected better, but any questions were answered in this last book.
A Great Series.......2005-12-17
I just re-read this entire series and this is the best of them. In fact, in my opinion, each book gets successively better as the story goes on. In this one, several threads plotted even back to the first book come to fruition in a dramatic climax that contains some really fantastic moments. Alissa finally comes into contact with the other Masters, meets Useless's archenemy and wife, decides between her two men and more. It's a great story. And it appears to be the last of the series, although I'd enjoy reading more of them.
really good, would like to see more.......2005-11-30
i thought the book was well written, and nicely planned...i HOPE there is another in the making, since she left a couple MORE options open at the end...won't spoil it for ya, but well worth the money...i believe this was one of the better ones, not too many ppl, and not to few...there were some BIG questions left open, i'd love to find out how they end...well written...a very good read.
a great ending.......2005-11-29
This is the best of the four Truth books. I say this only because it ties up all loose ends, and everything falls into place from the other three books. You learn more about the internal struggle with Lyssa and beast. It is fast paced and exciting, and the permanent romance interest for Lyssa is chosen. The fate of the Hold is decided, as well as the future of all the characters you learn to love in the first three books. The book is pretty intense in the ending, and I don't think she could have made a better finale book. The ending is excellent.
Book Description
- Lost History is a kind of All the President's Men in reverse. As that journalistic classic followed Woodward and Bernstein exposing Watergate, Lost History is the inside story of reporters who broke the key stories of the Iran-contra scandal. But instead of basking in praise, they paid a high personal price. In a larger sense, Lost History explains how the Washington press corps of the 1980s missed or under-reported many of the major scandals of the era, from the dirty secret of Nicaraguan contra-cocaine trafficking to the Guatemalan army's genocide against Mayan Indians. Not only does Lost History recover this important historical record from the government's secret files, but it shows how the decade of the 1980s was the missing link in the transformation of the Washington press corps from the glory days of Watergate to the tawdry tabloid moments of Monica Lewinsky. This is a book not only about "lost history" but about a political system that has lost its way.
Customer Reviews:
Great insight into Iran-Contra.......2005-07-01
Despite some flaws in the writing style, this book is a terrific read.
It provides an insight into the 'hidden truth' and 'lost history' that remains unknown.
Neither a conspiracy theory nor unproven, this book highlights the obscene lack of attention given by the press to the government admissions of culpability in the Iran-Contra affair.
Conspiracy?.......2005-03-19
Truth be told, even "fruitcake conspiracy theories" are right occasionally. This doesn't measure up that well. This is an interview with Bobby Nieves, one of the agents working with the Nicaraguan Resistance. Here it is for good and all:
"Every stone has been turned. Every page has been written. Everybody who had any knowledge about it has been questioned ad nauseam. There is no story about Contra drug smuggling that hasn't been reported a thousand times by the Kerry commission, Tower Commission, the IG's...There is no story..."
Brilliant Truth-Telling with Some Short-Falls.......2003-11-09
This book is a real gem. It outlines a tale of both corruption and ideological mendacity within the White House, and of ignorance and unprofessionalism with the Directorate of Operations in the Central Intelligence Agency. As one who served on the Central American Task Force at the time, and as a clandestine case officer focused on these matters, I find it especially fascinating that I, from the inside, was truly unaware of the degree to which we were engaged in direct support to a band of contras characterized by drug-running, money-laundering, corruption, rape, torture, routine murders, and perhaps worse of all, total incompetence and ineffectiveness.
There are two aspects of this book that truly stand out for anyone who is committed, as I and most CIA employees are, to the concept that "the truth shall make you free."
First, as the title suggests, there is a "lost history" that is unavailable to the American people. The author is not alone in making this charge. The editors of the history of the Department of State have on several occasions complained, both publicly and privately, that an accurate history of the foreign relations of the United States of America cannot be written without more complete disclosure of our various covert operations. Indeed, Derek Leebaert's book "The Fifty-Year Wound", Jim Bamford's book "Body of Secrets", and Sterling and Peggy Sterling's book "Gold Warriors", among a number of others books but these three reviewed by me on Amazon and being the most recent and best documentary efforts, all show that America has paid a *huge* cost, a cost running to trillions of dollars in deceitfully mis-spent dollars and lives, for clandestine and covert activities that have inspired enmity, often nurtured environments of genocide and war crimes (Sudan today, for example, given a "bye" for its nominal counter-terrorism support), and spawned vast war profiteering enterprises at the same time that we nurture and encourage dictatorships such as those in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan, both of which are protecting Bin Laden, his family (which we allowed to escape from the US rather than taking them hostage--a White House accommodation to its Saudi paymasters), and other terrorists. America needs to understand the truth about such matters, and this book helps.
The other major value of this book is its examination of how the White House, first under Reagan and now under Bush junior, and personified in the activities of one Otto Reich (Reich and Rove are exemplar representatives of the neo-Nazi and neo-conservative aspects of the Cheney-Bush regime), has violated various US laws and values by running psychological operations and media campaigns against its own public. Especially distressing has been the manner in which the National Public Radio (NPR) has been "brought to heel" by threats to cut off its federal subsidies if it fails to accept the lies of the Administration and actually reports truthfully to the public. The Associated Press (AP) is also shown in this book to have subverted the truth and conformed to the falsehoods and propaganda line being purveyed by the Reagan Administration against the American people. The New York Times is specifically cited, on several occasions, and publishing false and misleading information, not because its employees lack ethics (as has recently been the case) but because the NYT is part of the "establishment" and all too eager to betray its readers by publishing the party line from a corrupt White House.
Usefully, the author documents a General Account Office decision on 30 September 1987 that the "white propaganda" of Otto Reich and the Public Diplomacy Office in the Department of State amounted to "prohibited covert propaganda activities" against the US media and the US public. Under Bush Junior the Administration has added blatant lies and manipulated intelligence to its repetoir, and continues to manage covert propaganda against the American people.
Among the most interesting sub-themes the author documents are how Richard Nixon undermined the Vietnam peace talks in order to prevent Johnson from successful resolution, and how Reagan's team undermined the Iran hostage negotiations to prevent Jimmy Carter's ability to resolve that in time for the election. In both cases the Republicans violated the law and engaged in actions that amount to treason--to a betrayal of the public trust. Now fast forward to the recent stories about how Richard Perle was a principal in the Bush Administration's refusal to accept an offer from Saddam Hussein to help in the war on terrorism, allow full US inspection teams, and otherwise give us everything we wanted except his head and the right to loot Iraq. American soldiers are dying today--and a bill we cannot pay is being run up--in Iraq because of Republican treason and Republican lies and Republican propaganda against the American people.
Another important point that this book documents is the sorry reality that CIA analysts cannot trust the CIA clandestine operators to tell them the full truth, and that the US public cannot trust the White House to tell it the full truth (apart from blatant propaganda). The truth in America has been subverted, distorted, and *buried*. As others have documented (see my review of Sheldon Rampton & John Stauber, "Weapons of Mass DECEPTION: The Uses of Propaganda in Bush's War on Iraq"), the American people are, if they are avid searchers for the truth, able to see only 10% of the facts and undistorted information available to Europeans and Asians.
The book has some flaws--a rotten index, some repetition caused by integrating old and new material--but I rank it as essential reading for anyone who would like to understand how we got ourselves into an unjust war with Iraq, how an extremist Republican Administration was able to do Goering proud by manipulating the American Congress and the American people and the United Nations with a "platform of lies." We have lost history, we have lost ethics, and we are on the verge of losing America and that for which it stands.
Media Manipulation and Political Corruption.......2003-10-28
Robert Parry is a reporter with a wealth of experience who combines knowledge with investigative expertise and a bedrock courage to find the truth and faithfully report it. Here is the reporter who uncovered the illegal government operation of Oliver North in the National Security Council office, which violated federal law by providing weapons, manpower, and logistical advice to the Contras in Nicaragua. The government did its best to smear the Associated Press and later Newsweek reporter, painting him as unreliable and a man with his own agenda, but ultimately the truth won out.
Parry brilliantly documents what the Contras were really all about. The so-called Nicaraguan freedom fighters which President Ronald Reagan referred to as "the moral equivalent of our Founding Fathers" were instead involved in a major drug networking operation, aided by the CIA. The result was that scores of youngsters in South Central Los Angeles became drug addicts as they moved their operations into America while battles waged among young gang members over turf control. When Senator John Kerry sought to expose what was happening he too was denounced as a troublemaker operating against America's best interests.
Parry tells about what political correctness really is, and it is far removed from what is depicted by right wingers seeking to pin the tag on liberal critics. To Parry this correctness takes the form of barking on cue in alliance with and as supplicants to the major commercial interests which hold sway not only over those in political power, but on the media itself. His efforts to exercise independence of judgment were accompanied by negative reactions from powers in the media as well as Washington operatives. All the same he prevailed, and hopefully he and others will continue telling their stories despite the fervent efforts to silence them.
Required reading for all Americans.......2001-12-23
This book is fabulous. I have read much of the literature surrounding the Iran-Contra operation and this is one of the best. Parry was a leader in exposing that operation, as well as so many others. Here he leads readers through the many attempts of the government to control the information we receive. Anyone who dismisses this as mere "conspiracy theory" obviously never read the book (and so many others that are backed up by the govt's own documents). Parry is no armchair reporter. He has personally spoken with countless sources involved in these operations. Do yourself a favor. Buy the book and make up your own mind.
Book Description
On June 22,1986, Stan Howard was stabbed in his bed, his ten-year-old daughter Rachel sleeping in the next room. Unable to fully process the tragedy, Rachel coped the only way she knew how by trying to pretend the murder never happened. More then fifteen years later, Rachel became engaged, and the need to confront the night of her father's death before entering the next phase of her life grew strong. Her father's murder remained unsolved, and many questions unanswered and unasked. In The Lost Night, Rachel shares her father's story, and her keen investigation of memory, truth, and how a family moves on from a tragedy for which they may never find the answers. BACKCOVER: “The Lost Night is enthralling, a skillfully narrated story that begins as a tale of detection but becomes something more.”
—The New York Times
“No novel based on Ms. Howard's life, no matter how skillfully crafted, could have been as believable as The Lost Night. It is a quintessentially American narrative of self-creation and redemption, a postmodern Gatsby with a hard-earned, doubt-tinged happy ending. I don't know when I've read a better first book.”
—The Wall Street Journal
“Powerful.”
—San Francisco Chronicle
“The Lost Night illuminates a bond between a father and a daughter that neither time nor death can undo.”
—The Washington Post Book World
Customer Reviews:
You are there.......2006-08-18
Met the author at a book signing and was impresssed by her impeccable poise and story-telling ability. Then I went home and read the book. Wow. I had the same experience as the other readers. This is an excellent and poignant memoir.
One feels the you-are-there quality of a little girl awakening in the middle of the night to see her father covered with blood on the floor. The people in her book are like characters in a Dickens novel, yet they are (were) all very real. Howard captures the cultural milieu of Merced California in the mid '80's. Her father loved Rod Stewart with a passion and the lyrics of his songs weave through the true story of a child trying to make sense of what is going on around her.
The child matures into an adult and becomes a writer! What an awesome contribution to the memoir genre. I do hope that the killer is eventually caught.
Great combination.......2006-07-23
This is a wonderful combination of memoir and true crime. I felt as though I realy got to know the author. Her willingness to examine the fragility of memory and adjust her conclusions accordingly made her more appealing. The change in her attitudes toward the people in her life caused me to re-examine my own feelings toward people in my life. This book is a definite addition for anyone's library.
Lost and Found - a past reclaimed.......2006-02-28
Lost and Found - a past reclaimed
I finished Rachel Howard's "the lost night" at 3 this morning. From the minute I cracked its spine, the pages turned themselves, inviting me to ignore every routine chore of mine: dirty dishes, daily exercise, even meals (though I did manage to go to work and feed the cat).
Masterfully written, the book tells a riveting story of the murder of Rachel's father when she was only 10 years old. How she handled the loss of this beloved man, her protector and playpal, is a glimpse into how children cope with tragedy of this magnitude. The experience retrospectively defined Rachel, her relationship with her family and also with her stepmother Sherry, her father's third wife when he was murdered. Rachel, the product of divorce, was spending a few summer weeks at her father's home during this time. She was witness to his last waking minutes and remembered details that would replay themselves with increasing vividness as time went by.
But memory is elusive...and selective. The author comes to realize that her memories were circumscribed by the limited frame-of-reference of a young life.
What I found so compelling here is the child's perspective. I have read (and probably own!) just about every true-crime/courtroom/forensic book that exists, yet I never read such an account from a 10-year-old point-of-view. Rachel illustrates the sometimes graphic, sometimes muted terror-of-the-night children of murdered parents are heir to, their wispy and unexpressed--indeed unconscious--suspicion of significant-others, and their necessary dependencies on adults who, often not comprehending the nuances involved, believe that by trotting the kid to therapy, they absolve themselves of the pain of revisiting the circumstances themselves. In Rachel's case, her father's family remained largely silent with her about that night. They may have felt that openly speaking about the murder with someone so young would somehow legitimize it for her. In fact, their passivity had the opposite, and quite damaging, effect on a young mind hungry for assurance and validation.
Palpable throughout Rachel's memoir is its raw honesty. The writing is often brutally introspective, devoid of the self-pity and lachrymose language which the author might easily --and justifiably-have indulged. She is seeking information and answers, and by the last page, I realize she has found those things, and some peace along the way.
Therese Hercher
New York Times Sometimes wrong but not this time.......2006-02-05
William Grimes has always been one of my favorite NY Times reviewers. Although he tends to be negative, when he waxes effusive, I take notice. When I saw this....
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"As a memoirist, she succeeds BRILLIANTLY. "The Lost Night" is ENTHRALLING, a skillfully narrated story that begins as a tale of detection but quickly becomes something more."
--William Grimes, NEW YORK TIMES
I figured I'd take a chance. Well, it's been sitting on my nightstand for 6-months now and damn if it's not enthralling. Although I was hoping for a bit of a who-done-it, I couldn't put it down. The descriptions of the messed-up Central Valley(to put it delicately)were terrific. With some sex, drugs, and even some 80s Rod Stewart in the mix, for good measure, it was a joy to read.
A wonderful memoir, not a crime story!.......2005-10-23
This book is much more memoir than a "true crime" or crime investigation book. It does center itself around the author's father's murder when she was 10, but from there, it goes on to tell very well how this event affected both her life and the life of her family and extended family. I got a strong feel for the parts of California she was writing about, and for her father's large family and how they dealt with his death in their own ways.
The book also examines the issue of memory---how memory is not a set-in-stone thing---how different people remember things differently, and we can feel very sure we know how something happened, and another person is very sure it happened differently.
Some might feel unsatisfied that the murder is not solved in these pages, but I was not. That was never really the point here. This is an examination of how murder affects a family, and of the time and place and people that set up the scene. The author leaves us free to form our own opinion as to what happened, and she also is amazingly free with writing about her own changes of perspective and doubts about her feelings about the past. She is a skilled writer and sounds like a strong, caring person. I thank her for this book.
Product Description
Large print edition of the bestseller.
Book Description
Recent headlines, bestselling books, and even a blockbuster movie have called widespread attention to controversial writings that challenge some of the key teachings and perspectives that people of the Christian faith have long held to. Known as the Gnostic “Gospels,” these writings have aroused much curiosity and led people to ask:
- What are the Gnostic “Gospels,” and where did they come from?
- Are these writings trustworthy, or even on par with the Bible?
- Have we had wrong perceptions about Jesus all along?
In this helpful book, world religions scholar David Marshall examines the popular claims being made about the Gnostic “Gospels,” and reveals how, in actuality, they fall far short of the true Gospels in the New Testament. This is an eye–opening resource that will equip Christians to take a well–informed and well–reasoned stand against the so–called “Lost Gospels” that have become so popular today.
Customer Reviews:
A persuasively written, passionate treatise, accessible to readers of all backgrounds........2007-10-06
Written by David Marshall, founder and director of the Kuai Mu Institute for Christianity and World Cultures, The Truth About Jesus and the Lost Gospels: A Reasoned Look at Thomas, Judas, and the Gnostic Gospels is a thoughtful examination of the ancient "Lost Gospels" that portray Jesus Christ in a different manner than the canonical New Testament. Chapters discuss what the "Lost Gospels" are and where they came from, whether these writings can be trusted on par with the Bible, and whether certain popular perceptions of Jesus have been mistaken all along. The Truth About Jesus and the Lost Gospels is sharply critical of Gnosticism, going so far as to declare "'Gnostic Christianity' is a contradiction of terms", and emphasizes that true freedom can only be found through Jesus Christ. Delving into examples of how Christianity has transformed lives throughout history up to the modern day, The Truth About Jesus and the Lost Gospels is a persuasively written, passionate treatise, accessible to readers of all backgrounds.
Another thoughtful book from a thoughtful author.......2007-06-28
This latest book is a nice addition to the other thoughtful works that David Marshall has written in recent years.
Concise and well written, this is well worth reading by anyone interested in a critical overview of the so-called Gnostic gospels.
3 stars.......2007-06-25
Should Dan Brown and other fiction writers of his ilk be considered gurus? Was Judas a good guy? These and other questions seem to be at the very least raising their ugly heads to annoy Christians as popular culture tries to reinvent Jesus into some post-modern, non-Messiah. The basis of these heretical beliefs lies in ancient texts that, when exposed, are so ridiculous as to be laughable. The author examines the New Age version of Jesus and the Gnostic texts; note, they are not gospels, as they have no good news. In an engaging fashion that is readable and not dry, he explains the difference between truth and error, showing that gnostic beliefs are good for nothing more than perhaps a science fiction, pulp novel or movie.
Amanda Killgore
Marshall continues to successfully de-bunk the "gnostic gospels".......2007-06-24
With the (somewhat) recent discussions on the gospel of Judas, this book's purpose seems to be threefold: 1- Introduce "gnostic gospels" (Judas, Thomas, Mary, etc) and explain their many flaws; 2- Show how they differ from biblical gospels, and 3- Contrast the positive, uplifting message of the biblical gospels with the not-so-positive (sometimes regressive, sometimes sexist, etc) message of the gnostics.
Gnostic gospels are too often considered 'on par' with the biblical gospels by many popular skeptics, and their message usually comes across as more uplifting, tolerant, reliable, etc than the bible. This book swiftly addresses such issues and explains why such ideas are untrue.
This book elaborates on Marshall's studies into the Thomas gospel found in his previous book "Why the Jesus seminar can't find Jesus." That book can be seen as complementary to this one, and helps explain not only how the Jesus seminar's ideas are flawed, but also why we shouldn't trust the gospel of Thomas. Both books are recommended if you wish to learn more about how the gnostic texts differ from the biblical gospels, and how the biblical gospels are not only more reliable but far more "progressive" and enlightening in their overall message.
Average customer rating:
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Biblical Truth
Manufacturer: Brit-AM
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 9659035802 |
Product Description
This books tells us what the Book of Genesis says concerning the present day, identity, and future destiny, of the Israelites tribes including those whose descendants are unaware of their Hebrew ancestry.
Customer Reviews:
Biblical Truth.......2006-02-17
Yair Davidiy is an expert in his field and well respected around the world - his book on "Biblical Truth: The Lost Ten Tribes of Israel in the West, according to the Book of Genesis" is suberb in identifying the tribes of Israel. It is in my collection.
Average customer rating:
- Compelling and Wonderful
- A Strong New Voice In Romance!
- I couldn't put it down!
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Haunted By Dreams
Norah, Wilson
Manufacturer: Hard Shell Word Factory
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
General | Contemporary | Romance | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0759904308 |
Product Description
John Deadmarsh had loved Cassandra Ashe once, a long time ago. As a student in Toronto, he'd wooed the mysterious Maliseet beauty to his bed, only to have her steal away while he slept, taking his heart with her. When he runs into her seventeen years later in sleepy Fredericton, New Brunswick, the betrayal stings like it was just yesterday.
Customer Reviews:
Compelling and Wonderful.......2002-11-27
Haunted by dreams is a heart rending story of love, life's challenges. And, through struggle - success.
From the first page, I was hooked. John Deadmarsh is a scrumptious, larger than life, believable hero who has searched for his lost love for seventeen years.
We feel the struggles and disappointments Cassandra Ash suffers, even though, through it all, she's able to keep going.
This book delves into issues simmering under the surface of native society and faces them head on.
The immediate and growing emotions between the hero and heroine kept me turning pages with expectation until the very end.
A very satisfying read!
A Strong New Voice In Romance!.......2002-11-25
Norah Wilson is a strong new voice in romance and definitely not to be missed. Haunted By Dreams is a contemporary second-chance-at-love story about Canadian Natives. When Cassandra Ashe walks into John Deadmarsh's university class after disappearing from his life 17 years ago, John is immediately swamped not only by feelings of unrequited love, but also betrayal. With wonderful characterization and detail, Ms. Wilson skillfully leads us along Cassandra's and John's rocky road to love. Haunted By Dreams will stay with you long after you've finished the last page.
I couldn't put it down!.......2002-11-13
The very first scene of Haunted By Dreams caused a delightful shiver to run up my spine. Cassandra Ashe meets her old lover John Deadmarsh at a university and Bang! the sparks fly. The more I read, the more intense their relationship. John is bitter, not trusting Cassandra one bit. To him, she's flighty, not to be trusted, but the reader knows better and yet, we understand him as well. Ms Wilson has done the extraordinary, written a long-overdue story about Native Canadians in a modern, realistic romance. Well done! This one's a keeper!
Books:
- The Lost Boy: A Foster Child's Search for the Love of a Family
- The Magic of Thinking Big
- The Malloreon, Vol. 1 (Books 1-3): Guardians of the West, King of the Murgos, Demon Lord of Karanda
- The Paper Bag Princess (Classic Munsch)
- The Real Holy Grail: An Orthodox Response to Dan Brown's Deceptions in Angels and Demons and The Da Vinci Code
- The Self-Aware Universe
- The South Beach Diet Quick and Easy Cookbook: 200 Delicious Recipes Ready in 30 Minutes or Less
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (Boxed Set): The Field Guide; The Seeing Stone; Lucinda's Secret; The Ironwood Tree; The Wrath of Mulgrath
- The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere: An Inquiry into a Category of Bourgeois Society (Studies in Contemporary German Social Thought)
- The Sugar Solution: Weight Gain? Memory Lapses? Mood Swings? Fatigue? Your Symptoms Are Real - And Your Solution is Here
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