History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

Average customer rating:

Akhenaten Worshipper of the Sun. Indeed, no.
PURE VENOM!!
informative book about Akhenaten
The worst book on this historical period ever written
Akenaten was a good person

Akhenaten: The Heretic King
Donald B. Redford
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0691002177

Customer Reviews:

Akhenaten Worshipper of the Sun. Indeed, no........2002-07-19

Amenhotep, later Pharaoh Akhenaten, has been called a "worshipper of the sun" by a recent reviewer. Surely he was not. National Geographic (April 2001) quotes him as saying: "Oh living Aten, who initiates life.... Oh, sole god, without another beside him! You create the Earth according to your wish.... You are in my heart, and there is none who knows you except your son." It is said that he spoke these words as the Sun rose.

But is he a worshipper of the outer, physical Sun or the inner, spiritual Sun, that is ultimately God? Who has initiated life? God the Father has. Does not the Upanishads, which predates Akhenaten, say that "the whole universe came forth from [God] and moves in [God]"? (Prabhavavanda and Manchester, Upanishads, 23. The Sanskrit word used is "Brahman.")

Who is the sole god, without another beside him? The Heavenly Father is One without a second, is He not? Is there any difference between what Akhenaten said and what Isaiah said?" I am God, and there is none else." (Isaiah 5:22.) Or Shankara: "[God] alone is real. There is none but He." (Prabhavananda and Isherwood, Crest-Jewel of Discrimination, 69.) Surely what Akhenaten is saying is that only God exists; there are not two in the universe, but only One. "Hear, Oh Israel, the Lord thy God. The Lord is One."

Did He not create the Earth (and the heavens) according to His wish? Said Solomon: "The Lord ... hath founded the earth." (Proverbs 3:19.) Said Shankara: "[God] is the cause of the evolution of the universe, its preservation and its dissolution." (CJD, 75-6.)

Does He not reside in the heart of each being as the Immortal Self? Krishna declares: "The Lord lives in the heart of every creature." (Prabhavavanda and Isherwood, Bhagavad-Gita, 129.) Or the Upanishads: "The Supreme Person, ... the Innermost Self, dwells forever in the heart of all beings."(Upanishads, 24.)

And where is the difference between saying that "there is none who knows you except your son" and saying, with Jesus, "no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son." (Luke 9:22.) This same Son, this Christ, this Pearl of great price and treasure buried in a field -- is not this the immortal Self, the Son of God?

When Akhenaten says, "I shall make [the royal city of] Akhetaten for the Aten, my father, in this place," is he referring to his earthly father or to his Heavenly Father, whom he revered?

I submit that Pharoah Akhenaten was an enlightened man, who had knowledge of the Heavenly Father through mystical insight, as all the world's saints and sages have had. He had this experience, as they all did, when the Inner Sun of the Self arose, not on the earthly horizon, but on the inner horizon of the heart. The religion that he initiated, which was overthrown after his death, was the worship of the same Heavenly Father that all mystics and masters through eternity have reverenced.

Seeing him in this way eliminates the difficulties inherent in casting him as a mere worshipper of the Sun and restores to him his true accomplishment: he fulfilled the purpose of life -- to realize God. That his contemporaries did not give him his due is unfortunate. But, with the benefit of thousands of years of spiritual learning, we have the opportunity to set that unfortunate circumstance straight and give Akhenaten his true place in history, along with such other enlightened mystics as Solomon, Socrates, Jesus, and Buddha.

PURE VENOM!!.......2001-07-25

I am sorry but as a decent and self respecting human being, (and to put it nicely, too), I am permenantly allergic to this book. Akhenaten is my absolute hero and I don't know where these people who detract from him including in this work think they'll get off taking untruthful and cheap shots at him. Obviously, they are afraid to look further into the sheer beauty and kindness which radiates from both him and his brilliant poetry. I think that if they decided to open their minds and look further, they would suddenly see the startling lovliness of this man. But this book is just cruel far beyond the edge of decency, though this author obviously isn't stupid, as he projects onto so many other fine people. I give it one star only because there isn't a zero, so this is the lowest.

informative book about Akhenaten.......2000-06-17

The author portrays Akhenaten more as an atheist than a monotheist. A striking portrait is an outline of this fascinating 'worshiper of the sun', who is also one of the best known pharaohs. A good overview is provided of the Akhenaten Temple Project. Some of the author's comments are amusing which makes the book more enjoyable especially through the 'dry' moments. The book contains a short glossary, suggested readings, and many black and white illustrations and drawings. It is recommended for the open-minded lay person.

The worst book on this historical period ever written.......1999-12-21

I'm a scholar in the Amarna Period and I have read almost every book about this period. This is absolutely the worst. And this is a pity since it doesn't do justice to its author who is a famous egyptologist. It seems that here Redford wants to discharge all his personal hate towards the period and the characters under discussion. This is certainly not the best book to start with if a layman is interested seriously to start and begin with Amarna studies.

Akenaten was a good person.......1999-06-05

I don't agree with most of the things in this book. I still think Akenaten's Amarna was en- lighting and he was far ahead of his peers at the time. Of course he was not perfect, but he did give Egypt the light.

The Heretic Kings (The Monarchies of God, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

On second thought...
A tough call...
Better than the first book
Great Successor to "Hawkwood's Voyage"
Excellent !

The Heretic Kings (The Monarchies of God, Book 2)
Paul Kearney
Manufacturer: Ace
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0441009085

Book Description

When a power-hungry fanatic wins himself a highly influential religious position, threeresistant kings must fight a brutal war merely to maintain their thrones.

Customer Reviews:

On second thought..........2006-05-16

I gave books 1 and 3 both 4's and I have come back to give this one a 5. First of all I have been itching like crazy to get book 4 in the mail so I can read it. Secondly, after looking at a lot of the fantasy drivel out there I have come to appreciate Kearney's unique world more. I also really like the real life parallels he is making and the religious questions he is raising. His plot is nowhere near as intricate as Martin and Jordan (whom I both really like), nor are his characters as deep as Martin's, but I still like his work. It is much more concise, which is also appreciated at times, and has kept me interested. It is nowhere near as primitive, weak, and predictable as Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms,Salvatore, or any of that similar [...], but rather unique and engaging. No idea why it is out of print when so much of that junk is not.

A tough call..........2003-06-05

After reading Heretic Kings, I noticed several things that had slipped pat me when I read the first book in the series(Hawkwood's Voyage). This has reduced my opinion of the author, and I'm now not sure whether I intend to finish the series.
My first problem is that many of the characters are black and white, and behave in an incredibly predictable manner. Abeleyn, for example, was faiarly interesting during the first book but falls into the cliched "young prince grows into kingship" mould. What makes this worse is that the author repeatedly has both Abeleyn and other characters make this observation. Rather than allow his character's actiosn to speak for themselves, Mr Kearney takes a much less subtle rout.
Secondly, I have problems with the plot, because it too is slipping into a predictable groove. Very little happens during this book that an average reader would not anticipate. There are no complete surprises such as those in George RR Martin's Song of Ice and Fire series. I never felt truly worried about the protagonists, because they were never in any real danger.
All that being said, Heretic Kings has a unique and imaginative environment that sets it apart from most other fantasy books. The Renaissance-era technology is well-implemented and believable, as is the nature of magic in Mr. Kearney's world.
Although the aura of suspense is somewhatlacking (Kearney gives away secrets much too freely), I would still reccomend this book to anyone who is intrigued by the setting and doesn't mind the intermittantly bad writing.

Better than the first book.......2003-05-30

My full review is with Hawkwood's Voyage. If what you loved in the first book is the sometimes overdetailed descriptions of sea-travel, Church politics, and Dwoemer apprenticeship, you will be disappointed. Kearney instead puts the narrative in a higher gear: the ideas are narrative and character driven. Paragraphs in "Hawkwood's Voyage" which sometimes seemed to come from an encyclopedia are now streamlined to relate directly to characters and action. The Western Continent holds secrets which.... we are actually told about. I expected to be bored, but Kearney ratchets up the action. The 3rd book is even more pure -- though still realistic and maturely written-- action. An amazing series. Keep going.

Great Successor to "Hawkwood's Voyage".......2002-05-29

"The Heretic Kings" is the second book in the series called "The Monarchies of God." This series is an epic fantasy with multiple plot threads and many realistic characters. In book one, the Merduks are trying to take over Western Normannia and the whole Eastern continent is under war. Richard Hawkwood has lead an expedition to the Western continent to help start a new civilization that would be secluded from the war. At the end of book one, you are set up for book two.

Many questions will be answered in this book including these: What will happen to the people that Ricard Hawkwood has lead across the Great Western Ocean? What is going on in Charibon? In Abrusio? What is happening to all of your favorite characters? In addition to the answers that will help resolve your anxiousness to know what is happening you will be riveted due to new plots.

Paul Kearney gives you great characters. The characters in "The Heretic Kings" are not cheesy, one-sided people that you could just tear apart and make fun of. Every character is interesting and can be cared for. From King Abelyn to Corfe, all of the characters are people that you wish that you could know.

There are multiple plot lines and many characters to this great story, but don't let that interfere with your enjoyment of this. Once you are into this you will be hooked and you'll have this novel done very quickly. Before you read this second novel in this series make sure that you have read book one of "The Monarchies of God," titled "Hawkwood's Voyage." "The Heretic Kings" will definitely thrill people that have read book one and you will enjoy this novel even more than the first one. This is an epic fantasy must read.

Happy Reading!

Excellent !.......2000-06-28

This is a very readable book. I am sure after I have read the other two, the series will be one of my favorites.

The only thing I can compare it to is Asimov's Foundation. While not as deep, and the conclusion of the series more certain, there is more than enough suspense and much more action.

The writing style is visually and aurally descriptive and stimulates the imagination.

Book Description

Catherine Jinks’s follow-up to PAGAN'S CRUSADE is another tale with special appeal for boys — filled with action, featuring a witty young narrator, and loaded with down-and-dirty details of medieval life.

The year is 1188, and Jerusalem is in the hands of the Infidel. Upstanding Crusaders and their squires—like Lord Roland Roucy de Bram and Pagan Kidrouk—are returning to Europe, hoping to rally more knights to their cause. The sardonic young Pagan expects Lord Roland’s family to be the picture of fortitude and good manners, but he is in for a rude awakening. Brutish and unfeeling, the de Bram clan cares nothing for the Crusades, or indeed for anything outside their neighborhood in France. Meanwhile, local unrest is brewing. Church authorities are duking it out with the de Brams over a group of "heretics" living nearby. And now Pagan and Roland, sworn to defend Christianity, are left to decide for themselves whom to stand by-and whom to trust.

Customer Reviews:

Disturbing and sometimes violent--yes. But still a stunning read.......2005-06-28

What's everybody staring at?
All right, so you've never seen an Arab before. Is that any reason to stare? My hair's not green. My skin's not blue. It might be darker than yours, but dark skin is quite normal in my country. So I'm short. So what? I'm not that short. I'm tall enough to see over my own knees. Anyone would think I had a giant candle-snuffer growing out of my forehead.
Look at that fellow there, gawking away. Face like a gob of spittle, and he's staring at ME. Why don't you get yourself a mirror, Spitface, if you really want something to stare at.
A one-armed child makes a rude gesture. Runs away as I poke out a viciously threatening tongue. No backbone, the little coward.
"Pagan." Roland's voice is cold and stern. (Doesn't want his squire eroding the dignity of his arrival.) "Please behave yourself."

The year is 1188 and the infidels have conquered Jeruaslem. Pagan, forced into exile, is accompanying his master, Lord Roland, to the castle of Bram, Roland's home. But the castle, cold, dark and filthy, is not Pagan's idea of how lords live and neither is Roland's family anything like the type of family Pagan imagines someone as noble and dignified as Roland should have.

Pagan is soon caught up in violent clashes between both family members and the family and their neighbours. At the heart of the bloody feud stands Esclaramonde, a highly principled woman whose enigmatic character and heretical religious beliefs both disturb and attract Roland, while Pagan himself finds that he too has unpalatable truths to confront.

I am absolutely bowled over by Catherine Jinks's writing style. She must have done a huge amount of research before writing the Pagan books to be able to create such a wonderful portrait of mediaeval life in so few words. The excerpt quoted above (which is the beginning of the book) is a good example of prose that literally cries to be read aloud. If you are a secondary-school teacher I urge you to try these books on your class.

Great book, but..........2005-04-24

I gave it four instead of five stars because of some suggestive themes in the book. (Adultery and homosexuality) I liked this book, except for the things mentioned. Other than that, it was worth my time.

Thought-provoking, tear-jerking, and hard to put down.......2004-09-18

Jerusalem has fallen to the soldiers of Saladin. Pagan Kidrouk and his master, Lord Roland Roucy de Bram, are in Lord Roland's homeland seeking knights for a new Crusade to free the holiest of cities from the hands of the infidel. It is hard to know what Lord Roland's squire expected in his master's home in the south of France, but it certainly was not what they find when they arrive.

Lord Roland's father, brothers and their families and retainers live in such squalor and have such uncouth manners and ways that Pagan is appalled. How can his almost saintly master come from such a family? It is clearly a waste of time to think that this crowd of unbelieving savages will have any interest in freeing Jerusalem from the clutches of the infidel. Pagan is all for leaving as quickly as possible. He also begins to worry about the effect that Lord Roland's family is having on his master. They are like a disease, corrupting and evil, and Pagan wants to get his master away from their influence as soon as he can. Surely Roland cannot be continuing to hope to "civilize" his family and gain their support for his cause?

The situation then becomes very complicated when a local dispute breaks out between Lord Roland's father and the nearby abbey. People are killed and Lord Roland cannot bring himself to leave until he has done his best to find a resolution to the problem. However, the stubbornness of the Abbot and of Lord Roland's father is such that the dispute only escalates.

Pagan is the most honest of narrators. His voice is funny and vibrant, and it gives us a vivid picture of his world, which is often dreadfully realistic. His first hunt leaves him sick at heart and in the stomach, and there is no doubt that the living conditions in Lord Roland's childhood home disgust the boy from Jerusalem. The people who live in that home don't impress him either. They are cruel, crude, often barbaric, and have very little respect for anyone outside their family circle. Pagan has such a wonderful sense of the ironic. He sees the things in life that make it pitiful on the one hand, and yet worth living on the other. He also sees the greatness in people, and his love for his master is complete. For Lord Roland, he will risk his life again and again and overcome his greatest fears. By the end of the book it is very hard not to feel great pride for this street boy from Palestine who has such a sharp tongue, quick wit, and big heart.

Catherine Jinks has once again given us a book that is difficult to put down, is often deeply disturbing, and leaves one wondering what Pagan and his master will do next. The savagery and often barbarity of the times can be difficult to read about, as well as the hypocrisy of the so-called men of God. There certainly are parallels with our own times, where men kill in the name of religion, failing to see that in so doing, they defile the very faith they profess to follow. Thought-provoking, even tear-jerking, this second book in the Pagan Chronicles series is highly recommended.

--- Reviewed by Marya Jansen-Gruber, editor of Through The Looking Glass Children's Book Review (www.lookingglassreview.com).

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AKHENATEN - The Heretic King

Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000H5M592

Average customer rating:

Akhenaten: The Heretic King
Donald B. Redford
Manufacturer: Princeton University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Egypt | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

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Average customer rating:

The Heretic Kings
Paul Kearney
Manufacturer: London Gollancz 1995.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000J5JJ12

Heretic Kings, The: Monarchs of God series (Vol. 2)

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Heretic Kings, The: Monarchs of God series (Vol. 2)
Paul Kearney
Manufacturer: Ace Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000KXOS2I

Heretics (Hendrickson Christian Classics)

Average customer rating:

Quotable as always
Heretics
Criticisms of Heretics or Conventional Fads?
Peculiar to his time and applicaple to ours
Rhetoric for rhetoric's sake

Heretics (Hendrickson Christian Classics)
G. K. Chesterton
Manufacturer: Hendrickson Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1598560158

Book Description

Heretics is the companion volume to the previously published Orthodoxy in Hendrickson's Christian Classics series. In Heretics G. K. Chesterton unmasks the heresies of contemporary thinking by exposing the faulty thinking of popular notions, especially apparent in the arts. An often overlooked book that contains some of Chesterton's strongest writing, the author takes on the "heresies" of modern thought, such as negativism, relativism, neo-paganism, puritanism, aestheticism, and individualism. The book includes one of his best essays: "On Certain Modern Writers and the Institution of Family."

This 1905 collection of articles focuses on the era's "heretics": those who pride themselves on their superiority to conservative views. Chesterton's companion volume to Orthodoxy assesses such artists and writers as Kipling, Shaw, Wells, and Whistler with the author's characteristic wisdom and good humor.

Chesterton was one of the spiritual influences on C. S. Lewis. Readers who appreciate the writings of Lewis will want to explore the writings of those who influenced him, including Chesterton. Heretics is now available from Hendrickson in a re-typeset and redesigned version as a welcome addition to the successful Christian Classics series.

Hendrickson Christian Classics
Every Christian library needs the classics--the timeless books that have spoken powerfully to generations of believers. Hendrickson Christian Classics allows readers to build an essential classics library in affordable modern editions. Each volume is freshly typeset for reading comfort, while thoughtful new introductions place each in historical and spiritual context. Attractive, classically bound covers look great together on the shelf. Best of all, value pricing makes this series easy to own. Planned to span the spectrum of Christian wisdom through the ages, Hendrickson Christian Classics set a new standard for quality and value.

Download Description

Gilbert Keith Chesterton was born in London, England on the 29th of May, 1874. Though he considered himself a mere rollicking journalist, he was actually a prolific and gifted writer in virtually every area of literature. A man of strong opinions and enormously talented at defending them, his exuberant personality nevertheless allowed him to maintain warm friendships with people - such as George Bernard Shaw and H.

Customer Reviews:

Quotable as always.......2007-05-27

Chesterton is always a joy to read. Precise, poetic, inspired prose and a razor-sharp mind.

Heretics.......2007-01-11

A fantastic book by a great writer, highly recommend it for anyone interested in Apologetics, or just fun argument should definitely read it. While this review will hardly do justice to him, Chesterton is amazingly complex, and while sometimes incorrect, offensive, or fallacious, he is always intelligent, witty, and generally has an opinion very much worth listening to. Highly recommended.

Criticisms of Heretics or Conventional Fads?.......2007-01-08

G.K. Chesterton wrote HERETICS c. 1905. Yet this book is still timely in that popular gurus change opinions and social theories very quickly never realizing how dated the newest fad becomes. Chesterton had the rare ability in exposing many new fads as actually some varient of some ideas that were in vogue during Ancient History.

Chesterton never engages in ad hominem arguments. He is careful to metion the merits of those with whom he disagrees. Chesteron focuses on the logical fallacies of his critics and never engages in bitterness or smear tactics.

Readers should carefully Chesterton's cirticisms of G.B. Shaw. Chesterton asserts the validity of Shaw's Socialism. Chesterton does not argue with Shaw's socialist views per se. He does critisize Shaw's tendenacy toward a mechanical view of society and politics. One should note that in spite of their repeated debates and crticisms of each others' work, Chesterton and Shaw remained life long friends.

Chesterton has some interesting comments on political power. Chesteron was probably not a democrat, and his views beginning on page 168 are note worthy. Chesterton remarks condemns those who pick a Caesar. He remarks that people falsely look favorably on such an individual because he, the Strong Man or the Caesar, is not an ordinary man. In other words, men may domocratically opt for someone whom ordinary think is better. This is a form despotism or slavery where the ruler has the sanctions of the victim. Other rulers hold position by heredity right whereby men accept this notion only because of the social order rather than false praise or respect for someone who may be evil and take advantage of men's sychophantic blind obedience to self appointed knaves.

Chesterton has good insight regarding the abuse of language and different rules for social classes. If some poor soul is arrested for stealing, he/she is accused of theft. If some who is wealthy is arrested for the same crime, the comment is that the wealthy person has an illness called kleptomania. To paraphrase Chesterton, the wealthy want to make laws ( or in their case excuses)while decent people want to obey the law and expect everyone to do the same.

G.K. Chesterton writes well and uses reason as his guide. He did not get angry when his critics attacked him for his personal appearance. He was a large man. Chesterton could laugh at himself. However, he got angry when men attacted honesty and truth. Chesterton was a champion of himself or his work. He was a champion of reason, truth, and honesty. Whether one disagrees with him, Chesterton is well worth reading for his prose, knowledge, and logic.

Peculiar to his time and applicaple to ours.......2006-04-11

This book is a sort of prequal to Chesterton's most famous apologetic work, "Orthodoxy." "Heretics" is a collection of papers that Chesterton wrote to expose what he considered to be the unhealthy philosophies of his day. A critic later wrote of this work, "I will begin to worry about my philosophy...when Mr. Chesterton has given us his." Chesterton then wrote the book "Orthodoxy" in response to that comment.

With that said, it is well to note that "Heretics" and "Orthodoxy" should be read almost as a single work. From the viewpoint of Chesterton, "Heretics" is the critique of bad philosophy and "Orthodoxy" is the defense of good philosophy.

The trouble with "Heretics" is that it is such a local book. What I mean is that this book is a series of analytical criticisms of specific men during that specific time period (late 19th century to early 20th century) and it is easy to miss the points Chesterton makes if you are not familiar with the philosophies and views of the men he is critiquing. That isn't to say this book isn't one Chesterton's finest works. Yet, I would certainly reccomend "Heretics: The Annotated Edition" to anyone who is not very familiar with these particular early 20th century English writers which he is referring to in this book. The annotated edition makes it much easier to see what Chesterton is saying. For although people change over time, philosophies generally remain the same; and that is why Chesterton's criticisms of these philosophies are still relevant. And as stated earlier, this book, in a way, sets up the groundwork for "Orthodoxy," which is still considered a masterpiece; and almost certainly worth reading for anyone who does not understand or sympathize with the sentiment and romance of the Christian faith.

Rhetoric for rhetoric's sake.......2005-08-14

There are not many items I like about Chesterton, but there are a few. For one, he is intellectually honest. He doesn't attack or slander past infidels; instead, he names those he disagrees with, and instead of attacking the arguer (ad hominem), he instead is honest enough to attack the argument itself (modern apologists could take a page or 3 from his book). His sense of humor is good, & his prose is lovely. What then, is there not to like?
Well, in chapter one, he states: "All the tortures torn out of forgotten hells could not make him admit that he was heretical." Which is in and of itself a ridiculous statement, as the history of the Inquisition proves. He inveighs then against freedom of thought & speech in a most invidious manner. He says also, that a landlady should be concerned with the tenant's philosophy more than the tenant's income. This is (IMHO) a possible argument for rental discrimination: not Xtian? Leper, outcast, unclean! He does weigh in on the concept of `immediate victory', & I couldn't agree more. He does pay compliments to Shaw & Kipling. But most of this chapter devolves into bad philosophy.
Chapter 2 is GK's more insidious attempt to target progress as Man's downfall. He states: (quote) Nobody can be progressive without being doctrinal; I might almost say that nobody can be progressive without being infallible at any rate, without believing in some infallibility.(unquote) What? Progress is progress - one must define parameters a little more clearly. In GK's terms, the progress spoken of is Man's change of heart, in respects to putting humanity above divinity, at least IMHO.
In Chapter 3, he rather pays Kipling huge compliments, but says RK is unpatriotic (of course, this is when England viewed India as an annexed country, & so is excusable). Mostly it is a complaint of the lessening of the natural world by exploration. GK is so verbose at times; it is hard to grasp his meaning.
Most of the chapters, as they go, usually compliment the men criticized and targeted. I can see having a problem w/Shaw: he had some ridiculous political theories (approving Stalin, downplaying the Holocaust, that sort of thing: I have some problems w/that also, & I am an atheist). But in Chap. 5, he rails against applying the label of hypocrisy against his beloved Church, as if the men composing it are of some mystic order that is above that sort of thing. & his odd take on humility? Quote - Humility is so successful that it is mistaken for pride Endquote. But false modesty is also a sin, & can very well be that selfsame sin. He inveighs against interfaith, as if it were a curse. & this one is truly foolish: Quote: That is why religion came so early into the world and spread so far, while science came so late into the world and has not spread at all,(End quote) is revisionism, pure & simple. GK casts a blind eye (as most apologists do) to the fact that Xtianity has fought & squelched progress at every turn. He defends Xmas (& honestly, it is a forgivable holiday at best, no argument). But he claims, throughout the book, that faith is an absolutely essential ingredient to living, which it most certainly is not.
So I give Mr. Chesterton 2 stars: one for his wit and elegant prose, & one for his intellectual honesty (& the Internet abounds w/bad examples of this: Xtians reviewing & criticizing books they haven't read). But he fails on multiple points. He proposes the insidious concept of labeling, as if only Xtians are truly worthy (Antinomianism). He tries to demolish other viewpoints, & fails due to ineffective analogies & excess verbiage. If you desire rhetoric for rhetoric's sake, rhetoric that supports what you want to hear, then this is the book for you.

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