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.

Against the Modern World: Traditionalism and the Secret Intellectual History of the Twentieth Century

Average customer rating:

Not good
Poor scholarship
the reviews reveal the reality
Seminal account of "Traditionalism"
Useful and Engaging

Against the Modern World: Traditionalism and the Secret Intellectual History of the Twentieth Century
Mark Sedgwick
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Modern | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Religion & Spirituality | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0195152972

Book Description

The first history of Traditionalism, an important yet surprisingly little-known twentieth-century anti-modern movement. Comprising a number of often secret but sometimes very influential religious groups in the West and in the Islamic world, it affected mainstream and radical politics in Europe and the development of the field of religious studies in the United States. In the nineteenth century, at a time when progressive intellectuals had lost faith in Christianity's ability to deliver religious and spiritual truth, the West discovered non-Western religious writings. From these beginnings grew Traditionalism, emerging from the occultist milieu of late nineteenth-century France, and fed by the widespread loss of faith in progress that followed the First World War. Working first in Paris and then in Cairo, the French writer Rene Guenon rejected modernity as a dark age, and sought to reconstruct the Perennial Philosophy-- the central religious truths behind all the major world religions --largely on the basis of his reading of Hindu religious texts. A number of disenchanted intellectuals responded to Guenon's call with attempts to put theory into practice. Some attempted without success to guide Fascism and Nazism along Traditionalist lines; others later participated in political terror in Italy. Traditionalism finally provided the ideological cement for the alliance of anti-democratic forces in post-Soviet Russia, and at the end of the twentieth century began to enter the debate in the Islamic world about the desirable relationship between Islam and modernity

Customer Reviews:

Not good.......2007-08-22

The book is pathetic. It treats a spiritual movement and reduces it to historical facts.

Poor scholarship.......2007-06-16

If you like tabloid magazines then this book is perfect for you. If you want to know what Traditionalism is then you should read the work of Rene Guenon, A.K. Coomaraswamy, Frithjof Schuon, Martin Lings, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr.

the reviews reveal the reality.......2007-01-24

Skim the reviews and you can see that two kinds of people read this book: Traditionalists, and others.

Most of the Traditionalists could not be more upset. Someone has taken a glance behind the curtain, cleared the smoke and taken down the mirrors. Traditionalism is just another religious tradition, as fascinating and diverse and imperfect as any other. Although Rene Guenon, the central saint of Traditionalism, comes of looking like a good, sincere and intelligent man, Sedgwick presents him not as a prophet, but as someone other people (not Sedgwick) think of as a prophet. That is not good enough for some people. Schuon seems more suspicious here, and most people who don't follow him would consider that appropriate. He often seems to fit the stereotyope of the modern guru (see Storr's "Feet of Clay"). Most of the minor figures in Traditionalism are also presented favorably, if not as favorably as Traditionalists would like. That disquieting folks such as Evola are included understandably upsets Traditionalists who reject fascism, but it is a fact that they are inseparable from at least the early history of Traditionalism.

The others, who are not Traditionalists, could not be more enchanted with this fascinating information. Essentially esoteric fundamentalism, Traditionalism shows up everywhere, along with its more laid-back cousin Perennialism. You cannot study religion academically today without encountering works by Traditionalists, often essentially polemics for their religion, labeled as if they were secular studies, and often enough even accepted as such. The examples might surprise you: Eliade, Nasr, Corbin. Nasr, I think, is particularly egregious at times; for instance, the "Islam" volumes in Crossroad's "World Spirituality" series, which he edited, ought to be labeled "Traditionalist Sufism." The announced title is not covered at all; it is at least a distortion, if not a deception.

Sedgwick has written the first outside, neutral account of Traditionalism. And--contrary to some assertions here--this book is neutral. It is written for a non-Traditionalist audience, and the author reminds us not to judge them differently than we would any other religious tradition. He is, I think, as sympathetic as an outsider can be to another religious tradition. Anyway, an academic historian should not present any tradition as the fulfilment of human spirituality.

All in all, a very high quality, reliable and fascinating study. That is to be expected from Sedgwick, a highly respected veteran scholar of Islam.

Let me recommend a few other books to consider along with this one. For entertainment and another fascinating glimpse into the unexpectedly dramatic world of religious studies, see Ted Anton's "Eros, Magic, and the Murder of Professor Culianu." For a more in depth look at the founding of comparative religion, and an account of how a worldviews like Traditionalism came to dominate it (until very recently), see "Religion after Religion." If you want to read a more mainstream history of religious studies, see Sharpe's "Comparative Religion: A History."

If you want to read a sympathetic history of Traditionalism, I recommend Oldmeadow's "Journeys East," also an excellent example of Traditionalist expostulation disguised as neutral scholarship. The classic presentation of Traditionalism, the place you must begin, is Guenon's "The Crisis of the Modern World." For a recent presentation, try Quinn's "The Only Tradition."

Seminal account of "Traditionalism".......2006-11-05

The secretive 20th-century intellectual movement that became known as "Traditionalism" has, until recently, received little attention in scholarly literature. This state of affairs might not only have been caused by the difficulties that researchers encountered in obtaining reliable information on this elusive, international intelligentsia circle. A reason for mainstream scholarship's relative disregard for the numerous published books by René Guénon and Julius Evola may have been also that one can not take seriously their various fantasies about humanity's history and future that often seem closer to Tolkien's novels than to serious research. Indeed, the alternative world view of perennial philosophy presented in these and other authors' writings has far more to do with faith, ideology and religion, than with science. However, in view of the influence that, for instance, Evola exerted on various political groups and thinkers outside the narrow circle of Guénon's followers during the Cold War, the continued lack of attention to "Traditionalism" has been inappropriate within such disciplines as contemporary history, political science, and cultural studies. More recently a self-ascribed Russian "Traditionalist", Alexander Dugin, has, moreover, managed to gain influence on the Russian legislature, executive, mass media and higher education system. As a result of Dugin's multifarious activities, "Traditionalism" has become a major intellectual phenomenon in post-Soviet Russia, especially within the extreme right. Thus, a comprehensive study of "Traditionalism" was sorely needed.
In 2004, Mark Sedgwick did not only deliver the definitive account on "Traditionalism." He has also provided a narrative that stands out for both, the density of its factual material and the quality of its style. I have rarely read an academic book with such ease and pleasure, and, at the same time, learnt so much novel and relevant information unavailable in mainstream Western research. Sedgwick covers more than a century of international history while, at the same time, delving deeply into the recent intellectual life of such different countries as France, Egypt, Iran or Russia. This might be one of the most fascinating books in the history of ideas published during the last years. One gets, moreover, the feeling that Sedgwick, an Assistant Professor at the American University of Cairo, has greatly benefited from the inspiration derived from the fact that he is living in the same city were Guénon spent the last twenty years of his life.

Useful and Engaging.......2006-10-25

One would think, judging from the negative reviews here, that this book was a hatchet job on its subject: the individuals who have promulgated the philosophy (and ideology) of Traditionalism in the 20th and 21st centuries. The book didn't read as that to me. Rather, it struck me as a reasonably detached, thoroughly engaging history of an influential esoteric movement whose participants have previously remained opaque and cipher-like to the world at large.

But more than that, it is a bracing antidote to the lionizing of Guenon and Schuon (and others) by their followers. Do the Traditionalists have perspectives worth considering? Certainly, and they've influenced my own outlook considerably. But Traditionalism also comes with a lot of baggage (ranging from Guenon's "mild paranoia" as Sedgwick puts it, to Schuon's near deification by his cultish inner circle). _Against the Modern World_ includes that baggage as part of the bigger picture and this is of great benefit for the reader.

If you've ever read any of the Traditionalists' works, you owe it to yourself to read this book in order to gain a sense of the context in which those works arose.

(Despite some typos and minor errors in the book, I give it 5 stars in recognition of its significance in the fields of esoteric, spiritual, and religious studies. The book is not perfect, but it is extremely valuable.)

Hidden Wisdom, New Edition: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions

Average customer rating:

An excellent and concise examination
A Balanced View of the Western Esoteric Tradition
Updated, Expanded Gnosis Magazine Articles
THE guide to who's who & what's what in western esoterica
Intelligent, entertaining, extremely learned yet readable...

Hidden Wisdom, New Edition: A Guide to the Western Inner Traditions
Richard Smoley , and Jay Kinney
Manufacturer: Quest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Occult | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Mysticism | Other Practices | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Comparative Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Spirituality | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0835608441

Amazon.com

The editors of Gnosis magazine present a fascinating primer on Western religious traditions. Since the early 20th century, seekers in America "were seized with a passion for the lore of mystic Asia," the authors explain in their introduction. Meanwhile, Western traditions seemed to slip out of vogue, especially in the recent realm of New Age spiritualism. But there is much magic and wisdom to be found in Western traditions, claim Smoley and Kinney, who have embarked on an ambitious mission: breaking down the fundamental differences between Eastern and Western traditions and then extracting the best of the West for today's seekers.

Because the editors are diligent about keeping the narrative accessible, clean, and intelligent (they are magazine editors, after all), this weighty material reads exceptionally smoothly. Starting with "Jung and the Discovery of the Unconscious," each chapter delves into the intriguing--and often little-understood--mysteries of the West, including Shamans, Alchemy, Hermetism, and Sufism. --Gail Hudson

Book Description

Contemporary seekers on the hunt for an overview of the Western mystery traditions often face a small selection of dense, out-of-date tomes. Alternatively, Hidden Wisdom is a fresh, coherent, and accessible work that expounds many of the teachings of Western esotericism, examining its key figures and movements.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent and concise examination.......2005-04-19

Richard Smoley and Jay Kinney, both editors for Gnosis magazine, have done an astounding job with collecting the majority of lesser known western faiths, and placing them in a easily readable format. Exploring everything from Gnostic Christianity to the Santeria religions of the Caribbean, Kinney and Smoley use floral language and informative resources to present a non-biased and idealogical explanation for the main tenets and history of several lesser known paths.

For the most part, their theology is credible, and their history is concise. The book also provides the reader with extensive suggested further reading lists at the end of each section. If religion and studies of the divine is your forte, Hidden Wisdom is a must-read, and must-read now. As a practicing Pagan, this book was immensely interesting, and I couldn't put it down.

A Balanced View of the Western Esoteric Tradition.......2004-08-18

Richard Smoley, former editor of the (lamentably) defunct magazine "Gnosis," has written an excellent introduction to the Western Mystery Tradition in all of its major forms: Hermeticism, Wicca, esoteric Christianity, Sufism, and "the Fourth Way," among others. As always, Smoley is balanced, objective, fair, and - above all - sane. There is nothing of the fanatic or obscurantist about Smoley, and he blends a wide knowledge of the field with bits of humor and insights gained from personal experience.

Smoley is an excellent writer - intelligent and engaging, without being pedantic or superficial. I have only one caveat about this book: those already familiar with these topics - including former readers of "Gnosis" - might find that the book covers familiar territory and offers little that is new. Still, even these readers might find it useful as a reference. But for those new to these topics, you couldn't do better than start with this book; Smoley is a trusted guide in a field too often inhabited by quacks, cultists, and uncritical enthusiasts.

Updated, Expanded Gnosis Magazine Articles.......2002-07-22

Since the 1960's the West seems more interested in the Eastern Spiritual traditions than its often neglected own (kind of a reverse on the Western secular culture that is making inroads in the East!). The authors/editors of this book had their first go at at least making Westerners aware of their rich tradition native to their own culture with their magazine Gnosis. In each issue of Gnosis a particular theme was taken be it "Paganism" "Freemasonry" "Esoteric Christianity" or somethig else. In that issue they collected articles, book reviews and interviews dealing with that subject. The issue would be an excellent survey, complete with resources if one wanted to learn more on their own. Unfortunatley the magazine fell on hard times, and is no longer being produced, but the authors have hardly been hibernating -- this book is a fitting legacy to the magazine - with themes and traditions explored and written about in greater depths, generally, than the magazine.

Anyone who is interested in learning about the various Western traditions, some of which are right in front of us, and some are hanging on a thread -- this is just about your only resource! Grab on to it!

THE guide to who's who & what's what in western esoterica.......2000-03-18

The authors have accomplished a rare feat by being simultaneously sympathetic yet impartial in describing such a broad range of spiritual teachings. They provide succinct but nuanced descriptions of these teachings, along with each's history and relationships to other teachings. Also included is much sage advice for those who may wish to pursue these paths, and annotated references for additional reading. This has clearly been a labor of love on Smoley & Kinney's part. It is well worth reading for anyone with the slightest bit of interest in spiritual matters, whatever their religious preference.

Intelligent, entertaining, extremely learned yet readable..........1999-10-17

In the flood of psycho-spiritual babble books, this one is a quiet winner. Like the magazine Gnosis which the authors edited and published for many years, this book is intelligent and well-balanced and shines a much-needed light on musty areas of Western spirituality. I found it very useful, especially the annotated bibiography for each subject - sufism, Gurdjieff, alchemy, shamanism, etc. And where else would you find out the real reason why Hitler didn't invade England...? Highly recommended!

The Book of Enlightened Masters: Western Teachers in Eastern Traditions

Average customer rating:

An Extraordinary Panorama of Western Teachers
Fake information based on personal vendetta
fine piece of scholarship
650 worthless sheet (of paper)
Why Johnny can't think......

The Book of Enlightened Masters: Western Teachers in Eastern Traditions
Andrew Rawlinson
Manufacturer: Open Court Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Mysticism | New Age | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Comparative Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Sociology | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0812693108

Amazon.com

Professor and religious historian Andrew Rawlinson has done a monumental service. With an effulgent wit and a critical eye he tells the stories of virtually all the teachers, East and West, who have had an impact on establishing Eastern religious traditions in the West. Three branches of Buddhism, two lineages of Sufism, and innumerable Hindu and independent teachers are all fully represented--from Swami Vivekananda to Alan Watts, Madame Blavatsky to Idries Shah, Ruth Fuller Sasaki to Pema Chodron. A 200-year time line, charts of lineages, and tables of significant groupings supplement Rawlinson's biographies to great effect. He details historical links and tangential relationships while deftly narrating controversies without taking sides. Find your own master in this guide to spiritual leaders.

Customer Reviews:

An Extraordinary Panorama of Western Teachers.......2006-08-26

This excellent book is designed to provide a framework for understanding some of the people involved in bringing Eastern Teachings to the West, and often modifying them in the process. It is clear from the introduction that it is not designed to be a detailed exposition of teachings. To do so would require scores of volumes. Some of the teachers represented - or claimed to represent - classical mainstream Hinduism, Buddhism or Sufism. Others branched out on their own, developing independent spiritual traditions. Many of the teachers were given or simply adopted new names of Asian origin. The sub-title of this book is "Western Teachers in Eastern Traditions," though there are some exceptions. Krishnamurti is included because, from the age of 14, he received most of his education in Europe. A few other teachers born and bred in the East are included in passing.

Not only does the book provide us with innumerable informative biographies of the people mentioned, Andrew Rawlinson also provides extensive cross-references that help to illuminate some of the links connecting different teachers. He's also not afraid to expose some of the teachers who have plagiarized the work of others. In some places he has two texts side by side for comparison. Some quite well known people don't come out too smelling of roses. Like any writer, he has some strong views about some of the people whom he discusses. But I have known a number of the people mentioned in the book, and his descriptions of those have been very fair.

The book contains a vast amount of information. But equally important, is that it is a work of scholarship using some novel methods for helping us make sense of the rich and varied tapestry of thought and practice that have marked the transfer of portions of Eastern thought to Western culture.

I've used this book extensively, and in a work of this size and scope it is inevitable that there will be a few facts and opinions with which each reader will disagree. But that is the nature of scholarship: a first attempt is presented, is gets critiqued, re-edited and re-presented.

For anyone trying to get the big picture of the growth of these new religious movements, Andrew Rawlinson's book is an excellent starting point.

Fake information based on personal vendetta.......2005-06-17

Having attended many of Rawlinsons's lessons, I see this book as an outcome of Rawlinsons personal vendetta against anything that was threatening to him during his live. He never was allowed into the inner circles of what he tried to research for the very reason of his egoistic and selfish personality, being a man in great need to shine as Mr. Judge or Mr. Sheriff (sharif)

Rawlinson does not understand what he teaches/preaches. He is a walking dictionary, filled with facts, can draw on these facts like a computer, but what really counts... he does not live what he teaches, it's all rather fiction, he is a walkie-talkie of the finest order.... i.e. a kind of perpetum mobile.

fine piece of scholarship.......2002-11-02

An outstanding work. Well balanced between critical scholarship, and thorough research into the subjects. Overlooks a few teachers, but that's inevitable given the vast scope the book tackles. There is no book like this anywhere in the field of post-modern study of Western spiritual teachers and the phenomenon they represent. Dr. Rawlinson is very fair and impartial in his observations about the personal difficulties and challenges faced by many of the gurus, and how these challenges shaped their work, or in some cases detracted from it.

650 worthless sheet (of paper).......2002-07-09

The mixture that Mr. Rawlinson makes on this book is everything but "enlightning". The encyclopedic style is just on the surface, since the author focuses more on the personal details of the lives he choosed to write about, than on their specific spiritual standpoints. That makes this heavy book more a gossip than an academic work. It's tricky too, because it seems to put an impartial span of spiritual liders of the West, but, what he really wants is to advice about the deviations of this people. Which is not bad at all, if only he had the tools to do it. Instead, Mr. Rawlinson puts all in one bag and you get truly interesting perspectives (like Frithjof Schuon's Religio Perennis or "trascendent unity of religions") paired with plain crazy people.
So, this book is not a help at all; the charts are not clear and have some mistakes here and there.

Why Johnny can't think.............2001-10-21

Another book on comparative religions so filled with bias and self-centered sarcasm one can hardly read from cover to cover. What has happened to our educational system that this sort of thing passes for intelligence? No wonder "Johnny can't read". If you want to learn about the influence of the East on the West from this perspective, skip the cost of the book and simply search the internet for dirt on the particular religion. What a complete disappointment. Andrew Rawlinson never seemed to come close to the lofty title much less most of the religions he criticized.

David and Solomon: In Search of the Bible's Sacred Kings and the Roots of the Western Tradition

Average customer rating:

Well-written, but not entirely convincing
Very Interesting Biblical History
Biased and vague "truth"
David and Solomon unearthed
Same ol' same ol'

David and Solomon: In Search of the Bible's Sacred Kings and the Roots of the Western Tradition
Israel Finkelstein , and Neil Asher Silberman
Manufacturer: Free Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | World | History | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0743243625

Book Description

The exciting field of biblical archaeology has revolutionized our understanding of the Bible -- and no one has done more to popularise this vast store of knowledge than Israel Finkelstein and Neil Silberman, who revealed what we now know about when and why the Bible was first written in The Bible Unearthed. Now, with David and Solomon, they do nothing less than help us to understand the sacred kings and founding fathers of western civilization.

David and his son Solomon are famous in the Bible for their warrior prowess, legendary loves, wisdom, poetry, conquests, and ambitious building programmes. Yet thanks to archaeology's astonishing finds, we now know that most of these stories are myths. Finkelstein and Silberman show us that the historical David was a bandit leader in a tiny back-water called Jerusalem, and how -- through wars, conquests and epic tragedies like the exile of the Jews in the centuries before Christ and the later Roman conquest -- David and his successor were reshaped into mighty kings and even messiahs, symbols of hope to Jews and Christians alike in times of strife and despair and models for the great kings of Europe. A landmark work of research and lucid scholarship by two brilliant luminaries, David and Solomon recasts the very genesis of western history in a whole new light.

Customer Reviews:

Well-written, but not entirely convincing.......2007-07-14

First of all, while I disagree with the authors, this is a very entertaining book. It is well-written and their theory, as they present it, seems quite compelling. Indeed, I can't disprove their theory, which is certainly alluring in many ways.

However, I have several big issues with the authors. Primarily, they do not cite sources. Yes, the bibliography is nice, but having it doesn't mean that the authors cited agree with them or that they rightly appropriate what the authors wrote. I understand that it was written for a popular audience, but that doesn't let them off the hook.

In addition, they operate with assumptions that differ from a majority of biblical scholars. That would be okay if they were transparent. However, it seems that they would have the reader believe that their chronology (which is a couple of centuries lower than everyone else) is mainstream, when it is clearly not. (It is based on Finkelstein's ceramic chronology, which is rejected by the rest of the field.) Furthermore, they fail to justify their position on the late writing in Israel. In large part, their thesis hangs on these two highly disputed assertions.

If you want a really good review of this book, read Bill Dever's review of these two authors' first book, The Bible Unearthed. It's in the April 2001 edition of BASOR. Basically everything he says about that book applies to this one.

By the way, neither Finkelstein nor Dever identify themselves as religious.

As a side note, I'm dismayed by stuff like this. After first reading, I was at a loss. However, I had to do a critical review of it for class, and in so doing, I discovered weaknesses in their argument. I'm dismayed because most of the intended audience will not be assigned to review it, so they'll take Finkelstein (and Silberman) at their word. At least if the authors were honest, readers wouldn't assume that their claims are undisputed.

Very Interesting Biblical History.......2007-05-12

This is a very interesting book of DAVID and SOLOMON. I wanted to study to know how they live on their lives. This is an excellent book.

Biased and vague "truth".......2007-04-01

This book was extremely boring. It took a long time to finish because I had a hard time forcing myself to continually pick it up.
I appreciate differing views, but authors should at least be honest with their intentions. Despite what they say, the "facts" offered in this text contained loads of speculation and make a mockery of anyone that found evidence contrary to their own. The points that they seemed to weigh on the heaviest had less tangible evidence and more biased opinion then the rest. With all do respect to the authors, I found their arrogance to be very annoying and I do not plan on reading anything else published by them.

David and Solomon unearthed.......2007-02-21

I actually talked with Israel Finkelstein prior to his publication of this book and I remember being very concerned.

In order to do proper biblical analysis, I think the application of two skill sets is most preferable:

1) An appreciation of the curated material that the Bible gives...or text analysis and

2) An appreciation of the extra biblical material including not only archeologicial findings but other preserved historical writings and traditions.

The reason I was concerned about this book when I talked with Finkelstein was because he didn't then give me the feeling that he was familiar with, let alone, respectful of the process of text analysis.

Traditional text analysis tells us that the Old Testament of the Bible was composed by five basic authors:

1) A J author, so called because he (she, according to Harold Bloom) consistently refers to god as Yahweh (or Jahweh/Jehovah as rendered by the original German text critics) throughout his tale of creation and exodus;

2) An E author, so called because he supposedly hailed from Ephraim or Israel, the northern Yahweh worshiping Iron Age Canaanite community and called his god Elohim (at least until he revealed his name to Moses at the opening of Exodus);

3) A P author so called because his textual emandations focused on matters of concern to Priests;

4) A D author connected with Deuteronomy and Samuel 1 and 2 and Kings 1 and 2...the Bible's so called Deuteronomistic history; and

5) An R author so called because he made the final redactions necssary to bring these materials together as a complete account.

However, it is significant to point out that even these materials have been deemed to be predated under text analysis by other biblical materials most notably including:

1) Exodus 15...the Song of the Sea, dated by text analysis to around 13 to 12 hundred BCE;

2) Deuteronomy 33...the Blessing of Moses, dated by text analysis to around the time of the Song of the Sea;

3) Judges 5...the Song of Deborah, dated between the Song of the Sea and the Blessing of Moses and

4) The Blessing of Jacob...at the end of Genesis dated to around the time of King David.

As can be seen from the foregoing discussion, a text analysis, properly utilized could reveal much in terms of understanding the Bible's origins.

That's why I was very pleased to see that in his finished work, Finkelstein produced a product showing respect for not only the archeological field work he has been so connected with but also the text analysis that can be so helpful in rendering competent opinions on biblical origins.

Needless to say, what Finkelstein says about biblical origins does carry great evidentiary support. As a couple of for instances:

1) The David and Solomon monarchies were little more than country hill chiefdoms. This account, as he correctly points out, squares not only with the archeological evidence showing little growth in Jerusalem until some two hundred years following the time of David and Solomon, it also squares with other text evidence and text analysis he didn't even quote from. Again, citing the Song of Deborah, it is noteworthy to find that the tribe of Judah (David's tribe) is not even mentioned and when it is mentioned in older biblical text material (the Blessing of Moses) the notice is not very abbreviated...consistent with Finkelstein's claim of the humble origins of David and Solomon. This also squares with text analysis provided by Mark Smith in his The Early History of God wherein Smith makes the case that the early biblical representations of the miraculous origins of Yahweh worship were themselves later emandations from the times of Hezekiah and Josiah...again in accord with points made by Finkelstein in this book.

2) Judah and Israel were in reality two separate kingdoms for which a claim of mythic original unity was only made after the fall of Israel to Sargon II under King Hoshea in 721 BCE. Here again, a review of the Song of Deborah notably shows the absence of Judah as joining under the forces of Barak. And here again, Mark Smith's book would again easily harmonize with the Finkelstein thesis that a joint ancient Israel and Judah under David and Solomon was merely a later created myth of origins.

Admittedly, and particularly as to the second for instance just mentioned, there remains the notice in the Blessing of Moses which seemingly unites Judah with the Israelite tribes as part of a common entity. And admittedly there is also the scholarship of Richard Friedman (author of: Who wrote the Bible, The Hidden Book in the Bible, among others) whose text analysis fails to easily and fully harmonize with all the dating and all the suppositions made by Finkelstein.

However, these discrepancies serve like this book itself, not to hinder but to further one of the most fascinating of inquiries: the historical bonafides of the Bible itself.

Same ol' same ol'.......2007-01-04

Having read the previous book by this duo about biblical archeology I looked forward to a good and interesting read. I was hugely disappointed. There was nothing new in this book: it seemed to be a re-hash of some of the material in the earlier book. It may well be interesting to those who have not read the first book, but for me it was very tempting to put it down. (However, I did read it through to the end.)

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 4: Faith, Reason, and Power in the Early Modern World

Average customer rating:

Price is Right
Humanistic Traditions (vol. 4-6)

The Humanistic Tradition, Book 4: Faith, Reason, and Power in the Early Modern World
Gloria K. Fiero
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Ancient & Classical | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Baroque | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Rococo | Schools, Periods & Styles | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Folklore & Mythology | Social Sciences | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

Ancient | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Arts & Photography | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Literature & Fiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0072317337

Book Description

In Book Four: Faith, Reason, and Power in the Early Modern World, readers are exposed to the cornerstones of the early modern world, from the age of the Baroque to the art, music, and culture of the eighteenth century. As in previous volumes, the author presents lively discussion accompanied by literary excerpts and examples to illuminate a variety of topics, including Catholicism's global reach, the birth of modern philosophy, the political theories of Hobbes and Locke, the Enlightenment, and the music of Hayden and Mozart, to name a few.

Customer Reviews:

Price is Right.......2006-08-11

The price of the book was a very good price compared to other places I've looked.

Humanistic Traditions (vol. 4-6).......2000-05-26

Fiero has done a wonderful job surveying history, making it enjoyable and interesting to almost any reader. With pictures of artwork and architecture, Fiero's text is enchanced, allowing the reading to gain a broader view into history from the enlightenment to modern times. As with many history books, the writer's presuppitions are reflected in their writing. Fiero follows this trend, allowing her feministic presupptions to interpret history. While this is not so evident in volumes 4 and 5, in volume 6 (a review of modern times), this view is highly stated. This series (including the first 3 volumes) is a wonderful review of history, allowing the reader to see into various cultures throughout history.

Green Man, Earth Angel: The Prophetic Tradition and the Battle for the Soul of the World (Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions)

Average customer rating:

Grab a highlighter & some paper & a pen
Beautiful!
Do your Self a favor and read this book!!!

Green Man, Earth Angel: The Prophetic Tradition and the Battle for the Soul of the World (Suny Series in Western Esoteric Traditions)
Tom Cheetham
Manufacturer: State University of New York Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

Comparative Religion | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0791462706

Book Description

Argues for a renewed vision of the cosmos based on the centrality of the human encounter with the sacred.

Customer Reviews:

Grab a highlighter & some paper & a pen.......2007-02-01

This book of Cheetham's is another success! It is one not to be rushed through, I find myself wanting to jot down many notes & highlight almost everything. Get the book, lock yourself at home for a weekend & emerse yourself in it...you won't be sorry.

Beautiful!.......2006-02-21

The works of Tom Cheetham are as world-changing as they are needed. In his first book, "The World Turned Inside Out", he provides the reader with an introductory text to the works of Henry Corbin. In this book - Green Man, Earth Angel- he "explores the central role of imagination for understanding the place of humans in the cosmos". He embarks on these explorations by examining the role of language, the problems of scientific rationalism and through an examination of the worldview of the Abrahamic faiths: Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
As Dr. Robert Sardello in the foreword says:
"This book requires slow reading, for as you read these living words you are undergoing a transformation. At the end of this reading, the world will not be the same".

Do your Self a favor and read this book!!!.......2006-01-03

YEAH!!!Another book from Tom Cheetham that speaks to the Soul...Clarity...well Re-Searched...WE LOVE IT!!!

Journeys East: 20th Century Western Encounters with Eastern Religous Traditions (The Library of Perennial Philosophy)

Average customer rating:

a defense of Traditionalism not promised by the title
Take a Journey East
A Ground-Breaking Masterwork

Journeys East: 20th Century Western Encounters with Eastern Religous Traditions (The Library of Perennial Philosophy)
Harry Oldmeadow
Manufacturer: World Wisdom
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Philosophy | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Other Eastern Religions | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0941532577

Book Description

Journeys East tells the story of the twentieth century's encounters between East and West by exploring the lives of many of the most fascinating scientists, intellectuals, artists, and spiritual seekers of our time.

Download Description

"The West's modern encounter with the East, particularly in the religious domain, was one of the most momentous events of our time.[yet] despite the many distinguished studies in the field, there [is] a certain gap which might usefully be filled." With these words, the author of Journeys East, Harry Oldmeadow, begins to fill that gap. If we accept, as the author does, "that Eastern religious traditions, even today and despite the ravages of modernization, are custodians of a wisdom of which the West stands in the most urgent need," then this book traces for us how and when that wisdom has had an impact on modern Western thought and spirituality in a stunning variety of ways. In short, Journeys East presents readers with a sweeping view of events and people that have contributed and are still contributing much to the assimilation of Eastern ideas into modern Western thought. Oldmeadow moves quickly through the history of Western engagements with Eastern traditions, looks at Eastern influences on Western thought, and concludes with some observations on cross-cultural religious understanding and the inner unity of religions. The two concluding chapters offer important keys that can not only help us to recognize the spirit of the East in current Western ideas, but also to unlock its expansive and timeless secrets within our own intellectual and spiritual lives. Professor Harry Oldmeadow is currently the Coordinator of Philosophy and Religious Studies at La Trobe University in Bendigo, Australia. Over the last decade he has published extensively in such journals as Sacred Web, Sophia, and Asian Philosophy.

Customer Reviews:

a defense of Traditionalism not promised by the title.......2005-10-19

The title of this book suggests that it is a history of 20th century Westerners studying or practicing Eastern religious traditions. Really, the first 330 pages of the book deliver just that, and they do so very well. I was pleased to get good biographical information about figures such as the Theosophists, Jung, Campbell, Eliade, Marco Pallis, D. T. Suzuki, Allen Ginsberg, Ram Dass, Alan Watts, Thomas Merton, Bede Griffiths, Ken Wilber and many others. In fact, I really would've enjoyed more of that: more extensive accounts of their lives, their thought and what influenced them.

That section of the book gets five stars from me; even though the sections are way too short and shallow. Figures such as Jung, Merton and Watts, not to mention many others, deserve a richer coverage than this. Nevertheless, the breadth of the coverage is very nice. It is a fine introduction.

I nearly deducted a star even in the first section because the author does not see his task to be one of history, but of evaluation according to Traditionalist criteria (elaborated especially by Schuon and Nasr). He is concerned to report about whether these figures fulfilled the Traditionalist ideal, which in my opinion is a distraction from the more interesting account of what they did, taught and what influenced them.

In the last hundred pages or so, he slips into a defense of Traditionalism and an attack on methodological materialism. I've also recently read Huston Smith's Why Religion Matters, which had this project as its sole subject, and I think that's the better way to handle it.

Essentially, the issue is how to study religion academically. Generally, practitioners and believers of religious traditions study in order to better understand the values and teachings of their tradition, rather than to understand mere historical or psychological contingencies. On the other side, many scholars want universities to be sites of skepticism and questioning rather than indoctrination; but that is inevitably a secular approach. The struggles between the two sides disturb the faculties of many religious studies departments.

I was underwhelmed even by Smith, but Oldmeadow's discussion never rises above sermonizing. I think he anticipated having a sympathetic audience, because he did not address any of the reasons that people disagree with him. He presents ridiculously parodied visions of science and philosophy, casually blaming them for all the ills of industrialism and commercialism.

It would be enough for me to say that I disagree with him; but I want to emphasize how unfairly he presented science and philosophy, and wonder why.

Quite often, in fact, he attacks evolution not only as a cultural or spiritual theory (where it is very questionable), but in biology itself. He claims to have no quarrel with the actual findings of science, merely with the way they are interpreted. That seems to imply that we can search for interpretations of scientific facts to fit our nonscientific intuitions (moral and mystical, for instance).

However, (p. 358):

"[I]t is preferable to believe that God created the world in six days and that heaven lies in the blue skies above the flat surface of the earth than it is to know precisely the distance from one nebula to another whilst forgetting the truth embodied in this symbolism, namely that all phenomena depend on a higher Reality which determines us and gives our human existence meaning and purpose. A materially inaccurate but symbolically rich view is always preferable to the regime of brute fact."

That is a fascinating admission, and ultimately this is why I will remember this book (although I will happily return to its better parts for reference).

Is it not better, I would ask, to know the brute facts and face them honestly, and then to discover and elaborate their rich symbolic, spiritual potential?

I would answer affirmatively without hesitation, and look for inspiration to examples such as Chet Raymo, Loyal Rue, Ursula Goodenough, Carl Sagan or Ed Wilson, perhaps even Brian Swimme, not to mention stars like Einstein. That is on the scientific side of the question, with which I am well familiar.

His portrait of philosophy was just as unfair; in order to do it he had to pass over figures as central as Wittgenstein and as relevant to the stated theme of the book as Jaspers.

The greater part of this review has focused on content in the last 100 pages of this book. The first two-thirds of the book, when he generally stuck to the theme announced by the title and subtitle, were very interesting and deserve the customary five stars of Amazon reviews. But the final pages are not only irrelevant, but so poorly argued, if they were meant to be an argument rather than a sermon, that they deserve one star at best. So I compromise.

I want to close by emphasizing again that the first 2/3 really are a good introduction to the subject, and if that's what you want you'll find it there.

Take a Journey East.......2005-08-13

"Journeys East" deals primarily with Western responses to Eastern wisdom in the 19th and the 20th centuries. Written from what can be broadly called a traditionalist perspective (i.e. agreeing fundamentally with the philosophical perspectives of René Guénon, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy, and Frithjof Schuon), this is a profound and comprehensive guide to the interaction between Western thinkers and seekers of the modern era (Carl Jung, Joseph Needham, Bede Griffiths, et al.) and the traditional wisdom of the East (encompassing India, Tibet, China, Japan and South East Asia).
As an undergraduate my twin majors were in Studies in Western Traditions and Chinese Studies. I saw nothing inherently conflicting in studying the best of both East and West (and contra Kipling have found that they often meet). During this time I was lucky enough to study under Kenneth "Harry" Oldmeadow, and this book conforms to the high standards that I have come to expect from him both as a teacher and a scholar. "Journeys East" is an entertaining and philosophically challenging reference source for those who either wish to learn more about those modern Westerners who have studied Eastern religions in depth, or who wish themselves to make a journey East of their own.

A Ground-Breaking Masterwork.......2004-07-07

I can only concur with Prof. Huston Smith, who writes about this book "This is the most comprehensive, engaging, and responsible treatment of the advent of Asian thought to the West that has ever been written -- 'Journeys East' will be indispensable for students of comparative religion".

This extraordinarily well written work ranges across enormous terrain covering more than 100 years of intellectual history reflecting the influence of Asian thought on major 20th century philosophers, artists, spiritual seekers and adventurers. Although it is a serious work of scholarship, reflecting astonishing depth and breadth of erudition and great sensitivity to the subject matter, it is also a highly readable book which will fascinate any reader who is even marginally interested the impact of Eastern thought on the Western mind.

Customer Reviews:

Important but imperfect.......2003-08-30

This is certainly Faivre's most useful book for a broad knowledge of esotericism. It's really not a book, actually, but a series of articles and an annotated bibliography, but it holds together well and is readable just as it is. The translation is solid--it's the work of Joscelyn Godwin, a student of Faivre's, whose works are also very useful.

The nice thing about Faivre is that he takes the subject-matter seriously, which isn't exactly usual, and he goes into some depth about the 18th and 19th century thinkers he's interested in (von Baader, notably). For an introduction to a somewhat lost period, i.e. Enlightenment occultism, you could hardly do better than Faivre. He was until recently a professor at the Sorbonne, and has founded a whole little school of scholarship on esotericism (Hanegraaf and Godwin leap to mind).

On the down side, Faivre is a weak phenomenologist, and this leads him occasionally into dubious categorical divisions that distort the material. To put it more simply, the distinctions he makes among esotericism, mysticism, and occultism are problematic, and lead him to cut off from view a lot of interesting figures. The reason, I think, is that he believes that a certain sort of syncretic esoteric viewpoint is the best hope for a spiritual revival of western humanity, and so he focuses on the thinkers he thinks best support that goal.

The very best thing here is his annotated bibliography. It's not perfect, to be sure, and now a bit dated, but there is nothing like it since Albert Caillet, who's so encyclopedic as to be unhelpful to a beginner (he's also very dated, of course). If you're serious about learning something about the occult in later European history, you need to read through this bibliography and take Faivre's advice.

I don't think this is a book that a serious student should be without. At the same time, I would advise a little caution with his glib definitional and methodological pronouncements.

Access can be tough.......2000-06-13

"Access to Western Esotericism" by Antoine Faivre is a dense book, yet it is that very density that makes it a cornerstone for research into Western estotericism. Not for the beginner, "Access" is written by one of the world's leading academic authorities on western mystical and occult movements from the Renaissance to the present. Carrying the information of an encyclopedia and written like a Ph.D. thesis, "Access" contains in 369 pages an entire synopsis of 1,000 years of Western European spiritual development. Beginning with the Alexandrian Period, the reader is taken through the development of the various esoteric currents of Rosicrucianism, Alchemy, Qabala, Hermeticism, and Christian Qabala. Then, in the second half of "Access" the reader is introduced to the key figures, works, and movements in esotericism. A great deal of the book is concerned with defining key terms, such as 'esotericism', 'gnosis', 'theosophy', and 'occultism'. As stated, it is a dense book written by a brilliant man, it is not easy reading, but it is well worth reading if you take your esotericism seriously. Faivre is Professor at the Ecole Pratique des Hautes Etudes, Religious Studies Section, Sorbonne, Paris. He holds the chair of "History of Esoteric and Mystical Currents in Modern and Contemporary Europe."

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books