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.

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei

Average customer rating:

Great praise due (from a Non RC reader)
Excellent introduction to Opus Dei
Understanding to dispell fear and a call to live as the family we are called to be
Excellent Intro to Opus Dei
Excellent!

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei
Scott Hahn
Manufacturer: Doubleday Religion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0385519249
Release Date: 2006-09-26

Book Description

To conspiracy theorists, Opus Dei is a highly secretive and powerful international organization. To its members, however, Opus Dei is a spiritual path, a way of incorporating the teachings of Jesus into everyday life. In Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace, Scott Hahn, a member of Opus Dei, describes the organization’s founding, its mission, and its profound influence on his life.

Hahn recounts the invaluable part Opus Dei played in his conversion from Evangelical Christianity to Catholicism and explains why its teachings remain at the center of his life. Through stories about his job, his marriage, his role as a parent, and his community activities, Hahn shows how Opus Dei’s spirituality enriches the meaning of daily tasks and transforms ordinary relationships. He offers inspiring insights for reconciling spiritual and material goals, discussing topics ranging from ambition, workaholism, friendship, and sex, to the place of prayer and sacrifice in Christianity today.

Engaging and enlightening, Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace is at once a moving personal story and an inspiring work of contemporary spirituality.

Customer Reviews:

Great praise due (from a Non RC reader).......2007-09-04

I read this in the interest of fairness. I wanted to be fair to Opus Dei, and I wanted to be fair to my own assessment of the da vinci code (scary pablum). I found out that Dr. Hahn enjoys his involvement. Apparently, he needs confirmation from outside himself to enjoy his work. I don't wonder.

Excellent introduction to Opus Dei.......2007-08-01

I was extremely surprised when I was given this book as a gift. I had no idea that Scott Hahn was a member of "The Work" as OD members call it. As someone who has had many positive experiences with Opus Dei and who has wanted to know more about them for a while, I found this book to be exactly what I was looking for. There is not much of Scott Hahn's own biographical journey here, although it is briefly mentioned in places. It is really an introduction to the spirituality of Opus Dei for the ordinary person. Extremely clear and well written, and inspiring! After reading this book, I have a deeper understanding of the motive, mission and philosophy of Opus Dei (their charism, really) and a more profound respect for their work.

Understanding to dispell fear and a call to live as the family we are called to be.......2007-05-18

There has been a lot of talk, even in Protestant circles, about "friendship evangelism." Prof. Hahn reveals it in Opus Dei. Another focus has been placed on scripture and Prof. Hahn tells us about that same focus in Opus Dei. Other groups, like Promise Keepers, have tried to stress the importance of spiritual males who live their faith in our culture. Opus Dei has been stressing the same from the beginning. Others have tried to reinstill the dignity of work in the life of Christians. Again, Opus Dei was already doing that too. Then there is the family of God focus in some groups and, again, Opus Dei beat them to the punch. Prof. Hahn exposes the "sinister" secrets of Opus Dei and shows us what we all have been seeking all along - a family that works together to the glory of God. To counter fear of the uknown, Prof. Hahn, with his always strong focus on the Scriptures, gives us inside knowledge to dispel the myths and fears. Would that all Christians take up the vocation of Opus Dei and stop fighting amongst ourselves.

Excellent Intro to Opus Dei.......2007-04-11

This is an excellent introduction to an organization that has had much contradictory positive and negative press. Thanks, Scott.

Excellent!.......2007-01-19

A great read and excellent book for all who are truly seeking to find God in thier daily life.Every home should have a copy of this book and it makes a great Father's day gift and just a great gift overall.

Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church

Average customer rating:

You make the call.
Ambitious work but tedious
Excellent Evolution of a Writer
"Widely considered as the definitive book on Opus Dei"
Lots of information and Lots of Bias

Opus Dei: An Objective Look Behind the Myths and Reality of the Most Controversial Force in the Catholic Church
John L. Allen
Manufacturer: Doubleday Religion
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0385514492
Release Date: 2005-11-01

Amazon.com

For readers of The Da Vinci Code, John Allen's book on Opus Dei may be something of a revelation. One opens it expecting to find at the very least GPS coordinates pinpointing albino monk training camps. Or perhaps full disclosure of untold wealth flowing through offshore bank accounts. Instead one finds exhaustive research, interviews and careful analysis that reveal a group alive with ideas and purpose, but a bit short on sinister plans. Removing the sense of mystery surrounding Opus Dei may not serve future thriller writers well, but the journey is fascinating in its own right. Allen's biography of Opus Dei is also necessarily a brief biography of Saint Josemaría Escrivá, born in Spain in 1902, whose vision of the sanctification of work gave birth to Opus Dei, or "The Work" as its members call it. The idea of finding sanctification through work was not original to Escrivá, but the power of his vision certainly brought it to a fuller realization within the Catholic church. Allen explores this central idea that "one can find God through the practice of law, engineering or medicine, by picking up the garbage or by delivering the mail, if one brings to that work the proper Christian spirit." For Escrivá sanctification flowed in equal measure both in and outside the walls of the church. Much of Allen's own work getting to know Opus Dei is done with numerous, wide-ranging personal interviews, from the halls of the Vatican, to Africa, to U.S. suburbs. Allen is also careful to include voices of ex-members. He recognizes the best way to dispel the aura of mystery surrounding Opus Dei is to shine a bright light on it, and with a remarkable degree of cooperation from Opus Dei itself, that is exactly what he does. His aggressiveness in countering conspiracy theory with information reaches its apex in the only slow-going chapter in the entire book, a survey of Opus Dei's financial holdings and activities where a double-shot of cappuccino is recommended before attacking the endless lists detailing financial information. Ultimately, Allen's work comes across as a balanced, perceptive inquiry into a group that, while perhaps not preferring the center stage limelight, does not suffer greatly when exposed to it.--Ed Dobeas

Book Description

The first serious journalistic investigation of the highly secretive, controversial organization Opus Dei provides unique insight about the wild rumors surrounding it and discloses its significant influence in the Vatican and on the politics of the Catholic Church.

Opus Dei (literally “the work of God”) is an international association of Catholics often labeled as conservative who seek personal Christian perfection and strive to implement Christian ideals in their jobs and in society as a whole. Founded in Spain in 1928, it now has 84,000 members (1,600 of whom are priests) in eighty countries. But far from running bingo nights at local parishes, Opus Dei has become a center of controversy and suspicion both within and outside the Church. It has been accused of promoting a right-wing political agenda and of cultlike practices, aggressive recruiting, brainwashing new recruits, and isolating members from their families. Its notoriety escalated with the publication of the runaway bestseller The Da Vinci Code (Opus Dei plays an important and sinister role in the novel) and with the previous pope’s much-debated canonization of its founder (often linked with Francisco Franco’s facist regime) and the discovery that convicted FBI spy Robert Hanson was a member of Opus Dei.

With the expert eye of a longtime trusted observer of the Vatican and the skill of an investigative reporter intent on uncovering closely guarded secrets, John Allen finally separates the myths from the facts in Opus Dei. Granted unlimited access to the prelate who heads the organization and to Opus Dei centers throughout the world, Allen draws on a wealth of interviews with current members, as well as with highly critical ex-members, to create an unprecedented portrait of the activities, practices, and intentions behind its veil of secrecy. Allen reveals the remarkable power that Opus Dei commands in shaping Vatican policy and presents a detailed look at the full extent of its network, which includes people in key positions in politics, banking, academia, and other influential arenas. He even describes the arcane rituals—including self-flagellation—performed to preserve and promote a spiritual tradition strange and unsettling to modern sensibilities.

For years, Opus Dei has been the subject of conspiracy theories and dark, uninformed speculation. Opus Dei sets the record straight.

Customer Reviews:

You make the call........2007-08-23

I now know what Opus Dei is and what it is not. John Allen did a very thorough analysis of Opus Dei including the good, the bad and the ugly.
The myths have been debunked. Mr Allen just lays it all out there and you can make your own judgment.

Ambitious work but tedious.......2007-02-09

I'm not sure if it was due to poor organization or an attempt to maximize the information gathered, but I slogged through this book. I found the same quotes/information by the same subjects repeated nearly verbatim and used to fit a variety of contexts. That, and the fact that each chapter was separated into many brief subsections made reading this book a rather tedious enterprise. I found myself skipping pages that presented "more of the same" rather frequently. Chapter 15 promises that it's now time to make conclusions, but these are the same points Allen made (often more than once) in previous chapters.

Is it possible to be objective to the point of irrelevancy? I think so, and this book may approach that line. The presentation of point-counterpoint begins as a fairly balanced exercise, but by the time the reader is about halfway through it, the system becomes annoying. One already knows in reading an experience or opinion that it's going to be refuted on the next page.

What Allen fails to do often enough is ask the question, "Why?" and provide more interesting analysis. He mentions a few times that Opus Dei in the UK grows little and he anemically offers the late Cardinal Hume's reticence as a reason. Sorry, but that doesn't satisfy. Conversely, Allen demonstrates the strength of Opus Dei in Spanish-speaking countries but never probes why this might be. Indeed, readers don't get much of a picture of Opus Dei in the United States. Allen globetrots to interview members in other countries where the movement is popular while not explaining WHY it is popular in Peru and not, apparently, in Peoria. Or is it? We have little idea because of this and many loose threads.

I gave this book 3 stars because it does a good job of explaining what Opus Dei is. However, I was being a bit generous because I think that people buying it expect more analysis and less spoon-fed material. Authors would prefer that people read their books from cover to cover, and serious readers prefer that, too. But because of the repetition, this book disappoints when read from beginning to end. Perhaps skipping around in this case is better. Best would be a thorough edit that reduces the repetition and reorganizes away from the interminable tennis match of point-counterpoint.

Excellent Evolution of a Writer.......2006-08-18

Having finished reading the entire book, I urge any and all to get it and read it. John Allen has transformed himself from a spinner for liberal heterodox points of view into an objective researcher. I predict this book will be a watershed in setting straight the distortions that lack of information and plain old envy have hurled at Opus Dei for decades. I hope that Allen can eventually sever his connection with the heterodox National Catholic Reporter. He can certainly do better than that, and sentimentality is no reason to keep career ties that no longer match his professional evolution from spinner to objective researcher. If he sticks to this pattern, he will regain the credibility he lost in some of his prior writings. I applaud him and tip my scapular to him. I hope I don't have to take back my praise in the future. For more details, see my Catholic Analysis blog post for August 15, 2006.

"Widely considered as the definitive book on Opus Dei" .......2006-08-01

I give this a five! I am a fan of objectivity, and I know one when I see one.

Who else can write with such objectivity over such a controversial topic than John Allen Jr! His objectivity has been called "maddening." He does not take sides. He just tells it as it is. And that is what he did here. That's why he is the Vatican analyst of CNN, NPR and CBS. The guy has authority.

To find out if Opus Dei does aggressive recruitment, what did he do? He asked the students in Opus Dei schools. He asked their parents. He asked Opus Dei members. Did you feel pressured? That's going to the source!

To find out if Opus Dei is extremely wealthy, he went from one school to another, one center to another, got an accountant, and lo and behold. With the figures, the worldwide prelature comes out as nothing more than the usual American mid-size diocese.

And since he got so much information --a plane load, he says--, and since he kept on asking members and they kept on answering, and since he compared Opus Dei with other institutions (Skull and Bones for the example!!), and he stayed in the center to ferret out secrets... well... he finds out there are no secrets.

But he tells Opus Dei, hey guys, open up some more! You had too much zeal in this or that. You made mistakes in the beginning. You have a promising product, but you were savagely attacked. So: Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.

No wonder, many people around the world give this book 4 to 5 stars. No wonder, it has received so many favourable reviews, even from Opus Dei critics. No wonder, four time Emmy winner, Martha Teichner of CBS said that John Allen's Opus Dei is "widely considered as the definitive book on Opus Dei."

I cannot but agree on such an objective assessment of an objective book.

Lots of information and Lots of Bias.......2006-07-25

As implied in the title, John Allen has set himself an ambitious goal in his latest book: to give a truly objective examination of a highly controversial group greatly favored by the late Pope John Paul II. Unfortunately, the result of his year's research and labor, while interesting and highly informative, is far from objective. However unintentionally, Allen's book emerges more as an attempt to refute the most strident charges against Opus Dei. One is almost tempted to add another subtitle to it: "Apologia pro Amicibus Suis?"

What is perhaps the most serious flaw of John Allen's examination of Opus Dei is his dependence on his subject itself for almost all his documentary evidence and even many of his other sources of information. Because of Opus Dei's emphasis on secrecy - or, as they prefer to call it, discretion - and its careful guarding of its written documents, even its Statutes, there are no independent archives of Opus Dei's foundational documents, training materials, or internal memos. When Allen wanted to see a document, he asked the information officer (read PR/spokesman) assigned to help him who told him if it was available or not, and if available, gave it to him to read in Opus Dei's offices. Thus, there was no external or independent source for Opus documentation. It could show only what it wished to show. The same was true for the much more frequent instances when Allen wanted to know Opus policy or formation for its members on a particular point: again, his only response was the Opus Dei line as stated by a professional PR person.

Another serious problem with Allen being so much exposed to the Opus line is that, like many or even most people today, he lacks the kind of knowledge of history in general and Catholic and theological history in particular that would provide a counterweight against which to measure OD's claims. The most egregious single example of this is Opus' oft touted claim that in emphasizing the role and sanctification of the laity, Escriva was a prophet foretelling the insight of Vatican II. If Allen knew a bit about the many lay Catholic Action movements that sprang up all over Europe before World War I, inspired by the publication of Leo XIII's Rerum Novarum, he might not swallow Opus' inflated claims so blithely. A better knowledge of the history of the spirituality of the Benedictines, Dominicans, and Franciscans and their extensive Third Orders would provide a similar corrective on the Opus "insights" of the sanctification of work or "divine filiation." Instead, Allen gushes what a "riveting historical figure" Escriva was (p.43).

Actually, beneath the hype and exaggerated claims, there are only really two main differences between these traditional Third Orders and The Work: first, the creation of a group of lay consecrated virgins (the numeraries, Opus Dei's shock troops, who constitute 20% of its membership) and secondly, the much tighter rein Opus Dei keeps on its 70% supernumerary membership, "requesting" (read requiring) weekly confession or spiritual direction, whereas the much looser traditional Third Orders have only monthly meetings or events and no specific policy on frequency of confession and spiritual direction. It might in fact be interesting or even instructive to compare the numbers of adherents claimed by Opus Dei to those of the Third Orders of the Franciscans, Dominicans, and the Benedictine Oblates to gain more perspective on this supposedly unique phenomenon of Opus Dei.

The only other external controls" (very partial ones) on Opus Dei's monopoly on information on itself is from disillusioned former members who have written about their experiences, like Maria del Carmen Tapia, Miguel Fisac, and the contributors to ODAN, the Opus Dei Awareness Network. These people can testify verbally or in writing to what they experienced but few if any were ever able to take documentation of their claims out of Opus Dei when they left. Allen seems to have read at least some of their accounts (although his omission of a bibliography or footnotes make it difficult to be sure) and even interviewed a sprinkling of the dissatisfied formers, but then he always appears to have asked his OD "handlers" to respond to their charges. Invariably, in his book, much more space is given to Opus Dei's response or self-justification than to the original charge. Opus Dei also put Allen in contact with former members who left or changed status within OD on good terms, leading Allen to the conclusion that many more have left The Work on good terms than on bad.

Opus Dei's spokespersons also frequently emphasized that The Work is basically decentralized and its local and national centers have a great deal of independence relating to formation and day-to-day administration. Thus, little in writing, few central records or overall statistics and supposedly few or no written records of the running of their local and national centers by their directors, either for the past or the present. One frequent refrain when confronted with horror stories from ex-members is "well, that might have happened in that center with that director back then, but it certainly doesn't happen any more. It was an aberration." Allen doesn't seem to see the incongruity of Opus Dei's claims: if centers are independent and Opus Dei in Rome doesn't have detailed written documentation, how can it claim to know what did or didn't happen in the past or in the present in its centers? If centers are so independent, how can an Opus spokesperson know what is being suggested, taught or allowed relative to its members?

Allen seems to have made a fundamental decision to believe what Opus Dei tells him. He doesn't seems to even entertain the thought that they might give him a less than totally honest answer to his questions or might even bend the truth 'for the good of The Work.' Since Allen's didactic methodology is to take the most extreme and strident criticisms of Opus Dei, ask his Opus 'handlers' to respond to them, and then draw his conclusions, his almost total lack of scepticism relating to what OD tells him is a major weakness of his book.

These are not vain comments made by someone who merely disagrees with Allen's opinions. I am a trained historian with specializations in early modern and modern Europe. I have done research in primary sources from the 16th century French wars of religion to World War II's Vichy government. I also spent 20 years working for a large international law firm and did many 'due diligence' investigations of target companies in multi-million dollar mergers as well as other kinds of legal research. Had I ever made the kind of extrapolations or manifested the kind of naivete that John Allen demonstrates in most of his book, I would have been reprimanded or even shown the door.

None of the above is meant to imply that John Allen's Opus Dei is not a valuable resource. Allen has done a tremendous amount of research and brought together a wealth of materials. This book is a goldmine of well-organized information on Opus Dei, its history, structure and official positions on the controversies to which it has given rise. One can learn a great deal about Opus Dei by reading John Allen's book. One simply has to recognize the bias of which he seems unaware and exercise extreme caution in accepting his conclusions.

Opus Dei, which is almost as media-savvy as the Legionnaires of Christ, has praised Allen's book to the skies. They know good PR when they see it.

Inculturation of the Jesus Tradition: The Impact of Jesus on Jewish and Roman Cultures

Average customer rating:

Focusing on the first two centuries of Christianity

Inculturation of the Jesus Tradition: The Impact of Jesus on Jewish and Roman Cultures
Graydon F. Snyder
Manufacturer: Trinity Press International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Judaism | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1563382954

Book Description

Rather than asking the typical question about how Greco-Roman culture impinged on the Jesus tradition and altered it, this book turns the question around and demonstrates how the Jesus tradition altered both Jewish and Roman cultures.

Graydon Snyder begins with an analysis of major New Testament material - how the Gospels used Jesus to undermine some cultural values, how Paul used the same tradition to suspend cultural expressions, and how John universalized Jesus by deculturizing him.

Moving to the second century, Snyder shows in detail, with appropriate categorization, how scholars since F.C. Baur have perceived the transforming impact of Jewish and Roman culture on the nascent Jesus movement. He reverses the question and, with the aid particularly of non-literary data, shows how the Jesus tradition infiltrated Jewish and Roman cultures in selected cultural areas such as symbols, art, architecture, inscriptions, calendar, commensuality, gender, and health care. Includes photos and illustrations.

Graydon F. Snyder is Emeritus Professor of New Testament at Chicago Theological Seminary.

Customer Reviews:

Focusing on the first two centuries of Christianity.......2003-03-10

While many have written about how Greco-Roman culture affected or altered the religious traditions involving Jesus Christ, Inculturation Of The Jesus Tradition: The Impact Of Jesus On Jewish And Roman Cultures by Graydon F. Snyder (Emeritus Professor of New Testament, Chicago Theological Seminary) is a fascinating and thoughtful study of how the Jesus traditions altered Jewish and Roman cultures. Principally focusing on the first two centuries of Christianity, in terms of how faith in Jesus as the Son of God affected the symbols, art, architecture, inscription, calendar, and many other major and minor details of Greco-Roman life, Inculturation Of The Jesus Tradition is a informed and informative study which is highly recommended to students of Antiquarian Christian History, Post-Christian Judaic Studies, and Greco-Roman Anno Dominie culture.

The Loving Heart (Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II) (Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II)

Average customer rating:

The Loving Heart (Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II) (Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II)
Pope John Paul II
Manufacturer: Atria
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0743444418

Book Description

In October 1978, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, archbishop of Kraków, was elected Pope, taking the name John Paul II in honor of his predecessor, who died after just thirty-three days in office. John Paul II was a surprising choice: Not only was he relatively young, at fifty-eight, but he was also the first non-Italian to be elevated to the papacy for more than 450 years. Eight months later, Wojtyla returned to his native Poland as Pope, receiving a rapturous welcome from his fellow Poles, who were then still living under communism. This was the beginning of John Paul II's extraordinary engagement with the world--work that remade the Catholic Church and reached out to people of all faiths in every nation.

Karol Wojtyla was born near Kraków in 1920. Having studied theology secretly during the German occupation, he was ordained a priest in 1946, becoming archbishop in 1964 and cardinal in 1967. Outspoken and often controversial, John Paul II became one of the best-known figures in the world as the Cold War drew to an end. The most traveled Pope there has been, he had visited 123 countries by his eightieth birthday. By his eighty-third birthday, in 2003, he had become the fourth-longest-serving Pope in history, having worked diligently to secure his theological legacy within the church.

This volume demonstrates the breadth and depth of John Paul II's life and interests. A Life in Prayer collects prayers and public speeches from the four volumes of The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II. The selections illustrate his devotion to the Virgin Mary and the Rosary, the foundations of his spiritual life, the profound range of his compassion, and the poetry of his life and language. A Life in Prayer also includes extracts from Tad Szulc's biography of John Paul II that describe the key moments in Wojtyla's life.

In 1994, John Paul II was named Time magazine's Person of the Year. The magazine said, "His power rests in the word, not the sword....He is an army of one, and his empire is both as ethereal and as ubiquitous as the soul."

Download Description

"In October 1978, Karol Cardinal Wojtyla, archbishop of Kraków, was elected Pope, taking the name John Paul II in honor of his predecessor, who died after just thirty-three days in office. John Paul II was a surprising choice: Not only was he relatively young, at fifty-eight, but he was also the first non-Italian to be elevated to the papacy for more than 450 years. Eight months later, Wojtyla returned to his native Poland as Pope, receiving a rapturous welcome from his fellow Poles, who were then still living under communism. This was the beginning of John Paul II's extraordinary engagement with the world--work that remade the Catholic Church and reached out to people of all faiths in every nation. Karol Wojtyla was born near Kraków in 1920. Having studied theology secretly during the German occupation, he was ordained a priest in 1946, becoming archbishop in 1964 and cardinal in 1967. Outspoken and often controversial, John Paul II became one of the best-known figures in the world as the Cold War drew to an end. The most traveled Pope there has been, he had visited 123 countries by his eightieth birthday. By his eighty-third birthday, in 2003, he had become the fourth-longest-serving Pope in history, having worked diligently to secure his theological legacy within the church. This volume demonstrates the breadth and depth of John Paul II's life and interests. A Life in Prayer collects prayers and public speeches from the four volumes of The Private Prayers of Pope John Paul II. The selections illustrate his devotion to the Virgin Mary and the Rosary, the foundations of his spiritual life, the profound range of his compassion, and the poetry of his life and language. A Life in Prayer also includes extracts from Tad Szulc's biography of John Paul II that describe the key moments in Wojtyla's life. In 1994, John Paul II was named Time magazine's Person of the Year. The magazine said, ""His power rests in the word, not the sword....He is an army of one, and his empire is both as ethereal and as ubiquitous as the soul."" "

Christendom Awake: On Re-Energizing the Church in Culture

Average customer rating:

Christendom Awake: On Re-Energizing the Church in Culture
Aidan Nichols
Manufacturer: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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

ASIN: 0802846904

Book Description

A dazzling intellectual treatise that challenges the church to take a leading role in contemporary cultural life.

Why has the Christian church become so inconsequential today? What must happen for it to reclaim the influence it once had? In CHRISTENDOM, AWAKE a renowned Catholic theologian argues that if the church is to again become a vital social force, it must regain confidence in its ability to transform daily life. Offering an admirable defense of orthodox faith, Aidan Nichols shows how recovering the church's traditional mission will also reenergize its witness in modern philosophy, ethics, aesthetics, economics, gender relations, and politics. Providing astute insight into the forces of mainstream culture, this volume will enlighten all those concerned for the renewal of Christendom in today's world.

Average customer rating:

New Standard Intro to the Subject

Excellent and readable

Christianity and Roman Society (Key Themes in Ancient History)
Gillian Clark
Manufacturer: Cambridge University Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
Rome | Ancient | History | Subjects | Books
General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books
General | World | History | Subjects | Books
General | Church History | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
History | Religious Studies | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Religion & Spirituality | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

The World of Late Antiquity AD 150-750: AD 150-750 (Library of World Civilization)

After the New Testament: A Reader in Early Christianity

The Christians as the Romans Saw Them

The Cambridge Companion to the Age of Constantine (Cambridge Companions to the Ancient World)

An Introduction to Roman Religion

ASIN: 0521633869

Book Description

Did Christianity transform the Roman world in which it began, or did the Roman world shape Christianity? This work explores current debates and new interpretations of Early Christianity in Roman Society. Adopting an interdisciplinary and thematic approach, it offers the student unfamiliar with the Christian tradition, a comprehensive introduction to its role in the Roman world.

Customer Reviews:

New Standard Intro to the Subject.......2006-09-10

Chadwick's Early Church is still recommended, but Clark's book is a fantastic companion to get a quick, organized, detailed and accurate understanding of the position of Christians, in all their variety, in Roman society.

She underscores all of the main issues relating to the trainistion from Jew to Christian in the sense of societal perception, heretics, gnostics, pagans, etc. All top notch and very up to date bibliography, which is great for further study.

She has a few minor erros in dating, and glosses over some of the nuances of Jewish monotheism, sacrifice and conversion, but this is now, in my view, one of the best books to get on the subject. And its slim size adds attraction to students who are assigned 14 books for a semester in one class!

Excellent and readable.......2005-02-09

Gillian Clark has written an excellent book. It is highly readable and will be of interest to those seeking to get to the bottom of essential religious debates which occurred in the early centuries AD. The book also transports the reaer very much into th epsychology of the period, with its intensive treatment of such difficult phenomena as martyrdom and asceticism.

Clark is an unpretentious prose writer and does her best to simplify advanced discussion with pithiness. This is an effective strategy and enhances the readability of the book. For anyone seriously interested in ingesting alot of importnat material quickly, this is the place to go: a top class ancient historian is the guide and she provides ample referencing to enable further enquiry. Clark, though, is not afraid to write provocatively: her thinly veiled criticism of Ramsay Macmullen at one point is interesting.

If you can't see youorself lasting the course of the epic Chadwick/Frend contributions on the early church, this is a very viable alternative staring place and is more user friendly to boot.

Opus Dei: Leadership and Vision in Today's Catholic Church

Average customer rating:

A bit too much
Coming and Going at the same time.
Excellent introduction to a misunderstood and maligned group
A clear view
Finally..a truthful assessment

Opus Dei: Leadership and Vision in Today's Catholic Church
Vittorio Messori
Manufacturer: Regnery Publishing, Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Christianity | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books
Similar Items:

Ordinary Work, Extraordinary Grace: My Spiritual Journey in Opus Dei

ASIN: 0895264501

Book Description

Holiness, and thus great happiness as well, may be found in the ordinary tasks of life.

Customer Reviews:

A bit too much.......2007-04-03

Strangely, as a deep and abiding fan of Opus Dei, I found this book just far too sacarine and cheerleading. The merits of the book lie in its understanding of the simplicity of the lay aposolate in Opus Dei which can bring about wondrous spiritual fruits, difficult to measure and difficult to quantify. But this seemed to just overdo its admiration for Opus Dei so much that it lacked a certain substance as to thing things that he really finds dynamic in "the Work."

Coming and Going at the same time........2006-05-19

A detailed reading of this put me in the mood for a damn good thrashing which I administered directly I put it down. Ruth Kelly would be proud of me!

Excellent introduction to a misunderstood and maligned group.......2004-12-12

This is a very informative and interesting overview of Opus Dei by the journalist who coauthored "Crossing the Threshold of Hope". The author is perceptive and unbiased and writes well of an organization that has been unjustly maligned as a dark, secretive, quasi religious order dedicated to the advancement of theoracy or fascism or something - a number of charges are made against Opus Dei. Messori presents the essential spiritual simplicity of "the Work" and shows convincingly that it is precisely this simple, spiritual nature that condemns it to attacks from a secular world.

I cannot think of a better introduction to Opus Dei.

A clear view.......2001-12-31

The best book about the institution founded by St. Escrivà de Balaguer. Messori, a well know italian journalist, explores with no subtilities the world of the first Prelature of the Catholic Church. The book discloses all the so called secrets of Opus Dei and presents a scenario that can be understood only from the perspective of the faith. Reading these pages one can approach both the goals and the structure of Opus Dei from the catholic perspective. A perception that can change everybody attitude towards this institution and its members.
Messori guides the readers into the daily life of both the governement and the common people of this institution. Rich of episodes and stories, the book is very easy to read and amusing. A perfect purchaise.

Finally..a truthful assessment.......2000-05-21

Finally..someone who openly explores the upoholders of orthodoxy in the Catholic Church today. A good book to bury the false assaults on Opus Dei.

Masonry Unmasked: An Insider Reveals the Secrets of the Lodge

Average customer rating:

Freemasonry is incompatible with JESUS CHRIST and therefore CHISTIANITY
A thorn in the side of Freemasons
Hogwash from start to finish...
Great Book on What Masonry is All About and Why it is Dangerous

Masonry Unmasked: An Insider Reveals the Secrets of the Lodge
John Salza
Manufacturer: Our Sunday Visitor
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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

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

ASIN: 1592762271

Customer Reviews:

Freemasonry is incompatible with JESUS CHRIST and therefore CHISTIANITY.......2007-02-13

The innerworkings of freemasonry with convincing arguments and proof.Membership alone guarantees heaven without any intervention by JESUS CHRIST.....human effort alone is all that is required!Scary stuff!

A thorn in the side of Freemasons.......2006-12-12

It's no surprise that "Christian Freemason" Mr. Julian lashes out against this book, since it exposes the hard truth about Freemasonry and its utter incompatibility with Christianity. The book is an easy to read eye-opener, and one of the few books I couldn't put down once I started. For those interested in more information about the author and his expertise[...]

Hogwash from start to finish..........2006-11-01

This book is compendium of comments by Masonic authors, most of whom are dead - some more than a century, and some who are outright disreputable. It is just another attempt to link the largest philanthropic fraternity in the world to the Theosophical teachings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Salza's favorite words are "syncretism" (the blending of many religious concepts into one) and "indifferentism" (not caring about religion at all) neither of which accurately describes Freemasonry. The book unmasks nothing except Salza's own warped perceptions about the Masonic rituals, and is just another in a long line of expose's that expose nothing new. There are many good books in the Amazon catalog about Freemasonry. This isn't one of them...

Great Book on What Masonry is All About and Why it is Dangerous.......2006-09-16

I had read a number of books on Masonry, but this is the first that was actually written from a former high ranking member. John Salza reveals all the secrets and highlights the subbtle dangers present in the Masonic philosophy that dilute the faith and commitment of any member regardless of what their professed faith. This is a real page turner and I found it both compelling and thought provoking. John Salza gives the reader everything they could want and more. If you are looking to learn more about Masonry this is the book!

I am the author of The How-To Book of the Mass: Everything You Need to Know but No One Ever Taught You

Women and Religion in Medieval and Renaissance Italy (Women in Culture and Society Series)

Average customer rating:

Women and Religion in Medieval and Renaissance Italy (Women in Culture and Society Series)

Manufacturer: University Of Chicago Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Europe | History | Subjects | Books

General | Women's Studies | Nonfiction | Subjects | Books

General | Religion & Spirituality | Subjects | Books

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

Nonfiction | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Religion & Spirituality | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0226066398

Book Description

Between the twelfth and the sixteenth centuries, women assumed public roles of unprecedented prominence in Italian religious culture. Legally subordinated, politically excluded, socially limited, and ideologically disdained, women's active participation in religious life offered them access to power in all its forms.

These essays explore the involvement of women in religious life throughout northern and central Italy and trace the evolution of communities of pious women as they tried to achieve their devotional goals despite the strictures of the ecclesiastical hierarchy. The contributors examine relations between holy women, their devout followers, and society at large.

Including contributions from leading figures in a new generation of Italian historians of religion, this book shows how women were able to carve out broad areas of influence by carefully exploiting the institutional church and by astutely manipulating religious percepts.

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books