The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot

Average customer rating:

nice effort, unfortunately dull

It actually has nothing to do with 'mysteries' of Judas

Judas the Ensnared

The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot

Lacks Impact

The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot
Jeffrey Archer , and Francis J. Moloney
Manufacturer: St. Martin's Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312375204
Release Date: 2007-03-20

Book Description

The very name of Judas raises among Christians an instinctive reaction of criticism and condemnationThe betrayal of Judas remainsa mystery. Pope Benedict XVI, October 2006 The Gospel According to Judas, by Benjamin Iscariot sheds new light on the the mystery of Judasincluding his motives for the betrayal and what happened to him after the crucifixionby retelling the story of Jesus through the eyes of Judas, using the canonical texts as its basic point of reference. Ostensibly written by Judass son, Benjamin, and following the narrative style of the Gospels, this re-creation is provocative, compelling, and controversial. The Gospel According to Judas, by Benjamin Iscariot is the result of an intense collaboration between a storyteller and a scholar: Jeffrey Archer and Francis J. Moloney. Their brilliant workbold and simpleis a compelling story for twenty-first-century readers, while maintaining an authenticity that would be credible to a first-century Christian or Jew.

Customer Reviews:

nice effort, unfortunately dull.......2007-09-25

I was waiting for something interesting to happen, some insight... I didn't really come across anything new.

Overall, a bit disappointing, luckily not a big book.

For much more illuminating Biblical historical fiction, I highly recommend the Kingdom & the Crown Series by Gerald Lund (3 books) and the Women of Genesis books by Orson Scott Card.

It actually has nothing to do with 'mysteries' of Judas.......2007-07-06

Oh come on people:
"The unlikely partnership of Jeffrey Archer and Francis J. Moloney was formed after Archer had sought advice from Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini on who should guide him through this demanding project. Among his many past students of the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Cardinal Martini singled
out Professor Moloney, a graduate of that institute in 1972, who had completed his doctoral studies at Oxford University in 1975.
The project was as bold as it was simple: Archer would write a story for twenty-first-century readers, while Moloney would ensure that the result would be credible to a first-century Christian or Jew."

And that's EXACTLY the case. An interesting read.

Judas the Ensnared.......2007-06-28

I've been reading Archer since Kane and Abel and when I saw that he was writing a fictionalized account of the life of Judas as told by his son, I thought, wow, this could really be a great read and a little controversial. Neither came true. Basically, it's formatted like the gospels (nothing wrong with that), but just not an exciting read this time around. I was actually kind of bored reading it and the only reason I kept going was because it came in at around ninety pages so I persevered with it. The last chapter or two is when the basis of the story comes out and nothing earth shattering here. Judas was the victim of the religious zealots at the time to get rid of Christ. Maybe, maybe not. Does it change my point of view or my beliefs, probably not. Just something more to ponder about; the Bible, its writers (Did they embellish the truth from generation to generation before writing it down, whether on purpose or by accident. Kind of difficult to keep the same exact story going for tens or even hundreds of years orally without some of it being changed on the next telling), and the facts that surround it that science today continues to try to prove happened. I expected Archer to put this into more story form like all his other works and I think then he could have gone into more depth with this alternate theory and really provoked the reader's imagination. But he chose not to, giving us instead this lackluster rendition of what could have been a great story about Judas Iscariot.

The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot.......2007-06-21

The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot
Where Do I begin. Lets start with the title, The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot by Jeffrey Archer, come on!! It should be the fictional story of The Gospel According to Judas by Jeffrey Archer as Benjamin Iscariot.
A Relevant Story:
A friend of mine recently told me of a Pastor who liked to make hot fudge, apparently he used all organic ingredients. One day the Pastor's daughter wanted to see PG parental guidance rated movie, that only had 5%, swearing/drug use or sex scenes. After much insistence the daughter when to see the movie, the next day the Pastor decided to make some hot chocolate fudge the aroma filled the house the Pastor stated that he'd used 5% of a special organic source and kept the matter a secret until all the fudge had been consumed. Then he asked did you notice any difference in the quality/flavour? No.. they replied, well the 5% special ingredient was organic it wont do any REAL harm, it was only dog p##h. lol
If you take a solid truth as the Life, Death and Resurrection of Jesus and you contaminant 5% to 10% of it with a special 'organic substance' what do you have in the end - dog p##h. I felt the tone and reason for the book was a Jewish backlash hardliner trying to have some justification why Jesus wasn't who he said he was the Son of God. The book was written from the sour grapes attitude, "[Jesus wasn't] ...the long-awaited Messiah."p1, on the betrayal of Christ, Archer says, "...Judas knew that he was innocent of such an accusation, as his only purpose was to save Jesus from an unnecessary death." After Jesus' Death, the sorrowful Judas goes a lives amongst the Essenes then a Masada as a "marked man". And the book concludes with "Judas died as Jesus did. He was crucified by the Romans." It's all a bit desperate!
The whole story Gospel of Judas is unbalanced what about Isaiah 53 The Sin-bearing, Suffering Servant? The Gospel of Judas omits the 30 pieces of silver, and suicide of Judas. The Gospel of Judas is nothing more that fragments of quotation out of context in Holy Bible blended together (very poorly) it just doesn't stick!
Let us set aside a few things, just say by chance that this gospel of Judas was right, and the whole of the New Testament wrong. Ok we've been deceived by the BIGGEST hoaxes since man made fire. We could be waiting for the Messiah to still come as the Gospel of Judas indicated, unhappily Israel still waits, they missed the boat. Not one Holy Prophet has been around for over two thousand years.
Israel is one of the most violent, sad and godless places on earth. There is no peace, the temple has gone, the glory has gone, as a nation they forsook the Lord time and time again and were taken off to captivity. Jesus said in Matt 23:37 "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city the kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See your house is left to you, desolate..."
Now let's just say that the Gospel of Judas is false piece of fiction. Look at the people in New Testament who believe and were change by it and gave their lives for it (Peter & Paul), they did not write empty words by words of someone who knew and walked and talked with Jesus. The story of people in Bible give us hope, in a world where we are saturated with Hollywood, sexism, drugs and alcohol, domestic violence (rape/guns) the list keeps on going on. I want freedom from all that this world offers because it like hot sweet chocolate fudge one isn't enough and one piece is too much.
In closing a quote from James 3:13, "Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
What was Archer really trying to achieve by the release of this book?

Lacks Impact.......2007-05-28

In spite of the clever packaging---this small 100+ page novel appears to be an ancient leather-bound journal complete with built in ribbon bookmark--- Jeffrey Archer's "The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot" fails to deliver the punch needed to smack it into the significance realm of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

I expected some grand revelation---perhaps Judas and Jesus had concocted the whole betrayal bit; Judas gladly takes the hit and for two millennia is thought to be the ultimate 30 pieces of silver traitor. As I read this little gospel formatted tome, I am thinking, Judas's legendary despicable actions were all part of his Master's ultimate plan, right?

Wrong.

Supposedly, in "The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot" Archer and Moloney collaborate to formulate a tale believable to both Biblical scholars and modern laymen readers. The format definitely bespeaks of their desire to create something that resembles a gospel rendering complete with chapter and verse and the Jesus quotations (most of which are familiar from evangelists Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) highlighted in a red italicized font. Nevertheless, the story itself disappoints as it is far too similar to the actual gospels from which it is based to excite any degree of controversy. The supposed mystery of the real Judas simply neglects to properly mystify.

Bottom line? Years ago, I had read Frank Yerby's novel, "Judas, My Brother." Believe me as scandalous as the plotline of this older book seemed to me then, it could far more captivate its audience now than this Archer-Moloney collaboration. Sadly, "The Gospel According to Judas by Benjamin Iscariot" attempts to retell the story of Christ's ministry utilizing a fifth evangelist format that simply doesn't work. Why read this when the original four authors of the New Testament gospels have already told the tale and have told it the best way possible? Not recommended.
Diana Faillace Von Behren
"reneofc"

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal

Average customer rating:

Funny, unique approach that pays no disservice to its subject
Humanizing but Reverent
Brilliant, irreverence...not for the faint of heart!
Laughing this much must be a sin!
Funny.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal
Christopher Moore
Manufacturer: Harper Paperbacks
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Release Date: 2003-02-04

Amazon.com

While the Bible may be the word of God, transcribed by divinely inspired men, it does not provide a full (or even partial) account of the life of Jesus Christ. Lucky for us that Christopher Moore presents a funny, lighthearted satire of the life of Christ--from his childhood days up to his crucifixion--in Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal. This clever novel is surely blasphemy to some, but to others it's a coming-of-age story of the highest order.

Joshua (a.k.a. Jesus) knows he is unique and quite alone in his calling, but what exactly does his Father want of him? Taking liberties with ancient history, Moore works up an adventure tale as Biff and Joshua seek out the three wise men so that Joshua can better understand what he is supposed to do as Messiah. Biff, a capable sinner, tags along and gives Joshua ample opportunities to know the failings and weaknesses of being truly human. With a wit similar to Douglas Adams, Moore pulls no punches: a young Biff has the hots for Joshua's mom, Mary, which doesn't amuse Josh much: "Don't let anyone ever tell you that the Prince of Peace never struck anyone." And the origin of the Easter Bunny is explained as a drunken Jesus gushes his affection for bunnies, declaring, "Henceforth and from now on, I decree that whenever something bad happens to me, there shall be bunnies around."

One small problem with the narrative is that Biff and Joshua often do not have distinct voices. A larger difficulty is that as the tone becomes more somber with Joshua's life drawing to its inevitable close, the one-liners, though not as numerous, seem forced. True to form, Lamb keeps the story of Joshua light, even after its darkest moments. --Michael Ferch

Book Description

The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years -- except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in the divinely hilarious yet heartfelt work "reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes. Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more -- except maybe "Maggie," Mary of Magdala -- and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.

Download Description

The birth of Jesus has been well chronicled, as have his glorious teachings, acts, and divine sacrifice after his thirtieth birthday. But no one knows about the early life of the Son of God, the missing years -- except Biff, the Messiah's best bud, who has been resurrected to tell the story in the divinely hilarious yet heartfelt work ""reminiscent of Vonnegut and Douglas Adams"" (Philadelphia Inquirer).

Verily, the story Biff has to tell is a miraculous one, filled with remarkable journeys, magic, healings, kung fu, corpse reanimations, demons, and hot babes. Even the considerable wiles and devotion of the Savior's pal may not be enough to divert Joshua from his tragic destiny. But there's no one who loves Josh more -- except maybe ""Maggie,"" Mary of Magdala -- and Biff isn't about to let his extraordinary pal suffer and ascend without a fight.

Customer Reviews:

Funny, unique approach that pays no disservice to its subject.......2007-09-30

It's hard to get offended reading 'Lamb' as Moore treats the titular character with respect while portraying his human side, and of course letting Biff do all the dirty work. Those of faith will easily dive into the book, relishing in a story about a man who, while divine, is still a human with all the same anxieties, fears, and desires. The book takes a somewhat odd turn in the middle that I felt pushed it a little too much into fantasy, but in retrospect it did add a lot to the story and broke the book up into three acts. The end was particularly moving, and the change in tone and tempo appropriately brought a new perspective to one of the most-told tales.

In terms of writing style, the book is conversational and it is easy to shoot through. You can pick it up for five minutes and make progress or two hours and not grow weary.

Humanizing but Reverent.......2007-09-27

While it may not be the expected response, this comedic novel on the missing 30 years in the Gospels helps my faith, in both Christ and humanity in general.

In spite of its fictional base and outlandish experiences based at least partly in myth, Moore uses a logical and solid grounding in both the Bible and history that resonates strongly. While the poetic license in some areas is strong (the Messiah using the power of his mind to cram himself into glass jars) in others the facts speak for themselves (Jewish customs both honored by Christ after the "coming" and those dismissed).

Almost no one's faith is ridiculed in this novel, with Moore instead using Biff as the catalyst for the humor focused on a personal level. Instead of ridicule, between bizarre experiences and funny anecdotes, Moore goes about methodically answering how Jesus became Jesus, and not just some poor kid from Nazereth. It may not be a convincing or even possible explanation, but it carries its own logic and the reader is carried along a natural progression.

Moore has to create a character of the Son of God, no easy feat. I think he accomplishes this end very well, since I found myself wrapped up in the plight of these two childhood friends, even though I already "know" how the story turns out.

Brilliant, irreverence...not for the faint of heart!.......2007-09-17

From the moment "Josh" (Aka: Jesus) was described as babysitting his younger brother...quietly sitting with him and occasionally putting the lizard in his mouth that his brother had just whacked on a rock...thus bringing it back to life....then handing it back to his brother.....*whack* goes the lizard....*pop* back into Josh's mouth...*whack* and so-on.....Josh was described as calm, patient, everything you'd hope and expect him to be...even as a babysitter...(and no, that's not exactly a spoiler there.) Biff on the other hand was Josh's alter-ego. His other half. He was the one who could get away with everything Josh couldn't - and then Josh would in his way live vicariously through Biff and his adventures. The book goes into the missing years of Jesus's life. What DID he do in those missing years? Well, the Bible doesn't exactly say. Christopher Moore gives a fascinating account of what he could have been up to. He certainly could have gone out on a hunt for the Three Wise Men. He could have. Did he? Who knows? But oh, wouldn't it be fun if his adventures were something like this? Christopher Moore's irreverence and humor makes Jesus more approachable. In his way, Moore turns this foray into Biblical history into an enjoyable and yes, sometimes disgusting tale. You delve into different belief systems - different Traditions. You see that Jesus himself respecting other beliefs and even following those Traditions and religions as a student of all things. I found myself thinking more than once that it's a shame more people who claim to follow Jesus's teachings don't do the same.
If you can look at Jesus with a sense of humor, read this. You won't be sorry. What you will do, however, is laugh until you cry, so you'd better be prepared with some of those funny little incontinence pads just in case. Don't say I didn't warn you.

Laughing this much must be a sin!.......2007-09-11

This is one of the few books that I joyously read over and over. From the moment I read that Biff's mother was beset by demons... I knew he was my kind of guy.I have given this book to several of my friends as a must read. The best way to describe this story is to say that it is an irreverant satire that becomes reverant. Wonderful, READ IT! You wont be sorry.

Funny........2007-09-10

This was very funny up until Moore's take on the passion story, when it gets serious. I especially liked all the things Biff invents: matches, cream in coffee, sarcasm, etc. I also like it when he tries to fool Joshua (Jesus) by citing non-existent scripture, like Amphibians 6:5, for example, and Joshua, of course, plays the perfect staight-man. Moore obviously did his homework on this amusing tour of major world religions. I prefer a long, satisfying denouement and Moore's is rather abrubt, but the book was most enjoyable.

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster

Average customer rating:

More fun than humans deserve to have!
Slightly misleading book picture but good book.
Beautiful logic
Flying fun readig romp
Creative Concept--Poor Execution--Troubling Situation

The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
Bobby Henderson
Manufacturer: Villard
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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GOD SPEAKS! The Flying Spaghetti Monster in his Own Words
Oval Flying Spaghetti Monster Lapel Pin - silver and black finish

ASIN: 0812976568
Release Date: 2006-03-28

Book Description

CAN I GET A “RAMEN” FROM THE CONGREGATION?!

Behold the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster (FSM), today’s fastest growing carbohydrate-based religion. According to church founder Bobby Henderson, the universe and all life within it were created by a mystical and divine being: the Flying Spaghetti Monster. What drives the FSM’s devout followers, a.k.a. Pastafarians? Some say it’s the assuring touch from the FSM’s “noodly appendage.” Then there are those who love the worship service, which is conducted in pirate talk and attended by congregants in dashing buccaneer garb. Still others are drawn to the Church’s flimsy moral standards, religious holidays every Friday, or the fact that Pastafarian heaven is way cooler: Does your heaven have a Stripper Factory and a Beer Volcano? Intelligent Design has finally met its match–and it has nothing to do with apes or the Olive Garden of Eden.

Within these pages, Bobby Henderson outlines the true facts– dispelling such malicious myths as evolution (“only a theory”), science (“only a lot of theories”), and whether we’re really descended from apes (fact: Humans share 95 percent of their DNA with chimpanzees, but they share 99.9 percent with pirates!)

Customer Reviews:

More fun than humans deserve to have!.......2007-10-05

Which proves that FSM is a good diety! The gospel is good news for those who need to have an enjoyable and loveable higher power. The proof by communion is so clearly acceptable that I can't imagine not being able to accept His Noodleiness for what He is! May his noodly appendage allow you to enjoy this book as much as He allowed me to!

Slightly misleading book picture but good book........2007-10-01

I was kind of disappointed to find that it was not actually the red/orange book like many bibles but a white paperback with the picture of the gospel on itThat is why i gave it 4 Stars for being misleading not book content. Not a big deal but it would look cooler / more impressive if it was.
Still consider it a good buy for a funny read.

Beautiful logic.......2007-09-23

This book is both hilarious and a great read to point out the flawed logic of one's own religious arguments, in that it uses the same wonderful logic that the most fundamental of them use.

Flying fun readig romp.......2007-09-22

This book is so much fun to read. It is a hoot and a half. Many of the punny funnys had me in stitches. This is a book I may leave out as it is made so you can read little bits at a time. Still funny the fifth time reading some bits. Laughter is the best medicine and this item is a great dose of medicine. FSM rocks!!!...**

Creative Concept--Poor Execution--Troubling Situation.......2007-09-02

I am a sitting science and mathematics educator. I found this book at once entertaining and disturbing. It is crucial to the future of America that problems with such material be spelled out--and avoided.

Satire is a valuable tool in helping us step back and see things from a fresh perspective. This book would be a success, if, by reading it, people of faith and people whose faith is scientific obstinacy were induced to do that.

Instead, Henderson lampoons theistic faith to advance doctrinarism further widening the gap between those who would accept their scriptures literally and those who believe unwaveringly in (provably mutable) theories. One could as easily produce a book of satire lampooning the history of science (with an emphasis on contemporary fallacies and their adherents) making fun of all sorts of Great Minds (Pauling and Einstein come immediately to mind) for holding wrongheaded beliefs.

What's needed in this debate is more sanity and clarity, not perpetual cycles of teasing and belittling. Vine Deloria has written a fine book (Evolution, Creationism, and Other Modern Myths ISBN: 1555914586) in which he exposes fundamental flaws on both sides of this debate; his book convincingly argues that "creationists" framed a debate to which "evolutionists" fall prey: pursuing unanswerable questions.

By reacting to traditional, religious fervor by analogy, Henderson remains dogmatic. The irony that disturbs me so is that the author adheres to a secular creed no less rigid or illogical than that which he parodies.

Average customer rating:

Good News in a Newsy Framework
The Challenge of Jesus

The Shoemaker's Gospel: A Novel
Daniel Brent
Manufacturer: Loyola Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 082942394X

Customer Reviews:

Good News in a Newsy Framework.......2007-01-30

Very interesting perspective, not alone on Jesus and His down to earth persona, but a very reassuring view of God's Creative plan for our human selves.

Some sort of Preface or explanation on the scripture translations and
other references might help. They are a plus (the sharp, today type quotes), but raise questions at times.

The Challenge of Jesus.......2006-10-20

The shoemaker's story is presented in such a relaxed manner that this reader felt like part of the story. It is an everyday version of a familar story that is comforting and challenging at the same time. Jesus' message is stated very simply and directly. Jesus reminds us of the Father's love for us and of who we are called to be. Many passages provide food for reflection and discussion. A book club type group would find much to discuss. For example, after listening to Jesus one afternoon, the shoemaker asks himself "Is Jesus calling me to new obligations? To a shift in my patterns, my priorities, my safe lifestyle?"
This story has a very calming effect on me. Maybe it has to do with walking in the shoemaker's shoes and just hanging out with Jesus.

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

Average customer rating:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers
Pants on fire?
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
Very Interesting
History as Science Fiction

History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621058

Book Description

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

Customer Reviews:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Average customer rating:

The best spiritual book, ever.
Outstanding!
The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna
He was the first to integrate all religions
Probably the best book on yoga and spiritual life

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna

Manufacturer: Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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

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ASIN: 0911206019

Book Description

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna as translated by Swami Nikhilananda offers the reader a penetrating view into the spiritual wisdom of India. On account of his deep mystical experiences and constant absorption in God, Sri Ramakrishna (1836 - 1886) is regarded as being of the stature of Krishna, Buddha, and Christ. The Gospel is the record of Sri Ramakrishna's conversations, which are unique in their breadth and depth. Profound spiritual truths are described in simple words and vivid stories, revealing the divinity of man and the spiritual foundation of the universe. This volume is a mine of inspiration, wisdom, theology, and metaphysics.

This 1106 page volume contains an introduction (70 pages) by Swami Nikhilananda that narrates the main events of Sri Ramakrishna's life and briefly sketches the people and the doctrines associated with him. Also, includes 26 photographs, a detailed glossary, and an index.

Customer Reviews:

The best spiritual book, ever........2007-01-10

This is truly the best spiritual book I have ever read. There is nothing that can be found in another spiritual book that is not contained in this Gospel of Ramakrishna. What a spiritual teacher he was! The insights! The clarity of explanation! I wished everyone on earth has a chance to be exposed to Ramakrishna's words. He makes the spiritual path understandable and brings it down to earth. I could go on and on saying the praises of this great being.
C.K.

Outstanding!.......2006-03-20

Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna is simply a great work. Based on a journal maintained by one of Ramakrishna's ardent disciples, this is truly a jewel. Credit must also go to Swami Nikhilananda for masterful translation. This 1000 page classic with densely packed text would have been a challenge to read if not for the wisdom and the way the wisdom is presented.

It's been so well journaled that it's like getting into a time machine and going back in time to around 1870s to Bengal and meeting spiritual giants such as Ramakrishna, Vivekananda. This book has so much reference to Narendra who went on to become Swami Vivekananda. Here we get to see how Narendra evolved and what challenges he faced.

All in all a great classic and readable anytime. Wish it was typecast in little bigger font and spaced out better.

The Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna.......2006-02-25

Sri Ramakrishna is brought to life in this book. Written by one of his closest disciples, this book gives account of Ramakrishna's beginning; his path to Self-Realization; his way of living in the highest states of consciousness while relating to the world. This book may be the most comprehensive offering on the life of Sri Ramakrishna.

He was the first to integrate all religions.......2006-01-01

In this age of cooperation among religions it is easy to forget that less than a century and a half ago Ramakrishna was to first one ever to integrate them. What a blessed prophet! If all the religions at one of their combined gatherings attempted to start taking all of their scriptures to task at once, maybe we would see an eventual end to the current crisis.

Probably the best book on yoga and spiritual life.......2005-10-28

If you are a sincere spiritual seeker, you are not likely to find any book better than this one. The whole book is filled with actual recorded question-and-answer conversations between one of India's greatest saints and various people who came to him seeking spiritual insights. The conversations are recorded so vividly that you feel like you are actually there in the room with the people in the story, listening to the words of a great saint.
Sri Ramakrishna emphasized that the goal of life is to realize the truth, and that all religions can lead to the same God. He also explained that the only thing separating us from God, whom he defines as the very essence of knowledge, love, and selflessnes, is our own ignorance. Using beautiful stories and parables, he explains how to go beyond this ignorance to realize our true unity with God and with all living beings.
For non-Indians, such as myself, the extensive glossary in the back is very helpful in explaining the meanings of Hindu terminology. This book does nothing short of explaining how to realize the highest truth in the words of a man who did so himself.
This book is a life-changer.

Average customer rating:

A bawdy academic intrigue
One of the best novels I ever read!
A Fun Read You Don't Wan't to End
Excellent, excellent read
Excellent Read with Great Research

Gospel: A Novel
Wilton Barnhardt
Manufacturer: Picador
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0312119240

Amazon.com

An intellectual detective story with the grand entertainment of a nineteenth-century novel, Gospel concerns the search for a lost first-century gospel of the Bible, a document that could shake the foundations of Christianity. Theological student Lucy Dantan and disillusioned ex-Jesuit Patrick O'Hanrahan pursue clues to the gospel's whereabouts across three continents through dozens of colorful locales. This book is a literary delight in the vein of Possession and The Name of the Rose.

Book Description

Gospel concerns the search for a lost first-century gospel of the Bible, a document that could shake the foundations of Christianity. Wilton Barnhardt's narrative races through three continents, nine countries, and dozens of colorful locales, as two character--shy theological student Lucy Dantan and hard-drinking, disillusioned ex-Jesuit Patrick O'Hanrahan--pursue rumors and clues about the gospel's whereabouts and contents. In the end, what they discover will challenge and forever change the nature of faith.

An intellectual detective story with the erudition of Umberto Eco and the grand swirling entertainment of a nineteenth-century novel, Gospel is exciting, profound, reverent, and terrifically funny.

Customer Reviews:

A bawdy academic intrigue .......2007-05-26

An academic romp of a novel. This book is a lot fun...it's like listening to your funniest, most irreverent professor, and then having sex with the boy in the next desk. It's a bit like reading one of my favorite authors, Robertson Davies. And like Davies...this author's characters travel the world, voyaging from mundane Chicago to Ireland, Italy, Israel and Africa.

One of the best novels I ever read!.......2007-01-05

Bravo Wilton! This guy knows his theology and his history! In this tour de force, the author takes us on a journey in search of a mysterious Gospel (according to Matthias, the thirteenth apostle) written in ancient Meroitic, a mysterious language which at the end of the book turns out to be Greek written in special characters. What does this Gospel say? What will be the consequences of its translation and publication on Christianity and on the world? The main characters of the book are Lucy Dantan, a theology doctoral candidate; Patrick O' Hanrahan, an ex-Jesuit (whom I imagined to look like the mentor of my dissertation); Rabbi Morey Hersh; and God, yes God!I greatly enjoyed the way in which God speaks (sentences in parenthesis), thus becoming a real character in the unfolding story!
Barnhardt does a fantastic life in breathing life into his characters. At one point, we read a fantastic characterization of Dr. O'Hanrahan through a soliloquy he engages in, as he is stranded on Mt. Athos. We could entitle it "The Married Life of An Alcoholic Professor".
What can I say theologically about the book? It is certainly written from a liberal, if not skeptical perspective. The Church as an institution is badly mauled, and yet without a polemical spirit. All the popular superstitions and cults are allowed to speak for themselves, and yet there is no sense of superiority or condescendence toward them. The characters we encounter are either scholarly geniuses or fundamentalist simpletons; men and women of great piety or opportunists and scoundrels. We occasionally encounter intellectuals in search of a stronger faith (Lucy). What ever happened to conservative, intellectually honest minds?
The conclusion reached by Barnhardt seems to be that faith is an attitude of the heart that needs no reasons or defenses: it is, after all, what matters (Isn't this Bultmann all over?)
I would not recommend this book to young believers, as it may disturb their faith. I would recommend "A Skeleton in God's Closet" first. This book may, indeed should, be used, as a corrective to a superficial faith. It can also be used to spark debate about Jesus' resurrection (see "The Resurrection Debate," by Pannenberg)
Barnhardt does have a great sense of humor! (Check out the acknowledgements too)

A Fun Read You Don't Wan't to End.......2006-03-27

If you liked Da Vinci Code or Geographers Library, you'll LOVE gospel. I read this book several years ago and the story was exciting and fun. After several years, it still sticks in my mind, not just for the story, but for the travelogue as well. The many geographic destinations the book takes you to, both on and off the beaten path, are inspiring! You truly won't want to put the book down.

Excellent, excellent read.......2005-12-29

I don't know if this book made much of an impact when it was first published, but it would be a real loss if it never did. Ever since The Da Vinci Code, many books have tried to follow in its success but this book blows them all away.

Gospel is about the search for the loss first-century gospel, and the impact that such a find will have on our understanding of Christianity. The central characters are Patrick O'Hanrahan, a professor emeritus from the University of Chicago, a drunk and disillusioned academic in search of the glory he once had; and Lucy Dantam, a young doctoral student at the same school of Theology, also disillusioned and yet still looking for her own path in life. The two of them take a journey through Europe and Africa in search for this loss gospel, while battling endless intrigue that involves a mad monk, a rabbi, the CIA, a TV evangelist, a multimillionaire, the Iranian government, spies, and much more!

I really enjoyed the characters in this novel, who are laugh-out-loud funny at times. They all battle their own demons, so to speak, and you soon see how their own personal quest to make sense of their lives is interwoven with their larger quest for the lost gospel. There is also the quest of the gospel writer as well, who too is looking for the Truth. Some people seem to dislike the characters for one reason or another. That is fair, but it is surely a good break from the stereotype of the handsome professor and his beautiful sidekick.

Understandably, the length of this novel may be an obstacle to some, but if you enjoy books like The Da Vinci Code or other historical books, this is it. This book was tremendously well-researched, but as with all books like this, I highly encourage you to do your own research to verify what you believe. This book had me scrambling to google every few pages to wonder: Wow, is this really true? Was there really a female pope? Was this saint really martyred in such a grotesque way?

It is unfortunate that Wilton Barnhardt hadn't written more books. I wonder if he would return to this same theme, or similar theme. He seems to have done an extraordinary work in this one.

Excellent Read with Great Research.......2005-12-03

It is rare to have a compelling story with such great research backing it up.

The story line is two academics, one eccentric ex-Jesuit, "has been" and a young stereotypical Catholic woman, in search for a missing gospel. The book is interspersed with passages from the missing gospel, asides from God, and the quest itself; which is funny and entertaining. With that entertainment, comes references of church and bible lore which for their irreverence would surely offend some, so if you are dogmatic, better not read it (no put down intended; you would find it offensive).

However, if you are have an interest in historical aspects of how the gospels in the bible were accepted, the politics of the church and the region, and day to day issues of early and mid millennium Christianity, this is a great read without plowing through scholarly texts.

One can compare it to the "Da Vinci Code" but the "Da Vinci Code" does not come near the scholarly references "Gospel: A Novel" uses. What is even of greater interest is "Gospel: A Novel" was written ten years before "Da Vinci Code" and is as a good as a read now as it was then. Do not be concerned by its length, it should hold your interest like a long, slow smoking cigar.

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)

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Check and see
Suprise! Suprise!
Prescient St Augustine?
Something of a disappointment
Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy..

History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
Anatoly T Fomenko
Manufacturer: Delamere Resources LLC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 2913621066

Product Description

`History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2` is the second volume of the most explosive and astounding tractate on history ever written - however, every theory it contains, no matter how unorthodox, is backed by rock solid scientific data. The book is easy and pleasant to read; it is well-illustrated, contains hundreds of charts, graphs and illustrations, copies of ancient manuscripts, and countless facts attesting to the falsity of the chronology used nowadays. You will be amazed to discover: - That the chronology universally accepted today and taken for granted is simply wrong; - That ALL methods of dating of ancient sources and artefacts known today are erroneous or non-exact; - That there is not a single document that could be reliably dated earlier than the XIth century; The Author refers to the Middle Ages as the Antiquity and proves mutual superimposition of the Second and the Third Roman Empire, both of which become identified as the respective kingdoms of Israel and Judah. Furthermore, he asserts that the famous reform of the Occidental Church in the XI century by Pope Gregory Hildebrand was the reflection of the XII century reforms of Byzantine emperor Andronicus who in his turn identifies with Jesus Christ. The Trojan war counted by Homer happened only as late as of the XIII century A.D. and the great poet actually lived in XIV century A.D. No stone in history of Antiquity is left unturned. Literally. This book is the beginning of a major correction to the chronology we live with.

Customer Reviews:

Check and see.......2007-06-21

I don't care what other people say of this book. Those affirmig it's fake, they hadn't ever read it. Or have some special reasons to do so. "Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see..." This book won't make you feel comfortable. It'll make you feel free. It'll make you feel you're "not the only one" to feel you'd been lied to for centuries.

Suprise! Suprise!.......2007-03-22

Here is a serie of books which turns "the whole world" upside down. I learned a lot of it and I hope that a new book from A.T. Fomenko will follow very quick. A absolute must for everybody who is interested in history or even a little bit from it.

Prescient St Augustine?.......2006-02-05

We can so far divide the New Chronology into the following three parts:

a) The verifiable theory that proves consensual chronology wrong with the aid of astronomy, statistics and mathematics;

b) The new chronology hypothesis based on a new understanding of known historical facts and the most likely logical explanation of the most obvious inconsistencies inherent in the official version of history;

c) The history conjectures, that is experimental historical reconstructions based on assumptions that the authors believe to make sense in the light of their research and linguistic parallels - void of ironclad factual support to date.

Fomenko's theory complies with the most rigid scientific standards as a whole:

It gives a coherent explanation of what we already know.

- It is consistent: independent lines of inquiry all lead to the same conclusion.

- The predictions it makes are confirmed empirically.

Fomenko goes by the following axioms:

- Chronology is the basis of history;

- Human evolution has always been linear, gradual and irreversible;

- The "cyclic" nature of human civilization is a myth, likewise all the gaps, duplicates, "dark ages" and "renaissances" that we know from consensual history;

- The accumulation of geographical knowledge as reflected in cartography is a gradual and irreversible process;

- The chronological distance between a given manuscript and the events described therein is proportional to the amount of distortions it contains;

- There is no "useless" information in authentic ancient sources.

Why the mainstream historians do not shower mathematician Academician Dr.Prof Fomenko with thanks and laurels?

The Russians:

Because Fomenko asserts that there was no such thing as the Tartar and Mongol invasion followed by three centuries of slavery, providing a formidable body of documental evidence to prove his assertion. The so-called "Tartars and Mongols" were the actual ancestors of the modern Russians, living in a bilingual state with Arabic spoken as freely as Russian. The ancient Russian state was governed by a double structure of civil and military authorities. The hordes were actually professional armies with a tradition of lifelong conscription (the recruitment being the so-called "blood tax"). Their "invasions" were punitive operations against the regions that attempted tax evasion. Fomenko proves that Russian history as we know it today is a blatant forgery concocted by a host of German scientists brought to Russia by the usurper dynasty of the Romanovs, whose ascension to the throne was the result of coup d'état, charged with the mission of making their reign look legitimate. Fomenko proves Ivan the Terrible to be a collation of four rulers, no less. They represented the two rival dynasties - the legitimate rulers and the ambitious upstarts. The winner took it all! Over some 30 years of controversy, Russian historians have made a most remarkable transition - they were initially accusing the young mathematician Fomenko of anticommunist dissident activity and attempts to deface the historical legacy of Soviet Russia; nowadays the middle-aged mathematician is accused of adhering to "pro-communist Russian nationalism" and defacing the proud historical legacy of Great Russia.

The Westerners:

Because Fomenko blows consensual Russian history to smithereens, successfully removing a crucial cornerstone from underneath the otherwise impeccable edifice of World History. Fomenko adds insult to injury, wiping out one by one the Ancient Rome (the foundation of Rome in Italy is dated to the XIV century A. D.), the Ancient Greece and its numerous poleis, which he identifies as the mediaeval crusader settlements on the territory of Greece, and the Ancient Egypt (the pyramids of Giza become dated to the XI-XV century A. D. and identified as the royal cemetery of the Global "Mongolian" Empire, no less). The civilization of the Ancient Egypt is irrefutably dated to the XII-XV century A. D. with the aid of the ancient Egyptian horoscopes cut in stone. He was the first one to decipher and date all such horoscopes, coming up with mediaeval dates in every case. English historians rage at the suggestion that the history of Ancient England was de facto a Byzantine import transplanted to the English soil by the fugitive Byzantine nobility. To reward the English historians who consider themselves the true scribes of World History, the cover of the present book portrays Tintoretto's Jesus Christ crucified on the Big Ben.

The Chinese:

Because Fomenko wipes out the Ancient History of China outright. No such thing. Full point. The compilation of the so-called Ancient Chinese History is reliably datable to the XVII-XVIII century only. It is perfectly recognizable as the Ancient European history, reworked and transcribed in hieroglyphs as yet another historical transplantation, this time performed on the Chinese soil by the loving Jesuit hands. The Chinese are the next in line to go berserk. Chinese history is inevitably bound to get both more ancient and more eventful, proportionally to the growing involvement of China in the world affairs. Chinese historians will keep on finding valid proof of prehistoric Chinese spaceflights until the Politburo orders them to shut up.

The Arabs:

Too bad. Islam with all its key figures is datable to XV-XVI century A. D. Arabic historians may find consolation in the crucial historical role of the Ottoman Empire in the XVI-XVII century. The trouble is that this empire was initially a Christian state, with Hagia Sophia identifiable as Temple of Solomon, according to Fomenko! We can only guess if the acquisition of Alexander the Great (a Macedonian and a Christian) as the founder of the Muslim World Empire will make Fomenko's theories more acceptable to the Arabic mainstream. He certainly does not spare any holy cows at all, claiming The Stone of Qa'Aba in Mecca to contain the lost Arch of the Covenant.

The Divinity:

Despite of reiterated statement that his theory is all about chronology and not Religion, Fomenko stirs up a whole condominium of wasp nests. His collection of anathemas, fatwa, and other condemnations from all parties concerned is already considerable. Little wonder, considering that the history of religions à la Fomenko looks as follows: the pre-Christian period (before the XI century and JC), Bacchic Christianity (XI-XII century, before and after JC), JC Christianity (XII-XVI century) and its subsequent mutations into Orthodox Christianity, the Catholicism, Islam, Buddhism, and so on.

According to Fomenko we know strictly NOTHING about the events that predate the X century A. D.

St Augustin was prescient when he spoke unto us: "be wary of mathematicians, particularly when they speak the truth."

Something of a disappointment.......2005-09-09

After having read the first volume of this expected series of 7 volumes I was triggered by the thesis of these authors that ancient Greek and Roman history did in fact take place in the Middle Ages. So I started studying medieval history of the Middle East - also known as Islamic history - to find out if the opponents of the ancient Greeks and Romans - the Acheamenid Persians, Sassanids, Scythians, Egyptians, etc. - also have their duplicates in medieval history. My search was disappointing: none of the many medieval Islamic dynasties seemed to correspond to the ancient middle eastern rulers.

However, I did find a close correspondence between Herodotus' Persian kings and medieval events:

- the defeat and capture of an Anatolian king - the Lydian Croesus - by the Persian conqueror Cyrus is identical to the defeat and capture of another Anatolian king - sultan Bayezid - by the Asian/Mongol conqueror Tamerlane;
- the Persian conquest of Egypt by the cruel tyrant Cambyses reds almost exactly as the Ottoman conquest of Egypt by Selim the Grim (note the nickname!);
- Darius the Lawgiver of the Persian Empire looks very much alike to Sulayman the Magnificent, the Lawgiver in Islamic history;
- Xerxes, whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by the Greeks at the naval battle of Salamis, looks like Selim II (the Sot) whose main claim to fame is to be defeated by a Spanish-Italian alliance at the naval battle of Lepanto.

I should have expected Fomenko et al. to arrive at similar conclusions, however, they claim that the Persian kings are the alter egos of the Angevin kings of Sicily whose biographies do not contain the exploits of the Persian kings.

The similiarities I indicate lead to the conclusion that Herodotus must have written his Histories at the close of the 16th century. But this is extremely late, given that Herodotus is "the Father of History", so therefore all other "ancient" histories must have been fabricated even later. Yet, the founders of modern chronology - Scaliger and Petavius - laid their foundations also at the close of the 16th century and had the full corpus of ancient histories already at their disposal.

It seems to me that Fomenko has to address these inconsistencies, maybe in the forthcoming 5 volumes?

Another critique of their book is that the correspondencies between different rulers are often based on a superficial comparison of the biographies; upon a more thorough comparison many details appear that do not correspond at all.

Finally, the authors rely heavily on the works of Gregorovius (1821-1891!!) - his medieval histories of Rome and Athens - as the source of medieval history; these works are - at least in the West - hoplessly outdated and have been superceded by more up-to-date works (for instance, Julius Norwich's trilogy on Byzantine history is not even cited).

Romulus courts Helen, Paris founds Rome, Moses goes to Troy.........2005-07-30

If you agree with Fomenko that Roman chronology is basically the foundation of the entire edifice of global chronology; you would also certainly agree that despite its numerous gaps and inconsistencies, Roman history is the best-documented field of ancient history, and thus a reference scale. But how well is the actual date of the Eternal City's foundation known?

Firstly, Rome is supposed to have been founded by the Trojans who had to flee after the fall of Troy. Some claim Rome to have been founded by Aeneas and Ulysses shortly after Troy had fallen; others are of the opinion that there was an entire dynasty that ruled for 500 years between the fall of Troy and the foundation of Rome.

Well, that's just an innocent 500 years long misunderstanding compared with what heretic Fomenko says, asserts, proves in his second volume: Second Roman Empire, Third Roman Empire, Biblical Kingdom of Israel, Biblical Kingdom of Judah, Holy Roman Empire are stories about basically same events, written from different points of view at different times. The underlying events have actually taken place during xii-xv cy. These histories have been written and perfected by multitude of highly talented humanist and clerical writers of xiii-xvi cy disguised as "ancients" with glorious names like Homer, Pluto, Thucydides etc..Chronology 2.0 beta..

Historians are kindly invited to report the bugs.

Gospel Birds and Other Stories of Lake Wobegon

Average customer rating:

Wonderful Stories told by America's Storyteller
The height of the monologue
Garrison's Best-Ever recording!
The Best of Garrison Keillor
Good, Wholesome, Family Entertainment

Gospel Birds and Other Stories of Lake Wobegon

Manufacturer: Highbridge Audio
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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GPX C3948BI Ultra-Slim CD Player with 40-Second Anti-Shock Protection and Car Kit

ASIN: 1565110102

Book Description

Originally released in 1985, Gospel Birds is a collection of nine classic and very funny monologues from the early years of A Prairie Home Companion. In addition to the title story (about Irma and Ernie Lundeen's traveling flock of acrobatic, bible-reciting birds). Gospel Birds is Garrison Keillor at his very best--endearing insights, gentle humor and warm affection for the human foibles we all share.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful Stories told by America's Storyteller.......2004-03-29

Garrison Keillor is to the spoken story what Mark Twain was to the written - a kind and intelligent sense of humor mixed in with a wickedly insightful knowledge of human nature. His monologues, the "News from Lake Wobegon", have always been the centerpiece of PBS's wildly successful Prairie Home Companion, and I have found none of his stories to be superior to those contained within this collection.

Pastor Inqvist's Trip to Orlando is worth the price of these cassettes alone with the story of the humble Lutheron Minister and his desire to please his Church Deacons and Mrs. Inqvist at the same time. The Gospel Birds is another "church" story, but you'd be wrong if you came to a listen thinking that Mr. Keillor is simply a "holy roller" trying to pound his version of "the gospel" into anyone.

His stories are about what makes us human - our nobleness and our failings - and his storytelling is so skillful, he allows us to hear that our shortcomings are as important in who we are as our triumphs.

The height of the monologue.......2002-05-08

This is a fine collection of monologues from the period during which Keillor was most popular, and it also has gorgeous guitar links provided by Chet Atkins, whose trademark arpeggios are beautifully rendered on an acoustic guitar with a rich, mellow sound. I was moved by these recordings to buy several Chet Atkins CDs. "Meeting Donny Hart at the Bus Stop," "Pastor Inqvist's Trip to Orlando," and "Mammoth Concert Tickets" contain all of the elements that earned Keillor his loyal following -- an affection for the Minnesota region, fallible human characters, hope and compassion, all told with a twinkling sense of humor.

Garrison's Best-Ever recording!.......2002-02-08

I have virtually all of Keillor's Lake Woebegon works, and this is his finest! "On Meeting Donny Hart" is perhaps the finest tragi-comedy of them all! You'll bust a gut listening to Mazumbo, Gospel Birds, Pastor Ingquist's Trip to Orlando, Mammoth Concert, and Babe Ruth Visits Lake Woebegon-- the whole set is superb. I can't say enough good about this excellent product.

The Best of Garrison Keillor.......2001-03-29

This is one of 2 collections of monologues (the other being "Fall") that (to me) comprise the absolute best of Garrison Keillor's recorded Lake Wobegon stories. Some of the later collections have a more uneven feel, but "Gospel Birds" and "Fall" don't have a weak moment on them. The stories range from hilarious to touching to heartbreaking, and many times are all three at once. You'll laugh at these whacko Minnesota characters, but you'll also see yourself in them, and feel along with them as well. This is time well spent.

Good, Wholesome, Family Entertainment.......2000-06-10

I was looking for humor that wasn't bawdy or raucous and this tape more than delighted: I also found a great American storyteller. I barely knew the name having seen a taping of Garrison Kiellor's radio show on TV once; so I wasn't familiar with the style or content. What makes his wide appeal is his vocal ability to get you on the edge of your seat, and his remarkable talent for impersonating any age or gender, and any relationship. A couple of the stories are merely poignant; with the majority being situation comedy of everyday life. My favorites: Pastor Inkfest's Trip to Orlando, The Beeler Boy, and The Fishing Dog.

Journey to the Cross: The Complete Easter Story for Young Readers

Average customer rating:

Loving and thoughtful...

Journey to the Cross: The Complete Easter Story for Young Readers
Helen Haidle , and Helen
Manufacturer: Zondervan Publishing Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Benjamin's Box

ASIN: 031070023X

Book Description

A book that sets forth, in chronological order, the events in the life of Christ from the resurrection of Lazarus to Christ's ascension into heaven. Sidebars will show how Jesus Christ is the exact fulfillment of prophecy

Customer Reviews:

Loving and thoughtful..........2001-04-04

This story of Christ is lovingly told using words carefully chosen to reach the heart of a child. The journey's beautiful illustrations captivate the reading audiance while complimenting the thoughtful text. Additional explanations are given to highlight Bible times, and to further relate them to current life. This book makes a wonderful additon to the library of any 8 - 12 year old.

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