A well-written reinterpretation of early Christian history that lacks meaningful engagement with contemporary scholarship.
A lay scholar reevaluates the early history of Christianity in this spiritual book.
Raised in a Roman Catholic home, LaFond left organized Christianity in adulthood. Born out of “a personal quest to discover the real Jesus Christ,” the author calls into question prevailing—yet distorted, in his opinion—narratives supported by scholars and Christians alike. Contemporary scholars, the book suggests, have relied on “conservative” interpretations that sprang out of the historical Jesus movement that paint the man as a Jewish rabbi who was only later reinvented as a messianic figure. This approach, the work convincingly argues in its analysis of early Christian texts, too often minimizes contrary evidence. Alternately, far too many modern-day Christians have portrayed the early church era as a “golden age, free from the petty conflicts and squabbles that have plagued Christians since.” Through expert analysis of Paul’s epistles, this volume makes a strong case that from its very inception, Christianity has been plagued with divisions and “competing visions of Jesus Christ.” Indeed, by reading Paul’s epistles chronologically, rather than in the order in which they were placed in the Bible centuries later, LaFond demonstrates how Paul himself “did not have enough confidence to insist on any single projection of the meaning of Christ,” as his own writings are rife with “split” metaphors that lack “a single coherent structure.” But while the book has a solid grasp of early Christian history and theology, there should be more direct engagement with the scholarship that it is contesting, which rarely appears in the volume’s sparse footnotes. Because it targets vague, often unnamed “current scholarship,” the work tends to treat contemporary literature on the history of Christianity as far more monolithic than it really is, ignoring nuances, debates, and alternative perspectives that proliferate in the field. Nevertheless, the book’s strengths lie in its command of Paul’s epistles, and it is an excellent introduction to the history of his journeys across the Mediterranean world and the evolution of his theology. Ample appendix reproductions of nonbiblical early Christian texts are also a welcome addition.
A well-written reinterpretation of early Christian history that lacks meaningful engagement with contemporary scholarship.Pub Date: March 28, 2014
ISBN: 978-1-4975-0432-5
Page Count: 336
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Review Posted Online: Sept. 24, 2021
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
BOOK REVIEW
A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.
All right, all right, all right: The affable, laconic actor delivers a combination of memoir and self-help book.
“This is an approach book,” writes McConaughey, adding that it contains “philosophies that can be objectively understood, and if you choose, subjectively adopted, by either changing your reality, or changing how you see it. This is a playbook, based on adventures in my life.” Some of those philosophies come in the form of apothegms: “When you can design your own weather, blow in the breeze”; “Simplify, focus, conserve to liberate.” Others come in the form of sometimes rambling stories that never take the shortest route from point A to point B, as when he recounts a dream-spurred, challenging visit to the Malian musician Ali Farka Touré, who offered a significant lesson in how disagreement can be expressed politely and without rancor. Fans of McConaughey will enjoy his memories—which line up squarely with other accounts in Melissa Maerz’s recent oral history, Alright, Alright, Alright—of his debut in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, to which he contributed not just that signature phrase, but also a kind of too-cool-for-school hipness that dissolves a bit upon realizing that he’s an older guy on the prowl for teenage girls. McConaughey’s prep to settle into the role of Wooderson involved inhabiting the mind of a dude who digs cars, rock ’n’ roll, and “chicks,” and he ran with it, reminding readers that the film originally had only three scripted scenes for his character. The lesson: “Do one thing well, then another. Once, then once more.” It’s clear that the author is a thoughtful man, even an intellectual of sorts, though without the earnestness of Ethan Hawke or James Franco. Though some of the sentiments are greeting card–ish, this book is entertaining and full of good lessons.
A conversational, pleasurable look into McConaughey’s life and thought.Pub Date: Oct. 20, 2020
ISBN: 978-0-593-13913-4
Page Count: 304
Publisher: Crown
Review Posted Online: Oct. 27, 2020
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Dec. 1, 2020
BOOK REVIEW
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.
A compendium of charts, time lines, lists and illustrations to accompany study of the Bible.
This visually appealing resource provides a wide array of illustrative and textually concise references, beginning with three sets of charts covering the Bible as a whole, the Old Testament and the New Testament. These charts cover such topics as biblical weights and measures, feasts and holidays and the 12 disciples. Most of the charts use a variety of illustrative techniques to convey lessons and provide visual interest. A worthwhile example is “How We Got the Bible,” which provides a time line of translation history, comparisons of canons among faiths and portraits of important figures in biblical translation, such as Jerome and John Wycliffe. The book then presents a section of maps, followed by diagrams to conceptualize such structures as Noah’s Ark and Solomon’s Temple. Finally, a section on Christianity, cults and other religions describes key aspects of history and doctrine for certain Christian sects and other faith traditions. Overall, the authors take a traditionalist, conservative approach. For instance, they list Moses as the author of the Pentateuch (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible) without making mention of claims to the contrary. When comparing various Christian sects and world religions, the emphasis is on doctrine and orthodox theology. Some chapters, however, may not completely align with the needs of Catholic and Orthodox churches. But the authors’ leanings are muted enough and do not detract from the work’s usefulness. As a resource, it’s well organized, inviting and visually stimulating. Even the most seasoned reader will learn something while browsing.
Worthwhile reference stuffed with facts and illustrations.Pub Date: Sept. 1, 2005
ISBN: 978-1-5963-6022-8
Page Count: -
Publisher: N/A
Review Posted Online: May 23, 2010
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
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