A mixed grab-bag of aphorisms that tells us more about contemporary society than eternal truth.
A New Age take on Jesus.
Ferrini, founder and editor of Miracles magazine, had already been disenchanted with Christianity for a long time when he claims he heard Christ say to him, “I want you to acknowledge me.” Quite naturally, he balked. But gradually he realized that it wasn’t Christ he found distasteful—it was the claptrap of the churches that seemed to subvert his message of love and inclusion. Here Ferrini compiles many of the teachings that he claims Christ has since revealed to him. Most of the material in this book has been published before in one of Ferrini’s four prior works (Love Without Conditions, The Silence of the Heart, Miracle of Love, and Return to the Garden—none reviewed). Although most orthodox Christians will find Ferrini’s doctrines beyond credence (especially as they directly contradict the words of the Gospels), other readers may be inspired and challenged by some of the teachings of Ferrini’s Christ (who says of himself, “I am not one to condemn adultery, or divorce”). In this Gospel according to Ferrini, you cannot find your soul-mate until all of your other relationships are characterized by complete honesty, and once you do find that soul-mate your earlier isolated existence will be completely transformed. Ferrini’s Christ knows that it is easy to fall in love, but he maintains that many relationships fail because people are not willing to forgive their partner’s mistakes. Although earnest, many of these teachings are quite banal (if you expect good things to happen, they probably will; we are entering a time when tolerance and diversity will reign). Ferrini’s Christ often speaks in the pop psychologist’s lingo: the true spiritual community is “safe” and “non-judging.” And the discussion of self-esteem seems straight from Oprah: if someone calls you “stupid” and you feel upset, blame your own lack of self-esteem (and not the jerk who taunted you).
A mixed grab-bag of aphorisms that tells us more about contemporary society than eternal truth.Pub Date: June 20, 2000
ISBN: 0-385-49952-3
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Doubleday
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: May 1, 2000
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
This a book of earlier, philosophical essays concerned with the essential "absurdity" of life and the concept that- to overcome the strong tendency to suicide in every thoughtful man-one must accept life on its own terms with its values of revolt, liberty and passion. A dreary thesis- derived from and distorting the beliefs of the founders of existentialism, Jaspers, Heldegger and Kierkegaard, etc., the point of view seems peculiarly outmoded. It is based on the experience of war and the resistance, liberally laced with Andre Gide's excessive intellectualism. The younger existentialists such as Sartre and Camus, with their gift for the terse novel or intense drama, seem to have omitted from their philosophy all the deep religiosity which permeates the work of the great existentialist thinkers. This contributes to a basic lack of vitality in themselves, in these essays, and ten years after the war Camus seems unaware that the life force has healed old wounds... Largely for avant garde aesthetes and his special coterie.
Pub Date: Sept. 26, 1955
ISBN: 0679733736
Page Count: 228
Publisher: Knopf
Review Posted Online: Sept. 19, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 1, 1955
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