Ancient Evidence - Mysteries of the Apostles

Rating:
Summary: Very Disappointing!
Review: Aww... what a disappointment! I guess I should have waited for a description before ordering.

The box title says "Ancient Evidence - Mysteries of the Bible" but in fact should read "Conjecture and one sided assumptions - of famous stories from the Bible, fictionally embellished for your enjoyment". This is not a serious scientific/archaeological study of the various Bible stories which is what I though I was getting. The back of the DVD box give a better idea of what you are supposedly getting. Midway down the DVD back cover is says:

"This series examines scientific evidence to bring a fascinating new interpretation to the scriptures".

The "evidence" is pretty lame and missing vital information. In other words, much important archeological evidence is left out and only certain "evidences" are used inappropriately to write fictional accounts of what could have happened if these Bible stories were rewritten by a good imaginative fiction writer.

Also, the presenter of the series, Avery Brooks of Deep Space 9, has a voice that I personally found to be irritating and also to have a real arrogant tone to it. I think this was a terrible choice by the producers.

To sum up: This series is not about "Evidence" but about a good fictional writer rewriting some of the stories of the Bible. If you are looking for a real archeological study of these Bible stories you should look elsewhere.

Rating:
Summary: Keep away from this series
Review: I recently purchased this series and was I ever surprised when I watched it at home. Not pleasantly!!! They try to explain everything in a scientific way. It's very clear that Bible believing Christians did not have a hand in creating these programs. For instance, they want you to think that Paul who was one of the New Testament's greatest apostles (The Apostle to the Gentiles) was mentally ill. They compare him to an epileptic who he sees things and NEVER actually speaks to GOD. For instance Paul never actually saw the resurrected Christ when he was on the way to Damascus. He just thought he saw him. He was struck by lightning. That's why he was blind for 3 days. If you believe in God please save your money and don't buy this series. All of my friends are Christians. I can't even give it away if I want to.

Rating:
Summary: Mysteries of the Apostles
Review: The fisrt part, on St. Peter, is a very successful blend of archaeology and Biblical tradition. It's excellent, and it makes heavy use of the Apocryphal New Testament from Nag Hammadi in Egypt, but, for the first time I've ever seen, in a positive way.

The second, on St. Paul, is good, but probably tries too hard with science and archaeology where it doesn't really fit in with the Biblical traditions.

The final part, on the "Revelations" / Apocalypse is great, and long overdue. It shows that this last book of the NT was NOT a prediction of the future (an idea that's misled countless people over the centuries) but a message only relevant in the ancient author's own time. And it seems that the nasty number is NOT 666 after all !