Rating: 
Summary: Great and thought provoking
Review: This is a story that ponders what would it have been like had Jesus Christ waited to come to earth until the 20th century. The book is very well written and engaging. One needs to suspend a logical rationality to accept the premise. For indeed, the world would be far worse than Myers describes had the Christian influence been absent for the past 2000 years. Nonetheless, the story is great. Those who are familiar with the life of Jesus will see the savior in a new light. The text is never irreverent, yet is very interesting and contemplative, in a great prose fashion. Truly a book worth the money.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderfully devotional, but careless in its history
Review: This book helped to deepen my relationship with Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. I was literally weeping as the book drew to its conclusion. This is incredibly powerful writing, and as a devotional work, "Eli" is an astonishingly beautiful book.So why don't I give this book five stars, given how deeply it moved me? The one flaw is that the "alternative history" aspect is very poorly conceived and terribly careless. In the alternate present, Jesus Christ had not come to earth 2,000 years ago. However, cities are still named "Santa Monica," and a hospital is named "St. John's." The problem there is that "Santa Monica" and "St. John" would not have existed without the Church started by ... Jesus Christ. So why are they in a world that had not yet experienced Christ? The fact is, our world would have been so different as to be virtually unrecognizable to us. I very much doubt that America itself would exist, much less cities with "Saint" whatever in their names. This historical carelessness is a shame.
Rating:
Summary: Powerful Tool
Review: I disagree with the annonymous reader from Indiana. I believe that Jesus taught through parables that applied to those of His time, so that even the simplest person could understand them. His miracles were done with what was available to him. How is it sacriligous to assume that Jesus would have done things differently had his audience been different? The language, the details, none of that matters. The MESSAGE rings true throughout this book and is a good gut check to see if you are truly understanding your walk with the Lord. But it can also be a powerful tool to a non-Christian. Many people my age (19) have trouble digesting the Bible, and Bill Myers puts it simply enough (in present terms) that the message is impossible to miss. I will be passing this book on to a friend, and encourage him to pass it on to another.
Rating: 
Summary: Disgrace to Christianity
Review: Normally a fan of Myers, I would venture to say he should not have written this book. I don't think there is enough significance in asking the question, "What if Jesus hadn't come until today?" to devote an entire book to the subject. If you chose not to follow Jesus now, with the Bible, why would you read a fictional book and then chose to follow this portrayl of Jesus? I believe Jesus does not need to be updated, and I think Bill Myers was attempting to update Jesus. Jesus transcends time and culture. Personally I found much of the book to be sacriligious. I don't think Jesus would have planned to appear on Oprah, or feed the five thousand with hamburgers and fries. In my opinion, the doctors should have pulled the life support on Conrad right away.
Rating:
Summary: Wonderfully Twisted
Review: The idea behind the book caught my attention as a book to read. Once I started reading the book I found it glued to my fingers making it very difficult to put down. Wonderfully written drama that never finds a low spot in the story. This book contains a flavor for all readers, from fact to heartache to a love story. It stirs your emotions and provokes your thoughts. A definate must read. This was the first Bill Myers book I read but I assure you it isn't the last. A highly recomended must read.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome Book!
Review: This book is a very interesting view on Christianity. I loved it! Inspiring and thought provoking. If you are struggling with your beliefs, this is a good book to read.
Rating: 
Summary: Should have been better
Review: Bill Meyers hit on something good when he came up with the idea for Eli. What if Jesus had been in the sixties instead of 1 BC? However, he doesn't take the idea to it's full limit. For example, "churches" are very important in his book, but there was not such thing as a church we know today until after the time of Jesus. Worship was held in synagogues and the temple (perhaps this was a deliberate deletion to avoid offending Jewish sensibilities). Second, the book was frustrating with the switching back and forth between realities. I would have preferred to have seen just a straight up story, no premise whatsoever, other than Jesus has show up. Perhaps that would be a good question for Meyers to take on in his next book: "What would the gospel have to say if it had been written about a Jesus who came 2000 years after he did in our reality?" Not a bad idea. It was good to see the modernization of the gospel stories in the book. That was a nice touch if you are familiar with the way the stories are told in the New Testament. However, if you really want a modern day Jesus, check out THE JUDAS PROJECT, a movie based on the same subject and released before ELI. Overall, not bad. Just don't try to think to hard when you read it.
Rating:
Summary: Eli Scores a Hit
Review: Powerful. Rivetting. Intriquing. Definitly one of the few books I've read this season in which I wasn't able to stop once I started. Ask yourself, what would Jesus' three year ministry be like if His first coming had occured in the 20th century? Who would be the Pharisees and do we see them here today? Who would be the tax collectors and could we see Jesus reaching to them? Interested yet? These are but a few of the similarities you will find in the novel. And I am sure you too will find that once you pick up the novel you won't stop until the very last page is turned.
Rating:
Summary: The Modern-Day Christ
Review: Eli is definitely one of Bill Meyer's best books! In Eli, the story of Jesus Christ comes alive with a modern-day twist. Set in the United States, the book follows the missionary journey of Eli (Jesus) starting from his birth in a humble motel laundry room to his arrest in a city park. Conrad Davis, the main character, follows Eli and is struck by his unique character. Any reader, Christian or non-Christian will be touched by this book. For non-Christians, this book answers the question "How can Jesus apply to me if he lived 2000 years ago?" For Christians, this book will definitely make you think and remember the story of Christ over and over again!
Rating:
Summary: Eli a novel
Review: I am, quite litterally, in the middle of this compelling book. I did not know what to expect when I first opened the book. I have read the recent Left Behind book and Tonopha, and I was looking in to more christian authors. This one was worth my time. From where I stand now, I love it, and I'm not even done yet! I can't wait to finsh it.
I recomend this book to those who are sincere about their religion and to those who aren't. Eather way, It's a great book!
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