Bible Prophecy: Failure or Fulfillment?

Rating:
Summary: Required Bible background reading
Review: Let's forget all the stuff about "scholarly" and "not scholarly." Undoubtedly there are plenty of scholarly works (mostly unread, probably) better than this one, but for 99% of the American population, even this book is pretty damn scholarly. To me, it is terribly conceited to assume that a regular Joe, a person with a passing interest (and a regular job) would go hunting down doctoral theses or academic publications, as though anything less were childish or sensationalist. Most people read to find out, and find out they will with this book.

In terms of accuracy and organization, this book seems to be very well put-together. As another reviewer shrewdly noted, it only takes one proven inconsistency to shatter the biblical infallability notion, and Callahan has plenty more than that.

If you've ever wondered what to say when real Bible believers start throwing prophecy and its fulfillment at you, this is a great place to start....

Rating:
Summary: Worth reading
Review: Not a bad book. Points out some glaring inconsistencies in the writings and arguments of some popular fundamentalist/inerrantist apologists and Bible teachers like Gleason Archer and Hal Lindsey. All it takes is ONE provable inconsistency or inaccuracy in the Scriptural text to require a modification or abdication of the Inerrancy doctrine, and Callahan provides several which fundamentalists/inerrantists would have a hard time explaining or explaining away. Often they DON'T explain them ... they just avoid them - see, e.g., "Anonymous" one-star reviewer "Hugh Raspberry!," who is apparently J.P. Holding, whose Web site at tektonics.org (no URLs in reviews) contains a lengthier review of the book, with much of the same language. Holding's reviews and comments about books and persons critical of inerrancy and fundamentalism can politely be described as "caustic" and "sarcastic," so be prepared to be sniped at if you take exception to what he writes.

Rating:
Summary: Right but not on target
Review: There is no need to prove that biblical prophecies have been misinterpeted or are wrong.

The fact is that if you know how the bible came to be and what it is, you would never consider it anything but an Israelite piece of high literature, like the Illiad is a a piece of Greek high literature. God has nothing to do with either.

Rating:
Summary: Well-written, clear thinking about Bible prophecy
Review: Up-to-date review of Bible prophecy considers and convincingly refutes the claims of fundamentalists. Tim moves from one prophetic book to the next, considering first the historical setting at the time of the writing, then evaluating failure or fulfillment. His knowledge of history is impressive and his logical skills a breath of fresh air after reading Josh McDowell and the like.

This is a great book, thoroughly deals with any claims that the Bible should be believed on the basis of fulfilled prophecy if for no other reason, and raises the hope that Tim Callahan will follow up with more of the same.