Biblical Religion: The Great Lie

Rating:
Summary: A review of the book: Biblical Religion, the Great Lie
Review: A review of the book: "Biblical Religion, the Great Lie"(...).

The newly published in English book "Biblical Religion, the Great Lie" by the author and researcher Michael Kalopoulos is a very interesting and extraordinary one! The author explains the main biblical events we are all familiar with in a new ever and rational manner. Indeed, after reading this book I could not help it but view the Bible from an altogether different prospective.

The book is full of original and totally unheard of interpretations of the meanings and explanations of the events described in the Bible. For instance, original and very plausible interpretations and explanations are offered about: the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Sacrifice of Isaac, Joseph's Dreams, the Plagues of Egypt, the Exodus from Egypt, the Crossing of the Red Sea, the various actions and preaching of many prophets etc. Also, I was very astonished by the depth of the analysis and the justification provided, for these events. The narrative brings up many illusive elements to the attention of the reader, documenting in detail the role of sorcery, deception, plagiarism, use of poisons, narcotic plants and substances etc in social and religious developments.

Visiting the author's personal website at www.greatlie.com is also very much worthy and highly recommended. Reading his essays and unpublished work sheds a lot of light in these important topics. Notably, you can see there an original explanation of the miracle of the "Burning Bush" along with a prototype of the Bush, made of clay by the author himself, that can provide a quite convincing explanation of this "miracle"!

So, this new book is a very significant one on this controversial and important subject in our lives. It is indeed a breakthrough in religious criticism and beyond. I recommend it wholeheartedly!

Rating:
Summary: Biblical Religion: The Great Lie
Review: Boy, this is an interesting book sure to ignite a lot of controversy especially amongst fundamentalists of any religious stripe. Kalopoulos puts forth the audacious theory that Abraham and his descendents were Chaldean magicians of great cunning and skill, who used various potions and chemistry tricks to influence "kings and nations". From Abraham's escape from the furnaces of Ur, through to the prophecies of Joseph and Daniel, and the burning bush of Moses: all are exposed as tricks perpetrated on an unsuspecting and gullible populace. Kalopoulos explains the tricks very plausibly using scientific data about psychoactive plants and naturally occurring substances which could be used to create illusions and delusions. He suggests that the early Jews performed these tricks with theatrical skill in order to create fear of a "vengeful God" who could then offer salvation.

For scientists and skeptics, this book will be a fascinating read. For the faithful, the book will likely serve as provocation to outrage. After all, it attacks the underpinnings of the three great monotheistic religions of our times.

But perhaps it's time to take a skeptics' view. The legacy of the tribes of Abraham in modern times is one of bloodshed, intolerance and hatred. Perhaps it is based on illusion after all. It certainly doesn't seem to be based on love.

Rating:
Summary: Good Evidence, Bad Story Teller
Review: I couldn't wait to receive my book, "The Great Lie..." The subject has long interested me. I read excerpts from the book on line. After getting the book and starting to read it, I became frustrated with the writing style. Although the content is facinating, and the research I feel is well done, it doesn't flow from page to page. Kalopoulos seems to be a good researcher but he's no writer. I feel this material would be better understood if properly put into print by and expeirenced writer. having said that I do appreciate his efforts and will try to get through it again in a couple of weeks or so. When I come across books like this I like to give them three or four chances before tossing them out. As I said in my title of this reveiw, "There's a good story in there but badly told.

Rating:
Summary: A fascinating trip back through time
Review: I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in history, religion and cultic groups.

I became interested in the Bible after encountering a very destructive Bible based cult in Korea led by a wanted rapist who of course claims to be the Messiah. I became fascinated at how the Bible was so easily and effectively used by the cult as a tool for manipulation and control. It amazed me how such a blatant criminal was able to use the Bible to gather followers and victims. I began looking at ways to refute the group's biblical teachings and that led me to reading the bible and books about it.

"Don't Know Much About The Bible" by Kenneth C Davies and "Who Wrote The Bible?" by Richard Elliot Friedman are books that I would highly recommend.
Plus a wealth of books on brainwashing and cultic groups, which I think would also be of interest to readers of The Great Lie. The subject is very much related, the tools modern day cults use today haven't changed too much over the past few thousand years.
"People Who Play God" by Beth E Peterson
"Combatting Cult Mind Control" by Steven Hassasn
"Cults In Our Midst" by Margaret Thaler Singer
"Influence: The Psychology of Persuassion" by Robert B. Cialdini, PHD

Michael's book was by far the most entertaining of the bible books I have read.
At times it really is a page turner, particularly his theories on Moses and the flight from Egypt. I found his writings to be absolutely fascinating and of course more believable than the "miracles of God" accounts of the Old Testament.

What really stood out for me was what a focused and logical mind Michael has.
His critical and logical thinking skills are really extraordinary and a gift to us all.
It's a pity that the mad Irish priest who interrupted the Athens' Olympic Marathon hadn't read The Great Lie.

Finally, Michael's book also sparked my interest in the mythologies of Ancient Greece. I'd also like to recommend "Mythology" by Edith Hamilton. It's a great book to read after Michael's since it describes many of the myths he refers to.


Rating:
Summary: A review of the book: "Biblical Religion, the Great Lie"
Review: The newly published in English book "Biblical Religion, the Great Lie" by the author and researcher Michael Kalopoulos is a very interesting and extraordinary one! The author explains the main biblical events we are all familiar with in a novel and rational manner. Indeed, after reading this book I could not help it but view the Bible from an altogether different prospective.

The book is full of original and totally unheard of interpretations of the meanings and explanations of the events described in the Bible. For instance, original and very plausible interpretations and explanations are offered about: the Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, the Sacrifice of Isaac, Joseph's Dreams, the Plagues of Egypt, the Exodus from Egypt, the Crossing of the Red Sea, the various actions and preaching of many prophets etc. Also, I was very astonished by the depth of the analysis and the justification provided, for these events. The narrative brings up many illusive elements to the attention of the reader, documenting in detail the role of sorcery, deception, plagiarism, use of poisons, narcotic plants and substances etc in social and religious developments.

Visiting the author's personal website at www.greatlie.com is also very much worthy and highly recommended. Reading his essays and unpublished work sheds a lot of light in these important topics. Notably, you can see there an original explanation of the miracle of the "Burning Bush" along with a prototype of the Bush, made of clay by the author himself, that can provide a quite convincing explanation of this "miracle"!

So, this new book is a very significant one on this controversial and important subject in our lives. It is indeed a breakthrough in religious criticism and beyond. I recommend it wholeheartedly!

Ioannis, M. Roussos
Professor Dr. of mathematics

Rating:
Summary: Review of "Biblical Religion the Great Lie"
Review: Written with Greek temperament and scientific fortitude, Michael Kalopoulos' book "Biblical Religion, the Great Lie" is a breathtaking work of non fiction capturing the reader's attention even to its last footnote.

Comparisons of surgical precision, of the biblical and Greek-Mediterranean Myths of the Creation, the Great Flood, the Confusion of Languages, leads the reader to answer the question: "Who copied from whom?"

All three monotheistic Religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam originate from the God of Abraham. Through a detailed and artful critical analysis of the biblical texts (Genesis and Exodus) and an objective overview of the actions of the prophets as they are described in the Bible itself the book gradually reveals the first prophets Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses as common impostors who used their 'God' to achieve personal wealth and power. Significant clues for the author's new original interpretations come from the comparisons of the biblical texts with the Greek myths.

Following a scientific method Michael Kalopoulos reveals for instance that the beast- and man-killing plagues supposedly sent by the biblical God upon the unsuspecting animals and people of Egypt were entirely man made, literally sweeping the carpet under the feet of biblical Religion!

This book also denounces the selfish intermediaries intervening between the biblical God of Abraham and the peoples, for uprooting the natural faith of millions of people together with their natural and due respect for mother Nature, with grave consequences for the coming generations.

In the last, brilliant chapter of the book, the author makes our responsibility clear: "It is evident that we are living in a perpetual humiliating hell, arranged precisely by those preaching of paradise. However, the responsibility for the humiliating conditions we are living in does not belong to our persecutors alone. The ease, with which we have followed those supposed saviours, is astonishing. Our nauseating gullibility must bear the greatest part of the blame".

In order for people to appreciate the importance of this work and to proceed to make the necessary revisions of their theological creeds, I believe this book should be translated in as many languages as the Bible and should be circulated just as widely.

If you visit the website of the author at www.greatlie.com you can download sample chapters and the table of contents of the book from which you will be able to appreciate the handling of the subject matter and the intricate structure of this masterpiece!

My opinion: MUST READ!

Doris Reiter May 2004