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Summary: Eye WasH Treament On A Dynamic Subject
Review: The worst thing about books such as this, is that these materials aren't very insightful about very real historical matters. This author has written a book only to support her pro-feminist, pantheistic, and anti-Christian view. She has only championed the cause of mental midgets who refuse to study the subjects in an open-minded view.She blames "Orthodox Christianity" for about everything bad in western culture. It is true that Christedom has done many horrible things, however, these atrocities are the illogical outworkings of Christian teachings. For example, Jesus Christ wouldn't have condoned the inquistions or for that matter the Crusades. Further, she fails too draw a clear line on the full scope of the crusades. Her treatment of this subject is to say sad, at the very least. Even though she accusses Christianity of promoting a "Masculine God" she doesn't give a logical defense to the contrary. She relies on straw men and Ad Hominems like a fish swimming in water. Her statement, by quoting two sentences from President Washington, that America was not founded on Christian principles is the logical out working of someone trying to be deceptive. Much of America was founded on Christian principles. Sorry, that is just the way it is. This book does get two starts because she writes in an easy to read style and it is true that Christians have abused the teachings of the church. These questions are very real and should be discussed - but lets discuss them honestly.
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Summary: Must read for anyone seeking historical truth
Review: In a personal search for historical information on Christianity without a bias toward or against any religion - this is the book to read. I found this book to be incredibly easy to read and comprehend without prejudice or attitude. It gave me valuable information I was seeking while trying to understand the development of Christianity without being colored by a specific religion. I highly recommend this book if you are seeking simple historical facts and information. I have passed it on to many friends.
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Summary: Ellerbe has the authority of Christ?
Review: We are informed as follows: 'Helen Ellerbe's book is not pro-feminist. If you see it as such it is because you have been looking through the patriarchial eyes of society. If you see it as "new age" it is because you are hopelessly lost and afraid in the decaying past. If you dismiss this book it is possible you are in some way benefiting from the oppression of people and nature and you are unwilling to let go. Evil will continue as long as people like you continue to ignore this book's message and remain divurgent from the truth.' In other words: those who are not with Helen Ellerbe are against her. There is only one Person in all of history Who has the authority to make an announcement like that. It is not Ellerbe's critics who are 'divurgent' from the Truth.
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Summary: Find out if you've been brainwashed too; know the truth!
Review: This book isn't a tirade against Christianity. Helen Ellerbe explains she wrote the book to expose atrocities commited in the name of the Christian Church. She fully acknowledges that there have been many Christian people who have been a benefit to humanity and that her book was in no way intended to blacken their memory. If you find the book's message painful it is because you have been brainwashed by the church and society. If you are someone who seeks the truth and is willing to accept it, even though it may go against what you previously held dear, then you will revise your idea about the role Christianity has played in history. You will know that Christianity has been used as a tool to keep people docile and obedient in the face of tyrannical oppression. You will realize that Christianity has enslaved people in the most insidious way, by making them believe it was for their own good. It has discourged individuality and encouraged people to ostracize those who have dared to be different. Helen Ellerbe proves that the church has disempowered people and made them afraid and helpless so they can be easily led. Perhaps most dangerous of all it has taught that it is evil question things. That to question goes against God. People have become so gulit ridden their shame has made them mute. Christ's name has been used to wield power and make money off of people's suffering. Christ and Christianity are in no way related. Christ would never have allowed any violence or cruelty in his name. Helen Ellerbe's book is not pro-feminist. If you see it as such it is because you have been looking through the patriarchial eyes of society. If you see it as "new age" it is because you are hopelessly lost and afraid in the decaying past. If you dismiss this book it is possible you are in some way benefiting from the oppression of people and nature and you are unwilling to let go. Evil will continue as long as people like you continue to ignore this book's message and remain divurgent from the truth.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, Concise Intro to the Horrors of Christianity
Review: This is a very good (by not quite excellent) book which, in a concise 188 pages, takes you through the history of Christianity providing you with a handy reference for all of the murder, oppression, irrationality, suppression of science and progress, and opposition to freedom and pleasure which characterize this vile slave religion. Although written from an obivious wiccan perspective given to a bit too much environmental whining and a slightly overdone feminist tone, it is still an exceptional book. The scholarship is fairly solid, with ample references and footnotes even if a couple of the authors logical transitions and asertions of causality are a little innaccurate or incomplete at times. Still, it is probably better and more compact than most anything else you will find out there. It is certainly a worthwhile eye-opener for anyone out there still blinded by the lies of religious propaganda which continuously spew forth from Christian pulpits.
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Summary: Yawwwwwwwn.
Review: Ho-hum, looks like a Strident Feminist has decided to stick up for Helen Ellerbe's hash of paganism and poor scholarship. Perhaps this person who accepts Christ as Lord and Savior can explain how (s)he *also* manages to swallow Ellerbe's half-baked "nature spirituality." And perhaps (s)he can explain how (s)he can excuse Ellerbe's miserable attempts at scholarship merely on the grounds that no other books discuss these allegedly important topics *at all*. Does that make it okay to discuss them badly and irresponsibly? On the contrary, if Ellerbe's is really the only book out there about this stuff, doesn't that make it that much more important for her to do the job well? Stop hurling insults and go worship Nature, foolish creature. We're not the problem; you are.
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Summary: The only book I know of that covers this important viewpoint
Review: If you know of a better one, suggest it. If all you can do is present your own warmed over hash of opinion and unproven "facts" in an attempt to discredit this extraordinary book, you are nothing more than part of the problem. Her research is not world class, a number of her references are less than reputable. Her POINT is none the less exquisitely valid. The woman, and her book, are worthy of much praise. I have witnessed, first hand, in our age, the oppression and control of spirituality that this book outlines. I accept Christ as my Lord and Saviour. I am not against Christ, his teachings, or Christianity. I stand strongly against a form of hatred, prejudice, and ignorance which has become deeply rooted in the foundation of our society, a result of the hypocracy and corruption of the Church, and the power it has wielded over society as a whole. I find all of the "opposing viewpoints" presented on this page to be nothing more than empty bags of hot air. In a few cases, pathetic, culturally ignorant, empty bags of hot air. My viewpoint is nothing more than my own. I cannot claim to speak on behalf of Ms. Ellerbee or her book. This book is worth reading. Many of the opinions presented on this page are not.
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Summary: Hokum.
Review: Gee, now I know what's _really_ wrong with Christianity: it's not a warmed-over hash of Wicca, feminism, and whatever other trendy New Age pseudospiritualities Helen Ellerbe happens to like.
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Summary: The Dim Side of New Age "Historians"
Review: "This is not a [book] to be tossed aside lightly. It should be thrown with great force." --1930's book critic Dorothy Parker on a then-popular novel "Don't confuse me with the facts, Senator. I've already made up my mind." --Nixon supporter to the Watergate Hearings chair Howard Baker. As an ardent student of comparative religion, philosophy, theology, religious history, and biblical scholarship since the mid-1970's I found this alleged history most amusing: Ms. Ellerbe's small book consists mostly of old re-hashed and warmed-over historical errors and long-debunked caricatures, exaggerations, and outright fabrications. An immediately glaring example of this is her reference on p. 46 to the oft-repeated tale of the supposed destruction by Christians of the Library of Alexandria and the burning of its "700,000 rolls" (this "historian" seems unaware they're called "scrolls") in 391 CE. It never happened: According to modern historians and scholars such Jill Claster, Henry Chadwick, and Harry Y. Gamble, there were never more than 500,000 scrolls in the Library (known as the "Museion") and most of them had been removed by the Romans during the 1st and 2nd centuries. The Library had already passed its heyday 100 years before Christians even existed, and remained more-or-less intact, but went mostly unused or underused, until -according to some historians-it was destroyed by Arab invaders in the 7th century. But never mind: Any stigma will do to beat a dogma in Ms. Ellerbe's world. This is just a small sample of the level of objectivity and historical accuracy one can expect to find in this silly hatchet job written by a rank amateur with no academic credentials (at least she doesn't list any) and -it seems-way too much time on her hands. Instead, what one gets for their hard-earned money is questionable allegation after questionable allegation, followed by a partially decent bibliography: Out of the 95 sources listed, little over 20 are primary sources and works by serious, established modern scholars -the latter of whom Ms. Ellerbe seldom even cite. The rest --which also comprise most of her "scholarly" citations-are books and articles by literary editors, poets, novelists, occultists, New Agers, Wiccans, feminist "historians," left-wing ideologues, an assortment of anti-religious and anti-Christian cranks, and only one real philosopher (John Locke) and two real scientists (Stephen Hawking and Charles Darwin). Ms. Ellerbe dedicates her book, in part, to "freedom" and its text is laced with the rhetoric of freedom. She certainly practices what she preaches, for she seems to have steadfastly freed herself from objectivity, factuality, reason, and the most basic rules of historiography and historical research. If, as Emerson once observed, a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds, it seems that scholastic incompetence, shoddy reasoning, and shallow propagandizing are the Three Stooges of Ms. Ellerbe's. Any rational, thinking person who takes this book seriously should be embarrassed. As should be Ms. Ellerbe. (c)1999 John M. Esparolini
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Summary: Wow - the untold story!!
Review: This book was a fabulous trip down memory lane, showing us all the nasty things that christians have done in the name of "peace". It shows how power hungry early christians first mutilated christianity, then the world. This book is very well documented, and very enlightening.
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