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Summary: A voice for the voiceless
Review: As amember of a multi-denominational federated, protestant Church I am overjoyed to be in a weekly study group focusing on Peter Gomes' The Good Book. Being in a diverse religious group there are individuals who have vocal doctrinal agendas that are expressed as ultimate truth. Many who do not share these views become silent in response to those individuals and their interpretations. Reverend Gomes has helped us to find our voice, and that voice is compassionate, concerned and inclusive. His fresh and loving perspectives on religious "hot topics" are enlightening and liberating and his humor and humility engage the reader in a personal way.As a result of studying this book I have been truly touched with grace, wisdom and the pure hope that we can come to realize that "Now we know only in part; Then we will know fully, even as we have been fully known. And now faith, hope and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love." 1Corinthians 13:12-13
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Summary: Insightful, heartfelt, Holy Spirit inspired, compassionate
Review: As an Episcoplian and a Black woman , I am constantly searching for inspiration and insight into the Bible. The Good Book is indeed an experience. Although I did find it difficult in terms of some Biblical and historical references--it sent me to the dictionary--it also was thought provoking and inspirational for us all to look at the life of Christ and his message of compassion, mercy and love as a way to live our daily lives. It is a strong rebuke to the fundamental Christians who supported enslavement of Black Americans, condemn homosexuals and who feel that woman are inferior. My spiritual life has been enriched by Brother Gomes book-a must read.
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Summary: Empowering, insightful, and thought provoking
Review: Brother Gomes has created a book that will stand the test of time. As a woman and Episcopalian, I a constantly searching for ways to apply the Bible to my daily life. The Bible is a book of compassion, love and mercy, not condemnation and hate. May the peace of the Lord be always with you!
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Summary: A wonderful antidote to the Christian Right
Review: Dr. Gomes has done a great service for those of us who call ourselves Christians in publishing this book. He exemplifies several traits that are in short supply among self-acclaimed Christian leaders, such as humility, intelligence, wit, discernment, open-mindedness and grace.
It's a book about hermeneutics for the layperson, witty without being trite, intelligent without being pretentious. He tackles some of the most difficult elements of biblical interpretation without discrediting either the Bible or those who were guilty of egregious misreadings, such as the pro-slavery champions in the South after the Civil War. His gentleness is a joy to experience, and his book is a gift to the Church.
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Summary: Dangerous for those seeking God's face
Review: First of all, understand that I have always been a fully-inclusive, spiritual Democrat. I have many friends of different races, of different sexual preferences and both genders. I love them all. As does God. I now attend a bible-believing, bible-preaching, pentecostal church that believes in and has females in leadership, and has a racially and ethnically mixed congregation. We as humans cannot condemn other humans for their sins, as we are all sinful. However, we ARE obligated to recognize a sin when we see it. I was saddened to learn that homosexuality was in fact an "abomination" to God, and that if my gay friends did not repent, they would not see God. This does NOT mean that I love them any less, as Jesus has commanded us to love each other as He loved us!Rev. Gomes refutes Leviticus 18:22 ("Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind: it is abomination") and Leviticus 20:13 ("If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.") (both KJV) as being outdated. He claims that these and the other laws in those chapters are meant for God's "frontier people", and are meant for the preservation of the people's purity, identity and indeed the propagation of the race. He then states that "[w]e have, however, long since ceased to live as God's frontier folk in the promised land." Therefore, according to Rev. Gomes, since there is no danger of God's people dying out, we are not obligated to obey these laws. By this argument, the following sins would also be permitted: adultery, incest, and bestiality, as these are all forbidden in the same passages. One of the reviews below stated "I feel that Gomes was showing through his writing how we can make the bible fit our lifestyles, no matter what it may be." That is frightening. The bible was not meant to "fit our lifestyles", it was meant to be the yardstick by which we are to judge ourselves (read "not others"). We all agree that theft is wrong, but if we as a society decided that it wasn't, would that mean that God says it's alright? Truth is truth, no matter what mankind says about it. Just because there are so-called "Christians" who torment sinners, that is not a reason to re-interpret the bible! These are Christians who do not understand the tenet of "love the sinner, hate the sin", and believe me, they do not represent the Body of Christ! Because I love the sinner, I am compelled to inform him/her that his/her lifestyle, be it homosexuality, theft, murder, adultery, is a sin according to God and unfortunately will be judged by Him. In conclusion, (I know, finally.. :) ) this book by Reverend Gomes is dangerous to those who are seeking to know God and seeking to be justified before Him. Rev. Gomes is leading sinners in the wrong direction.
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Summary: Balanced, thoughtful and eloquent
Review: For many people, the Bible can be complex, paradoxical and unapproachable. How the stories, messages are interpreted is critical to how one uses them in daily life. Peter Gomes has made the Bible approachable to everyone. He clearly identifies the uses and misuses of the Bible and then transforms them into a "living word" of God rather than just a historical text. Thank you Mr. Gomes.
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Summary: Gomes gives us God's Word for man
Review: Gomes takes the Bible off its pedestal and presents it to us as a tool for Christian living. This book is a must read for any Christian struggling to read and understand the Bible in modern terms. He explores many of the controversial topics of the Bible, including race, homosexuality, women's roles, anti-Semitism, wealth, and more. He challenges the reader to accept the Bible as an interpretation of fantastic religious events with historical and sociological significance. He teaches the reader to deal with contradictions within the Bible, even within individual books of the Bible. He helps the reader to discern for himself what facts are crucial to an individual's belief in Christianity and what facts enrich the stories of the Bible. This book challenged my beliefs in positive ways and taught me to never "idolize" the Bible again.
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Summary: Gomes gives us God's Word for man
Review: Gomes takes the Bible off its pedestal and presents it to us as a tool for Christian living. This book is a must read for any Christian struggling to read and understand the Bible in modern terms. He explores many of the controversial topics of the Bible, including race, homosexuality, women's roles, anti-Semitism, wealth, and more. He challenges the reader to accept the Bible as an interpretation of fantastic religious events with historical and sociological significance. He teaches the reader to deal with contradictions within the Bible, even within individual books of the Bible. He helps the reader to discern for himself what facts are crucial to an individual's belief in Christianity and what facts enrich the stories of the Bible. This book challenged my beliefs in positive ways and taught me to never "idolize" the Bible again.
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Summary: A bridge is built from our Creator to our hearts!
Review: Having read the book, and listened to the audio tape in my car, I feel like I have been gifted with a clear and reasonable view of scripture that can fill the empty void in the soul of modern man. I have bought numerous copies for my church discussion group to read together. I heartily recommend this to other pastors!
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Summary: A Frightning Interpretation
Review: I am frightened of the PR this book is getting as some sort of welcomed watered-down version of God's word for modern man. Though society and it's mores and morals are broadening, the truth of God's word is everlasting and ever-applicable. There have been choices in my own life that have flown in the face of God's will as defined in the scriptures, and it was awefully convicting to me to read the passages that seemed to condem me in those choices, but my God is just, and He is perfect irregaurdless of my actions. When we as failable human beings fall short of the perfection of God, we should not be tempted to "lower the bar", especially in a way that puts words in God's mouth. This is slander. However, there is a way to reconcile the chasim between the perfection of God and our own feeble natures. His name is Jesus Christ, who says "I am The Way, The Truth, and The Light..." His life was an example of how to live a perfect and abundant human life, but God knows we can never achieve to duplicate it, so His death on the cross was a pentance paid for our failures, weaknesses, and sins. To approach holiness on earth we are taught to accept the grace of that sacrifice in such a way that it changes our hearts, and therefore changes our choices and the way we live our lives. Rewriting the Book and scripting it to suit ourselves will not bring us closer to God. I am "frightened" that those who are searching for a way to God will be blindly led astray by this book. God is approachable and accessible to us, but we can only become more like God by allowing Him to change our own character. We cannot change His. This is good news.
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