Rating: 
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.
Rating: 
Summary: The Bible - - No Longer an Weapon for Abuse
Review: I am respectful for the views of others who choose to hold Mythos to be Logical truth in their spiritual belief system. Though it does not make a lot of sense to me to hold one set of books as the be all and end all of all religious and spiritual beliefs, I understand that to some people it makes sense to do so as it did once for me a long, long time ago as well.Reading a document that has been used as an abusive weapon and holding it in high esteem just does not make any sense to me. Until recently I chose instead to avoid the Bible all together refusing to pay any mind to a book of �fairy tales and fables�. I have been tolerant to others who feel differently and still continue to be. However I have to say that after reading Gomes�s work I began to have a better appreciation for the biblical texts that I now understand to have some merit and wisdom when used in the syntax and era in which they were written. It is a darn shame that so many have died under the false and incorrect deductions of �knowledge� from the Bible, which has been interpreted and reinterpreted in numerous languages. Did no one ever stop to realize that perhaps something got lost in the translation? HELLO?!? Peter Gnomes address�s this expertly and professionally and brings to mind those very possibilities. Mythos, the style in which some of the Cannon�s were written, seems to have been taken too seriously. For instance, there much merit in Leviticus and it makes much sense. However, one must place themselves in the context to which those rules for living were written. To use a line or two from this text to beat others down beneath oneself and then completely ignore the preceding and proceeding text is nothing short of ignorance. It is time to take an intellectual and truthful look at the Bible as truly what it is and this author describes it to be. It is simply a story of God�s people the many things they tried to do to isolate themselves from the unconditional love of a Creator and the many extreme things the Creator did to lead the people back to the maker�s arms. The Bible is a story of unconditional Love not of laws and edicts to follow as condition to be loved. Thank you Peter Gnomes for making that possible for me.
Rating:
Summary: The Bible - - No Longer an Weapon for Abuse
Review: I am respectful for the views of others who choose to hold Mythos to be Logical truth in their spiritual belief system. Though it does not make a lot of sense to me to hold one set of books as the be all and end all of all religious and spiritual beliefs, I understand that to some people it makes sense to do so as it did once for me a long, long time ago as well. Reading a document that has been used as an abusive weapon and holding it in high esteem just does not make any sense to me. Until recently I chose instead to avoid the Bible all together refusing to pay any mind to a book of 'fairy tales and fables'. I have been tolerant to others who feel differently and still continue to be. However I have to say that after reading Gomes's work I began to have a better appreciation for the biblical texts that I now understand to have some merit and wisdom when used in the syntax and era in which they were written. It is a darn shame that so many have died under the false and incorrect deductions of 'knowledge' from the Bible, which has been interpreted and reinterpreted in numerous languages. Did no one ever stop to realize that perhaps something got lost in the translation? HELLO?!? Peter Gnomes address's this expertly and professionally and brings to mind those very possibilities. Mythos, the style in which some of the Cannon's were written, seems to have been taken too seriously. For instance, there much merit in Leviticus and it makes much sense. However, one must place themselves in the context to which those rules for living were written. To use a line or two from this text to beat others down beneath oneself and then completely ignore the preceding and proceeding text is nothing short of ignorance. It is time to take an intellectual and truthful look at the Bible as truly what it is and this author describes it to be. It is simply a story of God's people the many things they tried to do to isolate themselves from the unconditional love of a Creator and the many extreme things the Creator did to lead the people back to the maker's arms. The Bible is a story of unconditional Love not of laws and edicts to follow as condition to be loved. Thank you Peter Gnomes for making that possible for me.
Rating: 
Summary: If you read only one book...
Review: I have spent the last two years reading dozens of books on the Bible (and the Bible itself) and can say that Peter Gomes's "The Good Book" was the most fascinating, comprehensive, and thought-provoking. As he states in his intro: "The theme of this book is the risk and the joy of the Bible: risk in that we might get it wrong, and joy in the discovery of the living Word becoming flesh." Although a Republican and an ordained Baptist minister, Gomes spends the first part of the book debunking the damage done by conservative Protestants, who in their moral certainty have at times appeared to hijack the Bible as their own. Gomes effectively makes the case that conservative Christians are wrong in their estimation that the Bible is anti-Semitic, anti-gay, and anti-feminist. I haven't seen a more effective argument anywhere else, and this section will be soothing antidote to much of the misinformation that is pervasive in the media. (Where are the liberal Christian voices in the media?) Having solved that (although I'm sure not all readers were as satisfied as I was), Gomes turns to what the purpose of reading the Bible can be. Many people have turned away from the Bible out of fear, but others have turned away because much of the Bible seems irrelevant today. Drawing on his skills as a preacher, Gomes uses the second half of the book to talk about why the Bible is relevant to our lives, as long as it is read correctly. It is true that much of the Bible was relevant in and of its time only (which is why such archaic laws as administering the death penalty to children and adulterers have fallen away, and why the stident attitudes about animal sacficice, slavery and women's roles have fallen away) and that many myths and legends have been literalized by unintelligent people (which is why many of the myths and legends in the OT have been debunked by science.) But, even with those limitations, Gomes makes the case that Bible still has relevance to life today. His argument is intelligent and persuasive, and makes for a delightful read.
Rating:
Summary: Gentle walk through church sponsored hatred causes & cures
Review: I simply stumbled upon this book in a little book store in a town of less than 5,000 people on a Sunday when nothing in this town should be open. Imagine my surprise when reading each chapter and getting to know Brother Gomes through his words, ideas, and gentle manner. I had no idea that he was black or republican and am glad that my prejudices weren't activated. These prejudices are a part of my life through the teachings I received from the church during my early years. Now it is the members of the church to whom I look to relearn the TRUTH. The fact that Gomes is gay, as I am, adds a touch of irony and validity to his presentation and ideas. The only portion of the book I really felt was lacking was, in fact, the section on homosexuality. I didn't feel a great sense of relief at his alternative definitions and meanings of the scripture. Though I know in my heart of hearts my faith and salvation are not jeapordized by my sexuality, I did hope that some of t! ! hat old guilt and self-condemnation would be addressed. Alas, at least for me, it was not. I would recommend this book to anyone, especially those who are looking for a first step on the path back to Faith.
Rating:
Summary: A book for thinking Christians
Review: I tend to like books whose ratings vacillate between five stars and one. Clearly some readers get it and some don't. The Bible has been used for centuries as an excuse for slavery, for bigotry, for war, for torture, for anti-Semitism, for homophobia, and for misogyny. It has been used as a crutch for those emotionally immature enough to need to feel right and morally superior. The people who would use the Bible in this way--and they continue to flourish and proliferate--will probably have little use for Gomes's impressive volume, and so be it. For the rest of us, however, The Good Book is worthwhile and enriching. It illuminates the Bible for both the veteran churchgoer and the uninitiated. In teaching Sunday school and Confirmation classes for the Episcopal Church and in delivering funeral and wedding sermons, I have drawn on Gomes's book again and again to help convey the Christian message. Anyone interested in reading the Bible with "mind and heart" will find The Good Book to be a good read.
Rating:
Summary: This book has helped restore the joy in my faith
Review: I was once very involved in born-again Christian activities, but never felt fully comfortable there. With due respect, I always felt the 'born-again' interpretation of Christianity mimicked the Pharisees more than it did Jesus' disciples. After distancing myself from this path, though, I missed feeling active in my faith. This book helped me to be excited again about being a Christian. It has helped restore the joy in my faith, in a way that seems more Christian to me than the born-again path (which I unfortunately thought and unfortunately still think is exclusive and arrogant). Thank you, Thank you, Peter Gomes!
Rating:
Summary: Reading the Bible for inspiration
Review: I was someone who had studied the Bible (on an lay level) mainly for historical interest. My past encounters with fundamentalism had turned me off to trying to find spiritual inspiration from much of the Bible. This book helped me see that one does not have to turn the Bible into a religous idol in order to gain spiritual nourishment from it. It also placed into context some of the more confusing laws and holiness codes from the Pentateuch. In short, Professor Gomes has helped me reclaim much of the good from my Christian heritage.
Rating:
Summary: Reading the Bible for inspiration
Review: I was someone who had studied the Bible (on an lay level) mainly for historical interest. My past encounters with fundamentalism had turned me off to trying to find spiritual inspiration from much of the Bible. This book helped me see that one does not have to turn the Bible into a religous idol in order to gain spiritual nourishment from it. It also placed into context some of the more confusing laws and holiness codes from the Pentateuch. In short, Professor Gomes has helped me reclaim much of the good from my Christian heritage.
Rating: 
Summary: Perceptive and enriching, but biased
Review: I would have no trouble recommending this book to anyone who has previously shied away from the Bible on account of the various social abuses of Scripture. Dr. Gomes writes an analysis that will ease many people's fears that the Bible is largely a highfalutin stream of condemnations, and there's definitely a need for such a book. Having said that, I must admit I found little in this text that was original or truly revelatory; people who have read other books on the subject will find themselves re-treading familiar ground. More bothersome, I think Gomes sometimes fails to distinguish between scholarly and popular consensus, and his own avowed left-leaning political tendency occasionally makes his viewpoint appear biased. In more than one instance he seems to be arguing less about freeing Scripture from reactionary partisanship and more about harnessing it to the progressive agenda. Is the latter necessarily a purer motive than the former? In light of Gomes's occasional potshots at public figures of political conservatism, I think not. In the end, though, Gomes succeeds in persuading the reader that the Bible is most significant as a universal repository of human experience and a time-honored source of advice on human relationships. I have to agree with Gomes that, as often as not, the most vehement social moralists are mere careerists; if only he had balanced that observation with a similar one for those of the opposite ilk.
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