The Disappearance of God : A Divine Mystery

Rating:
Summary: An Outstanding Work
Review: I just finished this book and intend to read it again right away. I found it to be a very powerful work and am disappointed that it does not seem to have a stronger following; this is a real gem that has apparently been lost in the shuffle. Written for both believers and non-believers, Friedman proposes a very interesting framework for understanding man's relationship with God and our place in the universe. It's not a comprehensive theology by any means nor is it an attempt to convert atheists. By the end of the book, however, I found my faith strengthened ("renewed" is actually a better word) in a God that bridges the apparent gaps between modern science, the Bible, and the oft-misunderstood philosophies of Friedrich Nietzsche (who gets soem very enlightening attention in this book, along with Dostoyevsky). Fundamentalists, on the other hand, may be disappointed (even though I think they shouldn't be). Highly recommended.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting idea that could have been explored further
Review: I was intrigued by author's idea to explore the disappearance of God in the Old Testament. He notes that at the beginning of creation God walked with man in the Garden of Eden, but as man developed, God spoke and interacted less and less directly with man. The author notes that God's face became 'hidden' - e.g., He appeared as a burning bush or in a column of 'glory' and could no longer be looked upon directly. Eventually he began to speak to man or demonstrate His power only in very private appearances or miracles, whereas He had previously done things that a whole people could witness. And the first part of the book takes this idea even farther.

I liked the first part of the book the best. The author tries to link the disappearance of God to the writings of Nietschze and to the Qabalah (parts two and three of the book), but IMHO fails to do anything other than suggest a connection. The book was informative, as far as it went. I would've liked to see the author search ancient religions/beliefs systems/mystical writings for a reason WHY God disappeared, rather than merely speculating on it himself.

Overall, I think it's an interesting read, especially if you like books like The Da Vinci Code.

Rating:
Summary: A good book, but a weak ending
Review: This is an ambitious and insightful book. I had never thought that the Bible had a plot, and I learned from this book that it has one: the coupled and progressive weakening of god and strengthening of man. I don't know much about Nitzsche and Dovstoyevsky but I learned a lot about these incredible philosophers from the third part of the book. The last part of the book was weak. The tie of god and scientific cosmology never panned out, and the real question of the book " How do you inculcate a moral code in the absence of faith in a divinity?" is framed, discussed, but never really answered. Still, a remarkable and thought-provoking book.