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6 of 7 found the following review helpful:
 Bravo, Mr. Graham Nov 07, 2005
This is the first book that I have read that addresses my questions about why the Bible seems to have contradictions in it. It is well documented, thought provoking and at times, humorous. It is also written in a manner that is readable by the average person who doesn't have a Doctorate of Theology. Unlike other religious books that are dry and downright boring, this book contains historical facts that are presented in a way that keeps my interest and actually enables me to learn something. If your beliefs are based on what your parents or church told you to believe, then this book is not for you. But then, maybe it should be. If all of us who call ourselves christians read this book, perhaps we would be better prepared to explain the perceived contradictions in the Bible to our nonchristian friends.
5 of 9 found the following review helpful:
 Misleading title Nov 05, 2005
Not totally without merit, but this should have been titled "The Origins of the Bible and You're Wrong If You Think You Know What It Says". Only the first 88 pages are devoted to the origin of the Bible. The last half of the book is Mr. Graham's diatribe of how for the past 2000 years, all of Christendom has misunderstood what is written. But fortunately for us, Mr. Graham explains it all to us. I wish this book had been a little longer. It's obvious that he has done his research concerning the origins, but he makes many leaps in logic. I wish he'd have taken more time to fully expound his reasoning. For my part, I find his theology in the last half wanting, but then again I'm no expert.
15 of 18 found the following review helpful:
Very interesting book Mar 25, 2004
I was not familiar with Samual Graham before buying this book, but I really enjoyed this short writing because he stuck to the point, the information is well orgainized, and if you look at the bible from his extremely critical perspective, the basic message of the bible and the facts about Jesus that remain stand strong. Be willing to put aside any religious beliefs or disbeliefs, positive or negative feelings toward Christians, and look at the bible from an unbiased perspecive as Graham does. The truth is certainly hard to come by these days and this book is a vauable tool in helping to make honest decisions based on the facts.
53 of 56 found the following review helpful:
Review by Ellen Tanner Marsh, N. Y. Times bestselling author Feb 06, 2003
Where did the Bible of the Judeo-Christian tradition come from, asks Samuel Graham in "The Origins of the Bible: The Facts and Fiction Behind the World's Greatest Book." Many readers have only a hazy notion regarding this question, he says, and while the reader may be aware that the Bible was "not carried down from Mt. Sinai by Moses along with the Ten Commandments, there are many surprising facts about the Bible that seldom filter down to the average parishioner."Graham's concisely written work examines many of these facts in a skillful blend of biblical excerpts woven with meticulous research that ultimately serves to explain who wrote "the world's greatest book," when it was written and, most significantly, why. Many biblical scholars have focused on interpreting only the Old or the New Testament, but Graham tackles both, providing a concise and unbiased history incorporating recent archaeological finds that lend support to the existence of biblical cities, people and events that critics have long deemed to be myths. Graham also presents a compelling argument for the existence of God, drawing on topics as diverse as quantum mechanics, DNA, and natural vs. man-made calamities. After all, without God there would be no reason to assemble the collected writings of His word, would there? However, Graham is quick to point out that the Bible is fallible by bringing to light a number of errors and inconsistencies. Problems arose, he acknowledges, because the Bible had no single author and because some editions and translations compiled by later generations were subject to the vagaries of the age. Therefore, Graham believes, the Bible should not always be interpreted literally. "Since the Bible was written long ago by people of foreign cultures who wrote in foreign languages, it is not possible to determine the intended meaning of every passage of the Bible," he says. "One cannot read the minds of the authors to determine in every instance when a figure of speech or idiom was being used." How, then, should the lay reader approach the Bible and its teachings? God's message for mankind "leaps out from the pages when the Bible is read as God intended," Graham insists, "as a history of God's prophets and apostles rather than as a legal code of commandments and dogma." This refreshing departure from fundamentalism (Graham, in fact, warns against elevating the Bible from "an accurate, truthful historical record to the level of the 'Word of God'") makes the reader wonder what, then, is the Bible for? According to Paul, says Graham, the Bible should be used as a guide to prepare the people of God to do "every good work." If each individual aligns his or her priorities with the law of faith and love (as in "love your neighbor as yourself") the 21st century may see significant progress toward a more compassionate world. And who can argue with teachings like that?
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