Customer Reviews

Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book was one of the most abysmal and intellectually devoid books I have ever had the displeasure of reading. In "Beyond a Reasonable Doubt" Rabbi Waldman displays his embarrassing lack of knowledge about biology, cosmology, and modern scientific theories. He repeatedly makes unwarranted and incorrect assumptions and simplifications regarding scientific theories, and then basks in the absurdity that he himself has constructed. He unabashedly substitutes God for a true and honest understanding of common physical phenomena. My only hope is that future scientists do not read this book and walk away with the message that Rabbi Waldman is clearly trying to send: "Don't bother studying the world around you, enjoy your ignorance and attribute it all to God." This trend of "I don't know the answer, therefore it must be God" is not only arrogant and logically fallacious, but pervasive throughout this awful book.

His example of the orange tree in the first chapter would make even the most amateur high-school biologist laugh. His repeated references to evolution being a coincidence or accident are extremely misleading; the processes of natural selection and evolution involve neither coincidence nor accident. Perhaps Rabbi Waldman would do better to stay within his area of expertise, and not wander so haphazardly through the realm of science of which he clearly has no grasp.

There are far better ways for religious people to confirm their beliefs without subjecting themselves to Rabbi Waldman's ignorance. I would start by taking a biology class.

I read the book beyond a reasonable doubt by Rabbi Shmuel Waldman and I must say that I loved it so much that I couldn't even put it down! I read this great book more than five times and I constantly read over some of the different chapters in it all of the time. This book shows how the world must have been created by a creator and it knocks out the misleading lies of evolution. It shows that the bible must have been given at sinai and it shows eternal existance. The book shows divine providence in jewish history and plenty more. I feel that it's a great book in fact many of my friends have read it and they have all really enjoyed it alot. It is a "must read" for all young and old alike.

verrrrrry draggggggged outm but the book makes some really good point, this could have been written in half the amount of papges

I have already purchased 5 copies of this book to share with my friends who are also on their spiritual journeys. This book confirms in black and white many beliefs that I have always "known" to be true but was never taught in my Reform Jewish education. The part of the book discussing the truths of nature in itself makes the book well worth reading. This book will be a good resource for you in any discussion you might have on facts versus fiction regarding creation as opposed to evolution. I highly recommend this book!

Beyond Reasonable Doubt is an excellent, readable, scholarly apologetics book well worth the time and effort to read. It has two excellent detailed chapters on why macroevolution is not compatible with Judaism (chapter 1 and appendix G). He covers the major scientific problems of getting life from simple organic molecules, why the fossil record clearly disproved macroevolution, why mutations as a whole always cause genetic meltdown, and other topics related to the scientific validity of evolution. Waldman also covers why the Hebrew Scriptures are scientifically valid when they touch on science topics. He is one of the growing number of Jewish scientists, academics, and scholars that have in recent years come out of the closet and openly declared that Darwinism does not only not explain how life originated, but that the scientific facts demonstrate that macroevolution could not, and did not, occur.

interesting + informative + 100% truth (with enough evidence to convince anyone who wants to be convinced) + easy and light read = one awesome book :)

highly recommend to anyone interested in learning more about Judaism

The author explains, very clearly, why there is a God, how the Torah originated from God, discusses life after death (his logic was very reassuring to me), God's influence in Jewish history, and explains God's foreknowledge and our free will. He also discusses the theory of evolution.

This book was easy to read and I enjoyed it very much.

It was also informative to read his appendix topics, such as The Oral Law, Can God Give Himself a Cold that Even He Can't Cure?, and Resurrection of the Dead.