Customer Reviews

Biblical Dyslexia

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

 

 

This book is about THE BOOK, but with an original challenge to common assumptions. The author's hypothesis is that most of us have a kind of "learning disability" when it comes to reading the Bible which keeps us from truly understanding its message. The book addresses the traditional treatment of scripture which perpetuates biblical illiteracy, but shows that there is a way out as well. The author organizes the book into sections dealing with misleading assumptions about the scriptures, their history, language and translation, and how we can get over the barriers to understanding them. Included are many insightful looks at passages popularly misinterpreted. I particularly liked the discussion and examples about the little interpreters living inside our heads, the New Jerusalem and the lake of fire. The book's strengths are its boldness and analysis of the wording behind the english translations of the Bible. If there is a weakness, it's brevity (I was hungry for more).

As a long-time Bible reader, "Biblical Dyslexia" helped me to read the Bible in a fresh new way. The author takes up various topics having to do with the way we understand the scriptures, and confronts the reader with questions concerning the structure of the Bible (i.e., is the Bible one book or a library?), and its nature, for example, the meaning of "word of God." The helps sensitise us to the cultural impediments we have to overcome as Bible readers, as, for instance in translating figures of speech from ancient texts and how to properly understand biblical symbolism.

The author doesn't spare his readers by leaving certain evangelical presumptions untouched. Rather he forces one to re-think them. The author, as someone who describes himself as having roots in the evangelical tradition, points out the problems that develop as soon as one tries to defend every word, jot and tittle against liberal criticism. I think he hits the mark by asserting that the driving force behind such positions is usually nothing but fear. It seems to me, that if the non-liberals (I count myself in the conservative camp) are the ones who believe in a personal God and creator who cares, express His thoughts and intervenes in man's affairs, then we already have a superior basis for communicating with modern people. In this sense especially, the book encourages one to trust God anew.

I found many vivid examples which make Biblical Dyslexia a straightforward read which provokes the reader to think after putting the book down. The work is annotated well, so as to facilitate re-checking. In a nutshell, this book motivated me not only to think about the way I use the Bible, but also to open it up and read it some more. Worthwhile piece of literature!

The writer has the very rare gift to deal with a complex matter with competence and humor, so that you afterwards know quite qell what he is talking about. Biblical dyslexia reveals a very common disease, especially among those who believe to be very familiar with the Biblical text. He analyses our bad habit of interpreting the Bibel through the glasses of our preconceived ideas about what the Bible would or should say. In following his argument very closely we learn how to read and interpret the Bible according to its own standards and rules, and this cuts quite through many of our cherished concepts of Bible teaching. This book is an excellent remedy against Biblical dyslexia and leads to a sound and humble attidue towards the Bible, the very Word of God. Manfred R. Haller

Charles Wilhelm has provided an intelligent work that makes an honest analysis of the problems inherent in all translated work. Not afraid to break out of the limitations of timid Christian traditional thinking, this wonderful "outside-the-box" thinking gives the believer a real asset to his faith; and hopefully, opens the door to be able to think outside the box in other areas of spiritual life.

Some parts of the book are more scholarly than others (they reference the written works of other scholarly authors); but this does not bog down the less-than-scholarly reader. Mixed with clever one-liners, Biblical Dyslexia is both informative and entertaining. I have been involved in pastoral and teaching ministry for nearly 40 years; and I can heartily recommend this book to all who would be serious about their discipleship to Messiah.

My first impression of this book was that it was a must read for those who don't care if they upset the status quo as they search for Truth. I gave it 4 'stars'. I originally thought, Yes, it is hard to look past the traditional ways things are taught, but always well worth it when it takes one deeper in faith built on truth. Although I still hold to this view, I cannot in good faith recommend this book to be such a read. This book takes one beyond the 'din of tradition' and into the screams of New-age thought. I really don't recommend it. Even well grounded Christians can buy into it. I held any true faith in this book for awhile, until I also read LET THERE BE LIGHT. This book,BIblical Dyslexia, really made me think and forced me to go back and really study it alongside my Bible, Concordance, Jewish History and Lexicons! Doing this did not really give me an indication of whether it is true or not. Only when I delved into more books like it (Let there be light by Rocco Errico, and the Bible translation by Dr. George Lamsa, did I finally see it for it is. After reading LET THERE BE LIGHT, I no longer feel Biblical Dyslexia is based on the truth of the Bible. Let there be true light in the hearts of men, and the 'angle of light' be exposed for what it really is. Division and confusion. I now would give it 1 star because it at least caused me to grow in what I really believe.