An Encounter with a Prophet [Paperback]

Clyde A. Lewis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1997

An Encounter With a Prophet is an extremely controversial book. Individuals, who feel that they never received satisfactory answers to uncomfortable questions about God, seem to think the book is a rich, clearly written book which, for the first time, provided satisfactory answers to their questions. To fundamentalist Christians the book is a poorly written rag full of blasphemy.

Product Details

• Paperback: 173 pages
• Publisher: Amadon Publishing; 1 edition (May 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0965857409
• ISBN-13: 978-0965857406
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (144 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #167,915 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

367 of 382 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Guide to Peace, March 5, 2000

By 

[e-mail] (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Encounter with a Prophet (Paperback)

After re-reading Encounter With A Prophet I am again struck by the power of Truth. The Truth I found in this book filled me with a great sense of peace and serenity. However, I must admit that at times I, like the character Nathaniel in the book, resist opening myself to the Truth. I have the ability to block peace by holding onto old fears. I find that I can experience serenity when I allow myself to identify and challenge my fears. This book greatly aided me in understanding the distorted beliefs that create such fear.

At first it seemed strange to me that such a simple story about a man's spiritual adventure could hold so much Truth. As a psychologist and a theologian I have studied much about the human mind and the development of people's God Concept. Yet, in all of my exposure to psychological theory and theological rhetoric I have not experienced anything more powerful than the concepts found in Lewis' Encounter With A Prophet. In chapter after chapter we are reminded of the unconditional Love of God and our intrinsic connectedness to all humankind. With that key concept in mind we are freed up to live and grow while experiencing a profound state of peace.

In my professional work as a clinical psychologist I make use of helpful concepts from my psychological and and theological training. However, much of the psychological and theological theory is flawed at its core, and is therefore limiting. Many of the concepts in these theories are helpful because they contain truth. Yet, it extreme cases when pushed to their limits these flawed theories crumble. Such vulnerable theory is unacceptable to me in the practice of clinical psychology, because many cases are extreme. Hence, I only utilize psychological and theological concepts that I'm certain are based in Ulimate Truth. This Truth has at its core the Fatherhood of God and the Brotherhood of Man.

In Encounter With a Prophet Lewis reminds us about the Ultimate Truth. He clears up some misconceptions which birth fear. He points to prayer and service as ways of practicing Truth and achieving peace. I encourage everyone to read this book, and I hope that you will allow its Truth to replace your fear with peace.

143 of 146 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Explanation to Bible Contradictions, October 17, 2000

By 

Angela Hutchinson (GA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Encounter with a Prophet (Paperback)

Finally a book that explains the questions of modern day spiritualists who believe in a Loving God who is all things good and pure...not a punishing jealous God of the Old Testament. This is a book that conveys clear information regarding long held questions of today's religions and of our innate spirituality. Gone are the contradictions. Definitely a must read for the independent thinker. A book of great comfort.

163 of 168 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sundrops Review, May 1, 2004

By 

James Mason (Tampa, Florida) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Encounter with a Prophet (Paperback)

I found this review on another site. I believe it is one of the better reviews of this book.

Children, I have always believed, have an innate talent for logic. Perhaps because they are relatively untouched by the "real world" they are still able to reason and rationalize without worrying about what the rest of the world thinks of them. As a child, I experienced a death in my nuclear family and since then have been on a lifelong journey to learn and understand all I can about religious belief and their origins, as well as scientific study on life after death. To say I have "struggled" with Christianity's teachings and actions is an understatement.

When I was about thirteen years old, I sat down with a Southern-Baptist minister, who was trying to talk "logic" with me (i.e., convert me). The exchange was brief, and altogether frustrating for the minister and me, as I was honestly seeking answers, not attempting to be "fresh".

"God is perfect, right?" I asked him.

"Yes." He replied.

"And God made us, right?" I asked.

"Yes." He replied, again.

"And there is a Hell, right?"

"Oh yes, most definitely." He responded.

"So, if God made us, and He is perfect, why would He make us imperfect and send us to Hell because we are imperfect?"

I remember the perplexed look on his face, as if for a few seconds he was genuinely searching for an answer. The problem was, by "Christian logic" - there was no answer. So in response, he simply told me to stop being "fresh" and to call him when I had "serious questions" that could be answered.

An Encounter With a Prophet by C.A. Lewis is a beautiful, simple and logical attempt to answer that very question.

I was drawn to this book on Amazon.com (where I've spent countless hours in the "recommendation" section). Without thinking too much, I purchased the book for my already huge collection. When I received it, I literally read it in one sitting (on the day I got it). I was flabbergasted that questions I had posed to so many people; college professors, a Pagan High Priest, a Wiccan or two, psychics, ministers, priests, rabbis, scientists & engineers, a therapist, pretty much every family member & friend I have and countless others, were opened up to me in such a small, uncomplicated book.

The story, which for me was secondary behind the ideas, begins with Nathaniel. Nathaniel is a high-stress, high-pressure and high-strung businessman, he is late for work (and an important meeting) and of course, it is pouring rain. He notices a man on the street corner, just standing out in the deluge and mockingly rolls his eyes at this jerk getting drenched. For some unknown reason, however, Nathaniel finds himself pulling over and picking up this stranger, and his life is changed forever.

Nathaniel is agnostic, and we soon learn this stranger is a deeply spiritual person. Immediately, Nathaniel begins drilling him with questions, hoping to catch the stranger in that "Christian illogic" trap and therefore, find himself some smug satisfaction. He is, of course, in for many surprises, as this stranger not only answers his questions with patience and understanding - but with a clear and resounding logic that even Nathaniel cannot dispute.

A true spiritual journey is never easy. When a person opens the floodgate of doubt and questioning, the road is very difficult. Many people, like Nathaniel, simply shut the door because at every turn they are met with illogic. They are told that "Jesus and God love you", but if you're "not good" you'll go to Hell! Perhaps they read the Old Testament, and learn about a wrathful and angry God, a God of fire and brimstone and fright - and then they read the New Testament and hear a very very different message from Jesus. They go to church and see ordained ministers, people of the cloth sworn to uphold God's message, turn into pedophiles and miscreants. They watch self-ordained ministers on television bilking money from the poor and downtrodden in the name of Christ, as they buy their BMWs and mansions. They hear of "pious" and "devout" leaders spreading war, terrorism and hate throughout the world... all in the name of their God.

Christianity (as well as all other organized religions) is filled with hypocrisy and misunderstanding. An Encounter With a Prophet can honestly and truly open your eyes if you let it. Look past the "simplicity" of the story and hear the message. Once I finished this book, I did more of my own research and found some wonderful books (see recommendations at bottom) about the "historical Jesus" and even further debunked the myths I had grown up with regarding the Bible, God, Christ and the afterlife.

Not everyone is ready to read and appreciate this book. That is neither good nor bad, it just is. But with a simplicity and grace, which in many respects reminds me of Hermann Hesse's Siddhartha, this book opened a pathway to understanding how modern-day Christianity turned into what it is, who Jesus really was, who/what God really is and how we, as present-day humans, can live by the principles of goodness and light and not of fear and intimidation.

Perhaps it is simple maturity (please don't call it old age!) - but over the past two years, it is as though a veil of understanding was given to me. I do not struggle with the shattering religious doubts I once did. I do not "fear" death, God or Hell. I do not "do good things" because I am scared of going to Hell if I don't anymore - I live simply, peacefully and quite harmoniously because I have forged my own personal relationship with the Creator of this Universe and of me. Call it hokey, call it cliché, call it whatever you want - but since the day I woke up to hear my sister was dead, I have never felt so at peace with my own beliefs, my life and the passing of loved ones - and this book is surely partly responsible.