Customer Reviews

Five Sacred Crossings: A Novel Approach to a Reasonable Faith (ConversantLife.comŪ)

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Five Sacred Crossings" could easily be to apologetics what CS Lewis' "Screwtape Letters" is to spiritual warfare. This book lays out the case for Christianity in the most engaging and entertaining story - a real page turner that will have you on the edge of your seat. The book deals with the exploration of spirituality by a group of college kids - and very accurately depicts their points of view - all within espionage & action. Highly recommend for parents of college kids; it allowed me to hear the conversation my college age daughter is exposed to and will help me to help her respond to them.

The Five Sacred Crossings helped me to understand my own faith, as well as others in the world, in a down-to earth informative way. Set on a college campus, with believable characters who are facing a very real terrorism crises in their community, it's a real page turner. I never saw the ending coming. It's an innovative novel that makes you think about what being a Christian means.

Wow! I wasn't expecting this. A friend gave me the Five Sacred Crossings. I hadn't heard a thing about it and was blown away. Craig Hazen's first foray into fiction is a huge winner. Forget the Da Vinci Code with its "make it up as you go" approach to religion. Hazen weaves some of the most insightful ideas in religion and philosophy right into a sizzling page turning story. Whether you are a Christian believer or not, you will be captured by the grace, kindness, and brilliance of the main character, Prof. Michael Jernigan. The characters come alive. I could swear I've met all these people. The only question I had when I finished (in tears I might add) was "when is Hazen's next book coming out?" Quick, somebody tell Oprah!

Five Sacred Crossings is a fiction book that still has an apologetic slant. Dr. Hazen decided to take a chance and try and tackle this unique approach to writing this kind of a book. Well, It came out wonderfully. The story is about a College Professor who has done most of his research in the area of religion. He is asked by a friend to cover a class for a couple of weeks because she is having a baby. This book contains terroist, secret agents and still manages to have great philosophical and religious discussions throughout the book as well! Just a great book. It also has possibly the best ending I've ever read in a novel. No matter where you are at or who you are I recommend strongly you read this book, it has something for everyone!

A few months ago, I took an Apologetics class taught by Craig Hazen which was one of my favorite classes ever. I figured his upcoming book was probably going to be interesting, too, so I put it in my Wish List before it was even published.

I am happy to say I was not disappointed. On the contrary, it was more than I expected - besides the excellent apologetics arguments it was hip, funny, intense, and exciting (and enjoyably "So-Cal"). The characters were believable and unsanitized. I've never read a book remotely like this one, so it was fresh and unpredictable. I had no idea how it would end, but when it did, I realized how emotionally involved I had gotten.

This book is a great example of the kind of fiction that will appeal to the up-and-coming generation of Christians, reflecting faith that is humane and compassionate while at the same time biblically solid and secure in its worldview. I just wish it was longer! At only 169 pages, this won't take you long to read, and it will be well worth it.

You think it is just another spiritual quest pseudo-novel. Or possibly, examining the cover, it is Christian propaganda disguised as fiction.

Instead, it is a track-the-terrorists adventure that kept me reading late into the night. At the same time Hazen weaves in spiritual ideas that point to Jesus as the true path without using Christian jargon. Package this book without the Christian references on the cover and this book is a time-bomb. "Five Sacred Crossings" should be read by all who are on a spiritual quest.

Story has been used for a long time to communicate deep truths in an entertaining yet engaging manner. Dr Hazen does a wonderful job here to draw his readers to consider important, eternal issues. Its easy to read and fits in a briefcase. Its an airplane book with food for the soul.

When I started reading this book I didn't really expect to like it. I had a feeling it would be a heavy handed trashing of other religions or a down and dirty attack on my own beliefs. To my surprise it was neither. I learned something from each of the five crossings that gave me a better understanding of my own religion.
Michael Jerrigan teaches a comparative religious course at a community college, using a rare antique manuscript. He encourages his students to argue the subject from various viewpoints. Eventully they reach the conclusion that Christianity is the only religion with satisfying answers. That conclusion is reached by understanding and respecting the views and beliefs of others, not by a dogmatic I'm right, you're wrong, case closed stand. Combine this with a local terrorist cell, an impending attack, a cryptic message which only Michael can interpret, and you have a gripping story of religion gone wrong. Different and thought provoking with a surprising ending, this one is strongly recommended.

'Five Sacred Crossings' is a novel with lots of meat. It is highly educational and thought provoking while telling a good story.

The author is Dr. Craig Hazen, a professor and the director of the graduate apologetics program at Biola University. To say that he is an expert in Christian apologetics and comparative religions would be an understatement. He weaves philosophy and the biggest questions in life into a story that entertains.

I think that this may be the author's first novel, and it is a fine effort. My main criticism is that it is too short. At 169 pages, it left me wanting much more. It may be the first novel I've ever read that features defenses of the Christian faith so prominently. Dr. Hazen also examines various other religions including Islam and Jehova's Witnesses in a respectful and loving manner.

I plan to buy several more copies of this and share it with others. It is one that can be thoroughly enjoyed by Christians as well as seekers. It makes a strong case for Christianity in a non-threatening way.

One hopes that Dr. Hazen will see fit to write another novel in the near future that educates even more on apologetics. I would love to see him knock out one about 5-600 pages.

An intelligent novel on Christian apologetics in an easy to read format. Especially good for those needing answers, to the many and varied belief systems, and their merit in a world seeking truth.