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40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
WOW!, May 13, 2004
This review is from: Gospel according to Moses, The: What My Jewish Friends Taught Me about Jesus (Paperback)
Athol Dickson has a way with words and questions that within a few pages of this book will leave you speechless. He knows how to get to the heart of issues that have been argued and avoided by Christians for centuries. From the beginning Dickson is honest with the reader. He also clarifies that this text is written from a Christian perspective, and tackles subjects and gives perspectives that are hotly debated in both Christian and Jewish camps. The author also admits that this text has been read and reread to avoid any misrepresentation of the Jewish culture, and that he in no way is trying to proselytize. In reality, this book does three things: it brings to life the culture and perspective of Jews of Christians and Jesus, it creates links from the Old testament to New testament (from the Ancient Jewish faith to the "New Covenant" - Christianity), and it unpacks some of the most difficult questions Christians never ask, because they may be afraid of the answers. What is so wonderful about this author is that the amount of time and knowledge is evident. Great care and detail have gone into each explanation, yet the narrative is such that you feel like you are on a journey with him as he engages with people at Chever Torah. A word of caution. This book is not a light read; it certainly is no Max Lucado for the soul. If you are not prepared to have your mind stretched, about half way through your eyes will not keep up with your brain. Athol will unreservedly question, unashamedly challenge, and tactfully answer some wonderful and difficult to understand topics. Read cautiously, and with an open heart and mind. If you are like me, in the end you will see more things that need adjusted than you previously thought. This book will be a resource for me for years to come. Thanks Athol! Your work is very evident and is greatly appreciated.
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26 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Gospel is for Jews and Christians and Everyone, October 31, 2003
This review is from: Gospel according to Moses, The: What My Jewish Friends Taught Me about Jesus (Paperback)
This morning, I have just completed reading "The Gospel According to Moses" ... I pulled an all-nighter with this one! I am a born again, spirit filled Christian who has been doing some introductory reading on the Jewish roots/Jewishness of Christianty, Messanic Judaism, history of the Bible (both "Old" and "New" Testaments) and how it was written, and similar topics. Therefore, when I read a preview of this book in a catalog, I jumped at the chance to buy it and was not disappointed! Here are some talking points: (1)If you are a Christian who has always asked yourself "Why is it that Jews do not accept Jesus as Messiah?" and "And what, if anything, can and should I do about it?", this book will answer such questions. (2)If you are Jew who has always wondered, "Why is it that Christians believe on Jesus as Messiah?" and "What is the meaning of this "Trinity" thing?" your questions may also be answered. (3)If you are a Christian or a Jew seeking to learn more about what the "Scriptures" known to Jesus and Paul (titled by Christians as "The Old Testament" but by Jews as The Torah, The Prophets (ex. Isaiah), The Writings (ex. Psalms) said about The Christ, the author will illustrate these for you in colorfully fascinating detail. (4) For Christians needing insight about the horrors Jews have historically suffered at the hands of Christians in the name of Jewish acceptance of the gospel, the author provides a brief but sobering summary of this dark part of our collective history (ex. - The anti-Semitic content of some of the writings of Martin Luther are clear and without dispute). The implications are that if we Christians were to seek out, understand and repent for the part we have played in the oppression of the sons/daughters of Abraham and Jesus, we could wrap this thing on earth up and return with our Jewish brothers and sisters to the Lord today. With this understanding, you will be able to understand with greater empathy what doctrine Jews do not believe and why...with more clarity what doctrines Christians and Jews actually believe in common. (5) For Jews, you will learn that there is a community of Christians seeking to reconcile with you as brothers...Christians who are also seeking to learn what you already know as the jumping off point to increased relationship man to man, and man with God. I do not believe that Jews need to fear they will be "converted" by this book (as there is no "Jews for Jesus" focus, for example), but I believe that Jewish thought and questioning regarding the 2000 year assertion that Jesus is Messiah will be provoked (which may be fear-provoking to some). Therefore, I would be interested to read the reaction of the Jewish community to this piece. (6) For Christians, the material presented in this book may be unfamiliar to you if you have not had exposure to the parallels between the two faiths (ex. the Talmud and its teachings)... but meet the challenge of this piece as a jumping off point anyway, because you will desire to learn more. As I read this book, I found myself laughing and crying out loud at the divine wisdom of God as the author did his human best to explain how God has revealed Himself both to the Jews, who are the sons and daughters of God first brought into Covenant with Him by the faith of Abraham (see Genesis Chapter 12) as well as the Gentiles (all of us who are not Jews) who are the sons and daughters of God brought and "grafted" into Covenant with God by the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (see Romans Chapter 11). Clearly, the Spirit of God has granted revelation knowledge to Mr. Dickson that must be shared with all. Buy, read and be blessed!
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15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A book for every Christian's bookshelf, March 9, 2006
This review is from: Gospel according to Moses, The: What My Jewish Friends Taught Me about Jesus (Paperback)
This was a great read. Highly recommended.
The book reads smoothly, uses comfortable language, and flows in a logical way. Dickson employs several mini-stories throughout the book to introduce and illustrate the subject matter of that chapter.
Dickson touches an area of Christianity which is desperately needed. We embrace so much of our faith without having any knowledge of its roots or foundation in Judaism. Christianity and Judaism are not synonymous. They have significant differences, and Dickson does not ignore these differences, or try to homogenize the two faiths. But they ARE similar, and Dickson does a great job of showing just how so many of the themes in Christianity overlap with those of Judaism, even if that doesn't appear to be the case at first glance. Most of Dickson's focus is not on the minutiae differences of Christianity and Judaism, but is on the larger elements of our faiths, including the differences in how we approach our faith, and how we answer the hard-to-answer questions.
Allow me to share my favorite aspect of the book. Dickson discusses, in detail, the difference in the way Christians and Jews deal with difficult questions about our faith. I grew up in the church, Dickson is correct in characterizing the way most Christians answer those questions: we often try to make them seem less difficult than they really are, and look to some pre-fabricated answer found in our "ways to answer those questions" manual. Many questions are off-limits as quasi-heretical, meaning that we often never quite satisfactorily examine the things in our faith we struggle with. By Contrast, according to Dickson, no question is off-limits for Jews, and they embrace difficulties and questions concerning their faith. I believe more Christians should react like the latter. We should be willing to ask questions--the answers in our manual may be correct, but we should be willing to go and see.
One of the things that make this book so good is its ability to make you think-it encourages you to examine what you believe. You will find yourself pondering the things you read throughout the day. I cannot agree with everything that Dickson asserts in the book, and there are some areas in which I felt he could have elaborated and discussed more thoroughly. But the book DID make me think, and it did have an effect on what I think about a couple of issues. If you read this book, and consider the things discussed in it, there is a fair chance that your view on an issue or two will be tweaked in some way too.
The book is great. The book is easy to read, and enjoyable. While I still don't necessarily agree with everything Dickson says, those things are rather minute and mostly insignificant. People interested in the subject matter should definitely read the book. I am confident that you'll enjoy the book, and that you'll be glad you bought it.
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