Customer Reviews

The Holy War

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Forget Frank Perretti! Bunyan's allegory on spiritual warfare is absolutely profound. The old tinker of Bedford (a true independent Baptist!) knew whereof he spoke. The chronicles of Mansoul and the great battle for its mind, heart and spirit make difficult reading to be sure, but you will be rewarded for your perseverance a hundredfold!

BONUS: Bunyan uses real army strategems and tactics in his descriptions of the symbolic battles. He is believed to have picked up these details while a soldier in Cromwell's New Model Army.

Presents a whole new perspective on truth and Christianity. John Bunyan's knowledge and insight make every allegory dense with meaning. Great for Bible study. You'll never look at the way you live your life the same way again.

Bunyan disects the mind and soul of man and lays bare the faults of the individual that get in the way of doing right. He illustrates how one, by effort, can overcome their lower selves and make spiritual progress. Bunyan shows us the assistance that is available for all, if consistant right effort is made and if that assistance is asked for. This book helped me to see more clearly that 'God is not mocked' We reap what we have sown. Yet that Gods laws are not carried out for our punishment, but for our benifit. A very worthwile book by a man who knew mankind and understood the teachings of Jesus and Paul.

I have read this novel before, and it is as good as "The Pilgrim's Progress." John Bunyan shows how Satan constantly tries to keep our souls, and uses all of the tricks in the book to try to keep our souls. This book is for Christians and Non Christians alike, the same is true with the Pilgrim's Progress. John Bunyan knows how to keep you entertained and thinking about what kind of shape your spirit is in. This book is a true masterpiece and is the best book about Spiritual Warfare that I have read so far.

This is a masterpiece. Believe it or not, in some ways I found it more invigorating than Pilgrim's Progress. Mainly because the conclusion and progression of the tale were slightly less obvious.

Bunyan masterfully illustrates personalities and the conflict/struggle that is going on.

This is great imaginative fiction with good spiritual application. This would be a great book to go through as a group and study/discuss.

I just bought this edition, and was disapointed to learn that it is an updated, modern english edition of the original. I prefer to read books as they were first written, whenever possible.

From the brief comparisons I've made, it seems that this edition comes across somewhat less colorful than Bunyan's original, as the revisionist appears to have tried to simplify the vocabulary rather than merely updating it.

The publishers should include on the title page that this is not the actual text that John Bunyan wrote, but an abridged/edited edition. I assign this work for a class and every year students inadvertently buy this book in advance before I can warn them that they need to purchase the book that Bunyan actually wrote. It's a bit of a bait and switch to be publishing it with incomplete/inaccurate information on the cover. Having said that, this edition excels in readability and is worth owning for a junior high or high school student who wants to read the story but would get bogged down in some of the long dialogues and speeches in the original.

I read this book for a class but I am glad to have read. This book is a great historical read. I found that it helped renew my defences as a christian.

Summary (Spoiler Alert):
The city of Mansoul was created for the sole pleasure of King Shaddai, the ruler of the universe. The city was the greatest city of all. For this reason, Diabolus and his evil minions desired to destroy the city. Diabolus always desires to destroy the good creations of King Shaddai. A discussion begins in the dwelling of Diabolus as to the method of destroying the great city of Mansoul. Instead of an outright attack, it was decided that they would convince the people that it would be best if they followed Diabolus as their prince. It takes little time for the evil forces to entirely take over the city. The city begins a course of total rebellion against the King.

King Shaddai was greatly grieved at the rebellion of the city of Mansoul. He called His troops and captains together to convince the city to repent. For three months the captains called out to the people of the city, but Mr. Conscience had been blinded and Mr. Reason had been placed as major of the city. Diabolus fortified the city and the people prepared for the assault. After several more weeks, the captains began their assault, which only succeeded in breaking through the city's ear-gate. The captains called on King Shaddai for reinforcements. Two times the original force arrived the next week for the conquest of the city. When the attack began bright trumpets of truth sounded the charge. Prince Emmanuel led the attack while riding on His white horse of purity. The city is conquered and Prince Emmanuel establishes His throne in Mansoul.

Although the city has officially been conquered in the name of King Shaddai, evil elements still remain. Evil doers and plotters must constantly be sought out. Each of these individuals is hanged and the city turns to the King for forgiveness. The Prince constantly pleads on their behalf to His Father, King Shaddai.

The city, however, was not at peace with Diabolus. Diabolus had escaped the city during the conquest and gathered an army of doubters that doubted all issues relating to life and faith in Prince Emmanuel. The attack shook the city of Mansoul and the people continued to look within their walls for traitors as well as prepare their weaponry for battle. When the attack came, the city used well the weapons that their King had given them and warded off the enemy. However, this attack was only the first. The next attack combined forces of the doubters and the vicious blood men. The captains of the blood-men were Captain Cain, Captain Nimrod, Captain Ishmael, Captain Esau, Captain Saul, Captain Absalom, Captain Judas, and Captain Pope. This attack so shook the city of Mansoul that the gates were broken and several great men of the city were hurt. Captain Credence sent a message to the King asking for help, to which was replied that help would come in three days. The city purged itself of Dabilonians within and prepared its Captains for a direct assault on the enemy on the third day. On that day a great victory was made over Diabolus, but his presence still remained a threat. King Shaddai then left His Son to reign in the heart of the city and made His leave. As the great King departed from the city's gates, He promised His soon return.

Reaction:

The Holy War was incredibly enjoyable to read. The train of thought was evident and the tone was exciting. Bunyan used the action of the internal war on a profound scale that included incredible, and entertaining, action. The book includes many lessons. One that stuck out to me was the need to search within for sources of sin at all time. Once conquered, the city of Mansoul sought out criminals during the easy times as well as the difficult. The moral tone is positive and the theology is strongly Protestant. Bunyan draws his readers into a deeper recognition of their spiritual need throughout the book. The characters in the book tend to seem shallow from the literary standpoint; however, when understood allegorically and spiritually, they are much deeper and more profound. The value of this work is hard to determine. It is altogether possible that this book, had it been written before The Pilgrim's Progress, could have become much more popular today and well known to the modern reader.

Do you read stories to your children at bedtime? Do you find it a challenge to obtain books that teach and cause your children to actually think about what they are being read? This book is a must for those families. So much opportunity to talk about what is going on in the story. The story takes place about a city (Mansoul) that was tricked into defying its Ruler (Shaddai) and receiving a new ruler (Diabolus) who only brings the city great harm. Shaddai sends His Son (Prince Emmanuel) to deliver them. Battles are fought. Certain personalities are defeated like the "Election Doubters" and discoveries are made as to how the bad guys (Lord Anger, Mr. Sedition, Mr. Heresy, Lord Lasciviousness, Lord Deceit and others) work their mischief. This is a great book! If you read one chapter a night to your children they will beg you to read a second one........"Please!" The author (John Bunyan) also wrote many other books. His most famous is the great "Pilgrim's Progress". I highly recommend it, as well.

God's peace to you.The Pilgrim's Progress (Oxford World's Classics)