Customer Reviews

Mythology's Last Gods: Yahweh and Jesus

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

I have read this book twice and keep returning to it for reference; however, something about it bothers me each time. I am fascinated by Harwood's "methodology of history" applied to Biblical texts normally evaluated with inductive theological methods. Unfortunately, the author approaches his subject with undisguised anger for the perceived frauds perpetrated on him by the religion itself. I am sympathetic to Harwood's goals of opening out the study of Biblical texts to honest historical analysis, but his venom may have marred his objectivity. MAY HAVE... I simply don't know. I will keep returning to this book and I am glad to own it, but I would grade it higher if it was not so emotionally-charged. Perhaps Harwood's promised "Fully-Translated" Bible will be less angry.

If there were six stars I'd give it that.
Note: It is not for the faint of heart. Fundamentalists will hate it.
Mr. Harwood is neither sparing nor delicate in his presentation of the facts. But he is witty. I laughed out loud many times.

Very very educational.

The definitive book on the history of the Bible that explores the true authors, cultures, politics and settings of both the new and old testaments. Harwood sheds light on the sources and revisions that led to the modern Bible. The depth of detail is impressive and his scholarly treatment is overwhelming and convincing. I found out everything I wanted to know and more in this one book; more than any number of others that I read. However, the validity of Harwood's findings is severely threatened by his barely hidden opinions. Apparently he was a solid Catholic until he began his thesis on mythologies contemporary to writers of the Bible. In discovering how derivative the authors were, he apparently lost his faith and takes no pains to hide it. This guy is angry at Christianity in general and Catholicism specifically. I don't blame him, but the material would have been even more convincing if his subjective viewpoint had been even slightly veiled. Still, I wish everyone would read this book; it could change the Christian world

The first publisher to whom this book was submitted was convinced that it would "wipe out religion." If it ever reaches the unlearned masses, it will assuredly do just that. It demolishes religion as totally and definitevely as the first photographs of the Martian surface demolished the "canals myth." Nothing of comparable importance has been published in over a decade.

The online synopsis describes this text as "utterly scholarly," yet it is the non-scholarly approach that disappoints me most about this book. While Harwood presents many interesting historical perspectives and facts about the Bible and its authors, he has several habits which make the book nearly unbearable. First, he often presents his own historical theories as fact, with little more than a footnote to let the reader know that what they're reading isn't widely accepted as the truth. Second, he often paraphrases translations of Bibilical/mythological passages to further his own arguments, making certain texts seem much more similar than they otherwise might through his chosen wording (a practice which he acknowledges in the foreward). Finally, he uses completely unscholarly language at many points, littering the text with slang, such as "tupping" for sexual relations. In summary, I'm very interested in the material that Harwood is trying to present -- but I was very disappointed with his approach

This book is good but could have been excellent. The author frequently makes bold assertions with no or little support, though he does support minor points very well, and has obviously researched the subject matter. I would like to see a second revised edition. Also I would like to see his translation of the Old Testament. He does not try to hide his biases, which is good but could be more scholarly.

This may be one of the most important books I've read concerning the development of the bible, Judaism, and Christianity. Starting with the origins of religious beliefs and the describing the religious culture of the ancient environment that birthed the bible, and proceeding thru to Christianity, Harwood shows how the biblical God was created and shaped thru centuries by different authors with different agendas. His information is scholarly, well researched, and generally reflective of commonly held positions within academia. The two exceptions to that would be 1) if he occasionally advances a theory, which he does indicate he is doing, and explains and defends it - in such cases he also presents the prevailing opinion so as not to misinform. 2) Obviously, scholars who hold to a fundamentalist/evangelical perspective concerning the bible will never be willing to allow themselves to acknowledge scholarly findings contrary to their beliefs. As such, they, no doubt, would disagree with much that we've learned about the origins of their sacred texts and faith.
Harwood pulls no punches. I personally find that refreshing. Everyone writing about matters such as this is going to have a natural bias. My approach to trying to ascertain the truth is to be aware of any writer's bias - and the fact that Harwood himself doesn't hide his is refreshing. Further, while he clearly has a perspective, what matters ultimately is whether the case he is presenting is based on solid evidence, and is reasonable. Thus far, my review of his book and much of the material in the bibliography leads me to think that he is on very solid ground overall.
Concerning recommending this book to a Christian, I think it would depend on the individual. A Christian who cares more about the truth and being honest, than their faith, who would be willing to admit that their faith has been misplaced if such is clearly demonstrated, would see that such is the case conclusively from this book.
On the other hand, for most Christians, fact has little or nothing to do with it anyway. They believe that there is enough evidence to believe in things like the resurrection or the authenticity and infallibility of the bible. They believe there are no contradictions in the bible even though they've read thru it thousands of times. It is an emotional decision and a state of denial they are in, and as such, they would probably only find this book offensive.
For those interested in the net summary of the origins of Christianity and the bible, and Judaism thru the centuries, this book may be the single best 1 volume overview available.

This is an incredibly well written and more importantly, well researched book. It starts slowly with the beginning of religion, then shows how it encompasses simple themes and needs, like crop harvests and spring and winter. At times it can be stuffy and seem like the author is drifting, but he soon ties it back into religion, and ultimately leads back to Judaism and Christianity. What really sets this book apart from others is the research. Harwood constantly is tutoring the reader with research on almost every subject, for example, how a social customs of a certain period changed from an earlier custom or belief, and how it was then re-written into a biblical text, which can be shown with period writings and different versions of religous texts.

A highly recommended book for anyone interested in religion.

I myself am an atheist and strongly endorse naturalism and evolutionary biology. I'm specifically writing this review for people who share these values. Mr. Harwood's training in writing this book is purely mythology, not archeology or sociobiology or evotionary biology. The problem is he links his mythology to an outdated form of social sciences and assumes, (without evidence, as very little is referenced) that this is history. I won't bore anyone with details but I do want to give 3 main components of his outdated social sciences.
1) Animals have instincts, humans don't
2) Genetic causality is deterministic, environmental causality is free will
3) Behavior (e.g. sexual identity) is caused by environment. Girls act like girls because that's how we raise them
All of these have since been refuted and replaced with Evolutionary psychology and sociobiology.

So what bothered me about this book in particular? It's reference to social life being dominated entirely by women before 3500 BCE. All aspects of society from wars to religion to political organization were run by and developed by women. This in turn is what fueled the beginnings of religion. Everything traces back to this and it becomes a constant theme that reoccurs well past half the book. (I have to confess I but it down about half way through)For whatever reason, after 3500 BCE there was a mutiny by the men (he doesn't know why and evidence has yet to surface) and men have ruled since.
This raised serious questions, which societies had role reversals? Was it as far as Greece or was it primarily in Mesopotamia? If in the animal world sexual dimorphism determines which sex dominates, what caused this reversal in Homo Sapiens? What evidence led archeologists to this sexual reversal in society?
Not only do these questions go unanswered, they don't even get addressed. We are required, like religion, to accept his interpretation on a by faith bases. The books credibility was shot and it was just too difficult to weed out the good from the bad. I had to put the book down.
I won't go on a rant here but I do want to summarize two other points. If I'm wrong and he's right, I'd like to check his references, however, this book is very poorly referenced. (This was noticed by another reviewer but needs to be stated again) Almost no evidence is listed and is more about the mythology (which is fine, it's what the book claims). What I don't like is hypothetical mythology dressed up as historical truths.
The second point is how he addresses his theories. Matriarchies are highly controversial theories and there are much more credible, reliable theories which complement the evidence much better. At the very minimum, he needs to at least state there are other competing theories and state why he believes this one. He does no such thing. TREAT THIS PURELY AS MYTHOLOGY, NOT HISTORY!!!!!
I have read some really excellent historical books and would like to suggest, The Bible Unearthed, David and Solomon, (Both by the same authors) and Who wrote the Bible? All three of these books paint a very realistic, empirical, and objective portrait that provided more insight to ancient life than this book did.

I started this book with a lot of skepticizm after having read several others of the same genre. Was I wrong! This book has more information about the mythology of religion than any source I have ever heard of. The only possible drawback is whether all of the information is authentic.
Fascinating book!