Customer Reviews

The Politically Incorrect Guide to the Bible (Politically Incorrect Guides)

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

I bought this book solely because the adds for it said it covered how "the Bible made modern science possible (which is why it started in the middle ages)". I looked in the table of contents and could not find a chapter that was obviously on this topic, so started reading the book from page 1 and read until I finally came to it on page 137. This chapter was poorly documented, but this may be because the book is intended for laypersons. Nonetheless, the chapter (and the whole book) was well done and presented a good outline in support of the author's position. The book was so engaging that I finished it, and am glad I did, for I normally never would have read a book on the Bible. The chapter on slavery was especially useful, as I had assumed the common stereotype that many Christians were in bed with the slave holders because the Bible condones the modern Western slavery system, and the atheists and humanists were the main persons who opposed this slavery system. This common story, as this book documents (and as my outside reading, such as the book Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World by David Brion Davis (Oxford University Press) also documents, is inaccurate. I have concluded that Hutchinson's account is generally accurate, although incomplete. The section on the rights of women was especially interesting to me. Hutchinson writes that Christianity's stress on human equality (quoting the apostle Paul that there is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor freeman, female nor male distinctions in Christianity, as well as historical writings) that "Christianity was undoubtedly the most pro-female religion in history" (page 191). He then discusses why this is true, noting that a large number of women became Christians partly because of how they were treated in the early church. An example is Christianity accorded women greater social status, even administrative positions in the church such as deacon. Hutchinson then lists numerous other reasons why the church was, in stark contrast to the other major religions and social systems of the time, very pro women. The author is clearly an ID supporter and may best be described as a long age creationist, and this shows in several chapters, such as in chapter 6, page 87. Highly recommended. My only concern is documentation is less than ideal, but I could not point to any major points that I found clearly inaccurate.

What a relief to find a well-informed, carefully crafted, sprightly written explanation of the place of religion in ethics, history, and moral action. Impressive statistics and data, convincing reasoning. I started out somewhat skeptical but found myself drawn in as Hutchison built his thesis step by step. So much of current writing, movies, news, political speak assumes that religion is harmful or irrelevant. Hutchison esposes the dangers of that lie with skill and humor and power.

There is nothing like reading the scriptures to be able to discern truth in these latter days, but with all the distortions in the world today, armor up with some of the material in this book too.
A must read for those who care about human freedom and progress, who are revolted by good being called bad and bad being called good.

I bought this with D'Souza's _What's So Great About Christianity_ and read them back to back. They cover many of the same topics, but are aimed at different reading levels. I'd recommend this one to young adults and adults who either hate to read or are too busy to sit down and concentrate for a block of time. Serious well-educated readers are likely to find this book too glib and simplistic; for them, I'd choose D'Souza.

Robert Hutchinson presents a witty, scholarly, and well-documented look at the Bible. A superb wordsmith, Hutchinson treads on holy ground with various topics, including slavery in the bible, homosexuality, origins of universal human rights, elites against the people, today's culture war, and children, blessing or burden. It's a compelling book. I highly recommend it.

Atheists are in full attack. Clinton's Labor Secretary Reich insists darkly that "The great conflict of the twenty-first century" (p 9) will be between secularists and those who believe in God. Dawkins laments that the US is "'slipping towards a theocratic Dark Age'" (p 10).

What can the believer do to counter the ceaseless attacks on believers and the bible? Hutchinson sets out the facts.

Aimed at the average reader, Hutchinson provides information that the archaeologists found that prove the bible's veracity. He points out that most "problems" atheists claim to find in the bible with the bible are easily resolved (p 49-50).

In fact, the God of the early Hebrews was unlike any of the pagan gods, and therefore didn't evolve out of ideas floating through cultures at the time. And the morality embraced by the Hebrews was different in vital elements from any other pagan system. It was a personal morality. It was not class based or based upon what would be best for the state. It would lead to vast improvements for all of humanity. After all, science only evolved under Christianity, as did theories of human rights.

Anyone interested in learning how Christianity changed everything will want to read "The God That Did Not Fail: How Religion Built and Sustains the West" by Robert Royal.

Great book, no pretences at 'fundy' infalibility, but shows their views alongside the thinking persons Christianity, as well as the atheist/agnostic/liberal point of view.
Explains that belief in a higher being is just as much a 'leap of faith' as is the belief that everything sprang from nothing.
Shows that the Bible is the most accurate, historical and intrigueingly spiritual ancient text known to man.
Okay, I'm a Christian, but seriously, this is well worth a read, if you want to know what we believe, even if you don't believe, read this book because if you want to debate Christians and tell us we are wrong, this is the material you will be up against.
God bless us all.
Everything did not (and could not possibly) come from nothing!
Ian McKenzie
(A believer in Love as taught by Jesus).

The biggest surprise for me was how balanced this book was towards all major religions who use the Bible as a holy text. It is very respectful towards Judaism and Roman Catholicism. I was afraid this would be another super right wing, evangelist knee-jerk response to
the "New Atheists" but this book is far from that. It is written by a scholar of Ancient Hebrew who is also a professor of Bible Studies.

There is no pushing young earth creationism for example, nor pushing of any other agenda.

The reviewer who complained this is "like a textbook" is somewhat correct, as you have to have a thirst for knowledge about not only the Bible but other Near East religions of the time. The Chapter that compares the laws of the Torah with other law codes is an eye opener and especially good value. The language and format is easy enough for the lay person but you must already have an interest beyond the passing.

The author does use the worst examples of immoral atheists for his "soundbytes" of "Atheist Wisdom" and the best Bible verses and quotes from Christians to "counteract" them. You can't quote Adolf Hitler as example of Atheism and then quote John 8:32 as example of Bible Wisdom and expect your reader to keep taking you seriously, for this I docked a star.

The popular book series by the name "Politically Incorrect Guide" (P.I.G.) is a collection of generally conservative defenses of traditional beliefs largely dismissed today because of their lack of resonance with politically correct values and beliefs.

For this reason, I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by the apologetic (interacting with arguments as opposed to saying "sorry") tone of Robert Hutchinson's, The P.I.G. to the Bible. Yet I am. I'm pleasantly surprised by the sustained apologetic nature of the book. From the outset, Hutchinson launches a counterattack against the atheist crusaders (Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, Sam Harris et al.) and liberal scholars of today; those who are in the business of disparaging the Bible as barbarous, unreliable, oppressive, suppressive, (insert negative descriptor of your choice here).

Just as most assaults on the Bible today are as old as Christianity (e.g., the Bible endorses slavery, totalitarianism, capital punishment for planting crops side-by-side, etc.), Hutchinson presents afresh the traditional defenses to these assaults.

It should be pointed out that the title to the book has the potential to mislead readers. Although Hutchinson does address the New Testament, the main focus in the book is the Hebrew Bible or what Christians call the Old Testament, given his advanced studies in Hebrew and Judaism. Very little time is spent on alternative Christianities in the New Testament as we're so accustomed to hearing from the likes of Dan Brown, Bart Ehrman et al.

As a conservative Christian, I find this focus on the Old Testament refreshing. Many Christians have ignored the Old Testament for years and have, consequently, fallen prey to the official view of the Old Testament as barbarous and cruel. Hutchinson demonstrates that nothing could be farther from the truth. He argues, in fact, that such things as inalienable human rights for everyone and liberal democracy have as their fountainhead the Hebrew Scriptures.

To Christians in search of answers to some of the toughest questions about the Bible, this book will provide a good many answers and bolster the faith. To those who are persuaded by the likes of Dawkins and Company, much could be learned about the arguments of the "other side."

As with other books in the P.I.G. series, this one is a pleasure to a read.

Every book may have something that some readers will always dislike, or try to find error with. This book is no different.
However, I found that if you are illiterate when it comes to biblical history and facts, this is the one short course in Biblical History you need to further your understanding of how God's plan continues to work itself out in the world of mankind.