Of Promises and Previews: Urgent Old Messages for a New Millennium [Paperback]

Jane Broida Drake (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 29, 2001

This unprecedented book mingles the essential messages delivered by the Prophets of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Their combined teachings reveal the untold, fundamental story that has been smothered by the doctrines severely dividing the individual organized religions. In this era when hatreds can be expressed with biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons, we urgently need to hear the unifying story.The explosion of two atomic bombs helped to end the Second World War. But those bombs also provided chilling examples of Bible prophecies. We can choose to dismiss prophecies as the imaginings of religious fanatics. We can convince ourselves that the people now living in Biblical lands who piously preserve ancient hatreds are only a threat to each other. But, try as we might, we cannot forget the modern weapons that could turn the age-old prophecies into everyone's reality.If current events or too many unanswered questions are shaking your faith in your beliefs-or your disbelief-you need to become acquainted with all the Prophets through the cascade of familiar, forgotten, rejected, and unheard teachings flowing through these pages. You'll know you've grasped the book's innermost message when you feel your doubts dissipating, your fear subsiding, and your heart soar.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Controversial, troubling, and thoroughly engaging. A remarkable book that takes us on an incredible journey." -- Book Designer, Jan Haseman

About the Author

Jane Drake has spent most of her seventy-three years studying religions, but she has not vowed to uphold any denominations teachings. This permits her to speak of God and His promises without traditional theological constraints. She writes with refreshing common sense and startling realism seldom found in religious works.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: iUniverse (April 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0595175201
• ISBN-13: 978-0595175208
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,532,709 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Of Promises and Previews, May 16, 2002

By 

Timothy E. McMahon (Lincoln, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Of Promises and Previews: Urgent Old Messages for a New Millennium (Paperback)

Reviewed by:
Timothy E. McMahon, M.S.
Principal Web Developer
The McMahon Group

Jane Broida Drake has put together a truly thought provoking work. In "Of Promises and Previews: Urgent Old Messages for a New Millennium", Ms. Drake brings a host of unsettling questions to the forefront. She writes eloquently about God's defining characteristics of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence. She also asks us to look into some of the more troubling aspects of our religious writings. For instance, where does Noah's tale figure into our understanding of God as a promise keeper and the story of destruction that follows? The author also causes the reader to stop and think about how our sacred texts present
such difficult concepts as fratricide, incest and deceit and then
reconcile that with an all powerful, all knowing God.

This book will certainly give the reader pause for thought and perhaps the desire for a second or third read through. It also does well in its efforts to draw together Muslim, Christian, and Hebrew scripture while pointing out the historical basis for the divisions we see today. In a time where it is altogether to simple to see the differences in the three major religions, this author does well to point out our historical and religions commonalities. This is a work packed with information and
therefore a work that calls for deep thought and study. "Of Promises and Previews" will make a sound addition to the libraries of those who collect works on comparative religion and for those interested in these three hugely important faiths.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thought provoking text, May 7, 2002

By 

Timothy E. McMahon (Lincoln, RI) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Of Promises and Previews: Urgent Old Messages for a New Millennium (Paperback)

Reviewed by:
Timothy E. McMahon, M.S.
Principal Web Developer
The McMahon Group

Jane Broida Drake has put together a truly thought provoking work. In "Of Promises and Previews: Urgent Old Messages for a New Millennium", Ms. Drake brings a host of unsettling questions to the forefront. She writes eloquently about God's defining characteristics of omniscience, omnipresence and omnipotence. She also asks us to look into some of the more troubling aspects of our religious writings. For instance, where does Noah's tale figure into our understanding of God as a promise keeper and the story of destruction that follows? The author also causes the reader to stop and think about how our sacred texts present such difficult concepts as fratricide, incest and deceit and then reconcile that with an all powerful, all knowing God.

This book will certainly give the reader pause for thought and perhaps the desire for a second or third read through. It also does well in its efforts to draw together Muslim, Christian, and Hebrew scripture while pointing out the historical basis for the divisions we see today. In a time where it is altogether to simple to see the differences in the three major religions, this author does well to point out our historical and religions commonalities. This is a work packed with information and therefore a work that calls for deep thought and study. "Of Promises and Previews" will make a sound addition to the libraries of those who collect works on comparative religion and for those interested in these three hugely important faiths.

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Loved this book !!!!!!!, June 21, 2001

By 

James (Santa Clara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Of Promises and Previews: Urgent Old Messages for a New Millennium (Paperback)

This book is FANTASTIC!!! Whether you have strong religious beliefs or none at all this book has something to offer you. Ms. Drake shows us what life is REALLY about and what we REALLY should be doing to make this world a better place to live in. She shows us what the true meaning of what God and the Bible are really saying, which is to extend our hearts and hands to love and help one another. She also shows us in great detail how people have used God's messages in hateful ways to prove their own ideas correct and absolute. I was unable to use the word God without cringing before this book because of my bad experiences with religion and the devout that preach it. Now I have a greater understanding of what the Bible was really saying and that it actually did have a beautiful message of love and tolerance not damnation, as I was lead to believe. She does this from a very factual and educated perspective, rather than an emotional one, citing many passages from different religious "Bibles". I absolutely LOVED this book and appreciate my newfound love of God again. This is definitely a must read book!!!!!