Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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!!!!!