Customer Reviews

The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion: Science and the World's Religions Are Pieces to a Puzzle That Need Each Other to Form a Complete Picture

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"The Reluctant Messenger of Science and Religion" is a study in how science and the world religions are not in conflict with each other and need each other to form a complete picture. To make it less of a laborious read it is presented in the format of a novel. It starts with two members of debate societies debating over whether science is correct about the creation of the earth or religion is correct. From there we follow both the losing and winning debater through a series of life changing and illuminating events that effectively illustrate the authors' beliefs. It is very well written for a book of this sort and teaches the viewpoint that there are other interpretations of various Bible passages that are not in conflict with science. In fact there are several areas where the teachings are actually a return to the older beliefs. The book also freely examines other religious views from Islam to Hinduism, Buddhism to Sufi and brings them into the discussion.

Strong conservatives from almost any religious teaching will probably have a problem with this book as it attempts to bring harmony between the various beliefs and show that they are all parts of a more complete whole. Since most conservatives by definition believe that their view is right and any other is blasphemy I would expect them to have at least some difficulties. On the other hand, those with an open spirit will probably find it one of their favorite books.

Having said this, I would be failing my obligation to my readers if I did not point out that there are several editing problems of a nature that I would not expect in a finished product. While I did not make a note of them as I went along there are maybe ten to fifteen in the book - far more than the two to three maximum that I expect. As an example, page 235 has the sentence "Chester spoke to know one in particular". Although annoying, they don't interrupt the flow of the book too much and the authors make their point very clearly. It is only because of these errors that this is a recommended read and not a highly recommended read.

The website is so vast, that it was almost inconceivable to imagine that a book relatively small as this one, would do justice to the premise that all religions as well as science have to be seen together to uncover the truth.
But the Drs. Boston have managed to produce just that! The Reluctant Messenger is a book that satisfies the reader of a skeptical Chester's adventures with religion and science with the Master, which are on the website, and introduces a new juxtaposition: that of Lydia who is a believer of one religion alone. Coming together in a debate spirals each into a search for peace; in two differing directions: one in remote areas of India, and the other within the remote areas of conventional religion. The seeming innocuousness of the physical setting hides the breathtaking journeys each of them takes to the far reaches of human belief, faith and knowledge.
Those who have made a study of religion and/or of science, will not be disappointed: this book is a masterly progression of elegantly presented word diagrams that explain just how the different religions as well as science do fit together into a magnificent picture. There is a masterly change of pace from the sublime to the mundane: descriptions of a meditation of different dimensions and the clearing up of a breakfast table.
The tolerant among us are used to thinking that each religion leads to God- but that all religions together do that; and that science is not just a re-discovery of old facts but a re-presentation of them: that is indeed a unique perspective.
But what of the stories of Lydia and Chester? Do they come together once again? As the book progresses, so do they; and as we are caught up in their lives, it appears that we will need a sequel to find that out!

I have not read the book in its book-form yet. But from it's website, I can say that this book inspires any seeker to move towards his/her supreme goal.

The book tries to take clues from all major world religions in a fantastic manner to get the complete picture - the plan of the supreme.

The book is a very interesting read as many truths are uncovered through it's pages in the form of a student-master dialogue.

I will not hesitate in rating this book as one of the best religious/spiritual books that I've ever read, definitely worth five stars!

The collaborative effort of Stephen and Evelyn Boston, The Reluctant Messenger Of Science And Religion is an original and enthralling novel about two people caught amidst revelations that threaten both their personal lives and the world itself. Paradoxes between conflicting world religions, the seeming contradictions between science and faith, inspiration and desperation, all meld into a tautly written saga that makes for rapt, involving reading from beginning to end.

For readers who are tired of hearing that every religion is wrong except their own, this is an enthralling book attempts untangle many misconceptions about the beginnings of our world's major religions. I felt that its concepts were clearly explained through a consistent storyline. As a reader, I did not feel a strong attachment to the characters of the book, but I'm convinced that the author did this intentionally in order that the focus stay on the concepts, rather than the storyline.

I give this book a five star rating when it comes to subject matter and creative ideas, but an overall four star rating due to the excessive amount of typographical errors.

For any who are still on the fence about buying this book, I recommend you visit the author's webpage. You can get much of the content of the book with an explanation of each section, which is originally how I discovered the book. http://reluctant-messenger.com/

I have read the "website version" rather than the book itself. The very readable story acts as a "wrapper" for some extremely complex and complicated religious understandings to which the reader is introduced, and with which the reader then becomes involved, painlessly and entertainingly. Few are those with the gift of so doing, and the authors have created a really first class "introduction manual" to faith/faiths which can hardly fail to stimulate any reader's interest in religious matters.

There have been many fictional books with the ring of truth to them. The Reluctant Messiha, The Reluctant Warrior, The Celestine Prophecy, Just to name a few. But here is a wonderful book of truth ringed in fiction. While searching for Truth, A seeker often noticees that the religions of the world have similer view points and basic truths in them. The Reluctant Messanger has been valuble to me for its ability to connect the dots I've seen in the religions. And to do so with a story line that makes it enjoyable and esay to see how one conclusion leads to the next. It has also broadened my understanding of things I had thought I had a firm grasp on. Its a joy to read and a treasure to own.

Whether you look at Chester's story as fanciful fiction or as absolute truth, the message is an important one for our time. While the world is torn with religious strife and dissension, Chester's message is one of inclusion. God speaks to all his children and gives them all of the truth that they are ready for and can understand.

Look at the world's religions to see what you can learn from the truths that they hold, rather than to prove that one is right and the others are wrong. What a wonderful idea! It's an idea that can bring peace and understanding. Not only that...you just might find something you have spent a long time searching for.

I did.

A great book!

You have to keep an open mind while reading this book. It has mainly broadend my view to see that I don't know everything about God. This book will provoke you to search! Learn! Inquire! This book offers resources and will set you on your own course for knowledge if that's what your looking for. I don't know about everything in here, but I do understand now, I don't know what I thought I knew. Im not confused about God Im more confident that he is God and infinite. If anything this books has left me more hungry to know the one I acknowledge as my God. And I don't look down on my brothers and sisters in Christ who don't believe exactly the way I do. My days of prejudice are OVER! I realize that I need God more than anyone! I am humbled by God's mysteries and wisdom, his love baffles me!

I came across Dr. Bostons website at a crucial moment in my life. It was like all the things I'd ever intuited about the nature of divinity and more. It really woke me up spiritually. Unfortunately, I was in my senior year of high school and dealin with copious amounts of stress from school, teenage parenthood, substance abuse, ect. So, I woke up and was completely exposed to all of that. Long story short I ended up in a behavioral health facility(mental hospital) for about a week.

What I'm getting at is, this is heavy stuff. There are some things that are pure speculation, and it has a christian bias to a fault, but overall it has a supremely truer view of divinity than you'll find in traditional christian dogma. What this means is, if you accept it and use it, there's a good chance you'll experience a connection with the divine that you may or may not be prepared for.

I'd like to reiterate that I've not read the actual book but spent extensive time studying Dr. Bostons website which is and extension of it. So, maybe I'm mistaken in my review. Maybe it was just a thing that happened to me. But I felt it pertinent to share this experience, that it might help one who arrives at the same place I did to negotiate it with a little more finesse.