Customer Reviews

Steve Allen on the Bible, Religion, and Morality

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Steve Allen is America's own Man For All Seasons: There's very little that he has not done. Now, he enters some rather controversial territory by taking a scholarly look at what must be the most misunderstood group of documents of all time -- the Bible. Using logic (and a healthy dose of skepticism) rather than childish/unquestioning/dogmatic orthodoxy, he examines various aspects of Christian so-called "ethics" and "morals"; pointing out instances (in the entry "WAR", for example) where the ideals espoused by people who call themselves "Christians" tend to fall by the wayside when circumstances would seem to demand that they keep to those ideals even more.

He also gives detailed analyses of a number of individual books within the Bible, some of which are devastating in their criticism. (His look at the rape and murder of the Levite's concubine in Judges 19 is especially thought-provoking even in its harshness.)

This reader wishes that he would publish a third tome in this vein as soon as possible!

I don't think anyone could read this book and not come to the conclusion that Steve Allen was one of the most all-around intelligent and talented public figures of the 20th century. He was truly a worldly scholar. What's more amazing to me is Allen's methodology, relying largely on his own readings and observations from Gideon's Bibles in hotel rooms while on the road.

Allen has long been a man of clear social, moral, and political conscience. He goes to great lengths in this book to keep from confusing the separate aspects of his thought except where it is applicable, and does so to a wonderful effect. His explanations of Biblical persons, places and passages, their history and deeper meanings are written in the truest glory of a rational spirituality the world has yet to realize. Furthermore, his analysis of social issues supposedly stemming from the Bible shows his ability to handle controversial topics carefully while not pulling punches with adversarial positions.

Never once did I feel like I was not dealing with a scholar on these subjects. The decades of work Allen has put into clarifying his own thoughts in these matters shines like a light tower over a dark, foggy sea. This, to my eyes, is the greatest book of its type since Thomas Paine's "The Age of Reason," and in many ways it's better. It not only illuminates what a genius he really was, but also how simple and necessary critical thought is to every one of us.

And to the reviewer who gave this book one star, it is sadly obvious that you did *not* read this book at all. The foreword and introduction alone state that Allen was raised in a strict Irish-Catholic household, was a Catholic until his early 30s when he was excommunicated for his second marriage, and thereafter attended Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles with his wife Jayne and their son. He even makes quite clear in the book that non-belief, to him, is more irrational than belief. But then again, 'twill always be the scholars first who are rooted out as heretics.

If you've ever had questions about the teachings and record of Christianity but still maintain your faith, this book comes to you as highly recommended as possible. It tears down walls and builds spirits.

In the introductory notes, Allen says that he hurried this book to press because the rise in fundamentalism had been especially active at the time of publication. I wish that he had spent a little more time on it, to clarify and reorganize his thoughts on some topics. Often, a paragraph seemingly unrelated to the surrounding matter seems to pop up for no reason.

The essays themselves are interesting, and at times thought-provoking. (Especially for anyone who has never put any serious thought into the Bible.) For readers already familiar with the errors and inconsistencies in the Bible, Allens book is interesting, but not particularly ground-breaking.

Overall, a good book, simply because it describes in clear language the insurmountable problems that face Biblical Literalism. Too bad that Allen didn't structure the book as an argument instead of as an encyclopedia -- by the end, the force of the subject matter gets somewhat muted by its repetitiveness and scattershot layout.

-- Marc.

Mr. Allen did something few of us have done. To understand Christianity, he went to the source -- the Bible. He read it carefully and applied the same level of critical inquiry that one should apply when reading any book. The results were illuminating.

Among the reviews I've read, I found Mr. James O. Ditt's review revealing. His unhappiness with Mr. Allen's book reminded me of Mark Twain's words:

"When you know a man's religious complexion, you know what sort of books he reads when he wants some more light, and what sort of books he avoids, lest by accident he get more light than he wants." (Ira D. Cardiff, "What Great Men Think of Religion")

If the Bible and Christianity really is/are "the religion for the rest of us," then every thinking person should get a shot at writing about these topics in a similiar motif. Sometimes Allen's text can be disjointed, other times marvelously insightful; overall the two volumes are a very engaging read. Particularly fun are the author's discourses on the Old Testament Scriptures vs. current Fundamentalist views. I must mention that Steve Allen's courage in publishing his opinions is somewhat remarkable; as he really has something to lose and little to gain. Will the Southern Baptists now boycott copies of "Ramparts Street Parade" or burn tapes of the original Tonight Show? If you like logical expression, and enjoy surprising conclusions about well worn religious ideas? Get both books. This guy just keeps on being entertaining!

Steve Allen and Martin Gardner have done a marvleous job pointing out some of the more obvious and egregious examples of problems in the bible, the religious tome embraced by practitioners of the christian religion and viewed as unerring word of god by some particularly fundamentalist practitioners. It is strongly encouraged reading for anyone gullible enough to believe the word of Jerry Falwell and his ilk. One reviewer asked "why bother" writing such a book so critical of the bible? The answer is clear: one need only see the cost in human and environmental harm done by fundamentalists in the name of their religions. They harm not only themselves, their families, and their children. They harm us all, therefore it is critical that their unquestioning faith be doused with cold water such as this book from time to time. Bravo!

I found these books to be an absolutely fascinating collection of essays (about 120 per book) each on the average about 1-4 pages long. As said earlier, not for the faint of heart, or those not interested in taking a critical look at the Bible and religion. Topics covered include... Abortion, The Dead Sea Scrolls, God, Christianity Flying Saucers, Death, John Wycliff, The J,P,D,E,Q Documents (that make up different portions of the Bible) and many others. For me, I found it great, great fun!

This is an excellent layperson analysis of the Holy Bible. Steve Allen makes no pretension to biblical scholarship. Indeed, must one have such credentials to understand and appreciate the alleged word of God? I think not and neither does Allen as he rips through dozens of topics revealing the blatant flaws and fallacies of the "good book". He does stop to smell the proverbial flowers, which are the few and far between edifying passages. I must say that it is truly incredible that those of the Western culture either do not see or do not know how much of the Holy Bible is not well suited to children's bedtime stories.

Steve Allen has certainly done his homework on this one! An outstanding work of thought provoking and sensible material. Steve's best work yet.

While walking out of the local library recently, this book was on a
display table "Check these out", and I did. I am really
sorry I did because I believe the contents of his book from cover to
cover are pure nonsense and jibberish....I could not bring myself to
read too much of it word for word, but I did scan most of the
subjects. I often wonder, why do people, such as him, go to such
lengths to heap scathing criticism on the Bible? Why waste the time
and energy? Here is a person of self-designated average intelligence
(a poor attempt at humility - but really a lie), but above average
industry, who supposedly spent several years between shows, writing
songs, etc, trashing the Bible. Why? Perhaps deep down, he thinks it
might be true? His understanding or misunderstanding of a
straightforward, face value reading of Scripture is astounding. I
don't believe he has ever read any part of the Bible with the
slightest intent of understanding any of it or trying to get anything
positive out of it. His basic belief in the "fact of
evolution" is probably his underlying error.... I suppose he does
not know that it has never been shown that evolution has ever
occurred, and that the whole evolutionary house of cards is about to
come tumbling down? He does an awful lot of name calling throughout
his drivel: uninformed, simple, fundamentalist, uneducated, etc, etc,
etc. He should look in the mirror! I should think he would be
embarrassed to realize that he has put his thoughts (biases) down on
paper and published for all to see his monumental stupidity and
ignorance. Has he not read Phillip Johnson, William Dembski, Michael
Behe, Michael Denton, and others?.... He denies all essential doctrine
of the Bible: a recent creation, the fall, the flood, the dispersion
of mankind from Babel as a result of the confusion of language, the
Messiah, who Jesus was/is, the diety of Christ, His death on the
cross, His resurrection, things to come, all of it! Why bother? To
what end? There must be a significant reason why he spent so much time
and effort into his version of destroying Scripture. What could it be?
His mind is really closed, something he frequently accuses others of
being. If I had this book dirtying up my library, it would be there as
an outstanding example of narrow-minded ignorance, faulty logic and
reasoning, and plain dishonesty. He knows nothing of true science....