Finding the God of Noah: The Spiritual Journey of a Baptist Minister from Christianity to the Laws of Noah (Hardcover)

~ (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Ktav Pub Inc (May 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0881255351
• ISBN-13: 978-0881255355
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,870,564 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but flawed, August 3, 1998

By A Customer

J. David Davis' books presents an interesting chronicle -- the journey of one man (and several of his family and friends) from Christianity to the laws in Judaism that applies to non-Jews.

The topic is interesting, but the presentation leaves much to be desired. Davis' tone is very self-important and he uses exclamation points so often that the narrative reads like a 6th grade girl's diary for the most part.

A more mature and readable treatment of the topic is waiting to be done....

0 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The author could have made a much better case...., June 16, 2004

By	John Swanson (California) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I sympathize with Mr. Davis's wish to adhere to the Seven Laws of Noah and live an ethical life. I too am trying to do that. But his book reminded me of two other books I read: "Dancing Alone" by Frank Schaeffer, which describes the author's journey from Evangelical Christianity into Eastern Orthodoxy, and "The People's Padre" by Emmett McLoughlin, which describes that author's exit from the Catholic priesthood seemingly into agnosticism. All of these books are very self-serving and self-righteous, showing the authors in the best possible light while ridiculing those members of the groups they left. Also, Mr. Davis in his book praises Meir Kahane, the founder of the Jewish Defense League, who was in my opinion a pretty horrible person. That lowered his credibility with me to almost zero. The book has some passing interest for those interested in the Noahite movement, but I found it a pain to get through.

1 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A comment for Gentile readers ..., October 2, 2007

By	Midasin (London, England) - See all my reviews

The seven standards advocated in this book are doubtless all good ones: prohibition of idolatry, prohibition of murder, prohibition of theft, prohibition of sexual promiscuity, prohibition of blasphemy, prohibition of cruelty to animals, in addition to the requirement to form a just government to ensure that these standards are observed by members of society. What could be wrong with that?

These "Seven Laws" [Sheva Mitzvot] are said to be derived from Genesis 9:1-17. But you will have a hard job to find them there! Their real origin is in the *Tosefta* (Sanhedrin 9:4). This work was compiled as late as 180-200CE to parallel and supplement the *Mishnah*. They also appear in the *Gemara*, which was added to the *Mishnah* to form the *Talmud* (see tractate Sanhedrin 56a/b). The *Gemara* was compiled around 500CE.

However, the *Torah* is God's actual Word, as given to the prophet Moses as early as 1500BCE and has authority over any human production. Writings like the *Tosefta*, the *Mishnah*, and the *Gemara* are no more than human commentaries upon the Word of God; they are not the Word of God itself.

Therefore, the so-called "Noahide Laws" entail reading back into God's Word later human deductions. They are not commanded by God to anyone on earth for the present day. Rather they were devised by certain leading Rabbis who, not content with enjoining their 613 Laws upon their captive Jewish audience, also wanted to bring Gentiles under their authority.

If you are a Gentile who has been taught that you can earn your salvation by following these Laws, please note that you are not following precepts commanded by God Himself, but only principles enjoined by human authority.

This does not mean that the seven principles are not good ones in themselves. Indeed, they are. And they may provide you with a better quality of life. But please do be aware that you will not gain any form of everlasting spiritual salvation by following them. God gives no guarantee whatever that those who observe them are assured of a place in the world to come.