Who Wrote the Bible Code? : A Physicist Probes the Current Controversy (Paperback)

by Randall Ingermanson (Author) "Reading between the lines can get you in trouble..." (more)
Key Phrases: randomized texts, trigram frequencies, random text, Great Rabbis Experiment, Hebrew Bible, New Testament (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
In 1997, Michael Drosnin's The Bible Code captured popular imagination by maintaining that the secrets of the future are encoded in the Bible's words. While many embraced Drosnin's ideas, others remained skeptical that the Bible could be used in such a way. Computational physicist Ingermanson designed a series of statistical computer tests to discover whether there really is a Bible code, and, if there is, who wrote it. He asserts that the answers to such questions are important, for many people are using the supposed code as an evangelistic tool to prove God's existence or as a "high-tech Ouija board, finding predictions of imminent disaster." Ingermanson opens his book with a judicious survey of what others have said about Drosnin's discovery. He notes that Drosnin's book produced many critics who challenged him on his method and adds that other writers on the Bible code, such as Jeffrey Satinover (Cracking the Bible Code), are far from convinced that the proof of such a code is watertight. Next, Ingermanson introduces a series of entropy tests, equidistant letter sequencing tests, trigram tests and chi-square analyses to test the theories of Drosnin and his believersAand concludes that the Bible code does not exist. He argues that proponents of the code have reported only sensational information and have ignored the larger picture. Ingermanson contends that his testing left no room for such error and calls into question the methods and the results of those who agree with Drosnin. Ingermanson's book will likely not be the final word on the Bible code, but it will certainly generate a great deal of interest in circles where these matters are discussed. (Aug.)
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description
What is the truth about the Bible code? How can you decide what to believe? Why does it matter? Around the world, men and women are captivated by a theory so incredible that, if proven true, it would forever revolutionize mankind's view of Scripture. Some experts have claimed the Bible contains a code that accurately predicts today's events. Others renounce the Bible code theory as unfounded.

Using a new statistical test that promises to provide an authoritative, credible answer to the Bible code debate, computational physicist Dr. Randall Ingermanson leads you on an easily understandable, meticulously planned investigation of the evidence at hand-addressing the most urgent questions surrounding the Bible code controversy and carefully examining how recent findings could affect your faith.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: WaterBrook Press (August 17, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1578562252
• ISBN-13: 978-1578562251
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,001,454 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Clear Layperson's Guide to why the "Codes" are Useless, January 10, 2000

By	David Gehrig (Champaign, Illinois) - See all my reviews

There's a relatively small intersection between the kinds of people who would be interested in the so-called "Bible Codes" and those who actually have the mathematical background to investigate just how significant or insignificant the findings of Drosnin, Rambsel, Jeffery, et al really are. Dr. Ingermanson is one who, fortunately, took the time to address the question in a thoughtful, methodical manner.

Dr. Ingermanson takes a fairly sophisticated statistical analysis -- chi-squared analysis of two-letter and three-letter patterns in various permutations of a text -- and presents it, bit by bit, in a way that doesn't require deep mathematical knowledge to follow. (For math geeks like myself, he fills in the sordid, formula-laden details on his website.)

I wouldn't have minded a slightly more combative book, however. Drosnin in particular is clearly unable to understand what he's writing about, and leaves himself open to dozens of serious complaints. (The one that comes to mind is his "prediction" -- actually a "postdiction," in Ingermanson's useful coinage -- that Clinton would become President because the name "Clinton" could be found four times "encoded" in the Bible. What Drosnin didn't bother to point out is that the name of Clinton's opponent, Bush, appears _twelve million_ times. So much for Drosnin's scientific method.) It would have been a public service if Ingermanson popped one or two of Dronsin's bigger balloons -- Drosnin grants himself more wiggle room than an overweight belly dancer, but doesn't let the reader know. This unveiling would have been helpful for those who were won over by anecdotal evidence without understanding the nature of coincidence.

Ingermanson's book is balanced, fair, and meticulous, and -- unlike every other book I've seen about the "Bible Codes" -- doesn't make outrageous claims without backing them up.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Engaging Read!, November 9, 1999

By	J D Heine - See all my reviews

If you do not read any other book on the Bible Code, READ THIS ONE! Dr. Ingermanson has tackled this subject completely. For the uninitiated, He explains what the Bible Code is, and does a very good job. Then he reviews other books and papers on the subject. Finally, he applies the tool of mathematics to the problem. But for the non-math people out there, he actually makes it understandable, putting all the scary equations into an online appendix which is available to the non-squeamish. And he comes up with an answer. (Read the book to see his conclusion) Dr. Ingermanson's style of writing is light-hearted, yet sincere. He builds interest throughout the course of the book and keeps the reader engaged to the end. It is a delightful excursion to the solution to the Bible Code mystery. Sherlock Holmes should be so much fun!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Available on the Bible Code, November 26, 1999

By	Francis W. Szarejko (Kansas City, MO) - See all my reviews

I've done intensive research on the Bible Code, looking at all sides of the issue. This is the only book that approaches the subject with a systematic, rational, and scientific viewpoint. The proponents of the code call it "science" therefore, it needs to be evaluated in the same way, and that is what this book does. --- Bottom line: the author starts from an objective position and makes his commentary as the research unfolds -- fair, scientfic, and clear. --- Beyond that: On a topic where "skewering" the opposition is the norm, Ingermanson approaches the subject with grace and care. He refuses to enter into the arena of accusation. When he disagrees with a position he does it by "speaking the truth in love." An unusual approach in this genre. Buy the book. It will challenge you unless you are a physicist, mathamatician, or statistician, but it will be worth your time and effort if you care about discovering the truth about the Bible Code.