thelordismyshepherd.com: Seeking God in Cyberspace [Paperback]

Joshua Hammerman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2000

thelordismyshepherd.com opens a new and necessary dialogue on the soul of cyberspace. It will change the way people think about their computers, about God, about the future and about the interconnected destiny of humanity in this ever-shrinking world. The author, a noted rabbi and journalist, alternates between analytic and experiential approaches to the subject, escorting the reader on a multi-dimensional quest for spiritual and intellectual growth - a "virtual pilgrimage" if you will. A pilgrimage that travels tens of thousands of miles in a matters of instants, from Jerusalem to Mecca, to Chartres, even to Kosovo, and provides a new means of utilizing the vast power of technology to connect us to God and to transcend the artificial boundaries that separate us.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Finding God on the Internet is the monumental task pursued by Hammerman, a Connecticut rabbi and journalist who has been addicted to his computer for the past five years, spending many night hours surfing the Web. His quest is sensitively set forth in this spiritual odyssey, which imaginatively blends mysticism, numerology and the Bible with modern technology. Hammerman organizes his search into three "journeys": "Sacred geography," "sacred morality" and "living in God's image." He first makes virtual pilgrimages to Jerusalem, Mecca, Madurai in southern India, Chartres and Kosovo, interspersing each visit with biblical, Talmudic and personal references. His second "journey" involves an exploration of good and evil, using Internet search engines to locate sites such as www.goodvsevil.org. This brings him to some racist hate groups and to smut sites, without providing any satisfactory answer to the haunting question of why evil exists despite the omnipotence of God. Finally, he examines issues related to human kindness, visiting sites that help to locate missing children, discuss euthanasia and examine images of death. This leads him to identify "divine qualities as manifested in human action" such as visiting the sick, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, caring for those with disabilities and promoting peace. He concludes that there is "an overwhelming amount of holiness on the Web." Hammerman's journeys delve thoughtfully into cyberspace, bringing together his extensive religious knowledge with the power of the computer. (Sept.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

A catalyst for serious study on the interconnected destiny of mankind and Creator. -- Napra Review, July/August 2000

The experiential discoveries of Rabbi Hammerman become the text from which emerges some marvelous insights into the religious world. -- Jewish Book World, September 2000

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 175 pages
• Publisher: Simcha Press; Ex-Library edition (September 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558748210
• ISBN-13: 978-1558748217
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,521,271 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Soulful Look at the World Through the Web Portal, September 4, 2000

By 

June "book fan" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: thelordismyshepherd.com: Seeking God in Cyberspace (Paperback)

To me, this book is as much a travelogue of the inner life of a very thoughtful rabbi as it is a travelogue of the virtual world of the web. In his book, Rabbi Hammerman reflects soulfully on what he sees. His choices of sites to visit are provocative and reflect his own courage and convictions. For example, his second visit, one made with great respect, is a moslem site. Rabbi Hammerman uses the various stops in his journey to document progress in a journey of his soul. He struggles with some of what he sees. What he sees brings up theological questions he passionately considers. This isn't the travelogue of a young, exploring rabbi. It is the travelogue, from my view point, of a rabbi who has already traveled far and has, as a result, both open questions and profoundly deep convictions. The rabbi brings both gravitas and playfulness. The book uses this virtual tour of the sacred sites in the virtual world to bring up and discuss the sacred questions in our interconnected consciousness. It is a gem.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great journey to share, October 17, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: thelordismyshepherd.com: Seeking God in Cyberspace (Paperback)

I applaud Rabbi Hammerman for taking us with him on his spiritual odyssey in the virtual world. His writing is lovely and engaging and keeps us wide-eyed throughout his exploration of many of the world's sacred sites. The coverage of religious sites is balanced and the experience is heartfelt. I recommend this book highly for spiritual seekers and for beginners and experts on the superhighway. Timely,insighful and extremely well-written. Bravo Rabbi!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for those on a spiritual search on the internet, August 17, 2000

By 

J. Perry (Tamarac, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: thelordismyshepherd.com: Seeking God in Cyberspace (Paperback)

What a special book. Rabbi Hammerman has a wonderful style and takes you on a journey around the world in the privacy of your own home. If you are looking for God in cyberspace, look no further. This book will take you places and show you how to find a deeper meaning from within your computer. Anyone who has a computer or access to one should have this book. It's a small investment for a priceless experience!