4 out of 4 stars
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The following is my review of The Biblical Clock by Daniel Friedmann and Dania Sheldon.
This scholarly work endeavors to resolve the discrepancies between the agreed-upon scientific timeline for the evolution of the Universe, the solar system, and the world and the cosmic timeline agreed upon by theologians who adhere to Creationist beliefs. The authors primarily utilize Jewish holy texts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the system of Kabbalah, the Old Testament from the Bible, the Talmud, and the Torah for the theological portion of their studies. They use currently accepted scientific theories for the non-spiritual portions of their work.
As an agnostic who developed an interest in the Kabbalah not long after I became disillusioned with Christianity when I was in my late teens, I was extremely interested in this work. I cannot say that it renewed my belief in Yahweh or in the teachings of the Bible, but it does provide compelling evidence for influence by a higher power on the creation of the Universe. If nothing else, it renewed my interest in Kabbalah, which is a beautiful system for understanding the potential metaphysical aspects of creation. I was also deeply fascinated by the detailed stories of Jewish history.
This book will be appreciated by any reader who enjoys studying Jewish or Christian history with an open mind. It will likely not be well-received by those readers who hold strong Creationist beliefs or by strict Atheists who feel that all religious studies are folly. It is a lengthy and detailed book which might seem a bit dry and verbose to those readers who prefer a brief and concise account of the subject matter.
The thing I liked most about the book was the obvious care given to the research being undertaken. It obviously took a great deal of time to bring together each of the unique threads which weave the tapestry of this fascinating tome. Instructors in religious studies would be advised to add The Biblical Clock to their library.
I can’t think of anything I didn’t like about the book. It was quite lengthy and it was not a fast read, but this is simply an observation rather than any sort of grievance.
I give The Biblical Clock four out of four stars. It is exceptionally well-written, filled with meaningful details and stories, and it was professionally edited. It is a book worth having for anyone who enjoys studying the history and theory of Judaism and Christianity.
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The Biblical Clock
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