David Horowitz has done an excellent job of detailing the ministry of Pastor Charles Taze Russell ... too often documented as "the founder of the Jehovah's Witnesses", this book shows that Russell is in no way their founder. The work Pastor Russell has done towards the Jewish people, is unfounded today. And the Jehovah's Witnesses who claim him as their founder have turned their backs not only on him, but on God's chosen people, the Jews. This book is recommended to all interested in learning about Charles Taze Russell, and his ministry towards the Jewish people, and how today the association he founded, [Associated Bible Students - biblestudents] continue his work in comforting God's covenanted people.

Spurgeon does an excellent exposition of the Proverbs. He speaks in a way that makes the Bible come alive and makes you think about the God of the universe in a totally different way. Excellent for people that want to do a study on Proverbs.

You are looking for that perfect Bible verse that will be just the right illustration for the point you are making but where do you start. This book is the first and last place to go to for that answer. The book is broken down by subject in alphabetical order. It is just that simple. A must for pastors and teachers

If you utilize the NRSV for preaching and teaching in your congregation, then this is a very helpful tool. Each lesson is commented upon in language that is clear and precise and "preachable." In some instances, the content of the commentary presupposes that the reader has some experience with critical or historical examinations of biblical texts, although if one uses the NRSV, that is probably not an incorrect presupposition. Overall, the commentary is clear and thought provoking and helps the preacher/teacher open up the texts nicely.

I rate this book very high. I'm saving my 5 star rating for books of the highest of high quality. This one is up there. It's amazing how he shows how Christ will be glorified through us, how grace and works will be brought together to show Christ's redeemed completely justified. Once again Spurgeon is very helpful to my life. I also like these small paperback books because they are easy to carry with you and not that expensive.

This book has given me a deeper desire to walk closer to the true image that God has for his women.It probes your mind,and provides excellent examples to whom one can relate.Even though the women in the book lived in times unknown to us one can identify with their struggles and their victories. Not only does she look at the biblical times she provides a modern day example that helps you gain an even greater understanding of the message being taught. This is a great tool to help any woman take a look at their life and strive to follow the footsteps of her father.

I bought his book thinking that it would contain a basic summary of each of the popular religions (I didn't read any of the reviews before buying it). The author obviously spent a great deal of time studying many religions, unfortunately, his very bias comments that are interspersed within the text make the book impossible to read. Please Mr McDowell just give us the facts of the religions and not your opionion. This book should of been titled "why my religion is right and yours is wrong".

Concerning his arguments for his chosen religion, what can I say other then they make him look like a fool. His logic to identify an occult religion would surely apply to own religion, but he simply doesn't see it. Its quite sad to think about his state of mind

McDowell's and Stewart's *Handbook of Today's Religions* is a compilation of their series on the cults, world religions and secular religions, under one title. The work provides a systematic survey of the core beliefs, philosophical characteristics and significant writers within each religious viewpoint, and offers a critique from the foundation of a historic, Biblical Christian worldview.

The book is copiously documented from the primary sources and significant secondary materials, and is clearly written in a friendly and personable style. The documentation contained in this book alone is worth the price of the book. The religious views treated, while held to be in error by the authors, are treated with an irenic tone and intelligent manner.

This book has four major sections: Understanding the Cults, Understanding the Occult, Understanding Non-Christian Religions, and Understanding Secular Religions. It closes with an article by Norman Anderson on "A Christian Approach to Comparative Religions."

I read this book years ago when I first became a Christian. It helped to settle in my mind the uniqueness of true Christianity. It also helped to answer lingering questions I had about other belief systems. So it helped to solidify my belief that the Christian faith was true and that other belief systems were false.

In the first section on cults the authors first discuss "What is a Cult?" They then present the basic characteristics of cults and the beliefs of orthodox Christianity. The beliefs are present via quotes from important Christian creeds, with supporting Biblical references. It's not a thorough Biblical study of such doctrines, but adequate for presenting the orthodox view. For a more thorough study on the basic doctrines of the Christian faith, see my "Scripture Workbook: For Personal Bible Study and Teaching the Bible."

The first section of this book then looks at individual groups like JWs and Mormons. For each group it presents a very short history of the group. For a more detailed history of each group, one would have to consult books like Walter Martin's "Kingdom of the Cults" or Ruth Tucker's "Another Gospel."

But what this book does provide is a detailed Biblical discussion of each group's teachings. The book first documents the group's doctrines through extended quotes from it's own literature. The authors then provide extensive Biblical refutations of these doctrines.

The tone of the book is one of presenting an exegesis of the relevant Scriptures. It is not strongly judgmental, just strongly Biblical. And my "Scripture Workbook" provides additional Biblical refutations of claims of groups discussed in this book.

The second section of this book gets into an area that I find rather uncomfortable to study: the occult. I never was attracted to the occult, and it just gives me the creeps studying about it. But the Bible does say not be ignorant of Satan's devices, so at least a cursory knowledge of occult practices can be helpful.

This sections looks at occult practices like astrology, fortune telling, and parapsychology. For each practice, a basic explanation is provided, then a logical and/ or Biblical refutation.

The third section looks at non-Christian religions like Hinduism and Islam. When I first read this book I found this section particularly interesting. I had never really considered becoming a Mormon or JW, but before becoming a Christian I did investigate other world religions. And again, this book confirmed my previous studies that Christianity was to be preferred over these other religions.

The discussions in this section are similar to the ones in the section on cults. A very short history of the religion is presented and then a much more in-depth discussion and Biblical refutation of its teachings.

The last section looks at atheism and related belief systems. Again, a basic history is provided of each system, then logical refutations of their teachings. The authors are smart enough to focus on logical arguments as Biblical arguments would hardly hold much sway with atheists.

So overall, this is a very helpful book due to the breadth of belief systems it covers. But with such a variety of views discussed, it doesn't provide as much detail on each group as some other books might. But for someone who was in the position I was of still having questions about competing worldviews to Christianity, this book can be very helpful. And it will provide the Christian with a basic knowledge of each of the systems discussed along with providing much material for Biblical studies. And for more Biblical study on many of the topics discussed in this book, see my "Scripture Workbook."

. . .to the cause of Christianity.

The frauds surrounding the alleged "discovery" of Noah's Ark have been well-documented, and this review is not intended to add to them. Suffice it to say, that from my perspective as a conservative, Christian clergyman, my faith is certainly NOT predicated on being able to "prove" the historicity of certain events. For those who require such "proof", loss of faith is, sadly, all to often the result when the "proof" turns out to be a hoax.

Such works can do serious damage -- damage that could and should be avoided.

As archeological and other scientific disciplines push the stories of the bible further and further into the realm of mythology and spiritual allegory (where it really belongs, rather than a literal account of events in ancient times), books like these are popular among those desperate to 'hold the line'. They serve as some kind of proof or affirmation that the biblical accounts were based in 'fact'. Frankly, this sensationalistic volume, claiming that a bunch of large rocks on a mountainside 'prove' that Noah's ark actually existed, is just the sort of evidence that a religious person would treat with skepticism and scorn as extremely frail, circumstantial and shabby if used to prove that a biblical event had *not* happened. About as much validity is attached to the author's work as that of Von Daniken.

no matter what others may say, this is an
incredible book.

Enoch lived in Mesopotemia, before Abraham and before Moses, so the writer logically should be from Mesopotemia where enoch lived and influnced by Mesopotemian culture.

Enoch is summerian, chaldean, and simply to attribute his writings to any body else is simply wrong, same goes for the Kabala book, it reflects the culture and relegious philosphy of Mesopotemia, at Ibraham's time. The Kabala book as well is written by the Chaldeans.

This book takes refrences from the Russian Orthodox version of Enoch. Although many things are not unique or plagerized from older works it's still a very interesting read.

I just finished reading this work, also called "2Enoch", and I must say it is the most beautiful and at times even poetic of all the so-called Apocrypha. It's imagery is vivid and it just draws you in! Amazingly, I can't find anything here which contradicts the canonical Bible, so I can imagine Paul or other early Christians perusing this text for some clues as to what Enoch may have actually seen as he "walked with God". I strongly urge you to BUY THIS BOOK!

I've never read the bible. I never will. there are far better fictional stories out there.

Are about as close as you come to good historical novels in the OT. Really one book sort of like the three synoptic books of NT, Matthew, Mark, and Luke.

This book is very good and covers the ground well. I wish it were longer.

From an historical point of view, it comports well with what is unambiguously agreed upon as historical events. (David has been getting his knocks lately, but he is still the KING.)

I prefer to think of it in the classical sense, the end of the third phase of ancient Hebrew writings (of 12 as commonly stated) So, if you compared it to Gibbons "Decline & Fall of Roman Empire" you would be up to around chapter 30 of Gibbons.

I read these thing with a critical eye for finding fault, and find little to fault in this book, except to wish it were wider and longer.

An index with cross references such as to Elephantine documents or even Greek or Syrian writings might have been usefull.

But this is a great small book. I read it almost straight through. I think you will actually find it easy reading and hard to lay down.

Why is it that many of the books I'm looking at have such bad reviews from people who haven't even read them just because they are about the Christian faith. Now I haven't read this book but I am currently reading 1 Kings. And if they think this book is so fictional than try reading the book of Daniel which contains very specific prophecy about Alexander the Great and the fate of his kingdom.

I am not trying to force my faith on anyone. I am merely upset at those that dismiss my faith and what I believe as fictional without even investigating it. That is very demeaning to me.