Religion Books

Simon has written a gut wrenching book with dignity and class. He has a way with words that touch the soul. This should be required reading about overcoming the most horrific of situations with dignity.

This wonderful little book will challenge every grain of moral weight you think you have, and without a doubt you will be better for reading it.
Every person should read it.

Recieved item on time, right when we were told it would arrive. Book in very good condition.

I've used Wiesenthal's The Sunflower as a text in college courses several times. On each occasion my original high estimation of Wiesenthal's narrative grows, while my dissatisfaction with the chorus of responses that takes up nearly two-thirds of the latest edition deepens.

Wiesenthal asks exactly the right questions that all of us need to confront about forgiveness. Is forgiveness always ours to bestow? Is it permissible or even possible to forgive on behalf of others? Should forgiveness be tied to repentance on the part of the transgressor? Should the transgressor try to atone for his/her wrongdoing? What if, as in the case of the dying SS-man Wiesenthal meets, the performance of overt acts of atonement are impossible? Are there certain actions that are unforgiveable, or is the philosopher Jacques Derrida correct when he insists (On Cosmopolitanism and Forgiveness) that the only kind of forgiving that makes any sense is the kind that forgives the unforgiveable? And in a godless world--a world where, as several characters in The Sunflower say, wickedness is so rampant that God seems to have gone on leave--is forgiveness necessarily a different kind of phenomenon than it would be in a Godded world?

Weisenthal doesn't pretend to answer any of these questions, but he and the other characters in his memoir discuss them, presenting different perspectives and coming to different conclusions. The very real value of The Sunflower is that it encourages readers to think about the questions.

Which brings me to the responses. Most are impressionistic, unanalytical, platitudinous, and hence totally out of step with the brutal authenticity of Weisenthal's text. A few stand out from the others: Robert Coles', Rebecca Goldstein's, Abraham Joshua Heschel's, Primo Levi's. But most can be given a pass. My suggestion would be to focus first and foremost on Weisenthal's text and forget about the responses. A nice cinematic complement to the book is the documentary "Forgiving Dr. Mengele."

Summoned to the bedside of a dying Nazi who had willingly participated in the systematic annihilation of Europe's Jews, concentration camp inmate Simon Wiesenthal found himself the captive, solitary witness to this 21-year-old SS man's confession of responsibility for committing acts of unspeakable cruelty.

Kurt had asked a nurse to bring him a Jew (any Jew would do); quite by chance the nurse selected Wiesenthal from the work detail assigned to the hospital that day. Against his will, he listened to this man recount his experience of packing a house full of Jewish men, women, and children and then setting the house on fire while lobbing grenades into the inferno and shooting at anyone who had attempted to escape this hell. Kurt watched a father, mother, and small boy leap from a window to their certain death. Before the leap, the father had shielded the child's eyes.

The image haunted Kurt, who was unable to fight again. Instead, he froze on the battlefield and suffered and injury that first cost him his sight and then took his life. Before he died, though, he wanted to confess his sins to a Jew that he might be forgiven and die in peace.

Wiesenthal, who was about the same age as this soldier, heard him out but refused to forgive. Instead, he offered silence in response to the story and returned to the concentration camp.

The experience haunted Wiesenthal; soon after it happened, he discussed it with his friends back at the camp, with a Polish Catholic seminarian. Much later, he presented the story to theologians, political leaders, Holocaust survivors, and victims of other attempted genocides and asked each of these persons what he or she would have done in the same situation.

The story itself is first book of The Sunflower; the responses to the question, "The Symposium," are the text of the second book in this volume. Broadly grouped, the respondents are Jews and Christians, primarily. There are two Buddhist respondents and one Chinese respondent who makes no reference to religion though his response is in keeping with Buddhist thinking. Within these broad categories respondents reflect on different facets of the experience Wiesenthal describes and facets of their faith and life experiences and knowledge to make a response.

The Jewish respondents point to the fact that only the person against whom a sin has been committed has the right to forgive the sinner. Therefore, Kurt cannot be forgiven; his victims are dead. The Christian respondents point out, first, that they feel they have no right to address the question because they have never been on the receiving end of genocide. Then they point out that God alone can forgive and that it is incumbent on each of us sinners to find forgiveness in our hearts for others. The Buddhists respond, as Buddhists do, in the present tense and with an eye on enlightenment--a release from suffering. Each perspective reflects a different concept of individuality and therefore of the nature of accountability.

For this reader, The Sunflower accomplishes the important task of bringing the reader into the concentration camp alongside one of its victims, into the hospital room of the dying SS man, and into the heart of the questions the Holocaust raises about responsibility, accountability, forgiveness, restitution, and grace. These are questions that refuse pat answers and therefore remain alive and active in our minds. Wiesenthal's book challenges our ability to empathize with those who suffer and our ability to think about how and why we believe what we do about ourselves and each other. It is a humble and beautiful tribute to those who suffered and died in the Holocaust. We too can honor their memory by participating in the conversation this book presents.

It seems like the majority of Deathly Hallows critique and analysis has focused on what Rowling got wrong -- the opportunities she missed, the issues left unresolved, etc. Mr. Granger's book of essays/lectures points out what Rowling got right and makes a very persuasive argument that Deathly Hallows is the artistic capstone of the series, and not just a cop-out. Mr. Granger's arguments are written in a clear and entertaining way that makes them accessible to casual readers. But there is also a lot of meat to his ideas -- enough to intrigue even jaded lit majors such as myself. Mr. Granger makes a wonderful analogy between the game of Quidditch and literary analysis and invites us to become seekers. His book is a demonstration of the riches that await someone willing to delve deeper beyond the storyline into the symbols and structures that underly the story and that give the story its emotional and moral impact. Mr. Granger's book is also helpful for anyone wishing to cut through the kerfuffle regarding Christianity and occultism in Harry Potter and the debate as to whether Harry Potter has literary merit. His discussions of these issues are thoughtful and balanced. I definitely have a greater appreciation of Deathly Hallows having read Mr. Granger's book and I am newly inspired to keep seeking to find new treasures in Mr. Rowling's work. Thanks to Mr. Granger, Dante on my short list of works to re-read.

You don't have to be an authority on Dante, C.S.Lewis, or William Shakespeare to get your head around John Granger's latest book, *The Deathly Hallows Lectures*. The purpose of DHL is to introduce and enlighten the reader as to the many layers of symbolism in Harry Potter's journey/defeat over Lord Voldemort.

The HogWarts Professor writes in an easy-to-read style that combines his quirky humor with the intricacies of literary analysis. John doesn't talk down to his reader. On the contrary, his tone is quite personable. I felt as if I was sitting in an upper-level lit class led by an instructor more interested in making sure I was "getting" the information instead of telling me how much he knew. A word of caution: you may want to keep a dictionary close at hand during the meatier/deeper discussion points!

Bottom line, *The Deathly Hallows Lectures* is a wonderful tool for unlocking the many layers of J K Rowling's work. Serious readers will no doubt recognize the many literary traditions John references throughout. Novices (like myself) will be introduced to new ways of reading and examining the deeper meanings beneath the storylines. I heartily recommend *The Deathly Hallows Lectures* to the serious and interested-in-becoming-serious reader.

Having read all of John Granger's books, I was not surprised to find that this latest one, "The Deathly Hallows Lectures" is full of even more insights into the depth of the Harry Potter books. This book is not only fun to read, taking the reader back through all the books, and tying up the series with Deathly Hallows, but also points to the rich tradition of literature that inspired J. K. Rowling. Granger's book also shows how Rowling answered her Christian critics throughout the series, by pointing the obvious Christian imagery throughout the books, and especially in the last one, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows".

Because of this book, as well as John's previous ones, I've been delving back into Austen, Dickens, Lewis, Shakespeare and many others. And now, I've added Dante to my list.

"The Deathly Hallows Lectures" by John Granger sheds light on the symbolic writing of Rowling in a way that enhances every re-reading of the Harry Potter books, making them even more enjoyable than they were on my first reading.

I immediately began rereading this book upon completion. It has given me a new outlook on my sobriety and spirituality as well as the wisdom of the ages. I look forward to reading it again and again as I trudge the happy road of destiny.

The Spirituality of Imperfection: Storytelling and the Search for Meaning

This clearly establishes the important differences between "religion" and spirituality. An expansive read and reference source to store with your most prized literature.

This book is an excellent guide to wholeness through story telling, but in addition to that it guides you through the steps necessary to make a personal relationship with your higher power closer.
Don Busick

When Ernest Kurtz was preparing his well proportioned Jewish Rabbi stories for what became this "spirituality" book, I traveled to Reno to hear his talk. It was polished, entertaining, and challenging. But when this book emerged, I found he had turned the rabbinical stories into a formula for "spirituality" that promoted his "not-god-ness" thesis of A.A. and recovery approaches.God and Alcoholism: Our Growing Opportunity in the 21st Century. There is the usual "spiritual but not religious" talk. But there is little if any recognition that it was God to whom the early Christian AAs looked for "spirituality," for their relationship with God, and for the growth in fellowship with Him and Jesus Christ. And these were enhanced through Bible study, prayer, seeking guidance, and reading Christian literature.By the Power of God: A Guide To Early A.A. Groups and Forming Similar Groups Today (Why It Worked; A.A. History). Admittedly these two authors are talking the talk of secularism and universalism, but their dogmatic assertions as to the efficacy of a philosophy of "imperfection" run counter to my understanding of how early AAs were cured by the power of God and to what history proves.Cured! Proven Help for Alcoholics and Addicts And still can be, if they choose.A New Way Out: New Path - Familiar Road Signs - Our Creator's Guidance

I found this book at a retreat (Manresa) a few years ago and have purchased at least a couple dozen of these books for friends since then, with consistently enthusiastic feedback.

I really don't have the proper words to capture the meaning or importance of this book. It's a slow, intense, delicious read ... kind of like eating a very rich Belgian chocolate.

If you like this book, then you may like this one, too:
The Song of the Bird

This is an awesome book, and I highly recommend it for those who are looking to learn more about themselves, and go deeper in faith.

Sue Monk Kidd's book is a beautiful reflection of her journey through a time of waiting for discernment in her life. It is full of images that can help anyone who is struggling with a time of dryness in his or her spiritual journey. I highly recommend it for anyone who has been on the spiritual quest long enough to know what it means to wait in the darkness or to have hit a dark night of the soul.

Sue Monk Kidd takes you by the hand and leads you on a search for meaning.
Beautifully written and keeps you turning the pages. I used it as a morning meditation resource and it was a wonderful way to start each day.

Waiting. Cacooning. I really love this book. I feel so nourished. Sue Monk Kidd is wise beyond her years.

This book astounded me in its seemingly endless stream of cliches and corny metaphors, from Monk Kidd's anthropomorphization of trees ("I studied their bony arms and felt their emptiness, their desperate reach for light and sky"), to her clumsy characterizations of discovering her True Self ("there's a bulb of truth buried in the human soul," "Had my masks gotten stuck to my face?", "Letting go is like crossing a bridge, I thought"). Monk Kidd's spiritual crisis may have been very real to her, but her description of it here strikes me as self-indulgent, sentimental claptrap. Having also read The Mermaid Chair, I would say this author is highly overrated.

This book truely is one of the greatest books I have ever read. When I began the book, I was very skeptical about the scriptural validity. In addition, growing upin church you see many doctrines that come and go very quickly. However, I have a theological degree and this book is a fine example of scriptural accuracy.
Spiritually, I can honestly say that I feel a freedom I have never felt before. The work that Jesus did over 2 thousand years ago still appls to today. Pastor Jake Filkey

This book talks a lot of truth about who we are in Christ, totally forgiven and accepted. It's perspective of grace based on the New Covenant is commendable. The only thing I chewed out was the mixing of material prosperity.

This book gave me the most liberating revelation of the person of Jesus Christ I have ever had! I thank God for what he has given us in the ministry of Joseph Prince! (Not to worry Cheryl, I wont worship the man -This book truly points to Jesus and away from Pastor Prince!!! You should read the book prior to giving an opinion....As people flocked to see Jesus....and Paul and the other great teachers, go ahead and visit Pastor Princes church! A great Word awaits you I am sure!!!) This book is particularly good for the person weary (and sick) of the Pharisees in the body of Christ today. For those who feel disenfranchised from the church....who feel they just dont "fit" the church mold - get ready to rise to the top as the chains are removed and the captive is set free. Jesus - what a God - THE GOSPEL IS BETTER NEWS THAN WE'VE BEEN TOLD!!!!

AWESOME! "And you shall know the truth, and the trith shall make you free." John 8:32

This is an excellent book about the "real" good news of Christianity. It is easy to read and yet very powerful.

Though C. S. Lewis was a bachelor most of his life, he never lived alone. And the people with which he shared his home were far from perfect. In one of his letters, he writes that he often came home with a feeling of dread, because he was afraid of the horrible conflicts that had arisen in his absence. A peaceful home was something that Lewis did not experience very often.

This - apart from his literary input - provided him with ample examples of what different kinds of love are like and what their corresponding weaknesses are. Especially the weaknesses. It does not come as a surprise, then, that "The Four Loves" is filled with everyday examples of human weaknesses, many of them in a home setting.

As in his other writings such as "The Screwtape Letters," Lewis makes his observations of human nature with a keen eye and articulates them eloquently, focusing in this book on the themes of affection, friendship, romantic/erotic love, and selfless love (in the original sense of "charity").

About romantic love, for instance, he says that oftentimes it "extenuates - almost sanctions - almost sanctifies - any actions it leads to. When lovers say of some act that we might blame, `Love made us do it,' notice the tone. A man saying, `I did it because I was frightened,' or `I did it because I was angry,' speaks quite differently. He is putting forward an excuse for what he feels to require excusing. But the lovers are seldom doing quite that. The confession can be almost a boast. In extreme cases what their words really express is a demure yet unshakable allegiance to the god of love."

Strong words. But with much wisdom.

"The Four Loves" is as challenging as it is delightful and instructive. I have little doubt that I shall read it again one day.

- Jacob Schriftman, Author of The C. S. Lewis Book on the Bible: What the Greatest Christian Writer Thought About the Greatest Book

There are two types of love... true love and mundane love, mundane love is mixed and can be given, taken for selfish reasons, true love however has no shadow of selfishness, but is selfless in the presence of the object of its/his/her lover. infact true love empties itself into the person or thing it is loving. just as some of us empty ourselves into the posts we put on amazon. And in emptying ourselves we are filled with the satisfaction that we may have shared a little understanding (truth).

i have given this book three stars because this is such a monumental subject lewis is writing about, and also because it is very honest. he is clearly wracked by certain doubts as pertains to his somewhat 'evangelical' slant which gives so many simple, though often emotionally unsatisfying answers. this is a christian exploring deeper than the answers he has been giving in his previous books. Having met Joy Davidson in September 1952, this book was published in 1960, but he is certainly asking some very difficult questions for which a simple answer just wont do. not knowing the history of lewis i can see that he was brave enough at the time of this book to confront certain loose ends in his once over-simplistic theology. [on page 154 in the chapter 'charity']

some excerpts from p 154: Harper Collins 2002 edn: "God carried in his hand a little object like a nut, and that nut was 'all that is made'(Julian of Norwich). God, who needs nothing, loves into existence wholly 'superfluous' creatures in order that He may love and perfect them... the buzzing cloud of flies about the cross...[and] If i may dare the biological image, God is a 'host' who deliberately creates His own parasites causes us to be that we may exploit and 'take advantage of' Him. Hererin is love. (are these not the views of some, and with these 'some', he is struggling in the chapter on charity, clear as crystal. infact this whole chapter is a struggle. i find it sad some have said, he denied his faith at the end, no, he found it at the end!)

those of us who have watched and loved the film "shadow-lands", though i hear it is not an entirely accurate representation of things, can see something of the struggle that was going on inside his mind as to just what is 'love' and what love demands of us. his future wife, Joy, a christian herself, and a divorcee was a very profound thinker and challenged the way he thought, right into the marrow of his bones, to the core of his heart and soul. his simple little packaged answers to difficult questions, of which at one time he was so sure all came tumbling down when joy was diagnosed with cancer. he married her shortly before her death... much to the horror of a traditional and evangelical church. one just did not marry a divorcee in those days! in the film, perhaps the most moving scene is when he admits... "i just dont have any answers anymore".

the four loves are the four greek words: agape (charitas), filia, eros and sorge. the one we are interested in here encompases and enlivens the other three. the one is "charitas"/"agape", we do not have a new testament in the original hebrew sadly, but it is in my mind a certainty that the word 'chesed' or 'hesed' is synonymous with the greek usage 'agape' and that the word charitas is directly derived from chesed. this chesed or agape represents true love, or as the jews understand it 'loving kindness'. loving kindness is the force behind creation and salvation in the mind and heart of the jew. this too would have been the word in jesus that propelled him and moved him to will and act as he does and did. he would have grown up a witness of the chesed between his mother and father, and the chesed he shared with his parents and friends, even his enemies and the chesed between God and his chosen people.

as christians though, we believe that Jesus was and is the personification of true love. that is... Jesus is Chesed, Jesus is Agape, God is Love. we christians believe that it was Jesus the Word that created all ("by him, all things were made"), we also believe that it is Jesus who will redeem all. "for he is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the 'whole' world." (Authorised King James version-New Testament). therefore Jesus is chesed. it is only sad that we cannot read the original hebrew to see this word inscribed before our very eyes. not only is chesed a word, it encapsulates the true nature and being of God. I wonder if the cHasidic Jews realize just how awesome their nameing, and the 'full' meaning of this name chesed.

the awesome, and i have to use this word awesome again and again, christian revelation is that God is Love. God is Chesed/Agape. some will frown at this... "is not chesed, albeit the highest of all Gods attributes, only an attribute?" No, we as christians believe that loving kindness is God. And what is agape? agape is chesed! and what is chesed? chesed is 'true' love, and what is true love? true love is 'loving kindness'.

lewis points towards a jewish translation when he calls agape 'gift love', this is because, chesed is a giving, merciful love without strings attached. it shows and shares itself with both the good and the bad, the obedient and the disobedient. it is a free gift. Lewis pointing at a christian understanding speaks of 'Love Himself'. the personification of Love, being God. (one person within three).

it is from God that all good procedes, gods love is found in all and therefore all are God, love makes divine, that which is not divine, thus speaks the language of love, without judgement. the language of logic and reason says: "ah yes, but God is 'that' i am". correct, the truth however always resides in a paradox. that God is all and yet perfect in and as one. love says all is one, reason says one is one. love says everywhere, reason says over there. love knows all, reason knows nothing. or love knows all, reason knows very little. logic, analysis and interpretation can only take us so far, the reason has its limits, we must be prepared to open our hearts. chesed is more than an attribute, chesed is one, and makes all things one. its tendency is to draw together and not to separate.

this is the earth-mending teaching of the early church, but not always remembered. that God is love/agape/chesed. lets try not to forget it, so please help us dear father in heaven to remember this and live it by your chesed/yourself.

with loveing kindness, by loveing kindness, from, snow-flake. xxx

The book arrived well within the given timeframe and was in great shape. It was also a great price.

C. S. Lewis is not only one of the 20th century's finest minds, he's also amazingly perceptive of human behavior. This well-written description explains so clearly the four kinds of love and with such accessible illustrations from real life. Most eye-opening for me was the chapter on "affection" where I began to understand for the first time why we moms think we are so misunderstood; in actuality, our "affection" (storge) for our family has gotten out of hand! You'll need to read in order to understand. I highly recommend this book.

This is in my opinion C.S. Lewis's best nonfiction work. The premise has been done before, but rarely with the sort of insight given here. His overviews of Affection and Friendship are much too often overlooked and glossed over as unimportant, but here they're given a status they really deserve.

The section on friendship, and the idea that people are bonded through mutual passions, and his grim statement that people who are just looking for a friend will never find one, was spot on. Friendships are formed as an extension of a passion for something bigger than the individual. A mutual cause drives people, whether they be sports fanatics, a tribe pining for survival, or art critics.

The pitfalls he explains for the loves such as lust, bigotry, elitism, etc. are self explanatory, but it's also practical. Friendships are exclusive by their very nature, and there's nothing intrinsically wrong with such a thing. Eros is most certainly exclusive. He emphasizes that we can't be friends with everyone, love everyone with Eros, but we can love everyone with Charity, the final section of the book.

One could write a book three times longer and not come close to the depth portrayed in this little book. Strongly recommended.

Having read some of Nouwen's work before, I have come to appreciate him. And because I had heard so much about "The Wounded Healer," I was expecting a classic. I was sorely disappointed.

On one level, I was frustrated because the four chapters seemed to function in isolation from one another, rather than forming the parts of a cohesive whole. Having read his assessment of "nuclear man" in Chapter 1, that idea never really reappeared, and the rest of the book seemed to go in several completely different directions.

I was also disappointed by Nouwen's flowery and poetic language. Though this writing style no doubt connects with some folks, I was often left thinking something like, "That sounded nice, but I have no idea what he was saying!!" It's not a matter of the complexity of his ideas, but I just find his writing to be undecipherable.

Ultimately, Nouwen has some good stuff to say. The story of a young minister meeting with a sick man just before he died is poignant and provides us with a helpful and practical situation upon which to reflect. But I found his conclusions to be confusing or even evasive and do not feel particularly more informed to help others who are hurting.

This is a magnificent addition to my library. His description of each "wounded" healer suggests nuances that I'd never thought about. The volume helps me to understand a bit better the responsibilities we have to support one another. A great book.

Henri Nouwen's book is an incredibly inspiring and motivating tool. Characteristic of much of his writing, the book is honest, bold and clear. Nouwen tells it like it is, and shares authentically from his own life. Personally, I find authors who are unafraid to include their own joys and struggles with their spiritual lives to provide me with so much more hope, and challenge. I recommend this book to anyone thinking about what it means to be a leader, thinker, or seeking to deal with their own wounds.

Henri Nouwen is very insightful and adds a wonderful dimension in my quest for a deeper faith.

The ability to heal even though a person has been wounded is an extraordinary message. Hence the appropriate title for this book. The author proposes that the spiritual counselor relate to their directee from their own personal experiences. He suggests that it is through reaching within oneself that those in this kind of service can truly be of help. Nouwen validates the experiences of many in this or allied professions; that we uncover our own pain and weaknesses as we attempt to guide others.This affirmation is valuable. In healing others, the counselor is healed. In being able to recognize and share our own pain, we can better serve.

Nouwen offers a cultural backdrop to explain why this approach works. The time is the late 60's. Forty years later, some of his conclusions have not been borne out. A notable one in my opinion, is the story of Peter. Nouwen builds the case for "nuclear man" as a premise for his theories. I suggest that perhaps Peter was an enlightened man. Read the book and see if you come to the same or other conclusions. In any case, it will make you think.

This is an excellent translation of the Qu'ran. It is easy to read and comprehend. It explains about the previous messengers and makes clear the message that Muhammad brought to the world.

The Qur'an can be daunting for those unfamiliar with its style, construction, and language. And truly no translation can convey either the poetic beauty of the original Arabic or the complex meanings embedded in the Arabic grammar. However, Haleem has succeeded in making a very comprehensible and flowing English translation.

The language is contemporary, eliminating the need to puzzle over awkwardly translated idioms or outdated English phrasing. For all its accessibility, Haleem does not skimp on poetics; the language moves easily and wonderfully, retaining some of the grace of the Arabic original. Moreover, concise footnotes regarding matters of context, translation, and grammar illuminate aspects of the text that might not be obvious to those unfamiliar with the Qur'an. The number and verse system also make it easy to find a given piece of the text, provided you know what you're looking for beforehand.

I would also recommend this as a companion to Arberry's The Koran Interpreted. Arberry's English, while not contemporary, is truly masterful, and his translations accurate. However, his translation lacks grammatical/contextual notes, and somewhat cryptic at times. A reading and understanding of Haleem's translation does much to clarify some of the cloudier bits of Arberry's translation, making it seem a fuller text.

Several features of this translation make it unique. First, the text is broken into useful paragraphs rather than a complete run-on as is the case in the original Arabic. Second, numbering has been assigned to make references much simpler to find. In other words, it reads much like the standard English Bible. Abdel Haleem is an expert in Arabic and Islamic studies. It is obvious that he has taken great care with a heartfelt effort to make this translation as true to the original as possible while still being understandable by an average English reader. Further, he has published a book titled Understanding the Qur'an: Themes and Style, which tackles significant areas of the Qur'an versus Biblical episodes and attempts to explain the beauty of the rhyming Arabic in the original Qur'an. Together, these two books with a biography of Muhammad will give any non-Muslim a very good knowledge of Islam.

This translation shows literary polish and is very pleasant to read. It uses brackets in the text to clarify who is being addressed by "you" and imperative verbs. This is important since standard English does not distinguish between singular and plural in the second person.

There are a judicious number of footnotes to explain certain interpretive issues, but they do not try to present a particular sectarian understanding of the text. They aim to present uncontroversial interpretations to help non-Muslims such as myself understand what any native Arabic-speaking Muslim would already know about the background of certain words and statements.

I have run across a pair of cases in which the repeated literary polishing (referred to in the introduction) evidently got ahead of the note editing. On p. 38, Sura 3:46 begins, "He will speak to people in his infancy..." and there is a footnote reference after "infancy." The note says, "Cf. 19: 29-30. The word _mahd_ means a place smoothed out for a small child to sleep in. It is not a piece of furniture like a cradle." Very good, but the translation as it stands has no word for either a smoothed place or a cradle. Looking in the Arabic (with the aid of a bilingual edition), I see that it has a clause that can be literally translated something like, "He will speak to people from the sleeping place," where 'sleeping place' is my rendering of _mahd_ intended to avoid the translation "cradle" to which Mr. Haleem objects. The point is that the English word "infancy" implies nothing about a sleeping place; it refers to the earliest stage of life. Thus the note here (and in the cross-referenced passage) is confusing. It only makes sense if a more literal translation is given. In Haleem's translation, it should simply be omitted.

Other than this, though, I find the translation quite good. I recommend it to all English speakers who wish to acquaint themselves with the contents of the Qur'an without having to suffer through the archaisms of some earlier translations. However, if you want a version that is more formally similar to the Arabic, you will probably need to get one of these older translations and endure the "thees" and "thous". Even better, learn Arabic, as I am trying to do, and see how the originally _really_ goes.

This translation is among the best translations of the Qur'an i have read... The verses of the noble Qur'an are translated in a very clear and easy to understand vocabularies that anyone with an adequate background in english can benefit from it.. Most of the translation of the Qur'an are very hard to get the concept due the the translators' usage of obscure and archaic english but this translation is quite clear and manifest for anyone wanting to get the most out of it... I strongly recommend this translation..

I just finished this book and I must say I was surprised. It was very good. My initial worry was that it would be fluffy, but the portrait of Jesus struck the right balance between his being compassionate and winsome on the one hand, but far from passive or a push-over on the other. It was enjoyable to the end. If I have friends who wonder what a conversation with Jesus would be like or are seeking to find out more about Christianity in a non-threatening way; Dinner with a Perfect Stranger will be at the top of the list!

Welcome to College: A Christ-Follower's Guide for the Journey

This book is an easy read! The book basically takes place during a 4-course meal in a restaurant. The over-ambitious husband feeling failure in his marriage and life gets invited to dinner by Jesus. The dialogue is very simple and easy to get. It's a story of hope and inspiration! Excellent book for non-believers & believers!! I recommend it as a MUST READ. A+++++++++++

I have the honor of keeping up with college students and military in our church. Our pastor recommended this book and loaned me his own copy to read. It was easy reading and so interesting that I purchased 10 copies to send to my college students along with their Easter package. From choosing the nicest restaurant (wouldn't he want the best for his followers?) to giving good advice to his guest and taking a moment to notice those serving Him, this writer managed to give the reader a nice warm feeling about what it might be like to have dinner with Jesus.

Trite, predictable, uninteresting, unchallenging, and more. A peculiar little book that did nothing for my faith. I want something that stretches or even challenges. This appeared to be narrow, party propaganda. Perhaps, however, this is for someone who has never heard of Christianity. I am also troubled at the numbers who raved about this book. That fact, to me, is a sorry commentary on the depth of Christianity in America. St. Paul indicated that, "When I was a child, I thought like a child." Now that I am a man, I need something more.

Simplistic and poorly constructed. This book is offensive to other religions and those who question the narrow confines of a twisted version of Christianity that is worryingly popular at this time. I was actually shocked at the weakness of the arguments and very surprised that the author did not see their obvious faults. I was expecting a book that would offer a refreshing take on Christianity, with factual and honest information. I think this would turn many away from Christianity. It is sad how the basic truths of this religion have been distorted.

Yippee! I get to be the FIRST one to comment! Ha. Guess it pays to stay up late LOL. Well, even though I have not had the opportunity to purchase this book, seeing as how I am the first, I am hoping that Dr. Stanley will see my review... PLEEEEZE come to Jersey to sign your book! I promise we'll be back to Ga, this November... Hope we can make a deal? :-)

Love and Hugzzz,
Cathy Geckle

PS: Dr. Stanley, we were there the 31st of August when you did the sermon "In Step With God..." Hmmmm, any co-incidence to your new book?

Come back to Jersey!!!! South Jersey would be ideal! Like maybe, Haddonfield again? ;-)