Religion Books

Acceptable reading but provocative material. The author is not as clear and for those of us not immersed in the subject the material at times becomes excruciating and frustrating.

I bought this book in order to better understand the 'fine-tuning' argument for the existence of God [and other, present-day physics type lines of thought that might be relivant.] In this regard I was not disappointed. So far as I can tell, Stenger does a fine job in presenting the anti 'fine-tuning' side of the dispute. [But then, given my ignorance in this field, I am not really a reputable judge.]

It should be pointed out that the 'fine-tuning' argument leans heavily on recent work in an area that seems to be caught up in a frenzy of wild theorizing. There are LOTS of competing theories about the 'big bang' and what, if anything, preceded it. Only rash souls (or so I think) will base their belief in God, or, for that matter, their disbelief, on the latest word from the cosmologists.

The section on 'design' is also good. If one wants a sort of catalog of all the apparent bad engineering in the 'design' of the human body, etc. this is just the thing.

Much of the rest of the book, in my opinion, is unreliable, sloppy, and rash. Stenger has no interest in challenging the best work produced by 'believers.' Here is a glaring instance: there is no mention of Alvan Plantinga. I know this will sound silly to some readers, but in a present-day work purporting to offer serious discusion of the various reasons for thinking that there is, or is not, a God, the absence of this name is a clear signal that we are not playing in the major leagues.

Perhaps the best and most common argument against the existence of God is 'the problem of evil.' Senger (following some author, or authors, I am unable to identify) puts it this way:

(1) If God exists, then the attributes of God are consistent with the existence of evil.
(2) The attributes of God are not consistent with the existence of evil.
(3) Therefore, God does not and cannot exist.

Stenger then goes on to argue that while SOME 'pain and suffering' [i.e. SOME evil] may be consistent with the attributes of God, there seems to be more than is necessary. That is to say, he seems to abandon (2) without noticing it. I guess the premise he wants to defend is:

(2') The attributes of God are not consistent with THE AMOUNT OF EVIL exhibited by the real world.

(Something like that.) But now, of course, (1) must be changed too. It's not a big deal; but it's annoying.

Perhaps I should add that, in my opinion, William Rowe owns 'the problem of evil' in it's present form. Another name that does not occur in Stenger's book.

Most reviewers of Stenger's "God: The Failed Hypothesis" fail to recognize the unique contribution he has made to the logic of the debate. The methodology he uses is different from most of the arguments against God, and it is important to understand this, because his book is a major step forward on this topic. Stenger basically sets out to prove a negative. Although many light-thinking individuals think this is impossible, anyone who has studied high school geometry knows that there is a well-known approach to this challenge. It is the indirect proof, and it works like this: Assume the truth of the proposition you're arguing against. Show that certain consequences must follow if the proposition is true. Observe that those consequences do not or cannot possibly occur. Conclude, therefore, that the original assumption must be false.
So Stenger's approach is to assume the existence of a God (defined pretty much as the Christian one) and deduce what the implications of such an assumption would be in terms of what we would expect to observe in the world. Finding that those observations do not occur, Stenger concludes that there is no such thing as God. Anyone who wants to rebut Stenger's argument, needs to do so within the context of this methodology. Otherwise, you are just talking past each other. Valid rebuttals would be, for example, to challenge his reasoning as to what facts we should expect to observe given the assumption that a God exists. Or perhaps to show that those facts really do occur. But here's the real problem for the theists: You have to say that SOME facts would necessarily follow from the existence of a God and that the absence of those facts would prove God doesn't exist. If you don't admit this, then your concept of God is without meaning, because a proposition that cannot by any stretch of the imagination be falsified, does not say anything. The statement "God exists" cannot be true unless "God does not exist" is false, and there has to be some meaningful observable difference between these propositions in order for either of them to mean anything. However, most theists, especially the Christian ones, do not admit any circumstances at all under which we could reasonably conclude that there is no God. Thus, their concept of God is without meaning, and when they say "God exists," they really are saying nothing at all. Stenger's book is an admirable addition to the debate and succeeds in showing that the assumed hypothesis (i.e., that God exists) is refuted by observations in the real world.
But since many Christians seemingly cannot follow Stenger's argument, nor the arguments of other authors who have defended atheism as a philosophy, it is important for atheists to be able to debate the Christians on their own turf as well. For that reason, in addition to highly recommending Stenger's book, I would also recommend that atheists become familiar with critiques of the Bible, as many Christians find this type of criticism harder to ignore. Americans especially are much more attached to Jesus, than to "God." A good selection in the category of biblical criticism, and a recent one, is The Atheist's Introduction to the New Testament: How the Bible Undermines the Basic Teachings of Christianity by Mike Davis. Together, these two books will cover pretty much any debate you are likely to get into with Christian apologists.

I found some great nuggets of logic and wisdom in this book. I want to re-read it for additional detail, but overall I would recommend it!

Does God exist? Who the hell knows. Certainly not a preist nor a scientist. Nobody knows one way or the other. You either believe based on faith - unseen, unproven belief - or you do not. And moments after our bodies stop, every single person will either know something - or know nothing. But to waste our energy fighting over something that is not given to "proof." Well...it's just very human. Wasting time instead of enjoying what we do know. And worst of all, you've all been doing it for thousands of years and killing hundreds of millions of otherwise happy human beings.

I really want to say that all Christians, Atheists, Muslims, Theists, Jews and Agnostics --and the rest! - should all jump in the same muddy river and just go to hell...but then we'd get into fighting about hell and the devil. Fight, argue, fight, disagree - idiot human beings. Dogs are wiser. They've got it down - eat, sleep, poop, love. I prefer them.

John Tesh has written an easy-to-digest little book which covers the basics of a happy life. He's a very down to earth man, adn his stories are both touching and credible. I hope this book is just the first in a "chicken soup" type series.

John Tesh puts together a great book full of heart and inspiration to encourage anyone who reads it to take back the passion and purpose in thier life. This is a great self help book for anyone and just an all-around great read to keep at your nightstand. To be composed of so many segments, it really flows well and is tremedously readable and enjoyable. John shares many lessons from his own life and encourages others to turn up the volume on thier lives. The book is not preachy and is written in a very warm, conversational way. John has this ability to connect with his listeners that really carries through to print. I believe that anyone and everyone will benefit from reading this book.

Lots of short little self-motivating lessons from finding passion in your life to taking care of others, taking care of yourself, taking care of business, etc.

One of my favorite suggestions dealt with the constant urge to check e-mail, a big time-waster - Tesh suggests instead dropping down for 10 pushups. That's a great cure! Digesting a "lesson a day" will help brighten your day, and build better tomorrows.

The book "Intelligence for Your Life" is a must read. John Tesh challenged me to really evaluate my passions for life. He encouraged me to create a plan to fulfill my dreams.

This is a wonderful book, I recommend it highly. I listen to his radio program and his book is the icing on the cake. It gives you something to think about and goals to strive for.

Good quality - paper is a little different and a few pages misssed the cut. Arrived in good time.

O, Ivanhoe and ms Elizabeth Taylor
as Rivkah - Rebekah as we'd say,
at your best as beautiful Jewish girl.
Then I came upon CJB-Tanakh & B'rit Hadashah.
B'resheet (Ge 1:2) 'Spirit of God'-present,
Iyov (Job 41:34) is it 'king over all proud beasts'
or 'a king over all the children of pride'?
Darby says what you say, bless you.
Yesha'Yahu (Isa 7:14) 'the young woman'-
('a young woman of unsullied reputation (xliv)')
Surely Lady is a Virgin! Why not say so?.
These are verses that in my Bible
should stay uncensored.
Seems CJB is available in leather as well.
If CJB takes my heart as ms Taylor's done
I shall order it in leather too.
It is a mighty effect to see name of our Lord
as written in Tanakh & B'rit Hadashah.
(JohnHurt does it on line in his collection in
'Sacred Name King James Version' too).Bless you All!
And the first I was taken to is
New Covenant-Yirmeyahu (Jer 31:30-36(31-37)) and
What is Being Reborn-Sha'ul (1Cor 15:1-58).
Tanakh (by Masoteric Text)
B'rit Hadashah (by United Bible Societies
'The Greek New Testament', author also
consulted a number of English and Hebrew
versions/commentaries)(xxx, xxxi)
...
Leather copy is home! and is loved well
and Yeshua was of Miryam not Mary
and he is of New Covenant - B'rit Hadashah
and Jewish through and through (page xv)
and He died for us and for our sins
for all those that accept His Deed
and THAT is The Jewish way to Atone
and go free to Heaven...together

As far as I am concerned this is the best bible there is.
I have several and I always go back to this one.

for anyone desiring to fully follow our Lord and Saviour,and not follow religious practices taught by men or women,then this is the bible for you. Knowing,and studying,the Jewish roots and background for the Christian faith,and that our Lord and Saviour was a Jewish Rabbi,not any of the denominations that people try to make Him out to be,will surely equip anyone who desires to follow Yeshua(Jesus),in a deep and fullfilling way.

I have no idea why it took me ten years to find the "Complete Jewish Bible." This is the first time I have seen a New Testament with the text presented, footnoted, and cross-referenced from a Jewish perspective. Why is that important? Because Jesus was a Jewish man, who taught Jewish people in a Jewish context. Virtually all of his earliest disciples were Jewish, as were the members of the fledgling Christian movement.

Unfortunately, as a result of the failed Bar Kokhba rebellion in 135 CE, the Jewish Christian movement ceased to exist and only Gentile Christians remained. There is nothing inherently wrong with being a Gentile Christian. But their Greco-Roman world had little understanding of the Torah, Nevi'im, Ketuvim, Mishna, or Qabbalah (still in oral form at that time) that Jesus used or may have used. By the fourth century, Christianity became orthodox, the state religion, the Jews were the enemy, and the message of Jesus twisted to suit political purposes.

Though Dr. Stern is not a Bible scholar, he is a brilliant man, and he made a substantial contribution Bible studies with this work. Most helpful, in my view, are his references from the B'Rit Hadashah (NT) to the Tanakh (OT) which are more comprehensive and insightful than those found in the vast majority of Bibles.

Serious Bible students have several versions of the Bible on their shelves. The Complete Jewish Bible should be one of them.

The book is just awsome. It answered many of my questions! I highly recomend it to all!

Mr Iyengar says you need teacher to practice Pranayama, on the other side he makes thick book which he himself thinks can not be used without a teacher. After reading many books, I have concluded following:

Try The Little Book of Yoga Breathing: Pranayama Made Easy instead of B.K.S. Iyengar's book and see for yourself.

Scott Shaw's book is an answer to any introductory pranayama and worths it's weight in gold.


Following are two techniques:
Alternate Nostril Breathing
(Anulom Vilom Pranayama with no breath retention) This pranayama (control breathing) is done with alternate breathing from the left and right nostrils for cleansing of Nadis. (energy meridians). Seated in a convenient posture, start off with slow inhalation from the left nostril first by closing the right nostril with the middle of right hand thumb ,and after fully filling the lungs, (not the belly breathing) breathe out slowly from the right nostril by closing the left nostril with the two ( left hand middle and ring) fingers. Now breathe in from the right nostril by closing the left nostril in the above manner and exhale from the left nostril by closing the right nostril with the right thumb. It completes one cycle. Do this for three minutes for two months then gradually increase to 5 minutes.

Do it two hour after eating or drinking. (Do it on empty-stomach) Do not eat for 15 minute after you are done. Better to lie down for five minutes after you are done. If you limit practice to maximum of five minutes, it will be the best.

The very first sign you will experience is lightness in the body and clearer thinking.

The practice of this breathing for a period of three to four months can open up thirty to forty percent of the heart arteries' blockages. This pranayama alleviates all the diseases of the body, leads to the state of joy, enthusiasm for living , fearlessness, peace of mind and deep meditation.

Benefits:
-Hair will regrow within two months of practice.
-Body will go to it's ideal weight by itself.
-Face becomes bright and luminous.
-Lost vision will return.
-Removes fear/anxiety of any kind.
- Aligns both hemisphere of the brain for full brain functionality
- Creates a deeper sense of well-being and harmony
- Helps alleviate migraines and headaches and frazzled states of being
- Works great in situations where you find yourself anxious, board and need grounding
-Blockages in the arteries of the heart are removed and the arteries become clean, making circulation unimpeded.

Ujjayi Pranayama

1. You can do this sitting, standing or walking anywhere anytime.

2. Inhale slowly through both nostrils, keeping the throat slightly constricted so as to make a gentle sound that will help you to feel the breath in the throat. The sound will remind you of ocean waves washing up the beach. Concentrate on the feeling of the breath moving in and out through the throat.

3. During inhalation do not allow abdomen to bulge out, let the chest expand.

4. After completing inhalation slowly exhale. (Either by both nostrils or by left nostril) During exhalation chest should go inside and abdomen should remain steady.

Remember :-

1. While doing Ujjiayi air should touch the throat.

2. Breath must be mentally locked in chest area. (Do not do belly breathing)

3. After practicing it for few days, knowing your limitations, keep the ratio between inhalation and exhalation 1 : 2.

4. In easy Ujjiayi Pranayama, inhalation and exhalation can be practiced by both the nostrils.


Benefits:
This simple practice has a subtle influence on the whole body. It calms the mind and has a soothing effect on the nervous system. Ujjayi is very useful for people with high blood pressure as it slows down the heartbeat. It has subtle effects on the flow of life force in the astral (energy) body and helps you to be aware of its movement within the sushumna (astral spine).

This book deals with a very detailed and in depth description of pranayama practice. It is an invaluable document for those who are interested in learning more about yogic breathing practice. In this edition the type is really small (7pts) which is tiring to read.

I teach meditation and I am educated in biology, biochemistry and psychology. I am also a student of world religions and a yoga practioner. During my graduate school years, I was also a Teaching Fellow in Physiology and I teach workshops on pranayama and biofeedback. Therefore, I think my opinion has some weight in this arena although I realize there are more serious yoga practioners who have more in-depth knowledge than me. My purpose in sharing this information is to provide context from my review. I hope this is useful.

This book is incredibly detailed and goes deeply into respiratory physiology, muscles, practices and the details of pranayama practice. There are clear explanations, however, many people may find them to technical without a biology background or the desire to take this information in slowly.

There are many good diagrams and photos in the book that any practitioner will find helpful. In some cases, they are unique in the yoga literature in some way and I can't imagine not having this book on your shelf if you are serious about the practice of pranayama.

While this is not the most colorful or modern looking text, it certainly packs a lot of information into a small space. It is also written by someone who has travelled this road and understands it both technically and from the inside. In short, it is an authoratative text on this subject.

A lighter book along the same lines which I have also read is the Science of Breath. For beginners, this title might be more appropriate. However, any practioner at any level will eventually want to own this book.

This book is a treasure to me. It teaches a safe means of progressing through all of the variations of pranayamas. If all of the advice is taken, there will be no problems in this area of your personal practice.

This is only one part of the yogic path, though. The rest needs to be in place for this to be effective. For that I rely on Yogani's Advanced Yoga Practices book. It gives step by step, safe instructions utilizing the techniques of the Gheranda Samhita, Hatha Yoga Pradipika, as well as other great works. I highly recommend it to any serious yoga student.

I am so glad to have found "Light on Pranayama". I am somewhat of a beginner to the serious practice I've undertaken, but with this book I feel confident that I will succeed. Thank you BKS Iyengar.

As far as I know, it is the only work that gives such complete instructions for this very important aspect of yoga. It deserves more attention.

I was introduced to centering prayer by a visit to a centering prayer support group at an Episcopal church. One of the participants there told me the fundamentals of this method of prayer, a distillation of the contemplative prayer tradition, which dates from third or fourth century Egyptian monasticism, and then we had a twenty minute session. Afterwards someone in the office photocopied for me a seven page appendix from this book. In the appendix was a reference to the title of the book which I ordered and learned was part of a trilogy by Abbot Keating. It has turned out to be one the most helpful books I have read about this method of prayer.

This book is recommended for those who are looking to banish clutter from their lives. Through contemplative prayer one learns to quieten the soul and manifest God.

This is one of the best primers about moving into
Stillness I have read. It will be valuable to the beginner as well as for folks who have practiced meditation for many years.

This is a marvelous introduction to centering prayer. It answers basic questions and pulls the reader into God's love in a very methodical and reassuring way--reminding the reader that all one needs to do is to say "Yes" to God's grace. Takes a lot of pressure off "making it happen" which is so ingrained in Western society. "Be still and know that I am God" is a central theme. Open Mind Open Heart: The Contemplative Dimension of the Gospel

In this writing, Father Thomas Keating very carefully and completely offers a newly-edited version of what is considered a primary source for learning Centering Prayer. As the early proponent of this type of prayer that can lead greater joy in entering the presence of God, Keating has once again explained in great detail how the practice of engaging in Centering Prayer can be of benefit. His work is the definitive source of terminology and understanding for the contemplative who wants to engage seriously in this deep form of prayer.

This book has opened up a whole new path to prayer for me. It is what I was looking for. Centering Prayer,Contemplative Prayer, is explained well inThomas Keating's book.

This is the Go-To text on Fundamentalism in religions. Very insightful, very well written, very understandable. Characteristic performance by a good author.

A carefully crafted history of fundamentalism from a erudite, deep thinker. Enlightening in view of present global tensions especially.
Norman Gage Western Australia

I found the book somewhat difficult to stick with. It sort of drug on for me.

Pretty good in the first half, since it gives a lot of information about premodern religions (and also, of course, because I'm not knowledgeable enough to spot whatever factual errors there are). She doesn't tie it all together in one neat theoretical pile; but her discussion is interesting enough to camouflage that.

Her distinction between mythos (narratives which are of moral value regardless of their factual accuracy) and logos (pure reason) makes sense to me, even though I question her assertion that it made sense to adherents of premodern religion.

In the last half, this book weakens quite a bit: she has a strong bias in favor of moral equivalence that doesn't hold up real well after 9/11. As a result, she gives every benefit of the doubt to Islam, and is less generous to Christianity and Judaism.

For example, in describing Islamic pogroms in the 1920s, she writes: "On August 24, 1929, during a period of great tension between Arabs and Zionists in Palestine, fifty-nine Jewish men, women and children had been massacred in Hebron." The reference to "great tension between Arabs and Zionists" implies moral equivalency- its not just random murder, it was just "tension" manifesting itself. And note that she doesn't say who did the massacring. I wouldn't describe this as conscious bias; to be fair, I don't think Hamas types would use the term "massacre." But nevertheless I get the sense she is trying a little too hard to be fair to the Arabs.

And in describing 1980s Arab terrorism: "Surrounded by 46,000 militant Jewish settlers, the Arabs became frightened and some resorted to violence." Given that there are, oh, two dozen Arab nations surrounding Israel and trying to wipe it out, the notion that the poor terrorists became "frightened" of Israel seems hard to believe.. In addition, her grasp of Judaism (the religion with which I am most familiar) is none too sure.

A couple of factual errors that I noticed:

*"traditional, conservative faith ... took it for granted that reason could not demonstrate the truth of the kind of myths found in the scriptures." In fact, the Kuzari (13th c. or so) purports to demonstrate the proof of the relevation at Sinai, and thus of Judaism. (Just google "kuzari proof" for lots of arguments pro and con).

*"Before a Jew attends a synagogue service, he bathes in the mikveh, a ritual bath." This may occasionally be true of Hasidim; but the notion that this is the norm for even Orthodox Jews is flat out wrong. (I have more or less regularly attended Orthodox congregations for four of the past five years, and have only heard the word "mikveh" in reference to (a) women or (b) purifying cookware and silverware).

A look at the hostile reviews shows some polarization among readers. Liberal Christians and secularists seem to like this book; religious Jews, conservatives (especially Christian conservatives) and even secular hawks tend to dislike it.

First and foremost, in `The Battle for God', Karen Armstrong demonstrates her knowledge of religious history by chronicling the manner in which religious adherents of the three monotheisms have struggled to preserve their faith against growing challenges presented to them since the Enlightenment. In doing so, she offers an explanation on how the modern Fundamentalist movement has come into existence, and why at the turn of the 21st Century it poses such a severe threat to the values of modern culture. Considering the abysmal knowledge possessed by most Westerners regarding religious Fundamentalism, `The Battle for God' should make a significant contribution in dispelling this blindness.

However, while Miss. Armstrong's grasp of history is praiseworthy, I find it difficult to compliment her approach to sociology and religious essence. Her primary assertion is that militant literalism is a new phenomenon, fabricated as a reaction against the growth of secularism; a bold theory that lacks any substantial evidence. Miss. Armstrong's usage of the term `Fundamentalism' is also too liberal for comfort, strengthening the impression that much of her evaluations on the beliefs of religious adherents through history are coloured by her own `progressive religious' persuasions, and an attempt to historically justify such beliefs.

I can't tell you enough how bad these recipes were. And like the other reviewers was excited to get this cookbook so we'd stop eating on the go so much.
I started trying a new recipe such as the chilli and it was awful! Most of the recipes were bland or mushy.

The book arrived in excellent condition and in a timely manner, as promised. We were pleased and would use this seller again. Thank you.

I like this recipe book and will be using it a lot in the future

This cookbook is GREAT. My husband and I both work full time and have a tendency to not eat healthy when we're so busy. With this cookbook, I prepare the ingredients the night before, then when morning comes I throw them all in the crock and **WHOLAH** a healthy meal upon coming home from work.

It does require forethought, but if you can get yourself into a groove, this cook book is GREAT!

I'm a big time calorie counter and fat counter. I have good eating habits do to the fact that I lost 56 lbs. with Weight Watchers about four years ago. So I'm not a stranger to cooking light. I prefer it. And I love to cook with my slow cooker. I bought the original Fix-It cookbook and LOVE it. And I have to say that although I haven't used this one as often it is filled with an abundance of great recipes and their nutritional facts.
Overall, a great cookbook that I will keep next to my other favorite cookbooks.

An Old Testament Theology: An Exegetical, Canonical, and Thematic Approach.I do not pretend to be anything other than a humble, devoted man of God without formal education or sophistication. But, of all the reference material on Christian studies that I own, I use this one the most. It brings a more profoundly relevant and contemplative study. I highly recommend this work to anyone who seeks a deeper, richer search of truth in Scripture, and companion reference work in the spiritual pursuit of God. And I am, as always, pleased with the professionalism of Amazon, my primary supplier of books and other merchandise. Thank you.

This product is well put together and organized. Waltke does a good job describing where he is coming from on his view of the Old Testament. The book is definitely a Reformed perspective with some Dispensational views sprinkled into it.

I am sorry to say that till todate i have not received my parcel. Hope you can help me find my item.

As a seminary student I am quite familiar with a lot of books that act in teaching Old Testament history and theology. Mr. Waltke's book is just about the best book a teacher could ever use and a student could ever read. The book is not aimed at simply exploring God's actions in the text of the Old Testament. It begins by exploring what exactly is the Old Testament and how students (and teachers for that matter) can learn about Old Testament theology in order to give them a greater understanding of the OT in terms of overall Biblical theology. When the book finally begins to explore the books of the Old Testament, the reader has a wonderful foundation in order to not only understand what each book of the Bible has to say, but ultimately what God wants His people to understand. Whether we are talking about a student in seminary such as myself or the casual (but well read) everyday fellow. If there is a problem with the book it could be that the way the book looks, large and overbearing, one might feel that he could easily get lost in the text. Not true. Mr. Waltke's personality flows along the pages, you are getting less a textbook and more of a one-to-one classroom education, mindful, caring, and from the author to the reader. Take the first chapter that deals with the Creation account in Genesis. Too many times you see Old Earth vs. Young Earth vs. Theistic Evolution being tossed around in academics. Mr. Waltke reminds us to go beyond these debates though important in their points)and go into what the text actually says, word for word, meaning for meaning, toward what the ancient Hebrews of the Exodus would understand them all the way to how the first Christians and Christian communities would possibly understand the text. I would highly advise anyone who is interested in truly understanding God's important messages of the Old Testament and to use these messages in their everyday lives and in their ministries, pick up this book. You wont regret it. I would also suggest Tremper Longman's work as well.

Having known Bruce Waltke personally for over thirty years and valuing his scholarship as one of the finest OT scholars in the world, I find his OT Theology to be his premier work. Typical of Bruce's high standards, this volume displays decades of his rigorous exegesis and meticulous care for the accuracy of the Biblical texts along with his masterful development of the themes of the OT and how each of them find they find their fulfillment in the person and work of Christ in the New Testament. No difficulties are avoided and every theme is traced from its inception carefully through to its climax in a New Heavens and New Earth. Bruce is one of those rare individuals who gives us both "roots and wings," and as the Spanish poet Juan Ramon writes "the wings take root and the roots fly." Bruce's theology also includes an invaluable summary of the poetics of Hebrew narrative and poetry, so that readers will discern not only "what" the Bible says, but "how" it says it. The text is easy to read, clear, and insightful beyond measure. This magisterial work will serve as a beacon of doctrinal purity and light for many generations, and not merely because of it's supreme scholarship, but also because of Bruce's humble heart and passion for holiness that pervades the text itself.

This remarkable book tells of the author's interest in the serpent-handling Holiness believers of the south, his own spiritual journey and a search for his roots. Covington attended his first snake handling service in 1992 at the Church of Jesus With Signs Following in Scottsboro, Alabama. His interest ultimately led him to churches in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The engaging text includes descriptions of the people, their faith, church services and sermons as well as ruminations on the south and in particular the culture of Appalachia. The author's personal quest for faith and belonging is the glue that holds the narrative together and make it so special.

Along the way Covington attends Brush Arbor services, delves into the history of the Holiness movement and discovers that Methodism gave rise to Pentecostalism which in turn gave birth to Holiness. He also discovers that his great great grandfather was an itinerant preacher in Northeast Alabama, an area where snake handling would start a generation after his death.

His engagingly descriptive prose includes the observation that the music "was like a cross between Salvation Army and acid rock." Describing a service in Jolo, he remarks that the organ playing of Lydia Elkins Hollins was like "cloth ripping" and that her voice was as raw and tortured as Janis Joplin's.

Finally, Covington handled snakes himself on Sand Mountain at the Old Rock House Holiness Church near the tiny hamlet of Macedonia south of Section, Alabama. His appraisal of the numinous experience of serpent-handling is riveting and lucid and includes observations of a change in consciousess and how the handler finds victory in the loss of self.

His involvement with the movement ended in December 1993 at a wedding at a church in Georgia. He preached about the role of women in the church and this did not go down well with the local preacher. Covington remarks that the real root of the problem was a dispute about the nature of God.

The narrative encompasses recollections of his childhood in East Lake, Birmingham, discussions of the various species of poisonous snakes, the lore of the snake-handlers, observations on the Appalachian landscape and speculations on the ecstatic religious experience.

Other interestings books on the Signs Following phenomenon include Serpent-Handling Believers by Thomas Burton, an in-depth study of handlers and their religious culture, and The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith by Fred Brown and Jeanne McDonald, where the Signs Followers are allowed to speak for themselves.

Salvation On Sand Mountain contains black & white photographs of prominent preachers and church families, sermons, healings and handling. It is a most moving book in a style that grips the reader from the absorbing preface to the end. I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in the American South and in religious phenomena in general.

I read this book about 10 years ago. I immediately felt like I needed to check out a snake handling church on my own, mainly due to my morbid curiosity. For someone who doesn't consider myself to be a big reader, I couldn't put this book down. It was lively and entertaining, and vivid enough to allow the reader the ability to visualize what goes on inside the church's walls. BTW, I did attend a snake handling service in Kingston, GA after I read this book and was not disappointed.

A friend of mine recommended this book to me. I really enjoyed it. The author was able to give a real personal edge to it by not only writting about it but by becoming involved in the church itself.

Dennis Covington writes with verve of the unusual religious liturgies of a small group of people from Appalachia; handling poisonous snakes and drinking poison play a large role in a typical service. He initially is sent as a journalist to cover a story involving snake handling, and eventually goes native; he later finds that he actually is a native--his ancestors were snake handlers. Covington gently and gracefully tells the story of one of the stranger evolutions of Scots-Irish American culture. Readers who enjoyed Sen. James Webb's excellent history of the Scots-Irish will likely enjoy this as well. I found myself enjoying Covington a little more as he had none of the aggressively defensive nature of Webb's otherwise fine book. Finally, I might suggest that interested readers turn to a contemporary and protege of Sir Walter Scott, James Hogg, who wrote the quirky "Confessions of a Justified Sinner." This original and truly odd novel from 1824 tells a fantastic story of a poor lowland Scot with strong, but unschooled, religious fervor, as he torments a narrator from the established church. I couldn't help but draw some connections between the snake handlers and Hogg's protagonist.

This remarkable book tells of the author's interest in the serpent-handling Holiness believers of the south, his own spiritual journey and a search for his roots. Covington attended his first snake handling service in 1992 at the Church of Jesus With Signs Following in Scottsboro, Alabama. His interest ultimately led him to churches in Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.

The engaging text includes descriptions of the people, their faith, church services and sermons as well as ruminations on the south and in particular the culture of Appalachia. The author's personal quest for faith and belonging is the glue that holds the narrative together and make it so special.

Along the way Covington attends Brush Arbor services, delves into the history of the Holiness movement and discovers that Methodism gave rise to Pentecostalism which in turn gave birth to Holiness. He also discovers that his great great grandfather was an itinerant preacher in Northeast Alabama, an area where snake handling would start a generation after his death.

His engagingly descriptive prose includes the observation that the music "was like a cross between Salvation Army and acid rock." Describing a service in Jolo, he remarks that the organ playing of Lydia Elkins Hollins was like "cloth ripping" and that her voice was as raw and tortured as Janis Joplin's.

Finally, Covington handled snakes himself on Sand Mountain at the Old Rock House Holiness Church near the tiny hamlet of Macedonia south of Section, Alabama. His appraisal of the numinous experience of serpent-handling is riveting and lucid and includes observations of a change in consciousess and how the handler finds victory in the loss of self.

His involvement with the movement ended in December 1993 at a wedding at a church in Georgia. He preached about the role of women in the church and this did not go down well with the local preacher. Covington remarks that the real root of the problem was a dispute about the nature of God.

The narrative encompasses recollections of his childhood in East Lake, Birmingham, discussions of the various species of poisonous snakes, the lore of the snake-handlers, observations on the Appalachian landscape and speculations on the ecstatic religious experience.

Other interestings books on the Signs Following phenomenon include Serpent-Handling Believers by Thomas Burton, an in-depth study of handlers and their religious culture, and The Serpent Handlers: Three Families and Their Faith by Fred Brown and Jeanne McDonald, where the Signs Followers are allowed to speak for themselves.

Salvation On Sand Mountain contains black & white photographs of prominent preachers and church families, sermons, healings and handling. It is a most moving book in a style that grips the reader from the absorbing preface to the end. I highly recommend this book to all who are interested in the American South and in religious phenomena in general.