The ancient world view of indigenous cultures in which everything is seen and felt as alive with soul versus the male-monotheist world view which teaches that only humans have souls.
When you were a kid, were you taught all about Santa Claus, this lovely rotund old chap with a white beard who brought you presents every Christmas? And did you one day find out that he didn’t really exist and that he was just your Mum and Dad?
Were you then taught about another old chap called God with an even longer white beard and told that he really REALLY existed and that you MUST believe in him for the whole rest of your life? (Or else you’d be bad person and go to hell)
And were you told he wrote a great big book called The Bible which is all His Own Words? And that he sent His Only Son to save us from all our dreadful sins?
And did you ever wonder if that was a fable too?
Excerpt
Have you questioned the accepted description of ‘God’? Have you read the Bible and wondered just who wrote it and how much of it is true? Were you told there are tenets you must believe regardless of whether they make any sense to you? And were you told if you don’t believe you will go to hell?
Have you felt a knowing that this is wrong? That somehow you are being conned into submission?
Have you felt that there is a much deeper purpose to human life than the daily round of working, eating, sleeping, paying bills etc?
Have you felt a longing for connection to that greater something and yet not quite known just what you were longing for? And had difficulty making that connection through religion?
Have you felt dissatisfaction with the way your life is yet not been sure what to do to change it for the better? Wondered how we got into this mess of unsustainable overconsumption of earth’s resources while many are still poor and struggle for survival?
This book is here to help you look again at cultural consensus beliefs and dissect them to see what they are, where they came from, whether they stand up to intelligent examination and whether or not they are serving you.
Professional Reviews
For all who seek beyond church bible/babble
I don't think we can hear enough about the deeply imbedded religious beliefs that pollute our minds and direct our lives toward pain/punishment choices that in turn create painful, unfulfilled lives. I enjoyed this book emmensely. I honor Leo for his dedicated researching of the lies sacramentally laced through our Judeo-Christian myth, all the fear/punishment based beliefs we are taught to gloss over in our eternal defense of a man-made Diety that we continue to hope will save us from our own creations. I love Leo's humor, his English wit, bringing balance and relief to his work in "slaying the dragon" of these old, unconscious voices of disempowerment and abuse. I view it as the warrior's journey to reclaim his soul from the tyranny of religious dogma. "For all who seek the truth beyond church/bible" babble.
Truth and common sense revealed here
i have found this book very enlightening. I was brought up through a Convent; Sunday School; singing in the choir; a Church school - some i enjoyed but always 'niggly' queries of things that didn't 'add up'. So this wonderful book by Leo Rutherford feels like a breath of fresh air.
I have not found it a difficult book to read; but it does make you think, whilst you are reading it - and also laugh! My partner initially bought the book - and found it very good. He passed the book on to my parents as they were interested to read it. My Dad has bought his own copy now.
Have you come through strict Religion? if so this is for you...Have you come through Boarding Schools; Church schools; compulsory regular church attendance? If so...begin or continue your journey of enlightenment...
Finally, the commentary that adds even more to the diagramed version of The Easy Study Bible. Follow the diagramed verses of this new clear translation with a verse by verse commentary. Understand even better the New Testament book of Philippians.
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