The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as...

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible | A. J. Jacobs | Absolutely Brilliant

books:

The Year of Living...

	The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible A. J. Jacobs Simon & Schuster, 2007 - 400 pages average customer review:based on 368 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

highly recommended

Laughing Biblically

I loved this book. It made me think, laugh and even cry. I think any person of any religion will enjoy this.

Absolutely Brilliant

I was recommended this product by a Pastor friend of mine. I have thoroughly enjoyed reading AJ's experiences. They are both amazing and hilarious. Though you should be careful if you compliment him too greatly. He'll accuse you of making him commit the sin of pride :-)
Pastor Jason Frazier

An Engaging Imitation of a Religious Quest

In "The Year of Living Biblically," AJ Jacobs has written an engaging and entertaining book. I found myself rooting for him on his journey of exploring faith that he unabashedly admits he does not have. He fails in his purported attempt to be non-judgemental; while he quotes criticisms of the religious Right as having more in common with the Republican Party than with Holy Scripture, he fails to note the parallel critique of the religious Left, that it has more in common with the Democratic Party than Holy Scripture. Still, he concludes that everyone treats the Bible in a pick-and-choose cafeteria way. Jacobs himself clearly chooses the Old Testament over the New. Citing his Jewish family history, the sense of returning to one's own was simply not there for him amidst the Christian scriptures. Too, the book would have been better if Jacobs was a genuine spiritual seeker, rather than just a guy with a clever idea for another book. His subsequent writings indicate that he has pretty much abandoned the quest, something that a true seeker never does. Nonetheless, the book is a good choice for light summer reading, with just a touch of spiritual cache.

for more information click here

It reminded me of how beautiful and sad faith is

My own prejudices prevented me from initially getting into this book. I am a former Protestant pastor and theologian with Ph.D. studies in theology and philosophy and, now, an atheist. Therefore, even its premise seemed ludicrous, as well as wasteful to me. The Bible isn't meant to be read literally, nor can it be followed as such. Furthermore, what's the point of exploring the various biblical paths to spirituality--so to speak--if one isn't truly vested in opening oneself to them risking it all by being willing to surrender to any one of them, as the author wasn't and isn't. At long last, after being both frustrated and elated by it, I am glad I read it. The author documents many aspects of his sundry experiences with a rich variety of characters and their respective beliefs, as well as their concomitant points of contact in his own personal life, be it as a father, friend, professional, husband or seeker of whatever he was after during his self-imposed quest. All aspects of his life were engaged throughout this year, i.e., sexual, economic, intellectual, professional, etc. He was both changed and challenged. So will readers of any persuasion if approaching this work with the same willingness to learn the author had all along. It reminded me of how beautiful and sad faith is. I remain an unbeliever in friendly terms with biblical faith.

for more information click here