Bondage of the Mind: How Old Testament Fundamentalism Shackles the Mind and Enslaves the Spirit
by R. D. Gold
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Book Summary Information
Author: R. D. GoldEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2008-03-07
ISBN: 0979640601
Number of pages: 268
Publisher: Aldus Books Inc
Book Reviews of Bondage of the Mind: How Old Testament Fundamentalism Shackles the Mind and Enslaves the Spirit
Book Review: Great Book
Summary: 5 Stars
Reading through these reviews, I am flabbergasted as to the vitriol thrown against R.D. Gold's fabulous book. With such stellar authors out there nowadays about the anti-religion venue (Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris, etc.) Gold brings something new to the table, and he does it in a very unpretentious way. He doesn't act like you're a complete idiot if you choose to believe; he doesn't talk down to you, which is something these atheist authors do all too often. Also, Gold isn't TRYING to get you to change religions or be an atheist. He's not poking fun at faith, in fact quite the contrary. He's saying that if you ascribe to the beliefs of fundamentalism/Orthodox Judaism, than you should do so on faith because the so-called facts that fundamentalists adhere to are full of holes.
And to say that Mr. Gold doesn't understand the concept of faith, quite the contrary. Consider a line from pg. 116, "The Jews may indeed be God's chosen people, but this conclusion does not follow logically from the historical evidence. If you believe that, you are taking it purely on faith." In other words, Gold is ENCOURAGING faith, over the unwavering belief in "facts" that simply aren't true. He's not even really writing in an overly persuasive manner; he's simply laying the facts at your feet, so if you do choose to believe, at least you'll be aware of the truth. It seems to me that the people who are the most offended by this book are those who are biased, and take offense at Gold's stark (but honest) portrayal of their religion. That's an intellectual error on their part. I can understand how a person who has lived according to the supposed factual creeds described in this book could be made to feel stupid after reading it, but I don't think you should write a review unless you can be completely objective.
And this book is not like the books out now by Dawkins and Hitchens, as some make it out to be. This is not a treatise for atheism, far from it. It is exactly what its cover claims it is - the explanation of "How Old Testament Fundamentalism Shackles the Mind and Enslaves the Spirit." I'd recommend it to anyone who believes they can read objectively.
Summary of Bondage of the Mind: How Old Testament Fundamentalism Shackles the Mind and Enslaves the Spirit
There is a great debate unfolding across the country pitting reason and science against revelation and faith. Bondage of the Mind talks to that vast audience of modern readers who are trying to figure out where they stand on the spectrum of religious belief.Recognizing that even the most skeptical among us are uncomfortable with the atheist label, Bondage of the Mind develops a powerful argument that our choice is not limited to fundamentalism (I believe all of it) or atheism (I believe none of it).
Bondage of the Mind relentlessly dismantles the doctrines of religious fundamentalism - focusing on Orthodox Judaism (Jewish fundamentalism) -- but its core message is not that religion should be abandoned. Rather, the core message is that religious fundamentalism is an insidious force that must be combated if our hearts and minds are to remain free.
Bondage of the Mind announces itself as a book about truth, but it is also a book about freedom.
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