Jews; Christians; and Muslims supposedly share a common religious heritage in the patriarch Abraham; and the idea that he should serve only as a source of unity among the three traditions has become widespread in both scholarly and popular circles. But in Inheriting Abraham; Jon Levenson reveals how the increasingly conventional notion of the three equally "Abrahamic" religions derives from a dangerous misunderstanding of key biblical and Qur'anic texts; fails to do full justice to any of the traditions; and is often biased against Judaism in subtle and pernicious ways.
#96142 in Books 2013-09-29Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 7.75 x 4.75 x .75l; .72 #File Name: 0691154813256 pages
Review
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful. An Essential Primer on a Beloved PrimerBy AlexOnly those who care so little about religion or religious history that they count it all as nonsense will find anything to dislike about this book. Alan Jacobs has outdone himself in both in the quality of his historical research and the more difficult trick of rendering complicated history in plain language and a merciful page count. His own practice of Anglicanism has apparently only increased his attention to contradiction; foiled plans; multiple visions; and historical change throughout the life of the Anglican Church's second-most-treasured book. One sometimes sees the shape of present religious struggles in his account of the Book of Common Prayer; but more often--and perhaps more fruitfully--he gives readers a lucid look at people whose hearts were far closer to the heart of religious belief and observance than the modern world often affords us. The choices they made; the worship they attempted to craft; and the battles they fought with each other need to be told with a keen attention to the structures and motivations of religious belief. In this; Jacobs has surpassed many modern historians who attempt to account for religious movements by all manner of reductive tactics; refusing stubbornly to grant religious belief and observance its own oeuvre; its own life. Jacobs's deceptively slim volume--a part of a larger series; it should be noted--is an uncommonly insightful work of religious history with much to teach our modern minds.17 of 19 people found the following review helpful. Interesting story even for a low church baptistBy Adam ShieldsI grew up low church baptist and have only come to see the value of the Book of Common Prayer fairly recently. So this was a great book to bring some history to my understanding.Alan Jacobs is an excellent writer and his history of the book is both of solid history and readable.To me; what is most interesting about story of the BCP; is how it was intended as a tool of unity but from the very beginning that was thwarted. Cranmer; who compiled the BCP thought that a single prayer book with a single service was important both theologically and politically to the unity of the Church in England. This was not a simple expedient or politically motivated conscription of Christianity but a different world view on how church and state should relate.But from the beginning the minutia of the BCP and its practice were used to factionalize the church. As one very small example; John Knox insisted that communion should be taken while sitting (instead of kneeling) because he wanted to distance the church from the Catholic view of transubstantiation. Others wanted kneeling to show honor and devotion during the Eucharist.But as theological and cultural movements between high and low church Anglicans and Anglo-Catholics and Evangelicals and other groups; the prayer book became like the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. Unchanging not so much because it was perfect; but unchanging because no one can agree on how to change it. And now it is venerated in part because it was unchanged.Outside the UK; most other Anglican churches have adapted their own Books of Common Prayer (and most have updated theirs several times); but in in the UK it is still the 1662 version that is the authorized one. So now there are a number of options for the Anglican world to choose their Books of Common Prayer.This is a fascinating and important history. The Book of Common Prayer has molded English speaking Christianity in ways that most probably do not realize. The common marriage ceremony "Dearly Beloved" and funeral "Ashes to Ashes; Dust to Dust" are part of the cultural language of the English speaking world; but also from the Book of Common Prayer.I read the kindle version; but I have heard a number of comments about the beauty of the actual printed book.5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. Three reviews in oneBy Will BartoI feel like I should write three reviews for this work.The first half of the book (four chapters) was delightful. Learned; witty; informative; all the things that I have come to expect from the author. It was one of the best narrative descriptions of the circumstances and details of the creation of the Book of Common Prayer that I have ever read (and I have read several). I would give this part of the book four stars at least.But the rest of the book seemed like it was written by a different author. Less informative; more controversialist (in that the conflict seemed to drive the narrative rather than the Prayer Book itself). This is to be expected to a certain extent; but the author's bias in his analysis seemed apparent (e.g.; people who liked the Prayer Book were labeled throughout this portion as "traditionalists" while no such moniker was affixed to those who sought to modernize or deconstruct the Prayer Book). It also seemed like that there was a bit of snark and mockery in the text of this part of the book that diminished the integrity of the analysis; in my opinion. Two stars; at best. The author lost the bubble.I listened to this book on a compact disc; and I cannot really recommend it. The narrator used a particularly affected and "posh" British accent to read portions of the Prayer Book or other "traditionalist" documents; and sometimes slipped in and out of this voice in mid-sentence. Interestingly; he did not use the voice (or did not use it quite as much) when reading other English commentators or critics of the Prayer Book. He particularly seemed to enjoy voicing the texts in the latter portion of the book that mocked traditional adherence to the Prayer Book. His reading voice; when not behaving as noted above; was quite pleasant and readily understandable; I am not sure why he chose to go so "over the top" with portions of his reading. Unfortunately; even when in his "normal" voice; he routinely mispronounced the word "episcopacy;" placing the accent on the third rather than the second syllable. Sad. Two stars.Tepidly recommended with the reservations noted above. If you happen to be a pesky "traditionalist;" don't expect the latter part of the book to present a reasoned argument in favor of common prayer; and you won't be disappointed.
