Great listening so far!!

Great book Dennis! This is the best commentary on the Bible I have ever read. 10/10, would definitely recommend.
Also, first review :)

23 people found this helpful

Audible was a great experience.

The audible format was a great way to bring this to life. The historical background and essays really tie everything together. Dennis does a great job quenching my thirst for what has typically been a dry read. I can’t wait for the next book.

18 people found this helpful

Rational Bible? No. Informed Personal Opinion? Yes

What disappointed you about The Rational Bible: Exodus?

The book failed to live up to its promise. I was expecting a book that demonstrated more reverence for the sacred. What I got was an expanded secular book review with personal, though wise, opinion.

Has The Rational Bible: Exodus turned you off from other books in this genre?

No. I've listened to several other books on the same subject that have kept their promise.

Have you listened to any of Tom Parks’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No.

If you could play editor, what scene or scenes would you have cut from The Rational Bible: Exodus?

I would cut all the author's subjective explanations of God's motives and actions and his low opinion of God's sovereignty. For example, the author suggested that God needed Moses, or a man like him, to accomplish His purposes. Really? The Bible says that God uses the weak and foolish to confound the wise and strong. The author suggested that God needed three creations to get things right. Really? The only creation in the Bible is reported in the first few chapters of Genesis. The Great Flood and the Exodus don't qualify.

Any additional comments?

I will finish the book. But it won't be to gain any spiritual insights.

16 people found this helpful

largely fallacious, but works to a good end

I dropped my skepticism and biases to listen to this book and saw the old text in a new light. The scholarly review applied by Dennis to each verse (and at times a scholarly review down to a single word) provided commentary that was able to answer deep, troubling philosophical questions left unanswered by parents and pastors. Had I known about this book just 8 years prior, I might've been "saved".

Anyway, the main idea is that if God exists and the Bible (and therefore the book of Exodus) is literally true (I think this detail is actually irrelevant) Dennis through the narrator will try his very best to convince you that God is fair and just.

However, another less-than-convinced person might say: "The Rational Bible"is an ill-suited title to what is actually going on here, the title ought to be "Rationalizing the Bible". There is some truth to this viewpoint, but whether you are more like the former or latter is dependent on whether or not you have faith that if such a god exists, then that god also wants what is good for humanity, or at least his followers.

7 people found this helpful

Deeper understanding of God.

I really enjoyed getting in the back story to how God set up his covenant with the Hebrews. What I really took away was how God was trying to set himself apart from the small G gods that have been worship throughout history. To get people to worship the creator instead of the creation. As we in the west have become more secular weare once again worshipping the gods of the past. Thanks for writing such an interesting look at what God wants from us individually and as a society.

6 people found this helpful

Never learned or enjoyed the Bible this much

It was very enlightening learning about exodus in such a rational and facts based way.

4 people found this helpful

I listened, debated, agree and disagree with it

Disclaimer: I'm not a jew and I come from a catholic background even though I'm not a religious person.

This book gave me insight of the exodus; personally I never read it myself so now I can say that I listened to the history first hand. I was interested in an analysis of such story and the book delivered outstandingly. The author goes deep into moral thoughts that are relatable to the story, providing well thoughts arguments providing some (not overwhelming) evidence to back their claims. Even though I did not agree with some arguments, I welcome the analysis nonetheless and considered each of them as a new valuable insight.

Even though you may find some political opinions, there is no partisan politics and kindness is never lost. I found every opinion respectful and related to the topic being discussed.

In conclusion, I recommend this book to anyone that is interested in reading the exodus. At least to me, the analysis enhanced my perspective on the book and without it I would have missed some topics that might not be visible at first glance. Think of it as the exodus on steroids.

3 people found this helpful

Stupendous!

I wanted to get a firm Jewish understanding on Exodus. Continually do I praise the Lord for Dennis Prager’s clarity. We disagree basically on DP’s definition of taking the Lord’s name in vain. And I cringe each time DP flippantly tosses it out (I.e. OMG). Other than this hardest point of exception, this book is unparalleled for a Christian to get a play-by-play on the Torah from a conservative Jew. Kudos DP! We like what you are doing here.

2 people found this helpful

I love to listen to this as I drift off to sleep.

I learn something new each time I listen. It's a new journey each time I go through. Dennis Prager has a way of teaching about the Torah that makes my Christian walk different in good ways that I never thought imaginable. Struggle with God is normal. Just because I have no money does not mean that God is not in my life or that He is not using me for a purpose.

1 person found this helpful

A great and valued addition to my library!

Tom Parks did a fine job narrating “The Rational Bible: Genesis” by Dennis Prager. As usual, Dennis does not disappoint! I especially value Dennis’ knowledge of Biblical Hebrew and, inspired by this, I now write the Ten Commandments every day and go over them with my son. I highly recommend this book to everyone.

1 person found this helpful