I am happy to report I am on schedule–I have my January Just For Fun Read done!
Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O’Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
As my mom and I continued to listen to the unending debate, we finally decided to give it a try. And so I went into the book with a complete open mind. I figured that even if the book was completely blasphemous, I could handle it. I am a Bible college graduate after all, and I have faced theological liberals in the past, so this would be nothing new.
I have to tell you that from the beginning, I was so immersed in the book that it was hard for me to put it down. I learned more history in this book than four years of Bible college or a lifetime in the church and participation in deep Bible studies. I love the fact that O’Reilly wrote this in an easy-to-read and understandable format. And he held nothing back. There were a few times that the history was so gruesome that I wanted to turn away.
The question I kept asking myself is “Why are Christians complaining about this book?” It is clear that the primary source that was used was the Bible, and although not everything was mentioned within the book, it is clear that the events reported are historically verifiable. In other words, O’Reilly has written a history book about the most important historical figure in all of history. And for the naysayers who say he will be condemned and/or judged for writing this book, I say these people are not coming in with an open mind. They are completely wrong. I can say that as a result of reading this book, I am more certain of O’Reilly’s faith than I ever have been before.
I realize that my positive review may cause my faith to be questioned. I believe the Bible one hundred percent, and I can still highly recommend this book. Read it for what it is–a history book. If you read it in the right way, I believe you will think about the person of Jesus Christ in a much different light. I found that I considered things I never thought about before (no spoilers–you need to read it for yourself).
I read this on my own for the Just For Fun 2014 Reading Challenge.
About Killing Jesus: Millions of readers have thrilled to bestselling authors Bill O’Reilly and historian Martin Dugard’s Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln, page-turning works of nonfiction that have changed the way we read history. Now the anchor of The O’Reilly Factor details the events leading up to the murder of the most influential man in history: Jesus of Nazareth. Nearly two thousand years after this beloved and controversial young revolutionary was brutally killed by Roman soldiers, more than 2.2 billion human beings attempt to follow his teachings and believe he is God. Killing Jesus will take readers inside Jesus’s life, recounting the seismic political and historical events that made his death inevitable – and changed the world forever.
1 Comment
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Thank you for the excellent review. I have the book on my to read list but haven’t read it yet.