Score Another for Feiler
Little popular material has been available for Western readers about the confluence between the Zoroastrian faith of ancient Persia and the three great Abrahamic religions--up until now. Feiler has gone a giant step beyond his fine work in "Walking the Bible". I have given away quite a few copies of this eminently readable "travelogue with a message".
enlightening and entertaining
I have enjoyed reading Walking the Bible and Abraham by Bruce Feiler as well as some of his earlier books. So naturally
I did not want to miss reading Where God Was Born. Once again I was not disappointed. What a wonderful way to "travel" and Bruce makes a wonderful tour guide. He has great insight and knowledge of the areas he visits as well as the ability to make it a terrific read. This is another "don't miss" book by a wonderful author.
Amazing blend of a physical AND spiritual journey of discovery
Feiler is describing a personal journey, both physical and spiritual, wherein he attempts to find a middle ground between religious extremism and secular humanism, both of which have contributed to violence and oppression on a massive scale over the years. Is there a place, Felier questions, where faith and tolerance can live side by side? In short, is religion just a source of war, or can it bring about peace?
Some of Feiler's scholarship is a bit suspect (which is why I give it 4 stars instead of 5), especially regarding King David and all of the 'assassinations' Feiler claims David ordered. The Biblical record speaks in opposition to Feiler on more than one account, which makes me question Feiler's research and/or his bias. That said, he does juxtapose scripture and history fairly well, illuminating the overall theme of the Bible as one of hope and redemption in the midst of sin and separation.
Feiler journeys through the lands of the Bible and comes to the conclusion that the Bible is not about the land. Certainly the land has played a role in the story, but the Bible is about obedience to God and living in a relationship with God regardless of whether one is in the holy land or in exile in Babylon. Living in relationship with God is what is important. Indeed, there have been times in Biblical history when reliance on the land proved to be problematic to relationship with God, and exile actually led to a deeper relationship.
Additionally, he leans toward an acceptance of other faiths rather than the attempts to convert everyone to our way of thinking and believing. Much of what he writes supports the idea of different faiths peacefully coexisting with each other. Moreover, he sees the Bible as supporting this, specifically in the Creation story, Jonah and the Ninevites, and the anointing of Cyrus the Persian as God's salvation for Israel.
I like his understanding that one legacy of the Bible is that God has created us for relationship, and that all human beings of all ages, nations, and stations in life, have a deep yearning for connection with the divine. That yearning is explored through the stories of the Bible, and we continue to tell that story as we become a part of it, connecting with God in our own lives and often, in our own way. He ends the book with a story of sacred Jewish books being buried in the ground in a unique, funereal type ceremony. The implication is clear: although the books are buried in the ground, their message will live on forever.
Very Easy to Listen to and Thought Provoking
This audiobook, read by the author, is entertaining and light-hearted enough to make for easy listening. You don't have to prepare yourself for a lecture. The author weaves various historical information and present-day observations into his unique travelogue. It's a winning technique and merges travel literature with biblical commentary.
Long after listening to the book, there are parts that stuck with me and I still think about them. The first one was Feiler's description of Jericho, or more precisely the battle of Jericho. One wonders what the residents of Jericho did to deserve utter annihilation, with the killing of every man, woman and child. At this stage, Feiler was with Yoram Yair, one of the most decorated generals in Israel's history, who described the psychological effect of the marching around the walled city before destroying it. One can never think of Jericho the same way again. One can also never think of the desert wandering Jews in search of a homeland for which they will fight in the same way again. This also causes reflection of the problem of a people to establish a homeland by destroying the local inhabitants to achieve it.
Feiler also describes David (later King David) in a very unique way. He seems full of guile and treacherous, yet we know the scriptures describe him as a man after God's heart. With the background and perspective of Feiler, one cannot only never think of David the same way again, but one is drawn into reflection of what attributes win God's heart at least if the scriptures are relied upon.
Later Feiler travels in Iraq and goes to the ruins of the Great Ziggurat of Ur. The temple was built in the 21st century BC and as he describes it, the top is gone but it is still a massive structure. Of all the sites he visited, this is the one that I would like to visit the most. This very early city-state emerged as a local power so long ago because, it is believed, they mastered irrigation techniques that provided agricultural productivity. And this is supposed to be where Abraham came from. The geography has changed a great deal over time as have the locations of the great rivers, and thus one cannot see what the ancients saw.
Feiler then goes to the ruins of Babylon and explains how Babylon became a nation-state, and he takes time to explain that development beyond what was accomplished at Ur. Feiler takes the position that the Jewish exile to Babylon was quite beneficial in the long run to the Jews. And later he and his wife visit Iran to experience the ancient ruins of the city of King Cyrus, who ruled an actual empire. Feiler seems to have nothing but positive things to say about the manner in which King Cyrus ruled.
This is an entertaining travel book with many anecdotal observations. If Feiler has an agenda or if he is not correct in his religious perspectives, it doesn't matter to me. I found the book informative and entertaining. Since he deals with religion, this certainly is not a book for everyone as there will always be some that it offends and others that are scholars and find errors in the facts presented. My evaluation is on the basis that I found the book entertaining, informative and thought-provoking. I did not review this book on correctness of religion.
a good read, but theologically weak
This is a very interesting book, however, as a Christian who more closely identifies with fundamentalist ecumenicals than any other denomination, and who believes that all scripture is God-breathed, inspired by the Holy Spirit, I was disappointed by Feiler's apparent belief that Jewish scripture, which is, of course, what Christians call the Old Testament, is the result of various people who borrowed from old Chaldean legends and developed doctrines and a religion from their own experiences as a people both in what we now call the Holy Land and in their Babylonian exile. In other words, he apparently believes that the Bible came from humans instead of from God. To make matters worse (theologically speaking), he apparently believes that there is more than one path to become closer to God, seeing Judaism, Christianity, and Islam as co-equal religions, all of which sprang from the same roots in the legends, traditions, and customs of the middle-east. I can't accept that. Jesus made it clear when said of Himself, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the Father except through me."
Feiler is a very good writer. His prose is clear and simple, but he still can convey complex thoughts without using long words in complex, tortured sentences. That takes talent.
I know a little about history, geography, and other cultures, but there's always more to learn, and Feiler brought much light to the dark corners of my mind. Too bad he and I don't always agree on how to interpret what he taught me. Oh, well, it's still a very good book. I recommend it.
