Review by aodonnell -- The Biblical Clock
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- aodonnell
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Review by aodonnell -- The Biblical Clock
Science and religion have been at odds with each other throughout most of our modern age. Many people either adhere to a strictly scientific or strictly religious viewpoint. In The Biblical Clock: The Untold Secrets Linking the Universe and Humanity with God’s Plan, Daniel Friedmann, with Dania Sheldon, takes a middle ground approach to reconcile the two.
Friedmann explores how the scientific estimates of the age of the earth can be reconciled with scripture if one holds the belief that time isn’t limited to our own experience and understanding. In consulting extra-biblical texts, Friedmann finds that a literal translation of the creation narrative — that time passed then in the same way it passes now — has been questioned by religious scholars for generations. After presenting thoughts on how the narrative and science can reconcile, Friedmann moves on to exploring cycles of human history and how it ties in to the approaching “End of Days” that will usher in a new era of peace and God’s presence.
I was excited to read this book because I’ve long believed that there must be a way to reconcile science and religion. I liked that Friedmann explored a couple different thoughts around how the two can both be true, despite the seemingly contradictory narratives. It’s also clear that Friedmann spent a lot of time researching the topic and consulting other religious thinkers throughout history. Aside from some minor errors and formatting issues, the book seemed to be professionally edited.
What I didn’t like about this book was that, despite the title, Friedmann drew very minimally from the Bible. Most of his sources were extra-biblical, more in line with Jewish mysticism. From a Christian perspective, the book has some glaring omissions and problems, including the idea that humanity can bring about the “End of Days” in our own timing, if we could just accomplish certain tasks. It also felt like I needed to be more familiar with Jewish mysticism in order to fully follow the content.
I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars. Though it wasn’t my favorite read, I can see how it would be appealing to certain audiences. If half stars were an option, I’d probably give it a 2.5. I would have preferred more detailed in-text citations, as it was challenging to know where certain information was coming from. I don’t rate it any higher because I don’t feel like it fully accomplished the goal of its title. While religious readers may find it compelling, it doesn’t draw much on science, leaving it easily rejected by those who don’t believe.
I’d recommend this book to readers interested in Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, and other ancient religious and spiritual topics. It’s less suitable for Christian or scientific audiences, though anyone with an open mind and curiosity will find some points of interest within the book.
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The Biblical Clock
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