Review of From The Beginning

[Merits Anih]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "From The Beginning" by James A. Madison.]

---

5 out of 5 stars

---

Share This Review

---

From The Beginning by James A. Madison looks at the scientific and religious evidence of the beginning of the world. The endless quest to identify the most fundamental particles of matter parallels science's search for explanations about the origins of the universe. Like chasing the vanishing point on the number line nearing zero, the prize perpetually eludes a definitive grasp.

Understanding the beginnings of space and time presents an even more profound challenge. The concept of "singularity," from which all existence emerged, lies at the very fringes of human comprehension. If the empirical scientific method cannot directly observe such an event, does this mean religious teachings on the origin of the universe deserve equal consideration as theoretical possibilities? Faith and biblical scriptures do not rely on tangible proof, yet one must marvel at the prescience in the Bible that resonates with current times. Perhaps science and faith offer complementary windows rather than mutually exclusive explanations about the underpinnings of reality. Pick up this book to find out more about it.

In this book, the author makes an effort to explain various aspects of the Bible. The book starts with the story of Adam and Eve in Genesis, exploring God's instructions to them not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge, God creating man in the image of God, false prophets and priests, death, consequences, our struggle with the Devil, etc. Reading this book made me see the similarities between the biblical and scientific accounts of how the universe was formed through the Big Bang.

One of my highlights of the book was when the author raised the question of which race is actually the image of God since different races look different. It came to my mind that the image of God in which we were made is not just physical attributes and looks, but in the soul. No matter how different races are in skin color, hair, etc., we are all alike in general attributes such as having two hands and legs, soul and body, etc. The author didn't leave me wondering for long, though, as he explained this using Pentecost Day.

I love that the author implores some mathematical principles in this book to explain things and takes the time to explain them in great detail. This method was what initially caught my attention and made me more interested in the book. I was taught mathematics in school, and it was good to refresh my memory. Mathematics is a subject I love so much because, once proven, its principles remain the same. This is a concept I understood early in life that made the subject the easiest for me, unlike some other people. The book is easy to read, and the flow is perfect. I didn't get bored at all, as the author was witty and explained things in the simplest form.

The only thing I disliked about this book is that it does not contain a table of contents. There were times I wanted to go back to some parts I'd read before, but the lack of a table of contents made navigating the book very hard. If this is added to the book, it will go a long way toward making reading the book easier. This negative aspect is, however, minor and does not affect my rating, which is why I am rating it 5 out of 5 stars.

I recommend this book to Christian readers because it is about the Bible; however, other religious readers with an open mind can explore the knowledge it shares. It will be very good for use in teaching and preaching. Even though this book contains a lot of bible passages, those who like reading books about science, especially those interrelated with the origin of the universe, will love it. Finally, I applaud the author for ensuring that the book is professionally edited.

******
From The Beginning
View: on Bookshelves

[Amy Luman]

I am Christian and that includes believing the Biblical account of creation. However, the story in the Bible leaves so much to the imagination, for instance it doesn’t give the specifics of what happened when God fave the word to create, that much of science could be a part of it, too. Thanks!

[Paris Kumar]

I'm not a christian but I don't have any problem to read any other religious books if there's something to learn for humanity. as you wrote It will be very good for use in teaching and preaching and if this book contains a lot of bible passages, I like to read books about science also subjects
interrelated with the origin of the univers. so I'll surely explore the knowledge it shares.

[Nwansimdi Mercy Someze]

The metaphor of the endless quest to identify fundamental particles paralleling the search for explanations about the universe's beginnings suggests a contemplative and thoughtful approach.

[Rashad Deniro Price]

James A. Madison's "From The Beginning" seems like a book I would like to read, as it covers both scientific and religious views on the beginning of the world. Perhaps this can help clarify most concerns and questions lingering my mind.

[Zainab sheikh]

I'm Muslim but I don't have any problem to read any other religious books if there's something to learn for humanity. as you wrote It will be very good for use in teaching and preaching and if this book contains a lot of bible passages, I like to read books about science also subjects
interrelated with the origin of the univers. so I'll surely explore the knowledge it shares.

[Derrell Duhon]

The author's discussion on the "image of God," distinguishing it from race and physical appearance, and instead emphasizing the similarity in the soul, is a profound and enlightening perspective. This viewpoint may prompt readers to reflect on the common essence and diversity of humanity.

[Shafeeqa Waries]

To my surprise, my favourite part of the text was the author's description of God's image. It really resonated with me and I think it will resonate with so many others too. The deeper explanation of the essence of who and what God is breaching beyond physical and material focus of the subject is captivating and moving to say the least.

[Daniel Baah]

Being a Christian, I accept the creation story found in the Bible. The biblical account, however, leaves a great deal to the imagination. For example, it doesn't explain exactly what happened when God gave the command to create; therefore, a great deal of science may also have a role in this story. Regards!

[_akinyisheila]

The integration of biblical narratives with scientific explanations, combined with the author's use of mathematical principles, captivates my interest.

[Aisha Mustapha 1]

I am a Muslim too and I don't have any problem reading such books, though I ought to learn more from the fact the religious point of view finds it's evidence.

[Chimdik Chimezi]

Any enquiry into the origin of the universe will always be a hard nut to crack. I will read "From The Beginning" by James A. Madison with the intent to see the author's view on how the earth came to be.

[Amber Graham 4]

It’s impressive that the author can take both a scientific and a religious approach to make the book palatable for a large audience. There are those who would stray away from a religious based book, and those that would stray away from a scientific based book but the author here was able to create a cohesiveness between science and religion creating material fit for both perspectives.

[Aaron Joseph Maupin]

This review provides a helpful and sufficient overview of the book "Share From The Beginning" by James A. Madison. It raises interesting questions about the intersection of science and faith, and highlights the author's use of mathematics to explain concepts. The lack of a table of contents is a minor drawback. Overall, the review suggests that the book would be a valuable addition to the library of Christian readers or those interested in the origins of the universe. It is likely to motivate people to buy it.

[Donaking]

Based on the review, it appears that the book "Share From The Beginning" by James A. Madison is a good read. The reviewer appreciates the author's effort to explain various aspects of the Bible and found the connections made between biblical and scientific accounts intriguing. The integration of mathematical principles and the author's ability to explain them effectively added to the enjoyment of the book. The only downside mentioned was the lack of a table of contents, but it did not affect the overall positive rating. The reviewer recommends the book to Christian readers and believes it can be useful for teaching and preaching purposes.