History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)

Book Description

Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.

Customer Reviews:

Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03

Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.

Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19

Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.

Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09

There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.

For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.

Very Interesting.......2007-03-07

It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.

History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10

Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.

I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.

Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.

Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.

I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.

This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.

No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green

Average customer rating:

Like his life, it ended too soon.
The Best!
Sold out for God
No Compromise
Insightful Biography About The Late, Influential Music Minister

No Compromise: The Life Story of Keith Green
Melody Green , and David Hazard
Manufacturer: Harvest House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0736903194

Book Description

Longtime fans and new listeners can experience the impact of Keith’s character, courage, and commitment in this revised and expanded testimony of his extraordinary life.

Who better to tell Keith Green’s story than the woman who shared his life and mission—his wife, Melody. At the time Keith and two of their children were killed in a tragic plane crash, Melody was pregnant and had a one–year–old child at home. She inherited Keith’s musical legacy of published and unpublished songs and his private journals, which she has put together in this extremely personal biography of Keith.

Customer Reviews:

Like his life, it ended too soon........2007-09-13

I grew up listening to the Music of Keith Green. My parents were big fans, and to them, Keith was more then just a singer.
I slowly stopped listening to his music when I got older, and thought that the new music I listened to had a better sound and a more meaningful message, simply because it was newer music. But then I started listening to Keith Green again, and saw that his music is timeless, and can still change lives.

I picked up this book, and started reading it right away. The tone read very much like a novel, with pictures every now and then to show you how Keith and those around him had changed over time. At first, I wasn't sure how I felt about there being pictures so much, but then I saw the effect they had on me.

I got to know Keith as if he were a friend of mine. I got to see his struggles, his fears, his likes, his dislikes; I got to shake hands with Keith. His story of how he came to know Jesus is one that can touch anyone.

Ultimately, when the book started to end, I knew how he was going to die. I knew it was coming. I even looked ahead to see what chapter it happens in. Even though I knew it was coming, I still started to cry.
I spent my time reading this book, and getting to know Keith, his children, and his friends, that I he died all over again. I missed him again.

Still, with that said, I think my favorite part in the book is the story of how they had a cow die, and they couldn't get a butcher out to the farm (because the butcher has to kill the animal he'll be butchering), so they did it themselves.

With all that said, this is an amazing story that every Christian should read. Even if you weren't a fan of his music, it is still an amazing story.

The Best!.......2007-08-23

Melody green did an amazing job at letting us in on her life with Keith Green. She is very open and honest and makes it easy to follow. It is very easy to relate to for practically anyone. Some parts brought tears to my eyes and it brings you to self reflect where you are at spiritually. I highly recommend this book!

Sold out for God.......2007-06-08

Keith Green's book "No Compromise" was an in depth look at this Christian mans life. He lived his life solely for God, and never looked back. He was constantly examining himself to see if he measured up to how a Christian life should be led. He was an inspiration to me of how to live for Jesus!

No Compromise.......2007-01-17

This book is a great book describing a man who lived a life loving the Lord and encountering some of the issues we individually face. This just goes to show that we all can stand out and trust the Lord. Keith was a man who chose to live a life with No Compromise with his relationship with the Lord.

Insightful Biography About The Late, Influential Music Minister.......2006-12-26

This book looked into the life of Keith Green, especially the final seven years of his life, from his conversion to Christianity to his untimely death. It was written by his widow, Melody, who came to Christ at the same time.

Keith Green was more than just another Christian singer/songwriter. He was sold out to the Gospel, and it showed in his music, his lifestyle, and his writings. I am not sure I agree with some of what he did or some of his doctrinal leadings, but I admire his zeal.

One note of comment: In 1977, you would find the debut albums of two artists next to each other: Amy Grant and Keith Green. In 1982, Grant became the first Christian artist to earn a gold album. The same year, Green became the first to earn a gold crown. We need more Keith Greens today: in Christianity in general and in Christian music specifically.

Songs of the Seder : A Music Book to Accompany the Passover Haggadah, Second Edition

Average customer rating:

Songs of the Seder
A Gem!

Songs of the Seder : A Music Book to Accompany the Passover Haggadah, Second Edition
Judith S. Rubenstein , and Howard S. Rubenstein
Manufacturer: Granite Hills PR
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0963888617

Book Description

This compact and conveniently sized volume contains the music and lyrics of 23 Passover seder songs, prayers, and chants, and presents them in the order in which they appear in the seder. The book can therefore accompany any haggadah. The book contains traditional and contemporary melodies. The lyrics are in transliteration of Hebrew or Aramaic and also in English. The arrangements are in keys that are easy to sing and play, with chords for piano and guitar. Companion recordings, entitled "Songs of the Seder" by Judy Rubenstein, are available on CD and cassette.

Customer Reviews:

Songs of the Seder.......2000-04-02

This is a fabulous book and exactly what I was looking for. I'm also thrilled that it has an accompanying CD that matches exactly. I am leading a seder this year for a church group who has never heard any of the songs before, so I wanted the traditional melodies, easy to follow sheet music, and easy guitar chords. This is perfect! I'm so pleased.

A Gem!.......1998-12-10

"SONGS OF THE SEDER fills a great need.... a gem of a book.&quot

Average customer rating:

A Massive Volume with some good insights
For those who keep the sacred appointment

Handbook of Contemporary Preaching

Manufacturer: B&H Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0805415505

Customer Reviews:

A Massive Volume with some good insights.......2003-08-11

This an anthology of essays on preaching spanning the range from the theology of preaching to it's ethics. The theme that holds everything together is "contemporary." The editor's purpose is to introduce the reader to a "host of vital issues relating to the preaching tasks." There is hardly an aspect of preaching that is not covered in this book. It is an exhaustive in scope, dealing with methodology, theology, preparation and delivery.

It's sheer size is its greatest strength, it has something to say about almost every aspect of preaching. The anthology format gives the reader a variety of view points, styles and concerns about preaching. I especially appreciate that both theologians and practitioners of the art of preaching were asked to contribute to this volume. In particular, I was impressed by Paul Borden's essay on expository preaching. Briscoe's chapter on developing the sermon and Ogilive's essay on preparing sermons introductions are gold mines of valuable information.

Because of its format, the quality of writing is uneven and some of the essays were very boring to read. The whole section on "Preaching the Biblical Text" simply restated what should be obvious to even the novice preacher. Similar criticisms could be made conerning the section "Preaching and Ministry." Other books such as Chapell's book on illustrations give greater insight on particular topics, but that is to be expected.

I would recommend this book for undergraduate work. The few essays that proved of value were of extraordinary use to me, well worth the long read.

For those who keep the sacred appointment.......2003-01-02

This handbook is quite useful if need a resource and a study of a wide variety of different preaching methods and sermon preparation. You will find the following areas covered:

Methods of preaching
Steps to sermon preparation
Preaching from various genres
The act of preaching; Preaching and other pastoral roles
Preaching and human needs
Theology of preaching
History of preaching
Ethics of preaching
Creativity in preaching

Book Description

Contemporary worship continues to gain strength as the form of worship of choice for many churches across the country. The Art of Worship is a complete resource to which a musician or pastor can turn when asked to lead contemporary music. It provides in-depth instruction to every aspect of contemporary worship leadership--from assembling the team to choosing the music to conducting rehearsals. Author Greg Scheer takes a balanced, holistic approach, embracing the contemporary style without denying older traditions and encouraging excellence without ignoring the realities of the local church context. Worship team leaders, musicians, and pastors looking for a quality, comprehensive resource need look no further.

Customer Reviews:

An excellent leadership resource for modern worship.......2007-06-04

Greg Scheer's THE ART OF WORSHIP: A MUSICIAN'S GUIDE TO LEADING MODERN WORSHIP offers contemporary church leaders an excellent leadership resource for modern worship, considering the struggles between traditional and modern musical taste and blending discussions of biblical principles with insights on worship methods suitable for musicians, pastors and students of ministry alike. Collections catering to this audience will find THE ART OF WORSHIP excels in including discussions of new music, the influence of new resources such as the Internet, and more.

essential for all worship pastors.......2007-04-05

Greg Scheer's immensely practical book hooked me in the first paragraph. Full of wisdom and practical insight, my copy has bright yellow highlighter marks on every page because there is so much I want to return to again and again. This book, with Kevin Navarro's "The Complete Worship" leader, are essential reading for all worship pastors, especially in a contemporary environment.

Average customer rating:

Music from the stars
Magdalen songs

Songs of Magdalen
Tom Kenyon
Manufacturer: Sounds True
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: 1591794471

Book Description

Songs and tonings by Tom Kenyon that were inspired by The Magdalen Manuscript.

Customer Reviews:

Music from the stars.......2007-08-10

From the moment I began listening to this music I felt my body relax allowing the sounds to penetrate the depth of my soul. For many days I listened to the entire tape each morning after my Qi Gong and meditation. The music seemed to get me through the day on a much calmer basis. Besides that, I listen to the 9th song every night before I go to sleep because that particular song has brought me to a state long desired; a state of ectstasy and bliss. After spending so many years on my healing I recognized the fact that this music was what penetrated the depths to give me some acceleration of all the good I aspire to. I cannot speak highly enough of it. I do not find a word to accurately describe its beauty, gentleness and peace.

Magdalen songs.......2007-04-01

Excellent CD - Very peaceful
it puts me in another deep space, very protected and safe
I often play it when life around me has been too rough
Tom Kenyon is a true gifted songwriter and more...

The Faith We Sing: Accompaniment Edition (Faith We Sing)

Average customer rating:

Doesn't fit in the piano bench!

The Faith We Sing: Accompaniment Edition (Faith We Sing)

Manufacturer: Abingdon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Ring-bound

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ASIN: 068709058X

Customer Reviews:

Doesn't fit in the piano bench!.......2007-07-02

This version of TFWS is similar but more expensive than the Simplified Edition - the music has melody/lyrics, some choir parts, chord symbols, and keyboard parts. My objection to this edition (other than the price) is this hardcover's 3-ring binder - it doesn't fit in the piano bench! The music also takes up more pages - but includes more detailed vocal lines and accompianment. The pages are detachable, so you can lift out the pieces you want for that day's service.

A link to the Simplified Edtition - The Faith We Sing: Simplified (Faith We Sing)

As in the UMC hymnal the songs are organized by topic - a good selection of 80's-90's praise music, with some older hymns and such thrown in...

The Lord's Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship Book and CD (American Musicspheres)

Average customer rating:

Eye-opening and inspiring

The Lord's Song in a Strange Land: Music and Identity in Contemporary Jewish Worship Book and CD (American Musicspheres)
Jeffrey A. Summit
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0195116771

Book Description

Across the United States, Jews come together every week to sing and pray in a wide variety of worship communities. Through this music, made by and for ordinary folk, these worshippers define and re-define their relationship to the continuity of Jewish tradition and the realities of American life. Combining oral history with an analysis of recordings, The Lord's Song in a Strange Land examines this tradition incontemporary Jewish worship and explores the diverse links between the music and both spiritual and cultural identities. Alive with detail, the book focuses on metropolitan Boston and covers the full range of Jewish communities there, from Hasidim to Jewish college students in a transdenominational setting. It documents a remarkably fluid musical tradition, where melodies are often shared, where sources can be as diverse as Sufi chant, Christmas carols, rock and roll, and Israeli popular music, and where the meaning of a song can change from one block to the next. The Lord's Song in a Strange Land is the first volume in Oxford's new American Musicspheres series. Featuring a CD of field recordings for many of the songs discussed, the book will prove an invaluable guide for a wide range of scholars and students of ethnomusicology and religion.

Customer Reviews:

Eye-opening and inspiring.......2000-12-27

This journey of Jewish song and identity draws the best of both to comprise an inspiring book that is both a good read and a good listen. It will leave the reader singing and praying.

Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll

Average customer rating:

Book is okay
Errors abound - the wolf ate my homework
Response to Chris Doyle
A disappointing read!
Off the Beaten Path

Raised by Wolves: The Story of Christian Rock & Roll
John J. Thompson
Manufacturer: ECW Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1550224212

Customer Reviews:

Book is okay.......2004-03-11

This book could have used a good editor

Errors abound - the wolf ate my homework.......2004-02-08

I was surprised at the number of errors in this book, from dates of events, album orders, incorrect stories and misspellings.
John, just totally surprised me by this. I always thought he knew more then I guess he does or just had a really poor editor. Just a couple of examples of what I mean: Brian Healy's name is misspelled throughout the book while thanking him at the beginning (they appear to be friends) and most all references to 1995 were really 1985. To someone who doesn't know the dates will really confuse them. Many of the stories are repeated over and over with nothing added to the retelling.

To John, every album in Christian Rock "increased production standards" and "changed Christian music". While reading it seemed he just wanted to stay on the good side of many of the artists.

He also mentions his band The Wayside far to much for their impact on the scene along with TrueTunes. While both were good, there are so many better examples that were never mentioned. Before TrueTunes, there was Long's Christian Music.

As someone mentioned, it seemed really rushed. Even cut and pasted from to many short articles written by others.

Response to Chris Doyle.......2003-05-01

"Meanwhile, artists and bands like Allies, John Elefante, Mark Farner, Idle Cure, Jag, Legend Seven, Liaison, Mastedon, PFR, Ruscha, Skillet, Switchfoot, and Matthew Ward get little, if any, credit in this book."

Gee, maybe that's because they produced mostly unoriginal, derivative drivel.

"Sure, the 80's group Daniel Amos was okay, but they are mentioned throughout the book as if they were to Christian rock what the Beatles were to secular rock and roll."

Well, that's exactly what they are, artistically speaking. Or maybe they're the REM of Christian rock, or the Nirvana of Christian rock -- the only difference being that DA never had success with charts or record sales. In commercial terms, I guess Petra were the Beatles of Christian rock, but in terms of artistic achievement, they were midgets.

A disappointing read!.......2003-02-17

Two things kept me from enjoying this book. The first was the sense that the history it related was very disproportionate. The second was the overall feeling that the book was very hurriedly written.

These two faults are never more evident than when the author is writing about what he terms "The First Wave" of Christian rock (1966-1979). To begin with, the author devotes less than fifty pages to this period (when Christian rock - by the mere fact that it was in its infancy - was at its most exciting possibility-wise) and almost three times that much space to everything 1980 and thereafter. Moreover, while reading about this "First Wave", one cannot help but feel that the author's mindset while writing that section was "Let's hurry up talking about this pre-1980 stuff, so that we can get to what interests me!" Case in point is the fact that little more than one paragraph is devoted to the group Agape (the first real Christian rock band and one which all agree was a trailblazer, a pioneer, and a maverick of Christian music)!

A rather sloppy job, if you ask me.

Off the Beaten Path.......2002-11-24

If you're trying to find detail on your favorite Christian pop stars, this really isn't the place. You will, however, find great information on those tenacious Christian music "artists". These artists, for the most part, came on-scene before contemporary Christian music was well accepted. They had, out of necessity, to develop their own ministry and distribution systems. They kept their stuff a bit too controversial for the mainstream --both mainstreams. They were too Christian for the secular market, but too edgy for mainstream Christians. The artists Raised By Wolves concentrate on really show some of the better work in Christian music. I made lots of great discoveries in the book.

This all is not to say other artists aren't mentioned. Newsboys, Audio Adrenaline, DC Talk, and more, get very positive reviews, too. I bought the book because I'm questing for Christian music.

Average customer rating:

Great Book for ALL Christians and All musicians

The "problem" of CCM and a radical solution

Eye and Heart Opening

If you're reading the reviews, you should read the book.

Faith & Music Put Into Perspective

The Rock & Roll Rebellion: Why People of Faith Abandoned Rock Music and Why They're Coming Back
Mark Joseph
Manufacturer: Broadman & Holman Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Faith, God, & Rock 'N' Roll

Faith, God and Rock & Roll: How People of Faith Are Transforming American Popular Music

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Rock Stars on God: 20 Artists Speak Their Minds About Faith

ASIN: 0805420614

Amazon.com

Is there such a thing as Christian music? Fans of what is now called Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) might think so, but not radio personality and writer Mark Joseph. In this well-researched work, Joseph argues that Christian music is not a separate genre, and that by creating a separate marketing category, Christian musicians removed themselves from pop culture--to their own detriment as well as the culture's.

Through profiles of leading Christian musicians and producers (including Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash, Pat Boone, Run-D.M.C., and U2), Joseph explores Christianity's place in American popular music, concentrating in particular on the rise of CCM as a commercial power. For anyone interested in the tension between sacred and secular in modern American music, or for fans of popular artists who have struggled with these issues (such as Amy Grant, Sam Phillips, T-Bone Burnett, Mark Heard, and dozens of others), this book makes for fascinating reading. (And it might also introduce you to some great music!) --Doug Thorpe

Customer Reviews:

Great Book for ALL Christians and All musicians.......2001-06-20

This a great exploration of the Christian music culture, and what CHristian Musicians need to do to regain their influence in culture.

The "problem" of CCM and a radical solution.......2000-07-10

Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is a genre that, unlike other musical genres, is defined solely by its lyrical content, as opposed to musical style. Thus, it has been relegated to the evangelical subculture, which is tantamount to locking it in the basement of the entertainment world. Mark Joseph takes a very opinionated view that the "ghettoizing" of Christian music into the CCM substratum has had a severely detrimental effect on Christianity's influence in the wider marketplace. Some artists have been content to remain in the subculture, relying on the evangelizing efforts of their fans to bring the unchurched to their concerts and to spread the word to the mainstream. Others have longed to break out of CCM straightjacket into the world at large, to bring positive values to pop culture. Some have succeeded at this, with varying degrees of success. And some never were in the "straightjacket" to begin with. This book gives an excellent overview of artists in all these camps.

Joseph never tries to hide his opinion about CCM. He believes that, in its present form, it basically shouldn't exist. He believes that there should be about 20% of these musicians ministering in churches and to youth groups, and about 80% out in the mainstream, and he has some practical solutions to bring Christian music to that point. Will it ever happen? It's doubtful that it will, or that it even should. After all, to me, CCM is valuable as wholesome entertainment to the modern and post-modern generations who would have no interest in, say, Southern gospel. I think 50-50 is a better, more realistic ratio. He does address the problem of Christian musicians going out into the world and "backsliding" by the proposal of creating a "traveling pastor" ministry to go on tour with the musicians. All in all, a very thought-provoking book.

Eye and Heart Opening.......2000-07-09

Mark Joseph challenged me as a person in the Christian ghetto to rethink my position about music and the culture. Well-written and researched, this book has been lived by Mark. Most importantly, Mark forced me to think through some tough issues and take responsibility where I've been part of the problem. Get this book! It's a heart and Eye opener!

If you're reading the reviews, you should read the book........2000-05-04

If you're reading this review then you probably should read this book. Reading the review implies that you have an interest in the subject(s) of faith and/or rock and roll which means that this page-turner is for you. Mark Joseph has accomplished an astounding feat here by amassing this information. Welcome to Faith/Rock 101. Prepare to be educated. You should understand, though, that as Mark Joseph begins presenting two opposing viewpoints on a debate that may be new to some, his mind is firmly made up. When Joseph allows the artists to do the talking, the book shines. He does, however, engage in some editorial-izing at times from his own point of view. He has weighed Contemporary Christian Music in the balance and found it wanting. The book is about two points of view regarding the relevance of C(ontemporary) C(hristian) M(usic) to the world at large as opposed to the Christian sub-culture and its quality when judged as art. The basis for Mark Joseph's conclusion that CCM serves no useful function is that the artists perpetually "preach to the choir." It's a matter of Christians making music for Christians who already agree with them. Thus, CCM has none of the tension and angst-and presumably fun-that are associated with real life. CCM is safe and sanitized. It would be inappropriate for me to offer my observations, points of agreement or disagreement with the author. I'm reviewing the book, not the premise of the book. Do you want to discuss it? Email me. It's a fascinating and controversial topic. If you read Rebellion with an open-mind, you will find that it provides some answers even as it produces more questions. Consider the different responses of the members of Kansas. We see the argument set forth in Rebellion in its purest form in the section chronicling Kansas. Faith split the band into Christian and non-Christian camps. We learn that bandmates even segregated themselves on the airplane based on belief! The irony of it is that, after the breakup of Kansas, Kerry Livgren and John Elefante espouse differing views regarding CCM. Elefante embraces CCM, adding a strong voice to the contention that the popular music machine will not accept songs about Jesus. (Michael Been of the Call also elucidates on the pop music machine-the "current power structure, the ones who right now are making the rules and creating the values and ethics of the country.") Livgren, however, is more a proponent of the author's viewpoint, indicating that CCM is far removed from the "real world" where hurting, sinful people never hear it. A complex issue, don't you think? If I go on, my review will be too long and you won't read it. Let me just add this. As far as quote of the day, be sure to see the section on Atomic Opera and their observations of Christianity as it is commonly practiced by adherents and perceived by bystanders.

Faith & Music Put Into Perspective.......2000-04-10

Excellent Book! A must read for all musicians, people in the music industry and Christians. Interesting, riveting and honest perspective about the integration of faith, religion, music ministry and entertainment. Our American culture needs to have a better understanding of how all of our spiritual roots play a part in our musical preferences. Contemporary Christian music is not a separate genre of music. It should never have been thought of as such and marketed as such. Mark Joseph gives clear history and reasoning behind what is and what should be contemporary Christian music. FULL of useful information and insight. Keeps the reader interested so they can't and don't want to put it down!

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