Why God Won't Go Away : Brain Science and the Biology of Belief
by Andrew Newberg, Eugene G. D'Aquili, Vince Rause, Andrew B. Newberg
Average Customer Review:
Hardcover (03 April, 2001)
list price: $24.95
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Editorial Review

Over the centuries, theories have abounded as to why human beings have aseemingly irrational attraction to God and religious experiences. In Why GodWon't Go Away authors Andrew Newberg, M.D., Eugene D'Aquili, M.D., and VinceRause offer a startlingly simple, yet scientifically plausible opinion: humansseek God because our brains are biologically programmed to do so.

Researchers Newberg and D'Aquili used high-tech imaging devices to peer into thebrains of meditating Buddhists and Franciscan nuns. As the data and brainphotographs flowed in, the researchers began to find solid evidence that themystical experiences of the subjects "were not the result of some fabrication,or simple wishful thinking, but were associated instead with a series ofobservable neurological events," explains Newberg. "In other words, mysticalexperience is biologically, observably, and scientifically real.... Gradually,we shaped a hypothesis that suggests that spiritual experience, at its veryroot, is intimately interwoven with human biology." Lay readers should be warnedthat although the topic is fascinating, the writing is geared toward scientificdocumentation that defends the authors' hypothesis. For a more palatablediscussion, seek out Deepak Chopra's How to Know God, in which he alsoexplores this fascinating evidence of spiritual hard-wiring. --GailHudson ... Read more

Reviews (60)

Why this book won't go away
This book takes too long to get to the point.While I disagree with the book's substance, I would rate the substance at least 2 stars.But the verbose rambling style could not keep my attention, so I just skimmed this book.The style is like New Age writing, which I can't tolerate.This book could easily be shortened into a pleasant magazine article.

But this book won't go away.Why?Because it tries to synthesize science and religion, and this has great appeal to many people.Critical reasoning makes clear that science and religion are incompatible.Anyone who truly understands either science or a religion will reject the final conclusions of this book.But the majority of readers who understand neither will find this book provocative.

Ultimately poor science and poor religion
When I was a kid, I was told that Evil Kenevil was going to jump a Canyon--the Grand I think--on his motorcycle.I have to admit that I wasn't interested enough in it at the time to recall if he did it or even actually planned to do it.I do, however, have a sense now of what it must feel like to make that kind of leap, because the authors of Why God Won't Go Away carried me over an impressive one!

First let me defend myself from the religious readers who may suspect me of atheistic prejudices.I believe in a spiritual being greater than the self--sorry Steven--but I also acknowledge that this is by personal preference and not by reason of scientific proof.I even realize that for many people--like Steven--this just doesn't make sense.That's okay.I'm alright with that; it doesn't have to.

With that said, I can go on to say what I enjoyed about the book: Their look at the functioning ofneuro-biology, the theories of the origin of religion that they introduced, the fact that they tended to stay aloof from endorsing any specific religion, and their willingness to get off the usual track of studying speech, language and movement.Certainly finding a biological and evolutionary basis for religious belief makes abundant sense.It does appear that it has a strong inherent foundation, or it would not persist.That it provides the population that possesses it with survival advantages seems reasonable.

Now for the minor criticism:Their discussion of how the "self" arises was interesting but rather simplistic.Brain/mind studies is, I know, a relatively new field, but the authors did not discuss any of the other theories out there or how their own theory related to the research going on these days.Although Damasio, Gazzaniga, Ramachandran and Pinker are all listed in the bibliography, not much is made of them and so much could have been.The works of Blackmore, Dennett, Dawkins, Marcus, and Penroseweren't even listed.These are serious omissions. The authors were not studying the self; they were proposing how a self arises and how it might therefore perceive an internal event as god.If they had made as intensive a study of the literature as they indicated in the first chapters of the book, they should have made more of the "experts" than they did

Now for the most important issue.In their final chapters and summation, the writers used faulty reasoning to make a case for a higher plane of existence more "real" than the material world.I won't go so far as to say they tried to prove the existence of god, although the title might have implied it. This suggests a very basic misunderstanding of what science, let alone religion, is about--and this despite the fact that they themselves point out that difference.They just ignore it.Let's look at it.

One may, as the authors did, study the effects of mediation and prayer on the human brain.There have been enough studies that prove that they do have an effect; they're not all good studies, but they're there.One may, as they also did, form theories as to how these electrochemical changes effect the perception of those who experience them.One may even legitimately suggest how these electrochemical changes in human brain tissue may have led to the formation of and belief in various religions. It goes a long way toward explaining why, even today,people are willing to murder "outsiders" based upon their religion alone

To leap from these tenuous and rather preliminary scientific findings and the possibilities they suggest to a conclusion that these same tenuously provenbiological faculties "proves" a higher plane--let alone god--exists, is definitely not.Just because someone's mind perceives an experience as "real" while in an altered state of consciousness does not constitue "proof."That doesn't mean they are dissimulating; it means that it is their own subjective response to an internal experience.But does a person capable of this type of experience require proof to believe?

Now for my pet peeve: The authors drag in poor Einstein and Schrödinger, as so many others before them have, as "witnesses." They imply that the great authors of Relativity and of Quantum physics respectively would have approved and agreed with their proposal.This suggests that the authors don't have quite the handle on either man's character or on the theories of Quantum and Relativity physics that they think they do.

Both scientists did indeed have a powerful sense of the majesty and mystery of nature and of the universe, a sort of "cosmic religious feeling," as the authors note.I'm not certain, however, that one could say this awe of nature was quite the same as the transcendentalism of meditation or of prayer.If you stand in front of a tsunami or a tornado, I can guarantee you will experience a type of awe, but it won't be the same experience as meditation or prayer provides.

Again, ifpresented with the suggestion that there was a "higher plane of being" that one could only attain by merging with the "One," I suspect both Einstein and Schrödinger would have raised an eyebrow or two! More importantly, it wouldn't have mattered even if they hadbelieved it.Using their names in support of a contention--even if they had personally agreed to have it so--is a technique called "persuasion by endorsement."It's used as an advertising method all the time.It's used because it works.Humans are social animals, and we tend to get on the band wagon, especially if it's driven by someone famous.In fact, it's very hard to resist it. But it's not scientific proof either.

Now I don't want anyone to think that I'm saying that there is absolutely no higher plane of existence reachable only by meditation or prayer.I certainly wouldn't say that the personal experiences of those who practice these disciplines are false.I'm simply saying that whether it exists or not, science is unable to prove or disprove it.In fact, it's not really the purpose of science to do so.

The purpose of science is to describe the workings of the material world as precisely as possible, given the technology of the time.It acknowledges that this is never a perfect description and that the fate of many theories, and even laws, is to be disproved or at least modified.Science is a self correcting system of thought.While individual scientists may stray from the principles of the discipline, science as a practice over time does not.The authors patently mislead when they accuse science of the arrogant statement:"All that is real can be verified by scientific measurements, therefore, what can't be verified by science isn't really real (p. 171)."In fact, what can't be verified by science is not the province of science.God and the higher plane may be real; they simply aren't repeatable, testable, or quantifiable.No scientist worth his salt would ever claim otherwise.

A Good Read
Written in a friendly, conversational style, this book makes accessible some very difficult and interesting concepts.Certainly, it would be hard to argue that the biological/neurological basis for belief, ie, the reason so many of us believe in a supreme being/beings other than ourselves is not interesting... and that is, in a nutshell, what this book is about.It goes on to explore a couple of details of many interesting related topics, such as the role of ritual and how rituals (such as those in which chruch-goers participate) effect the brain, and hence our conciousness.This book does not, however, explore topics like NDEs (Near Death Experiences) much at all, so if that is a topic you want to read up on, this is not the book for you.

This book was an enjoyable and interesting read, but it was not without flaws.As mentioned above, I found the lack of material on near death experiences somewhat disappointing, as, from what I understand, those are interesting neurological phenomena.Also, the authors spend a bit too long dwelling on explaining the basics of the nervous system.A shorter portion of the text would have done just as well, and would have left more room to cover other topics. ... Read more

Isbn: 0345440331
Subjects:  1. Belief and doubt    2. Brain    3. Faith    4. God    5. Life Sciences - Human Anatomy & Physiology    6. Neuropsychology    7. Philosophy & Social Aspects    8. Psychology Of Religion    9. Psychology, Religious    10. Religion    11. Science    12. Spiritual life    13. Science / General   

The Biggest Secret: The Book That Will Change the World
by David Icke
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 January, 1999)
list price: $29.95 -- our price: $19.77
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Editorial Review

Look out Robert Anton Wilson! Either David Icke is competing for the "Paranoid of the Decade" award or he knows something the rest of us don't. Icke reveals a sinister web connecting everything from the British royal family to major oil companies, to 33 of the last 40 U.S. presidents, in a global conspiracy masterminded by an interstellar brotherhood vying for planetary control through the manipulation of humanity's very way of life. Icke digs into every facet of contemporary society to expose the invisible horror lurking beneath the calm veneer of everyday life. In the process he gets downright offensive, knocking everything from Judaism to the Denver airport. Even if you can't swallow Icke's distasteful revelations or follow every step of his labyrinthine conspiracy theories, The Biggest Secret is sure to forever change the way you look at the Amoco oil logo. --Brian Patterson ... Read more

Reviews (172)

Brain for sale, one owner
Yes, finally, somebody wrote a book that serves as an invitation to sell your brain.Just get rid of that damn brain, you don't need it.Icke has the answer.

This enlightened man likely noticed the amount of time people were spending in an attempt to understand how the world works, how it has changed, and how it can change through organized effort.Looking to relieve people of the tremendous burden of being alive and thinking about the world, Icke finally penned the tome we've been waiting for.

Yes, it has all the answers.Pretty much.He comes from every angle, and then, in a real coup of publishing wit, he hits us with the secret.The world is run by another species from the fourth dimension.A species of lizards.

Though I strongly suspected this when I noticed Bill Clinton's tail wagging with glee during a press conference in 1994, Icke finally comes clean with the whole thing.These lizards literally rule the planet.

After learning these secrets, I threw away all of my books.Don't need 'em anymore!I'm free!I'm free!If anyone is interested, I'm selling my brain as well.Used, minor wear, normal sized, pink, squishy.I'm asking a fair price.

One thing troubles me about the book, in fact, about all of Icke's work.He conveniently excludes a list of the drugs he is taking, or perhaps more importantly, the drugs he has been prescribed but is not taking.

Kind of twisted
Sure, there's a universal goal to create a new world order, and there's freemasonry and there's symbolic meaning in symbols,but referance to satanism is really far out plus,reptiles are born and they have to cut there tail off after birth? mental,picture of michaelangleos Human Male circle with a erect penis?(or two of them)The lower forth demision which is another referance to satanic cults! No such thing Sure miltary secret devices that the human eye can't see. Later part of the book human beings need love but so do the reptiles. He's either a satanic lord himself or metally ILL. One of his pictures of the wrecked car in Princess Dinas accident looks like a insect.(if it is acually a real photo of her car. Still very interesting reading. Did he write this book on his own or did a Santanic Cult help him? Only he knows.It's his biggest secret. Or we could all take LSD and finally see the reptiles. :>)

Argumentum ad Absurdium
Unless you are of a credulant disposition ready to believe the slightest conjectures and leaps in logic as proof of a broad (broad being an understatement!) conspiracy theory, just don't bother reading anything by David Icke as he has nothing to offer for the sound and rational mind to ponder over.Remember, this 'sound' theory is presented by someone who, not too long ago, publicly proclaimed that he was Jesus Christ with warnings about an imminent Judgment Day only to later recant his claims as to his divine identity.

Icke's new theory is no longer on his divine origins from The Holy Trinity but that humanity is the product of abreeding experiment carried out by exploitatively cruel and tyrannical reptilian extraterrestrials (he even goes so far to suggest they might be highly evolved dinosaurs! Yes, of course, they're the Slistaks from 'Land of the Lost'!It's so clear to me now!) who have been monitoring our evolution since our arrival upon this Earth.Supposedly this breed of reptiles has been most active in interbreeding with Western Europeans and Jews, thus explaining the latter's cold calculative and exploitative traits in comparison with the rest of humanity (the only thing he proves here is that he's an anti-semite and anti-white biggot!)According to him, this conspiracy continues to manifest itself through elected officials, royalty, scientists, the military... well, you know, the usual suspects in these types of conspiracy theories. These aliens and conspirators can shape-shift and teleport to avoid detection of course and that's why they're so elusive and powerful.In turn, such leadership is involved in sinister Satanic rituals in secret locations such as subterranean complexes where they indulge in orgiastic feasts and human sacrifice.In short, just watch Carpenter's 'They Live' or the TV series 'V' or read Lovecraft's Cthulluh myths and you get the jist of his argument.

The dementia/paranoid delusions of the author and the absurdity of his proposition are immediately evident to any reader of average education and sober mind.The conjecture is so laughable that I couldn't continue reading due to the tears from my eyes smudging the pages of this farce of a book.At one point he explains that the late Carl Sagan was a collaborator with these evil reptilian aliens as, (1) He had a strange fascination with extra-terrestrial life and the cosmos; (2) he was a scientist and a Jew, groups normally part of this conspiracy anyway and, (3) 'Sagan' spelled backwards is 'Nagas' which is a Hindu serpent god therefore, (4) Carl Sagan is a reptilian alien deceiving the public about the truth of extraterrestrial life and his participation in a global/galactic/intergalactic alien conspiracy to dominate humanity and exploit the Earth.Wow!I have seen the light!How could I have been so blind all these years!? Icke is not a deranged and uneducated retired soccer player but a true progeny and genius historian, anthropologist, physicist, astronomer, philosopher, etc.Icke is also a world reknown linguist on par with Noam Chomsky; convinced that a translation from Sanskrit to the Roman alphabet of the word 'Nagas' is conclusive proof that mythological serpent gods, evil reptilian aliens, and conspiratorial Jewish astronomers/physicists are all one and the same. Icke goes on to boldly state that Relativity and the Heisenberg principle are false/obsolete scientific theories superceded by a completely new domain of physics/quantum mechanics which he never bothers to explain; he simply makes reference to some obscure physicist whose theories no one has heard of or accepted in the scientific community at large: but remember, his strange theories were rejected because most physicists and other scientists are part of the alien conspiracy (Of course! How could I be so dismissive! Remember the Sagan/Nagas paradox is irrefutable proof of that conspiracy!)

Following Icke's reasoning one can reach countless conclusions that are all equally absurd because such line of reasoning is illogical; for example, my dog must be god because 'dog' spelled backwards is 'god': with his revelations in proper reasoning I have been enlightened as to the divine scheme of things: those must be signs!What else could they be?!I must now read more of Icke's works to know the whole truth as to what my dog might have in store for me: maybe I have to build a temple in veneration to his divinity!Perhaps we are being controlled by half-human/half-dog aliens who pretend to be gods but really control our minds through our innocent-looking canine companions! This is clearly true as it has been shown in films such as Spaceballs with the Mog character played by John Candy; Mel Brooks produced the film and he is Jewish after all and, Jews are part of the conspiracy without question anyway. Anubis was also a half-canine half-human deity in Ancient Egypt who held the keys to the underworld which clearly symbolizes the presence of these human-dog aliens on Earth and nothing less: the Jews were in ancient Egypt too by the way and were clearly collaborating with Anubis.The U.K., France, and the U.S. all have obelisks in their capitals which are ancient Egyptian symbols and Anubis was Egyptian too.It must therefore also be a certainty that the conspiracy is being perpetuated today by the Purina and Alpo companies that are controlled by Jewish stockholders who are in collusion in covering up this evil canine conspiracy and just turning all of us humans into dog food for their consumption!Such lines of reasoning are defined as logical fallacies of red herring, ad absurdium, or non-sequitur, and cannot be the basis for any rational or scientific discussion of any sort.

Anyway... if you're a reader of sober judgment who wants sociological/scientific theories supported by logic and the scientific method, don't bother reading this book as it is nothing but an arrangement of fantastic/absurd postulations based on pure conjecture and hyperbolations: the logical fallacies in this work are too many to recite in this brief review.At best, David Icke is a writer with a sick sense of humor who thrives on having his anti-western/anti-semitic fantasies taken as fact by a loyal readership comprised of the credulant and mentally ill; at worst, he is a person who suffers from one or more dissociative disorders ranging from psychotic dementia, lunacy, mania, paranoia, or he is simply a full-blown paranoid schizophrenic.Don't waste your time with this garbage pseudo-science and watch some good science fiction instead so you won't die laughing.Although I am not dismissive of the possibility of extraterrestrial life, I choose to found my conclusions on empirical observations and sound logic: I wouldn't base my conclusions or even inquiries on such matters upon the absurd postulations presented by this demented imbecile of an author.
... Read more

Isbn: 0952614766
Subjects:  1. Conspiracies    2. Controversial Knowledge    3. General    4. International economic relations    5. International organization    6. Miscellanea    7. New Age    8. New Age / Parapsychology    9. Political Freedom & Security - International Secur    10. Political Science    11. Unexplained Phenomena   

American Rhapsody
by JOE ESZTERHAS
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (13 March, 2001)
list price: $15.00 -- our price: $10.20
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Editorial Review

American Rhapsody is a gleeful act of outrage,simultaneously an assault on the Clintons and a bridge-burning, tell-all Hollywood memoirin the wicked spirit of You'll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again. Joe Eszterhas's narrativeis a torrent of consciousness with no consistent sense of direction, but itall erupts from a plausible organizing principle best articulated in the chapter "Bubba in Pig Heaven": Hollywood is where Clinton reallybelongs. The author claims Bill watches Blazing Saddles six times a year,and says that Gennifer Flowers got him blazing by enacting aSharon Stone-like crotch-shot scene years before Basic Instinct. When a sarcastic Clinton allegedly told a Hollywood producer that his enemies would soonbe accusing him of coupling with a cow, the producer sent him Eszterhas's1989 screenplay Sacred Cow, in which a president does just that. Eszterhas claims Spielberg dropped the film because of his friendshipwith Clinton. But he still thinks Clinton would be great in the role.

The Lewinsky saga really should be ho-hum by now, but American Rhapsody's Evel Knievel-like leaps of free association and mad brio breathe life into it. You've never been properly introduced to LindaTripp and Lucianne Goldberg until you've read "The Ratwoman and the Bag Ladyof Sleaze," its uproarious take on the pair. American Rhapsodygives dozens of stars time in the sweaty spotlight: Matt "the Scavenger"Drudge, heroic Larry Flynt (whose threat to report Republican scandalsEszterhas credits with quashing impeachment)--almost every big political scandal victim in memory. And there are lots of Hollywood types behaving badly:Bob Dylan, Warren Beatty, Ronald Reagan, Farrah Fawcett, Sharon Stone, RobertEvans, Sly Stallone (who wanted to portray Jesus onscreen), and even Joe Eszterhas. The fantasy chapters, printed in boldface, are sometimesfunny (e.g., "Kenneth W. Starr Confesses"), but mostly they're both over thetop and below the belt (e.g., "Willard Comes Clean," the confessions of the president's penis). What holds your interest is the main narrative, aheady mix of showbiz gossip, personal essay, and Lester Bangs-style prosemania. --Tim Appelo ... Read more

Reviews (80)

?????
I tend to vote Republican but refuse to align myself with the Right Wing or Moral Majority. I'm the guy in the middle that the candidates are really after.I say that as any review on this book should be tempered by the politics of the reader.JE is an avowed Democrat with socialist leanings.Read his most recent book "American Animal" to verify this.So it was surprising as I read the first third of this book that after an initial bow to Clinton as the Rock & Roll Prez, one of "us", he then seems to chastise him for his fatal flaws.This part of the book is interesting, engaging, but also somewhat repetitive.I still couldn't wait to read it my allotted hour a night.

But there is only so much you can talk about this subject and JE rambles on and on until he finally manages to really offend me.How?Well, I just finished his most recent book, "American Animal" an autobiography which I immensely enjoyed.Full of Hollywood stories.But reading this, I see that JE has included many of the stories I enjoyed from his autobiography in this political commentary/fantasy.So is he a writer with a message or is he just repeating his few stories to make a buck?

I don't know what to make of this book, thus my title.Did I enjoy some parts?Yes.Are there some interesting stories?Yes.But there is a lot of waste.It's like wandering thru a jungle with a machete looking for your trail.When you find it, it's worth the work.So maybe the only item I can add of interest came from reading this with some years of aging.JE takes on Arianna Huffington who he spends quite a bit of time describing her history to show what a bad person she is and how she climbed to the top while stepping on other people's faces.But would JE have included these chapters in this form if he had known that within a few years she would shift sides and now disavow her right wing leanings?I think not.

This is not a great book.But if you enjoy reading, maybe you will enjoy it.

Decent and Deplorable- in prose from the spheres.
This is the truth! I never read any other of these exposes and during the majority of the media coverage of the episode that led to Clinton's impeachment- I switched to the animal planet. After reading some reviews on Amazon, I bought this book and I'm glad I did."The Comeback Kid" takes plenty of flack from the author, but Eszterhas spares none.I like the names: The Big Kielbasa- Wilt Chamberlain, "The Bag Lady of Sleaze"- Lucienne Goldberg, the lady who got the story into the media,"Hilla the Hun," "The Night Creature"- Nixon- "The Manchurian Candidate"- McCain- "The Rat Woman,"- Linda Tripp, it goes on to the current president named, "The Crown Prince."The coarsest individual does have the funniest lines, i.e.LBJ- too much to repeat here. The few who seem to get off lightly, like Monica, and believe it or not- Barry Goldwater and Newsweek Magazine who had the story and never printed it.
Perhaps the most effective and distressing part of the book is when Eszterhas does a mini retrospective of all the things we didn't want to know,but did over the years, here are a few: Sen. Harkin blowing his nose on CNN without a handkerchief, Bush Sr. throwing up in China, Buchanon saying "Congress is an Israeli occupied territory," Bob Dylan and Elizabeth T., LBJ turning to the side and taking a whizz at an outdoor press conference, Nixon and Kissinger kneeling together and praying, Spiro Agnew, "If you've seen one city slum you've seen them all," Michael Jackson and his chimp, David Bowie and Mick Jagger. (?)

Eszterhas obviously knows more and remembers more than is probably good for him, but his prose is stunning as is the manner by which he weaves the book together- even with some fiction.The author was the screenwriter for Fatal Attraction and had a relationship with Sharon Stone- who also takes some upper cuts and was rumored to have been intimate with Clinton as well. I definitely recommend reading this- for the humor and frankly, The gossip is completely consuming.

MUCH more than smutty tell-all
What a memorable and highly rewarding read.This book is much more than the sum of it's salacious and often repugnant contents; it's also a lecture on morality and a history lesson as well.I don't see how someone who reads this book can be derisive regarding the interlacing of fiction or the sheer amount of sordid detail.Given Eszerhas' talent for script writing and keen interest for the underbelly of the American society, how his book is put together should be no surprise.It's certainly not a novel or a bucket of heresay poo.
I am one who is generally both revolted and amused by the tabloids, and shows like Entertainment Television.But I could not put this book down.The book is informative and revealing, and I found myself lauging out loud and cringing, often while reading the same paragraph.I particularly enjoyed the moments where Eszterhas reflects on his own life; it's probably the most engaging aspect of the book.Expecting to find a smutty and over the top tell-all, I found something rich in intelligent, values-based writing. ... Read more

Isbn: 0375725547
Subjects:  1. 1946-    2. 20th century    3. American    4. Biography    5. Clinton, Bill,    6. Conspiracy & Scandal Investigations    7. Current Affairs    8. Friends and associates    9. Government - U.S. Government    10. History    11. Political Process - General    12. Political corruption    13. Political culture    14. Politicians    15. Politics - Current Events    16. Politics/International Relations    17. United States    18. Clinton, Bill    19. Current Events / American    20. Eszterhas, Joe    21. Political and social views   

Barley Cakes : Parables for the 21st Century
by Cheryl Cavalconte
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 April, 2000)
list price: $10.00 -- our price: $8.50
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Reviews (2)

barley cakes
The author provides clear, sensitive insight into the parables of Jesus...with a new twist. Definitely worht picking up, again and again.

a recepie for Barley Cakes
Take 1 part Asop fables

1 part parables of Jesus

mix in a cup of new age feel good pap and read for about an hour or until completly bored.

the result is "Barley Cakes parables for the twenty first century".

While the over all message of"Barley cakes" is not bad it lacks the insight and wisdom of the parables of Jesus nor does it have the simplicity of the asop fables.

"Barley Cakes" is best served to those who are luke warm or in small portions to children as a bed time snack.

Bottom line " barley cakes is a bland read that gets a "A" for effort and message but a "D" for content. ... Read more

Isbn: 0965813754
Sales Rank: 2137468
Subjects:  1. Bible - Study - New Testament    2. Inspirational    3. Inspirational - General   

Antichrist and a Cup of Tea
by Tim Cohen
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 March, 1998)
list price: $19.95 -- our price: $13.57
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Reviews (24)

Interesting take on the Anti-Christ
I have emailed Tim Cohen.His theology apparently does not effect what he writes in this book.

There are many things of interest in this book.Learning to read a coat of arms is very thought provoking.Learning about the Duke of York's coat of arms is even more interesting.

He takes a whole chapter on British Israelism, indicating that the Prince knows this idea and embraces it.He also reviews that the Prince is now the defender of faith, not the defender of the faith.

However fancy this book may turn out to be, it is an interesting read on royalty and on the Prince in general.

Thought provoking and interesting.
I read this book about a year ago and have recently re-read it.I find Mr. Cohen's research and work to be very well thought out and intriguing.I have to say that myself I always sort of thought of the anti-christ in terms of a bold, charismatic wildly popular man.I never really thought of the idea that the anti-christ could simply be a man totally immersed into every thought, philosophy, theology and who has great influence.Mr. Cohen makes a very compelling argument in support of his thesis regarding Prince Charles.Of course, as Christians we are not to bear false witness against our neighbors; as such, I would recommend reading this book ONLY in terms of its' being just that, a thesis.

I also think that there is some very compelling evidence/arguments for Prince William out there.Although, one wonders if Charles might pass on the throne of Britain, (which most Brits want him to do anyway in favor of William), so that rather than being a monarch of one country he could offer his services as monarch of the EU, (a position that he has already expressed a desire and/or interest in).

More than "extremely well written and thought out"
This book is not a run of the mill book on the AntiChrist.It is entirely unique in the genre.While I consider this to be the foremost book on the subject EVER written, I am providing this review primarily to address some errant comments as well as shed much needed light on the subject of Tim Cohen's work.Two assertions have been made that are simply incorrect.First, one individual asserts "the idea that Tim seems to share is that the anti-Christ (one person) has two horns because of the verse; 'he had two horns like a lamb but spoke like a dragon.'"Actually, the opposite is the case.In "The AntiChrist and a Cup of Tea," Tim does not apply the cited verse to the AntiChrist at all, but rather to the coming false prophet.Furthermore, he suggests that the final pope of Rome will likely fulfill that role (i.e., will be the false prophet who works in tandem with the AntiChrist), not Prince Charles.Second, the same individual states matter of factly, "Not that Charles could not be [the AntiChrist], in future, this person, but presently he has none of the criteria of anti-Christ."Actually, Tim Cohen provides a HUGE amount of irrefutable BIBLICAL evidence to demonstrate that ALL of the prophecies pertaining to the coming AntiChrist that can be fulfilled BEFORE he assumes control over a global government during the Great Tribulation, ARE already fulfilled in Prince Charles, and this is true of no one else, not even the prince's sons William and Harry.For example, Prince Charles has the lineage: he claims descent simultaneously from Israel's King David, Islam's false prophet Mohammed, and, by way of a false occult lineage, Jesus Christ Himself!Prince Charles has the imagery: his personal heraldic achievement or coat of arms has the literal symbolism of the first beast of Revelation 13, which represents the AntiChrist, and of Daniel 7 (i.e., the little horn having eyes like the eyes of a man -- a unicorn with human eyes).His coat of arms also has THE red dragon described in Revelation 12 and 13, representing Satan on it, and the prince was facing this red dragon as he was coronated Prince of Wales or Prince of the red dragon in 1969.Prince Charles has the name calculation: his title, "Charles, Prince of Wales", by which he is globally known, calculates to 666 in both Hebrew and English on the ORIGINAL biblical numbering system (the same system used in the underlying Greek text of Revelation 13:18 to specify the number 666).Prince Charles has the involvement in the Mideast peace process.In fact, the current Road Map, as well as the Oslo process from which it derives, and the Madrid Peace talks from which teh Oslo process derived, can be directly traced to the London Agreement of 1987, which in turn can be directly traced to...PRINCE CHARLES.Prince Charles has the global authority....That's right -- he is not the ignored wimp that the masses have been misled to believe; rather, he is the number one globalist on the planet today, and has been for DECADES.The prince has the influence: Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth II are over the entire New World Order power structure.This is accomplished through the world's most prominent and oldest order of chivalry: the Order of the Garter.This order is MUCH, MUCH more than merely a revival of King Arthur's legendary round table.(Get the book to learn more.)And to top it all off (actually this is just icing on a much larger cake than I can even suggest in this short review), Prince Charles NOW HAS THE IMAGERY OF WHAT COULD BE THE FUTURE ABOMINATION THAT CAUSES DESOLATION!What is that?In March 2002, while Prince Charles was trekking through Brazilian rain forests, the prince was presented with a Brazilian state government inspired item: a miniature version of a statue depicting himself as an angelic figure with large wings standing atop a mass of human bodies looking up to him (Prince Charles) as savior!In fact, the inscription on the base of this miniature statue reads "Savior of the World"!!!And it has Prince Charles' FACE...WITH WINGS!So what did the prince have to say about all this when local Brazilian officials presented the statue to him, commissioned by the state government of Tocantins in central Brazil?What did the prince say when these same officials asked his permission to create a four to five meter high (13 to 16 feet or more) version of this statue, and to place it in a square named after the prince in their capital city?Instead of calling it blasphemy to identify him as "Savior of the World", the prince said, "I am touched and deeply amazed," and then, with the small ego he has, he gladly gave his permission to create the larger version!Now bear in mind that the arrival of this statue is years AFTER Tim Cohen wrote his book, and there is no other human being on the planet who is being called "Savior of the World" other than the one person whom Cohen identified as the future AntiChrist: Prince Charles of Wales.Just think about this: as Tim Cohen himself has noted in recent interviews, what would happen if even the miniature version of this Prince Charles idol, which has already been given to the prince and photographed by the media, were one day to be placed in a newly constructed holy place in Jerusalem?Let alone the full sized version when it is constructed?Would not all of evangelical Christianity scratch its collective head and ask, "Gee, could Prince Charles be the AntiChrist?"Well, you don't have to wait for that day to find out: Get "The AntiChrist and a Cup of Tea" AND READ IT CAREFULLY.You will be astonished by what Tim Cohen presents. ... 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Isbn: 0966279301
Sales Rank: 109458
Subjects:  1. 1948-    2. Antichrist    3. Bible - Prophecies    4. Charles,    5. Christianity - Theology - Eschatology    6. Europe - Great Britain - General    7. History    8. History: World    9. Miscellanea    10. Prince of Wales,    11. Religion - Biblical Studies - Predictive Prophecy    12. Charles   

Last Pope
by John Hogue
Average Customer Review:
Paperback (01 September, 2000)
list price: $19.95
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Editorial Review

John Hogue, a leading authority on Nostradamian prophecy, turns his analytical skills to the 111 Latin mottoes of Malachy of Ireland, a 12th-century bishop who is said to have predicted the succession of popes from Celestine II to the end of the Catholic church. Hogue integrates prophecy and history like a master fencer wields a rapier and dagger, adding just a touch of wry humor--who else but Hogue would compare Saint Bernard and the 12th-century monastic movement to Elvis Presley and rock 'n' roll? The Last Pope succeeds on many levels: as a comprehensive history of the papacy, as an examination of the prophecy of Saint Malachy, and as an assessment of the history and potential future of Catholicism. --Brian Patterson ... Read more

Reviews (17)

Great insights!!!
This book offers great insights on the succession of the pope since its beginning.John Hogue has done indepth research on the subject and offers a comprehensive gathering of St. malachy's prophecies.A great read!!!

Another Anti-Catholic Diatribe from Element Books
Just look at some of the slections published by Element Books and you can see why nothing by them can be taken seriously.These titles incude:

The Jesus Conspiracy: The Turin Shroud and the Truth About the Resurrection
The Elements of Gnosticism
The Illustrated Bloodline of the Holy Grail: The Hidden Lineage of Jesus Revealed

No wonder these items are in the New Age section of bookstores and not in Christianity.

Wishful Thinking
I have no doubt that John Hogue (as well as some of the reviewers of his book) would love to interpret the prophecies attributed to St. Malachy as presaging the end of the universal or Catholic Church while having no implications for the rest of physical existence. However, a more careful analysis would seem to indicate that he is predicting, ultimately, the end of not only the Church Temporal but temporality itself, i.e., the end of time. For example, in the last prediction concerning Petrus Romanus, Malachy points out (translating from the Latin into English) that at the end of Peter's pontificate, the dreadful judge will judge his people. Although dreadful has come to mean something bad, unpleasant or even awful in contemporary English (particularly American English), its more traditional definition is closer to inspiring dread or fear (indeed the term awful originally meant something more like awe-inspiring).

A reasonable inference is that the judge who inspires dread is God. Traditional, classical, pre-Protestant, pre-American, pre-Hogueian Christianity (i.e the faith of the fathers) teaches that ALL shall be judged by God (specifically in His Second Person)at the end of the world, not just the membership of the Catholic Church. There is no basis in scripture or Tradition for a belief in an antecedent, limited judgement applicable to Catholics exclusively.

To summarize, if John Hogue and his fellow anti-Catholics look forward to the day when St. Malachy's prophecy is fulfilled and those pesky Catholics are finally out of the way, on that day they shall find themselves out of the way as well. But even then, they shall be confronted with the Church Triumphant. ... Read more

Isbn: 1862047324
Subjects:  1. Christianity - Catholicism    2. Christianity - History - Catholic    3. General    4. Parapsychology - General    5. Religion    6. Religion - Roman Catholic    7. Christian spiritual & Church leaders    8. History of religion    9. Roman Catholicism, Roman Catholic Church