Customer Reviews

21 reviews

• Elizabeth Brown

  Many of us grew up in Catholic schools being told about what's in the Bible by well-meaning nuns, priests, and brothers. Who would have thought they omitted so much and told us so many untruths? They mustn't have read the Bible themselves. It's all there in plain view and, as this book demonstrates, their stories fall apart when looked at closely.
  5 stars

• S Patrick

  My instincts told me that what we were told growing up in Catholic school was mostly lies and wishful thinking. Now I know for sure I was right having read this book carefully.

• Sean Harte

  The author having examined the Bible similar to a juror would examine evidence in a trial.His attention to detail leaves the reader confident that his findings are well researched and accurate.His concludes that we have been misled by the Holy Book.I congratulate Mr Cronin for a job well done and a stimulating read

• Mark Longstaff

  As Easter approaches what a time to review Reflections of a Catholic Altar Boy after reading I begin to wonder if my three sons' names Samuel, Joshua, and Jacob require closer scrutiny!
  
  Very definitely a challenging time and a book that hopefully will open up some serious debate about the nature and existence of God and his son Jesus.
  
  At the very least it should lead readers to challenge their own belief systems.
  
  This is because of the detailed research that has been carried out by the author. At the conclusion of the section of the New Testament, the Postscript is very powerful as is the Introduction because it is a personal account of the author's journey to atheism having come from a very strong Catholic background in Ireland where until the last few years the faith was all-encompassing to the Irish population.
  
  Generally, we did not begin to question our faith until we left home and ventured out into the world.
  
  The author's humanities background at the university level and teaching English at the secondary school level are valuable assets enabling the writer to use his literary skills fully especially when discussing the various scribes writing in the Old Testament and how a number of them were very skilled as writers whilst others left a great deal to be desired.
  
  The layout using the actual format of the Bible itself in two columns is most apt.
  
  The research that Mr. Cronin has conducted over many years certainly pays dividends and I noted the acknowledgment of many other authors on this vexed question of whether is God real or a man-made deity who is actually not very human at all!
  
  I hope that this book will become required reading for university Theology undergraduates and postgraduates as well as secondary school students studying Comparative Religions!
  
  
  

• Graeme McIntosh

  This is an excellent book for people who had a religious education when they were young and now wish to reassess the stories and biblical quotations they were exposed to. The book’s introduction and conclusion are essential reading. Readers will also be entertained by the humorous and insightful way in which A.J. Cronin writes about each of the books of the bible, although you may feel the need to skip the analysis of some of the lesser books of the Old Testament, in which case a handy summary is included in a square in the middle of each page.
  A word of warning; if you give this book as a gift to friends or family who are committed Christians, you may find they are offended by some of the author’s jocular remarks. In which case, keep the book for yourself to use as a useful reference book in debating with these people. Highly recommended.

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