Customer Reviews (1)

Some of the most controversial issues of spirituality
A Rebel To His Last Breath provides the first biography of one Joseph McCabe, a former Catholic priest who became a champion of free thought and rationalism in the first half of the 20th century. Why chart the life of a man largely forgotten today? Because he tackled some of the most controversial issues of spirituality and social issues of modern times, and his efforts and writings continue to influence. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (3)

Joseph McCabe books
Though McCabe books may not be completely accurate, he was well studied and read original biblical languages.

The essays tend to cover just enough material, so they can easily be finished. But you can get a good idea from the first few pages already.

I tend to be somewhere between Marcus Borg and McCabe in my own opinions, so it is good to read two sources.

After reading these two, the truth of the Biblical times seems to be hidden for the most part. But you can read these yourself and then decide how literally the Bible should be read. Borg is pretty close to right, if you are a religious person. If you are an atheist, McCabe has lots to back your own arguments.The Forgery of the Old Testament and Other Essays (Freethought Library)The Myth of the Resurrection and Other Essays (The Freethought Library)

A bit overdramatic but still a fun and informative read
This material was controversial when originally published in 1926-1927.If you've read more recent biblical criticism, you will note a few points that have since been clarified by more recent works but, for the most part, McCabe's arguments are as current as ever. Since the book is fairly broad in scope, McCabe doesn't offer much justification for his assertions though he does offer some.But what makes "The Forgery of the Old Testament" unique and such a delight to read is McCabe's straightforward language and his witty attacks on the earlier biblical critics and the traditional religious community.He exposes their charitable justifications of the Old Testament "forgeries" as apologetic drivel.

Witty, Straightforward -- delightfully entertaining!
This material was controversial when originally published in 1926-1927.If you've read more recent biblical criticism, you will note a few points that have since been clarified by more recent works but, for the most part, McCabe's arguments are as current as ever. Since the book is fairly broad in scope, McCabe doesn't offer much justification for his assertions though he does offer some.But what makes "The Forgery of the Old Testament" unique and such a delight to read is McCabe's straightforward language and his witty attacks on the earlier biblical critics and the traditional religious community.He exposes their charitable justifications of the Old Testament "forgeries" as apologetic drivel. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Classical work on biblical criticism
Another reviewer has criticized this book for its lack of reference, and I agree. McCabe should've given citations, so that we can check the reliability of his sources and their methods. Also, there are a lot of good ideas scattered throughout this book, that Prometheus should have an index placed at the back.

The content of the book itself is very well written and thoroughly engaging. In the first part, McCabe documents specific beliefs and practices of the pagan cults, and draws parallels with christian beliefs and practices. He rightfully concludes that the gospel resurrection myth is a pagan derivative, and that it did not happen.

The Second part concerns the historicity of Jesus. While very skeptical of the gospel narratives, McCabe shows that it is more plausible that there was a hstorical Jesus behind the stories, than to believe that it is all myth. He reviews contemporary Jesus Mythicists like arthur Drews, who wrote The Christ Myth, and finds them wanting.

The last part of the book chronicles the rise of christianity, and how it was instrumental in the downfall of the Roman Empire shortly after gaining power via Emperor Constantine. It is definitely an eye-opening look at how christianity is vastly different from, an intolerant of, other beliefs. Rome was better off with Paganism as their official national religion.

Clear but not referenced
My title for this review pretty much says it all: the author has a clear and well thought out structure, but since these are truly essays, they contain almost no quotes or references of the source material. Had the author made use of such referencing, this could have been a powerful work. The authors' opinions are presented without the backing of the base material, and as such sound as if they are propaganda. As it is, it is of little use to a serious reader of this subject.

Another recommendation
I find the subject of the historicity of Jesus to be absolutely fascinating.Joseph McCabe's Myth of Ressurection is an interesting and scholarly work, but if you want a truly insightful and profound book check out Earl Doherty's The Jesus Puzzle.Doherty basically focuses on the "conspiracy of silence surrounding the Paulian epistles.He questions why Paul makes nary a mention of the deeds, life, and sayings of Jesus.His conclusion is simple yet surprising:Paul wasn't writing about a human Jesus but rather a mythical Jesus similar in scope to the "savior gods" which he learned about in his youth.I guarantee by the end of Doherty's arguments, you'll be thinking as I did: "Damn, why didn't I think of that."

Read it, and then if you want you can check out McCabe's take on Jesus.

Good Read
I have to tell you...This book is moving..the similaries between ancient religions and the jesus story are interesting..One thing I've found is that when you tell christians what you've discovered they state that it's just "tricks of the devil"...Ask them this...Wouldn't it have been easier just to have a room at the inn????

The Myth of the Resurrection and Other Essays
McCabe does a wonderful job taking the reader through the true historiesof religion and man.He emphisizes strongly on the falacies which theBible has been based upon; as well as how the ignorance of the ancientworld led to a basis of Christian beliefs that would bloodily take over theworld.McCabe also provides proof that Christianity is a directrepresentation of several other older, pagan beliefs.If there is a doubtin your mind, this book will leave you confident that Christianity is notwhat it seems to be. ... Read more

Product Description
Bank of Wisdom CD-ROM VERSION #SE102. This includes 19 volumes of the Black International, published 2006 in PDF format. By the church historian Joseph McCabe. Subtitle: 19 Volumes of Church History by the Great English Historian Joseph McCabe. (McCabe spent 12 years in a monastery, left and became one of the leading exponents of rationalism, freethought and atheism.) Publisher's statement: "This great English Historian intended to produce an ongoing series of Unvarnished History of the Catholic Church, and the reason wars will always be inevitable as long as the church is allowed to corrupt governments and ferment trouble for its own power and profit. But the U.S. Government ordered the series suppressed, claiming it was a threat to the War Effort. So here we reproduce the first 19 volumes of Needed Factual History of the Rise of WWII." Requires a PDF reader which is NOT included). Brand new, factory sealed ... Read more

Book Description
Throughout history, the Christian Church has put up a bitter and persistent opposition to astronomy, geology, biology, paleontology and evolution and has banned or prevented the investigation or practice of medicine, life insurance, agriculture, the census, printing, and the use of steam and electricity. This social history of repression is explored in McCabe's well-documented book. ... Read more

Product Description
"12 volumes in six books from the pen of Joseph McCabe, the Scholar who Dared to Tell the Truth" Bank of Wisdom computer CD-ROM Special Edition SE110, in PDF format ... Read more

Book Description
A candid, scholarly, provocative historical commentary on the sexual attitude and official policies of the Roman Catholic Church through the ages. Written by an ex-Franciscan priest turned Freethinker, who had been called "the most learned man alive." A timely, iconoclastic masterpiece. ... Read more

Book Description
Contents: The Start From Hegel, The Blend With Materialism, The Flaming Background, Science And Dialectical Materialism, The Economic Determination Of History, Dialectical Materialism Today. ... Read more