For years I have read the bible and studied it at college too. As you know there are many things that do not make sense in the bible and it is amazing how different the new testament is with the old.

It is amazing how people are so closed minded when it comes to religion and the bible, and it is scary and dangerous to think people really believe the bible is word of God.

If you believe that God does not need to write a book and God has never needed to make one person the chosen person to speak to us - which can leave things open to abuse - then you can make your mind up if neale is talking to God or not. If he is, then this is the kind of God I believe that created the world and us and the insights give clarification on so many untruths and distorted stories from the bible. Stories being the word.

People forget the mentality and knowledge of the people in the old testament and without understanding that and the power of religion - many of the stories will be taken literally.

This book started my journey and I went on the read all 3 books and then the others like relevations - which really go into the mind of religion and look at them in such depth - you will will wonder why you could not see those things for yourself.

It is important to remember that religion over the years have murdered, killed, raped, tortured, slaughtered villages, children and towns in the name of religion. the power of religion and the people who run it is scary and the influence they have is amazing and startling. With that much power there is always lots of corruption and some people will do anything to stop the truth from being revealed that could affect their power, position and wealth.

all this can be seen the how Jesus was put on the cross to die.

How did he view the church leaders? What did he say?

why did he have to talk in stories? this is the only the first step - but there are many authors who say the same things as these books in a different way.

It is not a easy book to read at first as it takes a lot of thinking and understanding - as you are looking and challenging all that you have learnt and been brought up with. that is always difficult and changing one's point of view is always difficult, especially when you have believed certain things for such along time and you feel they have been your crutch and now you are questioning them.

I think this may be the reason the people who have given the book such a low rating have. You have to be ready for this book. I would not say over 17 years ago I was either, especially if you already involved heavily in a church at the time.