The Gospel according to Moses: What My Jewish Friends Taught Me about Jesus

by Athol Dickson

"Years ago I exposed myself to the possibility that Judaism might have great truths to offer, and Chever Torah (Jewish Bible study) rewarded my open mind with radical improvements in the way I live and view my Christian faith." -from the Introduction
After he spent five years attending Chever Torah, Athol Dickson found his faith radically changed-the result being a deeper relationship with God. In beautiful and simple language, The Gospel according to Moses illustrates Dickson's journey of faith exploring some of the primary theological differences and similarities between Christianity and Judaism. He draws generously on both Old and New Testament scriptures, looking at Christian and Jewish perspectives on topics such as suffering, grace vs. works, and the place of Jesus in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity, Spirituality, Inspirational

268 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2003

About the author

Athol Dickson's parents were living on the road when he was born. His first bed was a drawer lined with towels in a travel trailer. He has loved road trips ever since. Boating is a passion, too. Athol owns three boats, and once lived aboard a yacht full-time while cruising the Gulf of Mexico and the USA's Atlantic coast. But Athol's nine novels are proof he can sit still and write if he's with his wife of nearly 30 years, The Lovely Sue. They live in Southern California, where Athol is at work on novel number ten, the second in a series call "The Malcolm Cutter Memoirs" about a multi-millionaire chauffeur who would rather solve mysteries for his clients than hang out on his yacht. What bliss: a novel that combines boats and road trips!

Reviews

[Paul, · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Gospel According To Moses is a pretty sharp book by a pretty sharp layman. His experience attending a Reformed Jewish temple for 5 years are valuable for all Christians. He does a good job of explaining the Jewish roots of the Christian faith. And his interactions with the Jewish congregation may put faces to a religion that many of us have not had much contact with. Dickson recitation of the church's sins against the Jews, and their quite justified fear of us, is a powerful reminder of the need for humility. I believe that Christians should remember our oppressions at least as much as those whom we have oppressed, and as much as we remember those times in which we have been oppressed (cf. Tortured for Christ) Dickson does a good job, in my opinion, of framing our problems without succumbing to the Manichean, all-or-nothing views of too many people and books these days (think A People's History of the Unites States by Howard Zinn). The church's history is littered with the debris of profound evil (Inquisition) and with the memorials of incredible good (abolition). That bears remembering in all the church's dealings with people outside the faith.

Dickson also does a great job of raising questions. He caused me to re-examine some things that I had not thought of, things too fundamental for easy examination. This is a great gift. Unfortunately, Dickson's answers were occasionally over-philosophical and did not always take all the biblical evidence into account. So, for the non-theologian, take heed and check out any radical new beliefs with a pastor/shepherd of the church.

[Curtis Hefner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best book I've read in recent memory. It brought new ideas and, more importantly, new questions. The writing style lends itself more to reading than to studying, but the progression of thought should be enough to excite any faith-filled scholar.

This is a book which I will recommend for friends and reread for myself.

[Chris Griesemer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting book. Waxed a bit more philosophic than I’d prefer, would have rather been a bit more evidence based than just ethereal concepts but a humble reminder of the context in which the New Testament authors lived.

[Geoff Glenister · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book tells the story of one man's journey to understanding Jews as brothers. Athol Dickson began attending Chever Torah (literally "Torah group" - basically a Jewish bible study) five years before writing the book. Dickson makes the book very personal, and it makes it a joy to read - even for someone who is more familiar with the material. I think the most important lesson is summarized in this story:

Rabbi Zimmerman is away this Shabbat morning, so Rabbi David Stern leads Chever Torah in his place. Rabbi Stern is young, handsome, and possessed of a lightning quick wit. He wears his hair in the style made famous by J.F.K. His energy is contagious. The morning's discussion accelerates as he asks a question worthy of Rashi, then paces back and forth in front of the hall grinning with delight as we answer and respond with questions of our own. But a few minutes later the rhythm flags inexplicably and we sit silently, staring at our Torahs. Rabbi Stern fires off another question. No one answers. He offers a provocative observation - something controversial to stir the pot. Still, we are silent. Finally, in frustration, he exclaims, "Come on people! Somebody disagree with me! How can we learn anything if no one will disagree?"

We laugh. But it occurs to me that Rabbi Stern has offered the most profound observation of the day, and it is a very Jewish idea.

Unfortunately, most theological conversations I have had in church have been the self-reinforcing kind: a group of people sitting around telling each other what everyone already believes. If some brave soul interjects a radical new idea or questions one of the group's firmly held views, it is usually an unpleasant experience. We shift in our seats uncomfortably until someone rises to the bait. The discussion remains civil, but it seems that any challenge to the groups' theology must be corrected, so all comments are solidly aimed at that one goal: arriving at a preconceived answer.

Chever Torah has no such agenda. Or perhaps I should say all discussions have the same agenda: to explore the possibilities - all the possibilities.

So much of Christianity has become authoritarian and discourages critical thinking - to its detriment. It would do so much good for us to learn that questioning is not necessarily a faith killer - it can be something that spurs our faith to new growth.

This would be a good book for any Evangelical to read. That being said, I wish Dickson would expand his experiment - why not see what he can learn from other Christian denominations? When he is explaining Christian theology, his ignorance of what other denominations believe shows, and a shallow theology is the result. That being said, I am still convinced that there is much wisdom here that would do many Evangelicals a world of good to find.

[Jaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book written by an evangelical layman who writes about the 5 years he's been going to Chever Torah. I thought it was honest and had a lot of good insights on how people from both religious groups see and stereotype eachother and eachother's beliefs, and why a lot of them are wrong. Although the author's dream audience would be a mix of Jewish and Christian readers, I'd wager the VAST majority of people who read the book would fall under the second category. Still, a very good read even if you don't agree with everything the guy put out there (you won't no matter who you are, and that's kinda the point).

[William · Rating 2 out of 5]

So I struggled with what to rate this book. On the one hand, I appreciate the fact that the author attended a local synagogue so as to gain a greater appreciation of his faith, something I think every Christian ought to do, and reading this book will help answer their question why. And if the author had kept this in more of a memoir like format documenting the lessons he learned on this spiritual journey this would easily be a 4 maybe even 5 star book. But he doesn’t do that, rather he uses this opportunity to do what so many pastors do from the pulpit…pontificate on some theological topic for which neither they nor this author seem to really understand.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Athol Dickson's reliving of his time spent with Jewish friends in Torah study, and his reflections on how that time helped to reaffirm the faith he had.

His last few chapters are humbling, and should help Christian readers reflect on the fact that we DO NOT know God's intentions for all mankind, but that he loves all and will suffer no one to be lost. This does not mean we should consider Universalism, but it should mean we should be more skeptical of calling out those who we "believe" are bound for hell. We are not called to be the final judge. We are called to love and share about what Jesus has done. God does the rest.

[Don Schiewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book...there was a sense of relief that the questions that I've wrestled with in Scripture were "OK"...this book gave me the freedom to question the Text and find that the answers are beautiful, wonderful, and oftentimes elusive![return][return]The questions that Dickson chose to use in his book are fascinating and at times uncomfortable...and then you realize that 'in God' there truly is freedom...freedom to question, to argue, to wrestle...to be in awe...[return][return]Can't recommend this book enough!

[Camille Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think its an excellent book. Its great to be able to use the knowledge of anothet culture to understand God better and I love that the book addresses bold meaningful questions rather than simply a storyline

[Tonya Wetzel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I took several months to read this book as I needed time to “digest” each chapter. A truly fascinating read that starts with a premise that it’s ok and helpful to ask questions of our faith and God. Something that I think Christian culture should embrace more.

A few favorites from the book:

“In that instant, I understand that it takes more faith to ask than it takes to fear the asking. It takes faith to be ready for whatever answer comes, and faith to persevere with more questions if the answer is not understood. Asking an honest question means being ready to change in response to the answer, and short of martyrdom, change may be the ultimate act of faith.”

“I think sometimes bad things happen to good people so we can watch God turn the greatest tragedies into the purest love.”

“Blind faith is arrogant... blind faith is based on something much too small: me.”

“All of which makes me wonder, if I listened more and assumed less, what else could I learn?”

“My ability to understand the paradoxes of the Bible has no effect whatsoever on God’s ability to exist in ways beyond my comprehension.”

[Erin Laramore · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an excellent book about the Jewish foundations of Christianity, where we differ, and where we match. This book is taken from the perspective of a Christian man, who accepted the invitation of a Jewish friend to attend Chever Torah, which we would compare to a weekly Bible study. In the 5 years he attended, Mr. Dickson discovered many ways in which Judaism and Christianity connected. He dug deeper into the original Hebrew of the Torah, listened to the Jews who attended and the Rabbis who taught in order to better understand the foundation of his own religious beliefs. Since Christianity does build on the foundation of Judaism - and since Jesus's original audience was primarily Jewish, understanding Judaism is so important to understanding the tenets of Christianity. This is one I'd definitely recommend to those wanting to better understand their faith.

[Joao Luis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an amazing book to read and dive into. The way this book was written makes you rethink how you treat others and what you think about religion and how you judge religion. This book shows another perspective of one religion (Christian) through another religion (Jewish). The way he talks about Christianism really made me rethink the way I see my religion and my life with God. But it also showed me that even though we have different beliefs we can still learn from one another. This is a great book and I enjoyed reading it, I'd recommend it to anyone who is open-minded about religion and wants to learn and understand more.

[Jennie Blankenship · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book would be great for a very specific type of reader. Although there were many points I found interesting there were double the amount of conclusions that were painfully drawn. It was immediately obvious this book was written by a conservative Christian which makes his framing of issues at times hard to stick with, I kept wanting to yell, duh!

[Karen Butman]

A Jesus follower going to Torah study in a synagogue. Very interesting idea. But, what a lovely idea to learn how others believe so we are better able to relate to them. I found his discussions interesting and thought provoking. I will look at my Jewish acquaintances differently and hopefully be able to engage them in conversation.

[Jessica Herring · Rating 4 out of 5]

By no means perfect, this book is an invaluable attempt to articulate both the theological and historical relationship between Judaism and Christianity. Written at the individual level it's an accessible account to explore misconceptions and oversimplifications.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book of 2020! Love!

[Osmar Junior · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the reading. It gave me a good perspective of the conectons between Judaism and Christianity. It was good as an information of ideas.

[Kim M · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. Helped to open my eyes about several misconceptions that I had. A couple of chapters are long and repeating but that doesn't prevent it from being a well worth read.

[Brad Dell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a treat, a random find. It served as an affirmation of my connection with Judaism — a Christian interacting with their texts, their imaginative midrash, their love for an honest question (even when it makes the devout uncomfortable!). I did think he occasionally leaned too hard on the logics informed by his faith tradition, following rabbit trails that carried him far from his original trajectory. But sometimes that’s exactly what we need when we engage with the mysterious.

[J.J. Richardson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting interfaith study that highlighted both the similarities and differences between mainline Christianity and reformed Judaism. Athol's tension with his theology and the Jewish insights into the scriptures was very familiar to me. Of particular interest to me, was the way in which Athol learned that all questions were allowed in his Chever Torah class. They (the students) were allowed and encouraged to ask the most difficult theological questions with reprecussion. I also found the Chever Torah insights in to paradoxes helpful. Athol navigates the interaction between the two religions, and comes out an even stronger christian that he was before, but with a profound love for the Jewish people and wiser for having learned their take on the scriptures.

[Debi Wittrock · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so awesome. It has made me really look at Judaism and dispensationalism. As Christians we are taught "everyone needs to be saved"- but what about the promises God made to the Jews specifically? What we see as works (keeping Shabbot, keeping kosher...) they see as following the laws and ordinances God has given specifically to them.
It has changed my theology enough to make my friends crazy!

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this book a breat deal. It made me look at things from a different perspective. But I wouild caution that this book is not for everyone. Whether Jew or Christian, I wouild recommend you have some level of Biblical knowledge prior to reading the book. Natrually, the bulk of the book is based on the Tanak or Old Testament. But please do not let that deter you from reading the book with an open mind.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very challenging and educational. This is not an easy read, and can actually be used as a Bible study, though it depends on the translation of Bible you have (I do not recommend using the NIV for this). Teaches Christians how to "wrestle with God" as the Jews have always done, and to question typical ideas of who and what God is. Have an open mind, and give this one time to really sink in.

[Eddie Snipes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book and highly recommended. Several times in the book I thought I would end up disagreeing with Athol, but as he explained his point, I found that we usually ended up in agreement. There are a few minor points I don't agree, but overall, I consider this book as a must read for any Christian, Jew, or anyone else.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an honest look at the differences and similarities between Judaism and Christianity. It also addresses (and provides answers for) some of the common misconceptions Jews and Christians have about one another's faiths. I was pleased to learn a lot about Judaism as well as discover some ideas that I can wrestle with about my own faith.

[Andre · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a good read. explained a lot about how judaism and christianity are alike, and how the differ. My favorite part was about the Shema, how from one jewish phrase you get the attributes of God intertwined as a whole.

[Daniel Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a Christian author who spends some time with some Jewish guys and listens more than talks. Sort of original. Makes you rethink Judaism and Christianity.