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De heilige geschiedenis
In "De heilige geschiedenis" wijst Jonathan Black ons op de betrokkenheid van engelen in mythen, folklore en religieuze testamenten. Engelen hebben onze perceptie van de wereld vormgegeven sinds de schepping. Soms zijn engelen het middelpunt, soms zijn ze bijna onzichtbaar, maar alle verhalen laten zien dat ze altijd aanwezig zijn en constant vorm geven aan ons leven en de wereld om ons heen. Black schreef eerder de culthit "De geheime geschiedenis van de wereld", de vermoedelijke bron van Dan Brown's "De Da Vinci Code".
481 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2013
200 people are currently reading
1495 people want to read
About the author
Jonathan Black
5 books181 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author by this name in the Goodreads database.
Jonathan Black—real name Mark Booth—was born in Cambridge, UK, and educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he read Philosophy and Theology. He works in publishing and publishes many bestselling authors and cultural icons. He also publishes many prominent authors in the MBS and ‘alternative history’ fields, including Graham Hancock, Lorna Byrne, Mooji and Rupert Sheldrake.
As an author he has sold over half a million books in the English language and his work has been translated into twenty-one languages. The Secret History of the World was a New York Times bestseller.
Booth has given lectures and interviews at the Royal Academy, Maastricht University and the Marion Institute in Massachusetts. He has been widely interviewed on radio and TV, including BBC Radio 4’s Today and Coast to Coast in the US. He has written articles for the Independent on Sunday, English National Opera, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Mind Body Spirit.
Jonathan Black—real name Mark Booth—was born in Cambridge, UK, and educated at Oriel College, Oxford, where he read Philosophy and Theology. He works in publishing and publishes many bestselling authors and cultural icons. He also publishes many prominent authors in the MBS and ‘alternative history’ fields, including Graham Hancock, Lorna Byrne, Mooji and Rupert Sheldrake.
As an author he has sold over half a million books in the English language and his work has been translated into twenty-one languages. The Secret History of the World was a New York Times bestseller.
Booth has given lectures and interviews at the Royal Academy, Maastricht University and the Marion Institute in Massachusetts. He has been widely interviewed on radio and TV, including BBC Radio 4’s Today and Coast to Coast in the US. He has written articles for the Independent on Sunday, English National Opera, Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and Mind Body Spirit.
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January 7, 2021
این کتاب به اسم تاریخ مقدس ترجمه شده و نشر جامی چاپش کرده!
اول از هر چیزی اینو بگم که من ۳۰۰ صفحه خوندم و پرتش کردم کنار!!
قشنگ پرتش کردما🤦🏻♀️
حیف که همون ۳۰۰ صفحه رو هم خوندم😢
من این کتاب رو به توصیه دوستان برای پیگیری تاریخ آثار مکتوب در جهان خریدم
اما کتاب کلا تو یه فاز دیگه است !!
نویسنده تلاش کرده با روایت داستانهایی از خدایان باستانی و بعد هم فرشتگان مقرب درگاه پروردگار مسیحی و ... بیاد بگه جهان عرفانی واقعا وجود داره، فرشتهها همه کارن و اگه تو نمیفهمی دلیلش اینه که تو بینش نداری😐😐
بعد حالا اگه داستانهارو درست روایت کرده بود یه چیزی !!
یعنی نه خط تاریخی داره روایتش نه هیچ منطقی !!
داستانهای قشنگ رو هم گند زده بهشون با این روایت کردنش !!!!
یعنی شما فرض کن: داستان خدایان باستانی مصری، ایزیس و ایزیرس رو با داستان سیندرلا مقایسه کرده😱😱😱
برگای من ریخت رسما !!
فقط این ریوو رو نوشتم و زدم کتاب رو تا انتها خوندم که اگر کسی دنبال ریووی فارسی میگشت بفهمه این چه سمیه، سم خالص و پول و وقتش رو هدر همچین آشغالی نده !!
اول از هر چیزی اینو بگم که من ۳۰۰ صفحه خوندم و پرتش کردم کنار!!
قشنگ پرتش کردما🤦🏻♀️
حیف که همون ۳۰۰ صفحه رو هم خوندم😢
من این کتاب رو به توصیه دوستان برای پیگیری تاریخ آثار مکتوب در جهان خریدم
اما کتاب کلا تو یه فاز دیگه است !!
نویسنده تلاش کرده با روایت داستانهایی از خدایان باستانی و بعد هم فرشتگان مقرب درگاه پروردگار مسیحی و ... بیاد بگه جهان عرفانی واقعا وجود داره، فرشتهها همه کارن و اگه تو نمیفهمی دلیلش اینه که تو بینش نداری😐😐
بعد حالا اگه داستانهارو درست روایت کرده بود یه چیزی !!
یعنی نه خط تاریخی داره روایتش نه هیچ منطقی !!
داستانهای قشنگ رو هم گند زده بهشون با این روایت کردنش !!!!
یعنی شما فرض کن: داستان خدایان باستانی مصری، ایزیس و ایزیرس رو با داستان سیندرلا مقایسه کرده😱😱😱
برگای من ریخت رسما !!
فقط این ریوو رو نوشتم و زدم کتاب رو تا انتها خوندم که اگر کسی دنبال ریووی فارسی میگشت بفهمه این چه سمیه، سم خالص و پول و وقتش رو هدر همچین آشغالی نده !!
February 28, 2024
اصلا کتاب جالب و با محتوایی نبود و من فریب عنوان جذاب کتاب و مترجم نام آشناس رو خوردم.
تصورم از محتوای کتاب کاملا چیز دیگه بود ولی با تعداد زیادی داستان بی سر و ته که ربطی به عرفان و فرشته و ... نداشت و ترجمه نه چندان جالب مواجه شدم.آخراش رو هم دیگه نخوندم توصیه میکنم شما هم نخونید😅
تصورم از محتوای کتاب کاملا چیز دیگه بود ولی با تعداد زیادی داستان بی سر و ته که ربطی به عرفان و فرشته و ... نداشت و ترجمه نه چندان جالب مواجه شدم.آخراش رو هم دیگه نخوندم توصیه میکنم شما هم نخونید😅
November 29, 2020
I am not too sure how to take this book: as a joke (laugh) as pitiful (cry) or as insult (anger), but all three adjectives are apposite. After delaying how I could best describe this work, its perpetual frustration (an all levels) has ultimately edged me more towards the anger part than anything else. So apologies to any of you who might think this is just a harmless, innocent foray into the world of fairies and angels and mystical spiritualism; it is much more aligned with ignorance and stupidity than anything else.
I have restrained myself (by being merely selective rather than comprehensive) to consider this book under three general headings: Confused, Stupid and Sloppy.
CONFUSED
This is particularly the case when the author is dealing with the more serious underpinnings of this work, particularly in ethics, philosophy, religion, etc. Black proudly pins his badge on the basic distinction between “materialism” and “idealism” — he is obsessively anti the former and very much pro the latter. For him, “materialism” means the belief that matter and only matter exists, while “idealism” means being convinced that all spiritual things (fairies, angels, mystical experiences, etc.) are a higher order and superior level of reality.
It would be nigh on impossible to deal adequately with what this “simple” distinction might mean. Philosophers and theologians have been writing vast tomes on the various implications of this subject, and I am not going to try to cover them here. Suffice it to say that Black is essentially wrong in so many interpretations that, if it did not actually offend them, would at least send any serious thinker, theologian, philosopher, etc. into gales of derisive laughter. This doesn’t bother Black in the slightest: he even admits that he can’t prove anything he says anyway! He’s just “convinced” that he is right… Apparently, Black is more or less completely besotted by his ideal and mentor, the mystic Lorna Byrne (the book is dedicated to her, and she is constantly referred to throughout in glowing and unquestioning terms). Ms Byrne sees angels everywhere.
Black’s “argument” seems to be based on literature: so many people in so many different cultures, over millennia, have written about angels, fairies, ghosts, demons, ghouls, mystical and spiritual experiences, etc., that this must mean they are true repositories of wisdom and knowledge. Stories, of whatever shape or hue, whether ancient, religious, poets, novelists, filmmakers, modern artists, Eastern, Western, psychologists, or whatever, all of these ultimately are the revealers of “truth”; and Black wants to express this specifically through his retelling of carefully selected parts of these stories (usually in a childlike and naive way, as if writing for children, and always eliminating the more salacious and/or gory sections of the original tales). He believes that by merely juxtaposing these stories (it is hard to determine the criteria for his linkages) the connections and “revelations” will become obvious… His chapters are also full of illustrations, some of which might be relevant to the text as such, but including others which are not so clearly linked at all (much to the confusion of the reader). Black feels free to mash all these things together unabashedly.
Consequently, he also feels free to combine some of the most outrageous story parts with others (just read through the titles of each chapter to see what I mean). Throw in a couple of mystical, creative concoctions (the idea of a Cosmic Mind, from which myriad angels emanate; a bit of Gnostic “clarification” of levels of spiritual advancement, with Mediaeval variations of these; suggest spiritualist and religious interpretations as well; refer to Plato’s concept of the Ideal, and Berkeley’s idealism; throw in Manichaean (mis)interpretation of Zoroastrian Dualism; all the while decrying that nasty Matter materialists always talk about; mix it all together with a bit of fairy dust and the wave of a wand or two, and Bob’s your Uncle!
Black wants to present these as a sweeter, more natural way of looking at the world, and one which is the correct and preferred way for the sake of humanity to survive and prosper. He has to admit, however, that there are of course malignant and well as beneficent spirits, but does not dwell on the bad ones too much. He fails to point out that even so-called “protective” and “guiding” spirits (such as the guardian angels in Western Christian tradition) seem unable ultimately to fully protect their charges from dying, often times in spectacularly painful ways. And what about those malevolent spirits: are they also emanated from a Cosmic Mind? The same Cosmic Mind? Another one?
STUPID
I limit myself to two chapters — but all are contaminated similarly…
Chapter 5: Isis and the Mystery of the Perfect Fit
This is supposed to be the telling of the Isis/Osiris/Seth/Horus complex of stories from Egyptian mythology. Selected portions are presented and retold in simple, childlike writing. Black then attempts to connect these excerpts with the comparatively modern fairy tales of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Sleeping Beauty. Cinderella is Isis; the “perfect fit” of the coffin in which Seth traps Osiris is related to the perfect fit of Cinderella’s glass slipper; Horus is Jack the Giant killer, with Seth as the Giant; and Osiris is just like Sleeping Beauty, dead but not really… Black feels that all of this is “obvious”. In my opinion this stance is ignorant, and really stupid…
Chapter 33: Joan and the key to the small door
The Joan of the title is Joan of Arc and the main text is about her (and her visions of angels) and her battle protector and companion Gilles de Rais. Interspersed throughout this story there is included another, provided in italics, which turns out to be the story of Bluebeard (the Chevalier Raoul) whose seventh wife uses a forbidden key to discover the bodies of Bluebeard’s six other wives in the basement. Why these two stories are interconnected here is anyone’s guess. A mistaken association, perhaps, between Bluebeard and Gilles de Rais? The title of this chapter links Joan with the key of the small door to the basement of the chevalier — but there is no connection.
SLOPPY
This is obviously a redundant category, as the above comments on writing, composition, and illustrations have pointed out. Here there are three chapters I noticed (I’m sure there are probably more) which add to the mounting confusion. These have to do with editing relating to footnotes.
Chapter 36: The cobbler has another way of knowing
There are 6 footnote (fn) indications in the text but only 5 endnote (en) entries at the back. It appears that fn 1 (p. 318) has two titles included at en 1, so fn 2 (p. 318) should probably refer to the second title mentioned in en 1. That means that fn 3 (p. 319) should really refer to en 2, fn 4 (p. 322) to en 3, fn 5 (p. 322) to refer to en 4, fn 5 (p. 322) to en 4, and fn 6 (p. 323) to en 5. If this is confusing to read here, imagine how confusing it is when trying to relate an incorrect endnote to a particular footnote in the text!
Chapter 40: Abraham and Bernadette
There are 3 fns in text: fn 1 (p. 357), fn 2 (p. 363), fn 3 (p. 364), and there are 3 ens associated with them; but then fn 6 appears (p. 365) — (fns 4 and 5 are missing), but the ens finish at 3 (there are no ens 4, 5 or 6).
Chapter 42: The Great Secret of the World
Here we find that fn 1 (p. 381) and fn 2 (p. 382) and the associated ens 1 and 2 seem ok; but then we find fn 3 (p. 383) which refers to ‘rattan’ in the text, but en 3 seems to be still on the subject of fn 2 and en 2!; there appear to be no other fn references in the text beyond fn 3, but we do have an en 4 which refers to ‘ratten’ (sic) — a misspelling (the text spelling is correct…), which then should really be en 3 (and that means that en 3 should be part of en 2…)
IN THE END, the composite of all these problems can lead one to only one conclusion: this is a stupid, ignorant, childishly written and sloppily edited book that does not deserve any attention from any intelligent reader. Caveat emptor!
I have restrained myself (by being merely selective rather than comprehensive) to consider this book under three general headings: Confused, Stupid and Sloppy.
CONFUSED
This is particularly the case when the author is dealing with the more serious underpinnings of this work, particularly in ethics, philosophy, religion, etc. Black proudly pins his badge on the basic distinction between “materialism” and “idealism” — he is obsessively anti the former and very much pro the latter. For him, “materialism” means the belief that matter and only matter exists, while “idealism” means being convinced that all spiritual things (fairies, angels, mystical experiences, etc.) are a higher order and superior level of reality.
It would be nigh on impossible to deal adequately with what this “simple” distinction might mean. Philosophers and theologians have been writing vast tomes on the various implications of this subject, and I am not going to try to cover them here. Suffice it to say that Black is essentially wrong in so many interpretations that, if it did not actually offend them, would at least send any serious thinker, theologian, philosopher, etc. into gales of derisive laughter. This doesn’t bother Black in the slightest: he even admits that he can’t prove anything he says anyway! He’s just “convinced” that he is right… Apparently, Black is more or less completely besotted by his ideal and mentor, the mystic Lorna Byrne (the book is dedicated to her, and she is constantly referred to throughout in glowing and unquestioning terms). Ms Byrne sees angels everywhere.
Black’s “argument” seems to be based on literature: so many people in so many different cultures, over millennia, have written about angels, fairies, ghosts, demons, ghouls, mystical and spiritual experiences, etc., that this must mean they are true repositories of wisdom and knowledge. Stories, of whatever shape or hue, whether ancient, religious, poets, novelists, filmmakers, modern artists, Eastern, Western, psychologists, or whatever, all of these ultimately are the revealers of “truth”; and Black wants to express this specifically through his retelling of carefully selected parts of these stories (usually in a childlike and naive way, as if writing for children, and always eliminating the more salacious and/or gory sections of the original tales). He believes that by merely juxtaposing these stories (it is hard to determine the criteria for his linkages) the connections and “revelations” will become obvious… His chapters are also full of illustrations, some of which might be relevant to the text as such, but including others which are not so clearly linked at all (much to the confusion of the reader). Black feels free to mash all these things together unabashedly.
Consequently, he also feels free to combine some of the most outrageous story parts with others (just read through the titles of each chapter to see what I mean). Throw in a couple of mystical, creative concoctions (the idea of a Cosmic Mind, from which myriad angels emanate; a bit of Gnostic “clarification” of levels of spiritual advancement, with Mediaeval variations of these; suggest spiritualist and religious interpretations as well; refer to Plato’s concept of the Ideal, and Berkeley’s idealism; throw in Manichaean (mis)interpretation of Zoroastrian Dualism; all the while decrying that nasty Matter materialists always talk about; mix it all together with a bit of fairy dust and the wave of a wand or two, and Bob’s your Uncle!
Black wants to present these as a sweeter, more natural way of looking at the world, and one which is the correct and preferred way for the sake of humanity to survive and prosper. He has to admit, however, that there are of course malignant and well as beneficent spirits, but does not dwell on the bad ones too much. He fails to point out that even so-called “protective” and “guiding” spirits (such as the guardian angels in Western Christian tradition) seem unable ultimately to fully protect their charges from dying, often times in spectacularly painful ways. And what about those malevolent spirits: are they also emanated from a Cosmic Mind? The same Cosmic Mind? Another one?
STUPID
I limit myself to two chapters — but all are contaminated similarly…
Chapter 5: Isis and the Mystery of the Perfect Fit
This is supposed to be the telling of the Isis/Osiris/Seth/Horus complex of stories from Egyptian mythology. Selected portions are presented and retold in simple, childlike writing. Black then attempts to connect these excerpts with the comparatively modern fairy tales of Cinderella, Jack and the Beanstalk, and Sleeping Beauty. Cinderella is Isis; the “perfect fit” of the coffin in which Seth traps Osiris is related to the perfect fit of Cinderella’s glass slipper; Horus is Jack the Giant killer, with Seth as the Giant; and Osiris is just like Sleeping Beauty, dead but not really… Black feels that all of this is “obvious”. In my opinion this stance is ignorant, and really stupid…
Chapter 33: Joan and the key to the small door
The Joan of the title is Joan of Arc and the main text is about her (and her visions of angels) and her battle protector and companion Gilles de Rais. Interspersed throughout this story there is included another, provided in italics, which turns out to be the story of Bluebeard (the Chevalier Raoul) whose seventh wife uses a forbidden key to discover the bodies of Bluebeard’s six other wives in the basement. Why these two stories are interconnected here is anyone’s guess. A mistaken association, perhaps, between Bluebeard and Gilles de Rais? The title of this chapter links Joan with the key of the small door to the basement of the chevalier — but there is no connection.
SLOPPY
This is obviously a redundant category, as the above comments on writing, composition, and illustrations have pointed out. Here there are three chapters I noticed (I’m sure there are probably more) which add to the mounting confusion. These have to do with editing relating to footnotes.
Chapter 36: The cobbler has another way of knowing
There are 6 footnote (fn) indications in the text but only 5 endnote (en) entries at the back. It appears that fn 1 (p. 318) has two titles included at en 1, so fn 2 (p. 318) should probably refer to the second title mentioned in en 1. That means that fn 3 (p. 319) should really refer to en 2, fn 4 (p. 322) to en 3, fn 5 (p. 322) to refer to en 4, fn 5 (p. 322) to en 4, and fn 6 (p. 323) to en 5. If this is confusing to read here, imagine how confusing it is when trying to relate an incorrect endnote to a particular footnote in the text!
Chapter 40: Abraham and Bernadette
There are 3 fns in text: fn 1 (p. 357), fn 2 (p. 363), fn 3 (p. 364), and there are 3 ens associated with them; but then fn 6 appears (p. 365) — (fns 4 and 5 are missing), but the ens finish at 3 (there are no ens 4, 5 or 6).
Chapter 42: The Great Secret of the World
Here we find that fn 1 (p. 381) and fn 2 (p. 382) and the associated ens 1 and 2 seem ok; but then we find fn 3 (p. 383) which refers to ‘rattan’ in the text, but en 3 seems to be still on the subject of fn 2 and en 2!; there appear to be no other fn references in the text beyond fn 3, but we do have an en 4 which refers to ‘ratten’ (sic) — a misspelling (the text spelling is correct…), which then should really be en 3 (and that means that en 3 should be part of en 2…)
IN THE END, the composite of all these problems can lead one to only one conclusion: this is a stupid, ignorant, childishly written and sloppily edited book that does not deserve any attention from any intelligent reader. Caveat emptor!
October 9, 2014
When I got this book, I thought this was going to review major events in world history and try to show how angels etc. influenced them. No. This book is attempting to argue that stories taken from various world traditions and sacred texts are actually a real history describing the evolution of man into material form directly from spirit; to be clear, this is seeming to by-pass scientific theories of physical evolution. This might even be intriguing or interesting to consider as a philosophical argument for the development of human consciousness if Booth were comprehensively exploring all stories from all world traditions, but he just selects a few without explanation, makes the loosest of arguments (as thought his point is obvious?), and then moves on to the next stage of the development of humanity. Because it's all so loose and lightly presented with a scattered choice of "evidence", I can't take it seriously. Booth mentions being influenced by Rudolph Steiner, a German mystic from the early 20th century; I'm somewhat familiar with Steiner's work, and I can see the influence. I'm not certain that's a compliment in this case. Steiner had interesting things to say, but I also think much of his thought is a product of his time and place. Anyway, I got about a third of the way through The Sacred History book, and I haven't picked it up again in a week. I keep looking at the stack of other books I have waiting for me...so, I think I might be all done with this. Perhaps if I could stick it out and finish this book I might form a different opinion, but I just don't want to give it any more of my time.
October 16, 2013
A great collection of stories looking at history from the perspective of Idealism. It challenges the materialist view of reality by reminding us that the most important things in life cannot be measured or counted. Without subjectivity human life becomes a prison and a living death. The Sacred History shows that strange goings on have been happening since anybody can remember, and wonders if perhaps there is another reality, normally hidden from us, which informs this world with meaning. Although he states that the materialist view seems to have the upper hand in our world, by the end of the book I was finding it hard to see how that could have come about - especially as there is so little evidence, if any, to support it.
However I doubt this book would convince a hardened sceptic. It would take more than 'mere stories' to make them see with more than their eyes. Even if an angel stood before them, blazing and bathing them in light, they would rationalise it as indigestion or perhaps a brain tumour. It got me wondering what the angels and assorted 'other' beings make of materialists...
However I doubt this book would convince a hardened sceptic. It would take more than 'mere stories' to make them see with more than their eyes. Even if an angel stood before them, blazing and bathing them in light, they would rationalise it as indigestion or perhaps a brain tumour. It got me wondering what the angels and assorted 'other' beings make of materialists...
February 25, 2014
A thorough and riveting history of the notion of idealism in that our ideas - the power of conscious thought - is the primary driver to how the universe unfolds for humanity. A look at the stories and events that helped create a parallel re-telling of the human story thus far...and in an entertaining manner.
April 6, 2014
The Kindle edition had more typos than I'd have expected from an author who is also a pretty high level publisher, but I enjoyed this 'history' offering as much as his others, although (as usual) some ideas didn't get past my skeptical and logical daimon.
The section covering Dante seems to have been repeated word for word from The Secret History of Dante: Unearthing the Real-Life Mysteries of the Inferno, but I didn't mind rereading, even though I only finished the Dante book a week or so ago.
Lots of notes at the end - worth reading later on their own if momentum carries you forward and past the links - bibliography worth following up on too.
The section covering Dante seems to have been repeated word for word from The Secret History of Dante: Unearthing the Real-Life Mysteries of the Inferno, but I didn't mind rereading, even though I only finished the Dante book a week or so ago.
Lots of notes at the end - worth reading later on their own if momentum carries you forward and past the links - bibliography worth following up on too.
November 23, 2020
هدف نویسنده از شکل دهی کتابی این چنین، خلق سوالاتی شورشگرانه است: آیا ادعای آیین های جهان درست است؟ آیا می توان روایتی از آفرینش به دست داد که آفرینش گر باشد اما پوچ خوانده نشود؟ آیا ادعاهای مختلف در مورد امدادهای غیبی حقیقت دارند بعد از خواندن این کتاب بنده علاقه مند به بررسی اسطوره ها اقوام و ملل مختلف شدم .
June 19, 2014
Very good. I´ll read it again. An eyeopener. It´s about mystic, goes into literature, finds famous people, goes through history and is dealing with stories, all kinds of stories. Read it in 3 days. I´ll never give a book three stars unless I couldn´t get away from it unless reading it for hours.
One main point this other is prone to tell you is that miracles didn´t just vanish somewhere ages ago. They are happening today also as they have been all through history of the mankind. That is with angels, demons and all kinds of stuff. Here we find the Bible stories, Muhammed, Buddha, Shakespeare, Dostojevski, Lincoln, Hitler, fairytales, and Lorna Byrne who says she is seeing angels all the time.
Ég fann þess upphaflega í Eymundsson og leist strax vel á hana. Fór síðan á netið til þess að tékka á því hvað fólk segði um hana og hún er að fá fullt hús stiga hjá öllum. Þannig að ég fór og sótti hana. Þetta er einkar áhugaverð bók. Af því að ég er guðfræðingur þá höfðar hún kannski meira til mín en annarra sem koma til með að lesa hana. En samt þá er hún ekki skrifuð á einhverju háskólamáli. Þetta eru ekki þurr skrif. Eins lengi og maður er nokkuð góður í ensku þá er ekkert mál að renna í gegnum þetta.
Eins og ég segi. Ég er ekki að gefa bók fullt hús stiga nema að mér hafi virkilega líkað hún og varla getað lagt hana frá mér. Svo fór með þessa. Gaman að lesa svona bækur.
One main point this other is prone to tell you is that miracles didn´t just vanish somewhere ages ago. They are happening today also as they have been all through history of the mankind. That is with angels, demons and all kinds of stuff. Here we find the Bible stories, Muhammed, Buddha, Shakespeare, Dostojevski, Lincoln, Hitler, fairytales, and Lorna Byrne who says she is seeing angels all the time.
Ég fann þess upphaflega í Eymundsson og leist strax vel á hana. Fór síðan á netið til þess að tékka á því hvað fólk segði um hana og hún er að fá fullt hús stiga hjá öllum. Þannig að ég fór og sótti hana. Þetta er einkar áhugaverð bók. Af því að ég er guðfræðingur þá höfðar hún kannski meira til mín en annarra sem koma til með að lesa hana. En samt þá er hún ekki skrifuð á einhverju háskólamáli. Þetta eru ekki þurr skrif. Eins lengi og maður er nokkuð góður í ensku þá er ekkert mál að renna í gegnum þetta.
Eins og ég segi. Ég er ekki að gefa bók fullt hús stiga nema að mér hafi virkilega líkað hún og varla getað lagt hana frá mér. Svo fór með þessa. Gaman að lesa svona bækur.
October 6, 2013
A highly readable book tracing the history of idealism and how it has influenced belief systems across religions. The linking of mythology and religion was particularly interesting and it was written from a well informed and objective perspective by an author who is clearly interested in how thoughts and beliefs originate and how psychology, philosophy and science all influence the way we interpret the world around us.
I found myself thinking about what I had read long after I closed the page and even though I've finished the book, I keep on going back over parts of it for further reflection.
I received the book as a Good Reads giveaway but will seek out the author's other books and can safely say that the book has earned its place on my bookshelf as one I will refer to again and again. One of the most interesting books I have read this year.
I found myself thinking about what I had read long after I closed the page and even though I've finished the book, I keep on going back over parts of it for further reflection.
I received the book as a Good Reads giveaway but will seek out the author's other books and can safely say that the book has earned its place on my bookshelf as one I will refer to again and again. One of the most interesting books I have read this year.
March 7, 2016
"The Sacred History" is as eye-opening and exciting as an angel's guided tour of heaven and earth could ever hope to be. Chock full of gods and demigods, angels and ancient lore, "The Sacred History" tells the story of Creation from an anthropomorphic point of view. Booth's book is rich with legend as he explains “all that came into being” through mythology and folklore. Although - for a person of science - the plausibility factor may be somewhat lacking, the entertainment factor of this book is truly 5-star as Booth provides a great read that, in the end, really makes you think about where you come from, and - most importantly - where you are headed!
JB Richards
Goodreads Author
"Miriamne the Magdala - The First Chapter in the Yeshua and Miri Novel Series"
JB Richards
Goodreads Author
"Miriamne the Magdala - The First Chapter in the Yeshua and Miri Novel Series"
April 10, 2016
VERY similar to The Secret History of the World. Almost too similar. I felt like I was re-reading a lot of the same information.
He has some interesting theories and is a good storyteller. However, certain chapters felt sloppily put together and I often had a hard time seeing how the stories he used were related to what he was discussing in that specific chapter.
He has some interesting theories and is a good storyteller. However, certain chapters felt sloppily put together and I often had a hard time seeing how the stories he used were related to what he was discussing in that specific chapter.
October 7, 2024
The author tries to sell a point of view, but he ends up only repeating himself over and over again, the only bits that are interesting are the ones where he writes/copies the mithological histories as well as the religious ones.
June 18, 2025
Estava à espera de melhor, honestly...
January 5, 2018
I purchased this book accidentally. I mean, I was conscious when handing over the money and I smiled at the clerk in Waterstones, but I hadn't paid enough attention to the book I had in my hands (embarrassing, I know), having walked in with the intention to buy The SECRET History - by the same author. In my rush, I picked up The SACRED History.
Nevertheless, I took the book home and started to read. My immediate impression was it had been terribly put together, with no clear progression of concepts or conclusions and a sort of wishy-washy way of writing. With the word 'history' in the title, I expected a concrete set of facts delivered in a logical and concise way.
The book is really an anthology of myths, fables, and anecdotally-rendered accounts of historical events mostly derived from religious and mystical teachings spreading back over human history. They pertain to the notion that a Cosmic Mind created matter, rather than the more scientifically-accepted view that consciousness arose as a result of pre-existing matter.
Indeed it is worth explaining at this point that idealism is a concept I was only loosely familiar with at the time of purchase, for much of my life I could be described as a materialist (to stay within the author's lexicon). As a result, the book remained only partially read for many months, and it lingered on my coffee table, somewhere in the back of my mind.
I persevered and, over time, I gained more interest. This was mainly due to a personal journey I had commenced (perhaps my subconscious knew this was the right book when I was in the shop?) and I found that the reading I was doing elsewhere was being somewhat paralleled in The Sacred History (on the topics of philosophy and ancient history etc). This meant I was able to see the book through to the end.
The author brought to light many myths and legends that I had never heard of, and presented a new perspective on familiar tales, indicating the subtext and metaphorical interpretation behind many well-known stories which I found intriguing. Additionally, there were references to other writers and thinkers which has spurned me on to delve into a host of peripheral topics, so in that sense, I value the information put forward in this book. It is clear that Jonathan Black has read widely, and I share with him an interest in many topics.
Sadly though, I found large portions of the book almost unreadable. The author presents many accounts in a 'chatty' and wandering way, which I found off-putting over the course of the book. I can see why this has been done, as the very nature of idealism means that concepts must be delivered in a less-than-solid fashion, but I found myself plowing through several pages at a time and sieving very little tangible information from it. Perhaps the most effective way of introducing a concept as 'challenging' as idealism is in such a way, planting seeds and so forth for subconscious deliberation.
Personally, I would have preferred less breadth and more depth, perhaps focussing on metaphysical or philosophic thought than a barrage of, what I felt, were loosely-delivered fables. Although the tales are presented in chronological order, it lacked a sense of linearity which meant each new chapter was unpredictable and disconnected from the last. At the very least, though, the book was thought-provoking.
I have no doubt that many people will gain more from the book than I did, and the informal and conversational manner in which it is written will appeal to those who pick up the book with virtually no previous conditioning on the theism vs atheism debate. Unfortunately for me, coming from a hardened (but softening) scientific background, I struggled to connect with this book on a really meaningful level. There were many signposts throughout, which means I will probably refer to the book at some point in the future, but for anyone seriously interested in the subject, I feel there are better ways to approach it, and thus, this is not one I would heartily recommend to others.
2.5/5
Nevertheless, I took the book home and started to read. My immediate impression was it had been terribly put together, with no clear progression of concepts or conclusions and a sort of wishy-washy way of writing. With the word 'history' in the title, I expected a concrete set of facts delivered in a logical and concise way.
The book is really an anthology of myths, fables, and anecdotally-rendered accounts of historical events mostly derived from religious and mystical teachings spreading back over human history. They pertain to the notion that a Cosmic Mind created matter, rather than the more scientifically-accepted view that consciousness arose as a result of pre-existing matter.
Indeed it is worth explaining at this point that idealism is a concept I was only loosely familiar with at the time of purchase, for much of my life I could be described as a materialist (to stay within the author's lexicon). As a result, the book remained only partially read for many months, and it lingered on my coffee table, somewhere in the back of my mind.
I persevered and, over time, I gained more interest. This was mainly due to a personal journey I had commenced (perhaps my subconscious knew this was the right book when I was in the shop?) and I found that the reading I was doing elsewhere was being somewhat paralleled in The Sacred History (on the topics of philosophy and ancient history etc). This meant I was able to see the book through to the end.
The author brought to light many myths and legends that I had never heard of, and presented a new perspective on familiar tales, indicating the subtext and metaphorical interpretation behind many well-known stories which I found intriguing. Additionally, there were references to other writers and thinkers which has spurned me on to delve into a host of peripheral topics, so in that sense, I value the information put forward in this book. It is clear that Jonathan Black has read widely, and I share with him an interest in many topics.
Sadly though, I found large portions of the book almost unreadable. The author presents many accounts in a 'chatty' and wandering way, which I found off-putting over the course of the book. I can see why this has been done, as the very nature of idealism means that concepts must be delivered in a less-than-solid fashion, but I found myself plowing through several pages at a time and sieving very little tangible information from it. Perhaps the most effective way of introducing a concept as 'challenging' as idealism is in such a way, planting seeds and so forth for subconscious deliberation.
Personally, I would have preferred less breadth and more depth, perhaps focussing on metaphysical or philosophic thought than a barrage of, what I felt, were loosely-delivered fables. Although the tales are presented in chronological order, it lacked a sense of linearity which meant each new chapter was unpredictable and disconnected from the last. At the very least, though, the book was thought-provoking.
I have no doubt that many people will gain more from the book than I did, and the informal and conversational manner in which it is written will appeal to those who pick up the book with virtually no previous conditioning on the theism vs atheism debate. Unfortunately for me, coming from a hardened (but softening) scientific background, I struggled to connect with this book on a really meaningful level. There were many signposts throughout, which means I will probably refer to the book at some point in the future, but for anyone seriously interested in the subject, I feel there are better ways to approach it, and thus, this is not one I would heartily recommend to others.
2.5/5
December 16, 2017
I believe Mark Booth may be one of the wisest men living today. Although I enjoyed "The Secret History" a little more, this follow up book covers the same ground and does it in a different way. Rather than present a theoretical framework for explaining mankind's diminishing perception of the spiritual world, this book sets out to prove that the supernatural is a part of our world by narrating stories from different cultures at different times. While some of the older stories might be dismissed as fiction, the more recent stories are a matter of record and demand some kind of response from the reader.
Mark Booth, who apparently goes by Jonathan Black in the American version of his books, says that he was reluctant to begin this volume but was inspired by his meeting with an Irish psychic named Lorna Byrne. He refers to her several times throughout the book, and the way he presents her story makes it clear there is something real she is seeing. I have yet to read any of Lorna's books, but I may do so now based on Booth's recommendation. I do not believe he would have contributed this volume to his work had the spiritual guardians of our world not willed it be so.
Mark Booth, who apparently goes by Jonathan Black in the American version of his books, says that he was reluctant to begin this volume but was inspired by his meeting with an Irish psychic named Lorna Byrne. He refers to her several times throughout the book, and the way he presents her story makes it clear there is something real she is seeing. I have yet to read any of Lorna's books, but I may do so now based on Booth's recommendation. I do not believe he would have contributed this volume to his work had the spiritual guardians of our world not willed it be so.
October 5, 2013
I was very impressed by this unique work and thoroughly enjoyed looking at our world and the generic beliefs within it from a completely different perspective, and I must say that I was illuminated by what I was reading and the ideas that were presented to me. Yet the book does not try to persuade its readers to think a certain way; the writing style is very open and explorative. I trusted the author's knowledge and perspective completely, which allowed me to feel comfortable with my own thoughts and questions.
'The Sacred History' presents new perspectives on philosophy, religion, the human race and our own consciousness in a very engaging and interesting way. I particularly enjoyed the stories that are woven in, stories that could be coincidence, myth or truth.
Anyone who is even vaguely spiritual or interested in spirituality would gain so much insight, enjoyment and 'food for thought' from this wonderful book.
I won this book as part of the Goodreads Firstreads programme and I am grateful to the author, publisher and to Goodreads.
'The Sacred History' presents new perspectives on philosophy, religion, the human race and our own consciousness in a very engaging and interesting way. I particularly enjoyed the stories that are woven in, stories that could be coincidence, myth or truth.
Anyone who is even vaguely spiritual or interested in spirituality would gain so much insight, enjoyment and 'food for thought' from this wonderful book.
I won this book as part of the Goodreads Firstreads programme and I am grateful to the author, publisher and to Goodreads.
March 31, 2017
Interesting book, but the content isn't quite what the subtitle would suggest. Instead of it being a 'spiritual history' book that details the creation of this world, it's more a collection of various myths from around the world, with a commentary about the spiritual interpretation and significance of each of these myths. Still an enjoyable read nonetheless, but if it had been a detailed 'spiritual history', I would have given 4 stars. There have been many negative reviews absolutely bagging and trashing this book, but if you know what to expect before reading it, it's nowhere near as bad as they make out.
September 30, 2013
I won this book on a goodreads first reads giveaway. I thought the book look amazing and it was wicked to read bout angels and it had loads of information and I did learn quite a lot of this book. I really liked the author writing style and also liked the pictures in the book. GREAT READ and I recommend this book if u like to read about angles. And it's also a great history book :)
August 13, 2015
The writer did an amazing job in the chronological order presented in this book.Every story told is meaningful. i really liked this book!
September 23, 2021
Există printre noi oameni care văd lumea cealaltă, a îngerilor, la fel de clar pe cât văd stâncile, pietrele şi copacii pe care le vedem noi toţi. Li s-a spus în multe feluri – uneori deloc politicos –, dar aici le vom spune mistici. Uneori ei trăiesc şi lucrează în structuri clerice, dar cel mai adesea funcţionează în afara lor. În general sunt solitari, uneori retraşi.
Pentru structurile oficiale din sfera religiei, misticii au fost întotdeauna o pacoste. Dacă eşti un preot sincer, silitor, care se roagă din credinţă, dar îşi face griji în adâncul sufletului că nu a avut niciodată o experienţă mistică vrednică de acest nume, sigur îţi e greu dacă la câţiva kilometri mai încolo trăieşte o tânără care vede mereu îngeri şi vorbeşte cu ei în fiecare zi. Cum să aperi dogmele Bisericii cu deplină convingere, când bănuieşti că alţii au parte de trăiri nemijlocite, personale cu
fiinţe spirituale, alte realităţi despre care tu ştii doar din teorie?
E de la sine înţeles că şi ateii le sunt ostili misticilor. Pentru ei, viziunile cu îngerii sunt simple înşelătorii. Aşa-zişii mistici sunt fie mincinoşi, fie nebuni. Mă doare când îmi dau seama că, dacă
ar pune mâna pe prietenii mei, nişte psihiatri cu autoritate ar încerca să-i diagnosticheze cu schizofrenie.
Confruntaţi cu atâta ostilitate, trebuie să lămurim o neînţelegere răspândită. Viziunea mistică nu este neapărat în contradicţie cu aceea a oamenilor de ştiinţă. Misticii nu pun sub semnul întrebării dovezile palpabile. Ei nu afirmă că tot ce ştiinţa şi bunul-simţ îţi spun că vezi nu există cu adevărat. Nu susţin nici că lucrurile nu se întâmplă în ordinea descrisă de ştiinţă. Nu, misticii spun doar că lucrurile se întâmplă aşa pentru că le-au pus la cale îngerii şi alte fiinţe spirituale, pentru
că ele au făcut manevre „din culise”.
Pentru structurile oficiale din sfera religiei, misticii au fost întotdeauna o pacoste. Dacă eşti un preot sincer, silitor, care se roagă din credinţă, dar îşi face griji în adâncul sufletului că nu a avut niciodată o experienţă mistică vrednică de acest nume, sigur îţi e greu dacă la câţiva kilometri mai încolo trăieşte o tânără care vede mereu îngeri şi vorbeşte cu ei în fiecare zi. Cum să aperi dogmele Bisericii cu deplină convingere, când bănuieşti că alţii au parte de trăiri nemijlocite, personale cu
fiinţe spirituale, alte realităţi despre care tu ştii doar din teorie?
E de la sine înţeles că şi ateii le sunt ostili misticilor. Pentru ei, viziunile cu îngerii sunt simple înşelătorii. Aşa-zişii mistici sunt fie mincinoşi, fie nebuni. Mă doare când îmi dau seama că, dacă
ar pune mâna pe prietenii mei, nişte psihiatri cu autoritate ar încerca să-i diagnosticheze cu schizofrenie.
Confruntaţi cu atâta ostilitate, trebuie să lămurim o neînţelegere răspândită. Viziunea mistică nu este neapărat în contradicţie cu aceea a oamenilor de ştiinţă. Misticii nu pun sub semnul întrebării dovezile palpabile. Ei nu afirmă că tot ce ştiinţa şi bunul-simţ îţi spun că vezi nu există cu adevărat. Nu susţin nici că lucrurile nu se întâmplă în ordinea descrisă de ştiinţă. Nu, misticii spun doar că lucrurile se întâmplă aşa pentru că le-au pus la cale îngerii şi alte fiinţe spirituale, pentru
că ele au făcut manevre „din culise”.
April 13, 2020
The Sacred History is in many ways remarkably similar to The Secret History, however it stands as a deeper exploration of the supernatural approaches first explored in The Secret History.
The Sacred History covers the same cosmological approach to The Secret History, whereas the Secret History concerns man's interactions with the Supernatural and the cosmic mind through the secret societies, The Sacred History concerns the actual disembodied beings themselves and numerous human interactions with them.
Despite the similarities with his other work, The Sacred History is every bit a compelling read. For those who are tired with the Materialist Reductionist Paradigm and are looking for more compelling accounts for looking beyond the approach of "what you see is all there is" then this is an excellent way to open one's mind to higher possibilities and ever greater wonder.
And one may ask, why not? We have at many points in life felt the wonder, experienced how there is much more to reality than atoms, but the ubiquitous nature of the Materialist Reductionist Paradigm, and the accompanying academic prejudices have caused us to silence the inner voice.
For anyone who listens to the inner voice, or would like to hear the inner voice more, this book is an essential listen.
Additionally, David Bauckham's narration is decent and appropriate.
The Sacred History covers the same cosmological approach to The Secret History, whereas the Secret History concerns man's interactions with the Supernatural and the cosmic mind through the secret societies, The Sacred History concerns the actual disembodied beings themselves and numerous human interactions with them.
Despite the similarities with his other work, The Sacred History is every bit a compelling read. For those who are tired with the Materialist Reductionist Paradigm and are looking for more compelling accounts for looking beyond the approach of "what you see is all there is" then this is an excellent way to open one's mind to higher possibilities and ever greater wonder.
And one may ask, why not? We have at many points in life felt the wonder, experienced how there is much more to reality than atoms, but the ubiquitous nature of the Materialist Reductionist Paradigm, and the accompanying academic prejudices have caused us to silence the inner voice.
For anyone who listens to the inner voice, or would like to hear the inner voice more, this book is an essential listen.
Additionally, David Bauckham's narration is decent and appropriate.
June 14, 2017
I enjoyed the first half of the book as the author gives an interesting interpretation to some myths and stories that shaped our world. Unfortunately, the structure eventually is lost, parts of the narration are not articulated with illustrations and notes. So the main storyline is harder and harder to follow. Until eventually we get to a very simple conclusion, which could have been presented to us in a much smaller book.
Confusing, but a nice read to refresh your memory on myths and legends if you don't want to read Ovidius!
Confusing, but a nice read to refresh your memory on myths and legends if you don't want to read Ovidius!
December 13, 2021
É notável o trabalho de investigação que o autor fez. 5 estrelas para isso!
Ao longo do livro, somos "abanados" com várias histórias que nos fazem verdadeiramente refletir sobre TUDO. Não é um livro para nos virar contra o materialismo nem contra a espiritualidade. É um livro que nos convida a abraçar ambos com a certeza de que em nenhum deles existem certezas absolutas.
A razão pela qual não atribuo 5 estrelas na avaliação geral é o facto de ser uma leitura muito extensa e, por vezes, aborrecida.
Ao longo do livro, somos "abanados" com várias histórias que nos fazem verdadeiramente refletir sobre TUDO. Não é um livro para nos virar contra o materialismo nem contra a espiritualidade. É um livro que nos convida a abraçar ambos com a certeza de que em nenhum deles existem certezas absolutas.
A razão pela qual não atribuo 5 estrelas na avaliação geral é o facto de ser uma leitura muito extensa e, por vezes, aborrecida.
April 30, 2018
I love books written by this author, as he has a unique way to describing complex spiritual teachings in a simple, yet beautiful way. This is the sequel to „The Secret History of the World“ and it’s not as good as the first one was, to be honest. Nevertheless I enjoyed it and learned a few new things. Best of all, it made me think and feel, and not many books are able to do both. Recommended.
October 20, 2022
Quando iniciei a leitura deste livro esperava algo diferente. O livro parece surpreender nos primeiros capítulos com muitos factos interessantes, mas um livro inteiro quase sobre o mesmo chega a ser massador. É um livro que põe em causa a própria teoria da criação do Universo e é preciso entrar neste livro com mente aberta para absorver que o mundo pode não ser tão científico quanto imaginamos.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 21, 2023
Using numerous tales from history ranging from the legendary to actual persons, the author makes the case for idealism as the basis for understanding reality. Materialism cannot explain the part of life we call spiritual. The stories can be lengthy and the summaries and conclusions are slow to manifest, but the theme of idealism remains the strongest outcome for universal ontology.
June 7, 2021
I genuinely enjoyed this collection of stories that connect world religions and spiritual beliefs. It’s an impressive collection and while hardcore skeptics will find it to be a difficult read, I admit that I’m really the audience for this and I really just had so much fun reading it.
July 21, 2022
Yeah, wow, that was nuts. He basically attributes folk tales as equivalent to historical fact and then ties them all loosely together with spiritual colloquialisms. I even checked on a quote he sourced from Schopenhauer and he had completely muddled the wording. Spare yourself this rabbit hole.
September 22, 2019
It was ok, could have been better and worse. Interesting read overall, but I thought it waffled too much
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