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Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
This edition is recommended for readers with a strong Torah background, seeking an informed, yet less secular, approach. It has been revised and expanded, containing 40 additional pages.
A penetrating, engagingly written book with compelling evidence of the truths of Judaism. With wisdom, wit, and a wide range of sources, the author presents a ground-up approach to Judaism, bringing a fresh perspective that will challenge and educate readers from every background and skill level. From yeshivah students to university professors, this book is an easily readable, eminently eye-opening look at subjects like the divine origin of Torah, understanding the Holocaust and human suffering, G-d's foreknowledge vs. our free will, amongst others. Reading this well-researched book is a surefire way to eminently strengthen one's belief, and lay to rest many gnawing questions about G-d, Torah, and Judaism. This edition contains additional information and appendixes that were not included in previous editions.
A penetrating, engagingly written book with compelling evidence of the truths of Judaism. With wisdom, wit, and a wide range of sources, the author presents a ground-up approach to Judaism, bringing a fresh perspective that will challenge and educate readers from every background and skill level. From yeshivah students to university professors, this book is an easily readable, eminently eye-opening look at subjects like the divine origin of Torah, understanding the Holocaust and human suffering, G-d's foreknowledge vs. our free will, amongst others. Reading this well-researched book is a surefire way to eminently strengthen one's belief, and lay to rest many gnawing questions about G-d, Torah, and Judaism. This edition contains additional information and appendixes that were not included in previous editions.
296 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2002
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
January 10, 2012
Going into this book, I was a little skeptical. I'd always been under the impression that G-d was the opposite of science. To somehow prove His existence would be to disprove it at the same time! But, of course, I was proven wrong. From the first page, the author gave clear, simple answers to some of the most commonly asked questions. How do we know that that G-d exists? How do we know His Torah is true? are among them.
The are two questions whose answers stuck out for me the most. Rabbi Waldman gave an easy answer as proof of His existence, but one that makes perfect sense in a way that makes you smack your forehead and say, "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?" At one point, he uses the analogy of an alien who marvels at the complexity of some fruit the first time he sees it.
As for proving the validity of the Torah, it's clear the amount of fact-finding that Rabbi Waldman put into this subject. His proofs were well-researched, and interesting as well. I was fascinated enough to share some of them with my family. For instance, he brings down proofs of the Flood. For example, whale skeletons have been found on mountaintops and in Central USA. A wolf and a lamb skeleton were found near each other on a mountain, the lamb without any gnaw-marks, as though they'd both run away from rising waters. They were obviously too busy to worry about eating or being eaten.
These are just a few examples of the interesting content in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.
Though it was very thought-provoking, the book got boring at times. The author did his best to satisfy even the most cynical, and in doing so he was slightly repetitious. I also don't particularly recommend this unless you specifically have these questions, and are looking for in-depth answers.
The are two questions whose answers stuck out for me the most. Rabbi Waldman gave an easy answer as proof of His existence, but one that makes perfect sense in a way that makes you smack your forehead and say, "Oh! Why didn't I think of that?" At one point, he uses the analogy of an alien who marvels at the complexity of some fruit the first time he sees it.
As for proving the validity of the Torah, it's clear the amount of fact-finding that Rabbi Waldman put into this subject. His proofs were well-researched, and interesting as well. I was fascinated enough to share some of them with my family. For instance, he brings down proofs of the Flood. For example, whale skeletons have been found on mountaintops and in Central USA. A wolf and a lamb skeleton were found near each other on a mountain, the lamb without any gnaw-marks, as though they'd both run away from rising waters. They were obviously too busy to worry about eating or being eaten.
These are just a few examples of the interesting content in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt.
Though it was very thought-provoking, the book got boring at times. The author did his best to satisfy even the most cynical, and in doing so he was slightly repetitious. I also don't particularly recommend this unless you specifically have these questions, and are looking for in-depth answers.
June 22, 2012
This was another book about evolution, though it was written by a rabbi for readers who
grew up religious and might not even understand what neoDawinsim is. For much of the
book I felt like he was explaining things to a two year old. More than once he wrote up
conversations with a make believe alien where the reader is supposedly explaining the
world to the alien using big bang and evolutionary jargon and the alien's questions are
somehow shedding light on the insanity of those theories. Towards the end some sources
are offered and the alien went away. Still a big waste of paper in my opinion.
grew up religious and might not even understand what neoDawinsim is. For much of the
book I felt like he was explaining things to a two year old. More than once he wrote up
conversations with a make believe alien where the reader is supposedly explaining the
world to the alien using big bang and evolutionary jargon and the alien's questions are
somehow shedding light on the insanity of those theories. Towards the end some sources
are offered and the alien went away. Still a big waste of paper in my opinion.
November 8, 2015
written in an infantile manner and very selective with proofs presented (naturally).
easily refuted, and I'm no professor.
easily refuted, and I'm no professor.
February 6, 2012
Read until page 260. Was supposed to read it for a class. The beginning seemed promising but the book just didn't do anything for me. I really just didn't want to read anymore. I usually really love this type of book but I found this one boring and repetitive.
December 26, 2015
This book was life changing for me- when I was questioning everything about Judaism and God and wanted to know how what I was taught was true, this gave me the answers I was looking for in a very convincing way. Highly recommended.
May 31, 2011
I might as well face facts. I'm not going to finish this one. It's just not grabbing me.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews