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A review by autumnzana
The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible as Literally as Possible by A.J. Jacobs
3.0
so i liked this book. spoiler alert: at the end, after exploring conservative judaism and christianity (by trying to follow the Bible literally), jacobs walks away as an agnostic, albeit a more spiritual one. i guess what i found unfortunate is what jacobs wrote in month nine as he begins his foray into the New Testament:
"But evangelical Christianity says you must first believe in Jesus, then the good works will naturally follow. Charity and kindness alone cannot save you. You must be... 'justified by faith.'" And yet he makes it very clear that he is not willing/able to accept Christ. And therefore while he is trying to follow the Bible literally, he takes the New Testament as more of a "guided tour" than a DIY approach. i just wish he had been able to try and really believe that Jesus rose from the dead... how much more fruitful that exploration would have been!
As a Christian told him (again in month nine), "It is through being in Christ and following Him that we become transformed. Unless one takes this step, one cannot be truly transformed. So, after your year is over, you will go back to being a man who finds purpose in weird projects and writing assignments. Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is much more rewarding."
Anyway, it was an enjoyable read. Jacobs is a funny guy.
"But evangelical Christianity says you must first believe in Jesus, then the good works will naturally follow. Charity and kindness alone cannot save you. You must be... 'justified by faith.'" And yet he makes it very clear that he is not willing/able to accept Christ. And therefore while he is trying to follow the Bible literally, he takes the New Testament as more of a "guided tour" than a DIY approach. i just wish he had been able to try and really believe that Jesus rose from the dead... how much more fruitful that exploration would have been!
As a Christian told him (again in month nine), "It is through being in Christ and following Him that we become transformed. Unless one takes this step, one cannot be truly transformed. So, after your year is over, you will go back to being a man who finds purpose in weird projects and writing assignments. Becoming a follower of Jesus Christ is much more rewarding."
Anyway, it was an enjoyable read. Jacobs is a funny guy.