Review: Disturbing and Enthralling
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 04 29, 2014
I have recently found myself devouring religious texts as I continue to explore the ever-changing literature and debate on where religion came from, what it is doing, and where it is heading. The Apocalyptic Gospel seemed like a title that held some promise in my quest, and I was far from disappointed. As Staller advises in the summary of this book, it is not for the fain of heart, nor for those who are afraid of having their faith shaken, or at least altered. I had never given much thought or consideration to Revelations, deeming it one of the more fantastical elements of the New Testament, but seeing it in this new  historical and contextual light was fascinating, to say the least. I have often been critical of the accepted views of the "End Days" and with every potential Doomsday date that passes without incident, it becomes harder to take any of it seriously. However, all Christians have that curious niggling in the back of their minds, asking why it is easy to discount some, but not all, of that most holy text.Staller does a phenomenal job of asking the right questions, maintaining a proper amount of respect, but also boldly drawing conclusions about this very controversial topic. I appreciated the candor and openness with which he expressed his views, and I will certainly benefit from the insights and open-ended questions that this book forces a reader to face. Once you read this, as he so honestly admits, your faith will be unalterably changed, so prepare yourself for a surprising new perspective that you might have never thought possible. This book will leave you looking at the world in a new way, which, in my mind, is never a bad thing.