The Left Hand of God
By: [by] William E. Barrett
Edition: Pocket Book 20th Century Fox ed.
Series: Pocket book: #924 [$0.25]
Publisher: Pocket Book
Published: 1953
Place of publication: New York, USA
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 262
Copyright date: 1951 by Pocket Books
Description: Goodreads member review:
Gary (Mar 14, 2011) really liked it: The cover of this 60 year old novel would mislead the reader to think that this is some kind of scandalous story. But it isn't! On one hand it is an inspirational work-without being too preachy. On another hand it is something of a thriller as our hero tries to escape from his pursuers while trying to conceal his identity from those he seeks refuge.

There is a bit of a romance-nothing very titillating. Strangest part of this book is how the author dealt with religions other than Christianity. He addressed Buddhism and Taoism with a tolerant and opened mind and used them to further the story. "Moslems" are less tolerated as they had to represent the bad guys but nothing as extreme and condemning as that religion is viewed by some Christians today.

The mission doctor-who was our hero's philosophical jousting opponent-is described as a "man of science" and it is implied that he is a Jew. It's almost as if those were bad things and only slightly better than being a "Moslem". I thought the book resolved all it's issues in a decent and satisfactory manner. Considering the present day state and attitudes of Catholicism today, I don't think that this book would have been allowed to go to publication which is sad because it would be a good yet small guide to help the religion find it's way out of the desert in which it has become lost.
Notes: Manufactured in the U.S.A. /