The BAMBERG AFFAIR in THE ALL
Registered by P51Mustang on 4/4/2008
3 journalers for this copy...
New book registered by Aileron Publishing for subsequent release into BookCrossing.
Journal Entry 2 by P51Mustang at By Mail in By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases on Saturday, April 5, 2008
Released 16 yrs ago (4/5/2008 UTC) at By Mail in By mail / post / courier, By Mail/Post/Courier -- Controlled Releases
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
A drawing winner for the title "The Bamberg Affair in THE ALL," was mailed a book via postal service. Drawing participants should go hunting in their mailbox.
A drawing winner for the title "The Bamberg Affair in THE ALL," was mailed a book via postal service. Drawing participants should go hunting in their mailbox.
Thankyou so much for this book! I have a couple of other books I need to read first but will get to this one just as soon as I can and will then journal my thoughts. Thanks again! :-)
An intriguing tale, which I really enjoyed reading for the most part!
You asked for feedback…so sit back and enjoy the ride! :-)
This is a book that can be read and enjoyed just for the 'storyline' alone without believing, or adopting the 'philosophical message' of the book; however, if read just for the storyline alone, the reader may find the long dialogues that discuss the teachings of 'THE ALL' a bit tedious. The 7 principles, previously published in a book known as 'The Kybalion', are explained and discussed via the extensive use of dialogue between the two main characters, Father Fitzroy Baillie and Nadina. The unfolding account of this philosophy is interwoven into the events of the story. Thus the story line of ‘priest and dressmaker’ fleeing the murderous Catholic Vatican guards is really just the 'stage and the backdrops' before which the explanation of the 7 laws of creation are revealed.
As a Christian I can see many Biblical principles in this story and in the panentheistic view of God it contains. For example, the maxim that you will ‘reap what you sow’ is found in the Bible and also in the Kybalion. Also that ‘Nothing is created that first didn’t start as a thought’ is similar to the Biblical teaching that ‘actions start as thoughts’. Another example is the encouragement to ‘do His will, not my own will’.
However, there are areas where my beliefs would diverge and sometimes disagree with the philosophy espoused by this book. I’d have to disagree with the claim that we were once ‘humble and truthful’ beings, co-creators with God who have since become proud and forgotten the truth, or ‘the 7 laws’ as I believe that since the ‘Fall’ of mankind, when sin entered the world, that all people are born with a rebellious heart that wants to go it’s own way.
Other things I would disagree with, is that Jesus was *A* great teacher, one of many who can point us to THE ALL, where as I believe that Jesus is THE great teacher, the ONLY way, the ONLY truth and the ONLY source of life and the ONLY to be reunited with God the Father.
I also don’t believe in the ‘millions of years’ time frame this story mentions, nor do I believe in the possibility of living numerous ‘lifetimes’ in the physical realm until we reach a level of understanding that will allow us to be reunited with ‘THE ALL’. The Bible teaches me that it is “appointed for man ONCE to die, and then the judgment”. It’s what we do in the here and now, the decisions we make in this lifetime that will control our final destiny…there is no second chance, no future lifetimes to improve our understanding and to learn greater humbleness and get it ‘right’. Our efforts can never make us acceptable to God – it’s only by accepting the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross that we can find forgiveness.
On a ‘practical level’ I have a few criticisms of the book. I found the ‘accents’ of Ray, the American colonist, and also the German Doctor Engels to be jarring! Once they have uttered a few words in their ‘accent’ and it’s obvious they are not speaking Fitzroy’s Scottish brogue or Nadina’s excellent English, it might be kinder to the reader if the author had dropped some of the ‘quaint’ way of talking as I found its repeated use distracting and annoying! Also Archie’s repeated use of ‘Um uh’ at the beginning of every sentence got too predictable and, once again, annoying. Surely the poor lad could have stumbled over a few ‘errs’ and ‘well…ummms’ and the same message would have been portrayed of his extreme fear and lack of confidence in himself.
A couple of things jumped out at me as being possibly ‘not possible’ or not in character with the times. The one I remember most is when Father Baillie is preaching his sermon on Easter morning and takes a ‘sip of water from the glass that was positioned on the pulpit.’ I wondered if Catholics call their ‘speaking platform’ a pulpit but the main concern was, would the priest have had a GLASS of water in those days? I thought a golden cup or pewter mug or even a lovely polished wooden goblet or chalice might have been more appropriate? There was another example but for the life of me I can’t recall it now but will make a new journal entry if I remember it. :-)
I'm curious about the motivation of the author in writing this book as I sense it's not written purely for it's literary value but possibly to make more widely known the teachings of this ancient philosophy that stems back beyond the Renaissance. The website, and indeed the 'bookplate' on the final page of the book itself, encourages readers and supporters to donate funds so more books can be purchased and distributed to make the story reach "as wide an audience as possible, and perhaps we can change the world one book and one reader at a time." I’d be interested to know if the author himself is an adherent to the Kybalion ‘7 Laws of Creation’?
Ok…thanks again for the opportunity to read your book and congratulations on a fine tale and on getting published! It was intriguing and kept me coming back for more so it rates up there in the ‘worth a read’ stakes! :-)
I’ll pass it along to another BCer as soon as I get an opportunity.
You asked for feedback…so sit back and enjoy the ride! :-)
This is a book that can be read and enjoyed just for the 'storyline' alone without believing, or adopting the 'philosophical message' of the book; however, if read just for the storyline alone, the reader may find the long dialogues that discuss the teachings of 'THE ALL' a bit tedious. The 7 principles, previously published in a book known as 'The Kybalion', are explained and discussed via the extensive use of dialogue between the two main characters, Father Fitzroy Baillie and Nadina. The unfolding account of this philosophy is interwoven into the events of the story. Thus the story line of ‘priest and dressmaker’ fleeing the murderous Catholic Vatican guards is really just the 'stage and the backdrops' before which the explanation of the 7 laws of creation are revealed.
As a Christian I can see many Biblical principles in this story and in the panentheistic view of God it contains. For example, the maxim that you will ‘reap what you sow’ is found in the Bible and also in the Kybalion. Also that ‘Nothing is created that first didn’t start as a thought’ is similar to the Biblical teaching that ‘actions start as thoughts’. Another example is the encouragement to ‘do His will, not my own will’.
However, there are areas where my beliefs would diverge and sometimes disagree with the philosophy espoused by this book. I’d have to disagree with the claim that we were once ‘humble and truthful’ beings, co-creators with God who have since become proud and forgotten the truth, or ‘the 7 laws’ as I believe that since the ‘Fall’ of mankind, when sin entered the world, that all people are born with a rebellious heart that wants to go it’s own way.
Other things I would disagree with, is that Jesus was *A* great teacher, one of many who can point us to THE ALL, where as I believe that Jesus is THE great teacher, the ONLY way, the ONLY truth and the ONLY source of life and the ONLY to be reunited with God the Father.
I also don’t believe in the ‘millions of years’ time frame this story mentions, nor do I believe in the possibility of living numerous ‘lifetimes’ in the physical realm until we reach a level of understanding that will allow us to be reunited with ‘THE ALL’. The Bible teaches me that it is “appointed for man ONCE to die, and then the judgment”. It’s what we do in the here and now, the decisions we make in this lifetime that will control our final destiny…there is no second chance, no future lifetimes to improve our understanding and to learn greater humbleness and get it ‘right’. Our efforts can never make us acceptable to God – it’s only by accepting the redemptive work of Jesus on the cross that we can find forgiveness.
On a ‘practical level’ I have a few criticisms of the book. I found the ‘accents’ of Ray, the American colonist, and also the German Doctor Engels to be jarring! Once they have uttered a few words in their ‘accent’ and it’s obvious they are not speaking Fitzroy’s Scottish brogue or Nadina’s excellent English, it might be kinder to the reader if the author had dropped some of the ‘quaint’ way of talking as I found its repeated use distracting and annoying! Also Archie’s repeated use of ‘Um uh’ at the beginning of every sentence got too predictable and, once again, annoying. Surely the poor lad could have stumbled over a few ‘errs’ and ‘well…ummms’ and the same message would have been portrayed of his extreme fear and lack of confidence in himself.
A couple of things jumped out at me as being possibly ‘not possible’ or not in character with the times. The one I remember most is when Father Baillie is preaching his sermon on Easter morning and takes a ‘sip of water from the glass that was positioned on the pulpit.’ I wondered if Catholics call their ‘speaking platform’ a pulpit but the main concern was, would the priest have had a GLASS of water in those days? I thought a golden cup or pewter mug or even a lovely polished wooden goblet or chalice might have been more appropriate? There was another example but for the life of me I can’t recall it now but will make a new journal entry if I remember it. :-)
I'm curious about the motivation of the author in writing this book as I sense it's not written purely for it's literary value but possibly to make more widely known the teachings of this ancient philosophy that stems back beyond the Renaissance. The website, and indeed the 'bookplate' on the final page of the book itself, encourages readers and supporters to donate funds so more books can be purchased and distributed to make the story reach "as wide an audience as possible, and perhaps we can change the world one book and one reader at a time." I’d be interested to know if the author himself is an adherent to the Kybalion ‘7 Laws of Creation’?
Ok…thanks again for the opportunity to read your book and congratulations on a fine tale and on getting published! It was intriguing and kept me coming back for more so it rates up there in the ‘worth a read’ stakes! :-)
I’ll pass it along to another BCer as soon as I get an opportunity.
Picked up at the January Meet Up.
Mim gave it a good rap and it sounded interesting so it's going near the top of MTB.
Mim gave it a good rap and it sounded interesting so it's going near the top of MTB.
I have passed this on to Kitten70 to read.
I enjoyed the story. There were several things I didn't agree with however.
I really don't see the difference between religious ritual and doctrine and the 7 Principles. As far as I'm concerned they are two different versions of the same thing.
As for free will. What's the point of free will if you must give yourself over to The All to do his will instead?
I found this to be like all the other religious teachings I have read - full of holes.
I don't believe in multiple lives and don't see the point of being punished in this life for something you don't remember doing in a previous life. I don't believe in Karma but if I did it would have to come back and visit you in this life to make the lesson worthwhile.
I found it difficult to believe that Father Baillie was St Peter and thought it was very prideful of him to think it himself. I also found it hard to believe that Nadina was giving him lessons only that evening and the following morning he had turned into this great teacher of the 7 Principles.
I enjoyed this book in the same way I enjoyed the Celestine Prophesy - as a different way to think of how we interact with our fellow man.
I enjoyed the story. There were several things I didn't agree with however.
I really don't see the difference between religious ritual and doctrine and the 7 Principles. As far as I'm concerned they are two different versions of the same thing.
As for free will. What's the point of free will if you must give yourself over to The All to do his will instead?
I found this to be like all the other religious teachings I have read - full of holes.
I don't believe in multiple lives and don't see the point of being punished in this life for something you don't remember doing in a previous life. I don't believe in Karma but if I did it would have to come back and visit you in this life to make the lesson worthwhile.
I found it difficult to believe that Father Baillie was St Peter and thought it was very prideful of him to think it himself. I also found it hard to believe that Nadina was giving him lessons only that evening and the following morning he had turned into this great teacher of the 7 Principles.
I enjoyed this book in the same way I enjoyed the Celestine Prophesy - as a different way to think of how we interact with our fellow man.
