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Describe your latest work. Blueprints of the Afterlife is a novel about the following things: giant heads that appear in the sky, a mystical... Continue »

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Blueprints of the Afterlife
Ryan BoudinotRyan Boudinot 9780802170910

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The Woman Who Named God: Abraham's Dilemma and the Birth of Three Faiths

by Charlotte Gordon

ISBN13: 9780316114745
ISBN10: 031611474x
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Review:

"The story of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah stands at the threshold of the three great Western religions — Christianity, Judaism, Islam — although each appropriates the story differently. Although God's command of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, is an oft-told story, his expulsion of his concubine, Hagar, and the son he had by her, Ishmael, is often ignored. In this sometimes provocative, though often pedestrian, rereading of the Hagar story, Gordon (Mistress Bradstreet) gives new power to a woman often left in the shadows. Focusing on Hagar's vision of God in the desert (Genesis 16:13), Gordon argues that Hagar is a prophet and a mystic who names God El-Roi, or 'the God of my seeing.' Because of her experience of God, Gordon argues, Hagar's relationship with God is one that Abraham might envy, for God offered Hagar clear and direct guidance, while God offered Abraham no clarity or guidance about his future but simply expected Abraham to obey. Although her prose is often plodding, Gordon provides some glimpses of the power of Hagar's story for modern religions. (July)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

Synopsis:

The saga of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is the tale of origin for all three monotheistic faiths. Abraham must choose between two wives who have borne him two sons. One wife and son will share in his wealth and status, while the other two are exiled into the desert. Long a cornerstone of Western anxiety, the story chronicles a very famous and troubled family, and sheds light on the ongoing conflict between the Judeo-Christian and Islamic worlds.

How did this ancient story become one of the least understood and most frequently misinterpreted of our cultural myths? Gordon explores this legendary love triangle to give us a startling perspective on three biblical characters who--with their jealousies, passions, and doubts--actually behave like human beings.

THE WOMAN WHO NAMED GOD is a compelling, smart, and provocative take on one of the Bible's most intriguing and troubling love stories.

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: Vicki Newell, September 26, 2009 (view all comments by Vicki Newell)
This book is full of facinating information on Abraham, Sarah and Hagar. It is full of insights into their relationships, their day to day lives, and their impact on history. I thought I knew a lot about them from reading the Bible, but there is information in this book that I didn't know. There is a Note, Dictionary and Bibliography section at the back of the book that is very informative. It is a book that anyone, of any faith can read and enjoy.
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Product Details

ISBN:: 9780316114745
Author:: Gordon, Charlotte
Publisher:: Little Brown and Company
Subject:: Religious
Subject:: General
Subject:: Abraham
Subject:: Narration in the Bible
Subject:: Biblical Biography - Old Testament
Subject:: Biography-Religious
Publication Date:: 20090731
Binding:: Hardcover
Language:: English
Pages:: 375
Dimensions:: 9.54x6.32x1.24 in. 1.38 lbs.

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The Woman Who Named God: Abraham's Dilemma and the Birth of Three Faiths New Hardcover Charlotte Gordon

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Product details 375 pages Little Brown and Company - 2009-07-00 English 9780316114745 Reviews:

"Publishers Weekly Review" by Publishers Weekly, "The story of Abraham, Hagar and Sarah stands at the threshold of the three great Western religions — Christianity, Judaism, Islam — although each appropriates the story differently. Although God's command of Abraham to sacrifice his son, Isaac, is an oft-told story, his expulsion of his concubine, Hagar, and the son he had by her, Ishmael, is often ignored. In this sometimes provocative, though often pedestrian, rereading of the Hagar story, Gordon (Mistress Bradstreet) gives new power to a woman often left in the shadows. Focusing on Hagar's vision of God in the desert (Genesis 16:13), Gordon argues that Hagar is a prophet and a mystic who names God El-Roi, or 'the God of my seeing.' Because of her experience of God, Gordon argues, Hagar's relationship with God is one that Abraham might envy, for God offered Hagar clear and direct guidance, while God offered Abraham no clarity or guidance about his future but simply expected Abraham to obey. Although her prose is often plodding, Gordon provides some glimpses of the power of Hagar's story for modern religions. (July)" Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.)

"Synopsis" by Ingram, The saga of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar is the tale of origin for all three monotheistic faiths. Abraham must choose between two wives who have borne him two sons. One wife and son will share in his wealth and status, while the other two are exiled into the desert. Long a cornerstone of Western anxiety, the story chronicles a very famous and troubled family, and sheds light on the ongoing conflict between the Judeo-Christian and Islamic worlds.