The Truth – A Book Review

My sweet wife, Booklogged, reviews books all the time on her blog, A Reader’s Journal.  Quite often she gets advance reader’s copies of books about to be published.  The authors and publishers are seeking feedback about the new volume.  Such is the case with a new book called The Truth byStephen Hawley Martin.  Booklogged didn’t have time to give to this one, so I’ve taken it on.

First of all the superlative nature of the title is rediculous.  While there is clearly a measure of truth in the book, it can hardly support it’s claim to be THE truth.

Martin is talented, he has some very deep understanding of the nature of growth, insight and living, but he’s just another philosopher with some great ideas.  Few of which appear to be his own.  Rather, Hawley has stepped up to the smorgasbord of the world’s great religions and philosophies and selected a delectible here from Buddhism, a tidbit there from Hinduism, an entre’ from Christianity, a bite from the New Wave, put the ketchup of Quantum Physics on top and called the meal, a conclusive explanation of why we’re here and where we’re going.

Clearly an acolyte of Joseph Campbell, Stephen Hawley Martin operates on the premise that all religion and myth is manifestation of man’s quest to understand God.  They will not accept religion as it is presented, but rather find in religion archetypical evidence of a flawed, incomplete understanding of God and his relationship to man.

Had I examined most of the world’s religions I may have come to a similar conclusion.  But it would have been impossible that I came to the same one.  Having, however, discovered true religion, I do not come to such a generalized, all encompassing gumbo view to explain God’s relationship to man.  God has plainly revealed to man, who He is, who man is, what their relationship is and has clearly revealed His plan for our lives.  This was revealed to Adam, Abraham, Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul, and to modern prophets such as Joseph Smith, Brigham Young and currently, Thomas S. Monson.  As I am sure God reveals Himself to man, it seems to this writer, amazing that people still go to the trouble of trying to reinvent the wheel.

I enjoyed the read.  I got some insights that were helpful.  I was amused by how closely, Martin comes, sometimes, to seeing things correctly.  I was amazed at how he thought he could use some quotations from Jesus Christ to support his claims, while utterly ignoring others, which clearly contradict his position.

Jesus Christ is the central figure in God’s Plan for the progress and salvation of man.  Martin’s rejection of that notion puts his book in opposition to true Christianity.  If you’re a nonbeliever, The Truth will probably lead you to a happier, more productive life.  So, nonbeliever, go ahead and use it.  If you are a believer, don’t waste your time, you have the privilege of feasting upon much more meaningful material.