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For Review Alan Richards

What Is The True Nature of God?Author Examines Spirituality,

The Bible and The Existence and Divinity of God

Being religious doesnt necessarily equate to being inflexible.

On the surface, the recent statistics that show more than 70 percent of all people inAmerica are affiliated with some level of religious belief. It would appear that were anation of believers, but a deeper look at the numbers demonstrates that people of faithin the United States dont strictly adhere to the dogma of their religions.

According to the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life, 69 percent of people whoconsider themselves people of faith also believe that there is more than one way tointerpret the teachings of their religion.

Alan Richards, author of the new novel The Second Cycle from Emerald BookCompany, believes that this phenomenon is directly related to our continuing search forthe true nature of God.

The simple truth is that most people are ignorant and blas about the thing mostimportant thing in life, that being the true nature of God, Richards said. The Bible waswritten by men holy men but men, nonetheless, which makes literal, dogmaticinterpretation of the Bible unpalatable to many people. Its not just about whether theteachings and dogma appeal to them or have a place in their lives or world view itsabout the difference between walking the walk and talking the talk.

Richards draws his conclusions from a series of observations he made in researchinghis book:

History is supposition constructed from fragments of unreliable information.

Religious belief has little to do with religious fact.

The more distant in time that an event of religious significance supposedly tookplace, the more willing are people to accept the occurrence as fact.

Although we are provided with more information than ever before, we are lessinformed, not more informed.

The content of the Bible was more likely determined by the political considerations ofmen than by divine revelation from God, Richards said. There is a famous Biblicalquote in which Jesus tells the crowd to Give to God what is God and give to Caesarwhat is Caesars. Now, given all the stories of the Bible during which Christs followers

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rallied against kings and emperors and government, many Christians have troubleswallowing the idea that Christ would actually tell people its a good idea to pay theirtaxes. Is it possible that feudal lords and governors had some influence in the inclusionof that passage during the Middle Ages? Who knows? But I wouldnt bet against it.

Richards book, while a fictional account of how a number of people come to terms withtheir individual search for the true meaning of God is based on the true journey that liesbefore all of us, Richards said.

About Alan Richards

Alan Richards, 60, is a Chicago resident, and has been married to his wife, Meridee, for39 years, and has two children Kate, age 27, and Zachary, age 23. He was apracticing attorney for 30 years doing mostly court room work. He holds a law degreefrom Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and an undergrad degree fromCarthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin. He has been included in PreeminentAttorneys in America, published by Martindale Hubbell, the legal professions mostauthoritative publication dealing with lawyer competency. He also appears in WhosWho in American Law.