The Firstborn of God
Gail Evans
(Reviewed by The Editor - Rebecca Brown)
2000 Writers Club Press
ISBN: 0595096956

Resolving the Contradictions in the Bible.

“Throughout history our religious beliefs have been instrumental in shaping our social & political structures. Whether we are devout or not, the fundamental philosophies of any given religion will dictate the way in which we interact with each other on a mental, social & political level. Most of the Western world is no exception & has based its theology on a text known as ‘The Bible.'”

Gail Evans has had a lifetime interest in religion. Her frustration with orthodox attitudes towards women coupled with the Calvinist Church's support of racism during South Africa's apartheid era led her to ask the question: What is ‘The Bible'? Her controversial conclusions after fourteen years of research became The Firstborn of God.

Whether one considers The Bible as a collection of stories written by a group of old men, or the Word of God & as such incontrovertible, its influence on how we live, think about spirituality & manage our ethics & moralities as communities is indisputable.

Just 50 years ago, what Gail Evans has done, would have been inconceivable--yet how she has gone about it stems from a long history of rabbinical study, & reminds me of the way we (counselors, rabbis & feminists) discussed the Bible stories & what they meant, around the fires during long Wisconsin evenings during summer camp.

Her method is to posit contradicting verses in the Bible, research parallel texts, & then explain both what the original words meant & how we have interpreted them down the ages. It is a fascinating journey.

At no time does Gail Evans offer any disrespect or irreverence. The Firstborn of God is the earnest & affectionate quest of a modern woman to not only discover the roots of our social & philosophical stances, it is her way of going back to the source so she may better understand today. That she found some peace in the study & that the answers she discovered make a lot of sense, is a credit to her ability to look at a religious icon & tell it like it is.

The Bible is not my favorite book, although I have read it, several times. Back in the days when Bible Study was a normal part of every school week, I asked questions similar to Gail Evans', & my Scripture Mistress expelled me from her class.

I am sure professional religionists could tear this author's findings into shreds, however, if you have ever wondered about why The Bible is so contradictory, in some cases from verse to verse, then Gail Evans' The Firstborn of God is a lively & informative place to start.

I hope the next time she prints The Firstborn of God she has a proofreader eliminate the odd & strange spelling & grammar errors, so that the value of her study can be accepted without reservation.

I think a lot of people, especially women who are so intimidated from Eve on down, will find much to think about as Gail Evans reconciles the stories in the Bible with both our gender & our times.

A good book about The Good Book.

More from Gail Evans: Meditations In My Favourite Places in Southern Africa & Time Trials
(06/22/03)

Rebecca