“God loves an honest question,” writes Dickson in what might be the thesis statement of this Bible-study-cum-interfaith book, a respectful exploration of what Christians might learn from their Jewish neighbors. For the last six years, Dickson, a CBA novelist whose latest fiction offering (They Shall See God) also featured some profound themes of Jewish-Christian dialogue, has participated in a Saturday morning Bible study at a local Reform synagogue. At first, he was horrified by the penetrating questions flying across the room, but he was also electrified by the candor. He felt himself drawing closer to God as he began examining his own assumptions. Dickson writes well, sprinkling the book with enough personal anecdotes to lend insight to the heavier textual analyses”. – Publisher’s Weekly
“Forever changed by his participation in Chever Torah–a Jewish group study of Scripture–Athol Dickson sets out in an eminently readable book to show how his faith ‘has been informed and enriched by contact with Jews and Judaism’. . . . The book itself is similar to such a Chever Torah, exploring ever more deeply the paradoxes of our faith. . . . and a multitude of honest questions, interlarded with quotes from Hebrew Scripture and Jewish writings. . . . The Gospel according to Moses is a page-turner and one is assured that Dickson has remarkably learned a ‘decidedly Jewish pastime: wrestling with God’. . . . Every reader is invited compellingly to engage in just the same activity.” – Shabbat Shalom:
“Dickson seeks to communicate what he learned, not only about Judaism, but also about his own Christian faith. . . . Yes, he found differences, usually of emphasis, yet it is the similarities that surprised Dickson, and communicating this discovery is the heart of his message. Especially useful is his recognition that Judaism is a religion based upon God’s grace every bit as much as Christianity. . . . Dickson’s effort is to be warmly welcomed by Jewish people. However, it is conservative Christian readers who appear to be the target audience.” – Religious Studies Review:
“The book delves into some of the primary theological differences between Christianity and Judaism–and emphasizes the common ground between them. Each chapter examines perspectives from both faiths on topics such as monotheism, doubting God, scriptural paradox, suffering, grace vs. works and the place of
Jesus in the Hebrew Scriptures. . . . One of Dickson’s purposes in writing about his interfaith experience is to build bridges between Christians and Jews, but not at the expense of the basic tenets of the Christian faith.” – Christian Retailing:
“An open-hearted, sometimes painfully honest account of what this Christian learned during five years of studying Torah with Jews. His book is thoughtful, insightful, and diplomatic. Don’t miss The Gospel ; this is a book from which both sides in the Jewish-Christian debate can learn.”
Dallas-Fort Worth Star Telegram:
“Athol Dickson takes the Bible seriously. As this book so clearly demonstrates, he is a deeply committed Christian and a gifted student of Scripture. The courage and candor of his convictions have helped me to clarify my own Jewish faith, and I hope for the privilege of studying and arguing with Athol for a long time to come.”–Rabbi David Stern, Senior Rabbi, Temple Emanu El, Dallas, Texas
“The Gospel according to Moses is not a read for the faint of heart. Athol Dickson is our trusted guide–a man unafraid to explore the thorny paradoxes of our faith, Athol pulls apart the tangled truth of Torah to help us discover the treasure that awaits us at the heart of the gospel. But this is no journey into the heart of
darkness, It is a brave adventure into the heart of light. May you never recover from the truth you find there.”–Dr. Reg Grant, Dallas Theological Seminary
“A delight to read and to learn from. Mr. Dickson’s growth experience is a testament to how much Christians and Jews share in common. While not trying to homogenize the two faiths, he has recognized that Christians are grafted onto the rich olive tree of Israel from which they nourish their spiritual
sustenance.”–Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, International Fellowship of Christians and Jews.
“Genuine encounter with Jewish faith in the setting of Torah study taught Athol Dickson that God loves an honest question and, most of all, honest questioners. Christian readers will be challenged to embrace Jews as true friends of God without having to abandon faith in Jesus as the Son of God.”
Dr. George A. Mason, senior pastor, Wilshire Baptist Church, Dallas, Texas
