The major monotheistic religions of the world—Judaism, Christianity and Islam—have certain elements in common, particularly in their scriptures concerning the beginnings of life and the early history of human beings. This shared beginning is compellingly revealed in this reference work.
Part One traces the development of the earth and its inhabitants from a scientific viewpoint. Part Two features an introduction to the Tanakh, information on the Torah, and its authors, and other influences on the Jewish religion, followed by actual scriptures from the Torah. Then a section each is devoted to an explanation of the Catholic, Protestant and Fundamentalist Christian interpretations of these stories, citing scripture as appropriate. Part Three affords a Muslim perspective with excerpts from the Sirah. The appendices offer useful resources from these traditions.

Attorney Everett Jenkins, Jr., made his intensive research and unique juxtapositional presentation style a trademark in his Pan-African Chronology series (“recommended for all libraries”—Library Journal) and his Muslim Diaspora series (“a useful reference work that is a delight to peruse”—Choice). He lives in Fairfield, California.

Everett Jenkins, Jr.
Format: softcover (7 x 10)
Pages: 452
Bibliographic Info: tables, appendices, notes, index
Copyright Date: 2011 [2003]
pISBN: 978-0-7864-6096-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments     vii

Introduction     1

Part One: A Secular Perspective       7

Part Two: The Scriptures     115

A Jewish Perspective     115

A Catholic Perspective     174

A Protestant Perspective     211

A Fundamentalist Christian Perspective     253

A Muslim Perspective     288

Epilogue      317

Appendices       319


Bibliography     379

Index     383

“carefully researched, readable…charming”—Reference User Services Quarterly.