I'm pretty sure Baigent never met a conspiracy theory he didn't love (or at least want to look into), and this book is no different, yet the tone is measured and far from coming across as sensationalistic. His claim is that both covert and overt groups are at work in each of the three Abrahamic faiths to take steps that would, if carried out, likely lead to all-out war. For example, Jewish groups are working on plans to rebuild the temple, sometimes in collusion with evangelical Christians. Christian groups are convinced that the end of the world is near at hand, and they scrutinize (and exploit) the news of the day for proof that Jesus' return is imminent. Islamic groups, too, have their own versions of inflammatory, anti-Jewish theological works that are highly popular in certain parts of the world. And for each of the three faiths, Jerusalem is ground zero for the events to come, apparently. It's a book that doesn't make for good bedtime reading. Trust me on that.

I have no doubt that Baigent is correct that there are groups whose sincere belief is that the end of the age is coming soon and that they can act in ways that will bring about the end sooner rather than later. The body of evidence he has collected is rather frightening, to be honest, and progressive Christians should not be unaware of the extent to which some religious groups are willing to go to achieve their ends. (I was fairly unfamiliar with the fundamentalist movements in Judaism and Islam, so the book was useful to me for those sections.)

What is less convincing, I think, is that the plans these disparate groups have could or will be carried out, or that some of the key political leaders named in the book actually believe all that the movements with which they are associated believe. I also finished the book unclear about just what he feels folks like me (Christians who read Revelation as a document first and foremost about religious realities during the latter part of the first century C.E.) are supposed to do about these groups - except that he is strongly supportive of the more mystical streams within each of these faiths. My suggestion? Read this book in community with others so that you'll get a good dose of both thoughtful responses to its content...as well as reassurance that not everyone in the world is conspiring to do harm to others.

~ by Tim Gossett