The Shepherd of Hermas Paperback – 26 July 2022

Just what I wanted and downloaded very quickly and easily. It helped me with some research that I needed and I will use it many times.

The book itself was of interest to me, as I wanted to see to what extent the teaching of the New Testament was reflected in some later Christian writings. It was considered canonical by some of the early church fathers, but it is so different to other New Testament books that I am surprised it has held this status. To give just one example, the extensive use of allegory is very much in contrast to the simple parables told by Jesus.This particular Kindle version was poor. There were lots of typographical errors in it, with God being 'Cod' on more than one occasion.

A really grim piece of work. Thank God it didn't make it into the Bible. I'm giving it two stars for the personifications of the Church as an old woman who grows younger as the 'story' (sermon) progresses.These are the reasons for my criticism:1. The dogmatic attitude of the writer. How many times does he (presumably a he) have to say that self-discipline will be a kind of saving grace? Isn’t there more to it all than that?2. The spirits entering into a person. According to this piece of work, every human being is at the mercy of fickle powers. Maybe this is true - but is it really how it is portrayed here? Is anger always a spirit?3. At one point the supposed powers that be intone that humans are simply overreacting to things (to paraphrase) ‘that amount to nothing’ - for instance some words that have been said of them. Except, these great and righteous powers then go on to over-react to every question asked of them by the narrator. They come across as fickle tyrants.4. The narrator. I don't care that the narrator doesn't seem to grow or change as the book progresses. That he is called 'simple', That he is an archetypal naïf. What I care about is his unendurable sycophancy to the powers that be. Supposedly Christ speaks at some point. Supposedly.5. You will leave this book feeling worse than when you began. Okay, espouse repentance. Fine. But don't drone on and on about anyone 'despising these words' being somehow horribly damned. What a pile of pants.6. The whole tone of the writing. You will leave this book feeling brow-beaten and worse about yourself, worrying about all kinds of things. Where is the comfort? Where is the healing? Where is the encouragement?There are only two good things about this work:1. The personifications.2. The ancient idea that everyone has a guardian angel and a ‘guardian’ demon.But the rest is truly a test of self-control for any reader.