• The Rational Bible: Genesis

  • By: Dennis Prager
  • Narrated by: Tom Parks
  • Length: 19 hrs and 47 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (1,368 ratings)

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The Rational Bible: Genesis

By: Dennis Prager
Narrated by: Tom Parks
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USA Today bestseller

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Many people today think the Bible, the most influential book in world history, is not only outdated but irrelevant, irrational, and even immoral.

This explanation of the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Bible, demonstrates clearly and powerfully that the opposite is true. The Bible remains profoundly relevant - both to the great issues of our day and to each individual life. It is the greatest moral guide and source of wisdom ever written.

Do you doubt the existence of God because you think believing in God is irrational? This book will give you many reasons to rethink your doubts. Do you think faith and science are in conflict? You won’t after listening to this commentary on Genesis. Do you come from a dysfunctional family? It may comfort you to know that every family discussed in Genesis was highly dysfunctional!

The title of this commentary is The Rational Bible because its approach is entirely reason-based. The listener is never asked to accept anything on faith alone. In Dennis Prager’s words, “If something I write is not rational, I have not done my job.”

The Rational Bible is the fruit of Dennis Prager’s forty years of teaching the Bible - whose Hebrew grammar and vocabulary he has mastered - to people of every faith and no faith at all. Virtually across the book, you will discover how the text relates to the contemporary world in general and to you personally. His goal: to change your mind - and, as a result, to change your life.

©2019 by Dennis Prager. (P)2019 Brilliance Publishing, Inc., all rights reserved. All Scripture taken from New JPS Translation, Jewish Publication Society. Philadelphia, PA 1985. Used by permission.

What listeners say about The Rational Bible: Genesis

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So glad I bought this!

Tom Parks did a fine job narrating “The Rational Bible: Genesis” by Dennis Prager. As usual, Dennis does not disappoint! I liked this so much that I purchased “The Rational Bible: Exodus”. As I Christian, I found his Jewish thought to be informative and inspiring; also, I greatly appreciated his observations about Christian thought regarding this book of the Torah. I listened to it almost nonstop myself, and I am going through it one chapter at a time with my youngest son.

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21 people found this helpful

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Fantastic commentary...and I'm Christian

I have listened to Dennis Prager for 30 years, bought one of his books, and have seen him grow in his acceptance of Christians. I've always respected his logical and moral sensibilities and Bible knowledge, so when I heard he had written two commentaries on the Torah, I was I was immediately interested.

I was not disappointed. He brought many insights to Genesis from Jewish tradition to my attention. Most of it fit perfectly with my own understanding of ancient history and Judaism, but added more color and historical context that I hadn't yet appreciated.

I would love to see Dennis accept the messiahship of Jesus Christ someday. But at least I know Christians have a true ally in Dennis Prager in defending ethical monotheism from the increasingly nasty attacks from athists/secularists.

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18 people found this helpful

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A must read/listen if context is important to you.

If you aren't the kind who likes the use of random scripture quotes to back a particular belief, but rather want to deeply understand God's word, this book is a must.

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16 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Dennis Prager does it again.

I thoroughly enjoy this book series. While I've read the Old Testament, Prager adds invaluable information and I cannot wait to see the other books in the Old Testament to get this treatment and add value to the scriptures.

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Fantastic commentary. Lots of interesting insights

I love the way Dennis inserts essays throughout to break up the commentary and give deeper insight into how it fits into the bigger picture.

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Replay function used a 1000 times

On this first reading, I have read this book three times via the use of the replay button.
Now I will re-read in parallel with the Bible.
Thank you Mr. Prager and to all those that contributed to it.

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Dennis Prager is the Man

Another awesome book to continue the Torah. The Rational Bible Genesis stays true and strong till the very end.

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7 people found this helpful

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The rstional bible: Geneis

Excelent narration. Great explanation of Genesis. Makes the book come alive with the thorough ecplanations by the author. It makes me want to know more. Great secobd book after Exodus. I wish and I hope that Dennis Prager continues the series with either of tge remaining 3 books of the Pentateuc.

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Cain didn't marry his sister

The Torah doesn't mention that Cain took his sister in order to marry her. Secondly, Adam and Eve had Seth decades after Cain left them in order to know his wife and build a city. The city was not build by just Cain's family since that would have been an overwhelming task so there were other human beings like we are told in the Torah because Elohim created humanity and formed Adám. Elohim is not going to contradict God self by allowing incest, in order to prohibited later it in Leviticus. Please, study your Torah, biblical and secural archeology, the human ancestral genome and ancient world history. Now, a days aberrations are been legalize so one of them is incest. Don't contribute to evil but assist in erraticating it.

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7 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars

Strongly recomend this book.

I am looking forward to listening to the next book. The naration was great and the explanations were very enlightening.

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5 people found this helpful

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  • Nev James
  • 11-05-21

Wisdom in a world of deceit - Biblical

Our creator gave us free will and mankind has struggled with God ever since.
Everything that has ever happened in relationships is explained in detail here with myths debunked and true meaning revealed.

Build Faith here!

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  • Dale H.
  • 06-03-21

Excellent look into Genesis

Great look into Genesis, analyzes various bits in excellent detail and narration is really well done. Very happy with purchase.

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  • Valentin
  • 12-03-20

Brilliant commentary

Very easy to follow, informative and eyeopening commentary to the first books of the Old Testament in the Bible.

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  • Anonymous User
  • 10-22-20

I love this book

This is an Awsome commentary, I need more the entire book even, the interpretation behind many of the storys and revelation of Gods actual character is really eye opening, long held religious ideas have been uprooted. I feel a closer connection to my faith as a result of reading this book. the narration is splendidly done, excited for the next one

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  • Anonymous User
  • 03-30-23

beautiful interpretation of genesis

A great listen. the explanation and analysis of the foundation book of the bible is easy to understand and invoked a lot of reflection of oneself. highly recommend

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  • Ankie
  • 11-03-20

Beat audible

As a Christian listening to this audible made a lot of thi ga clear in Genesis!

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  • David
  • 06-21-19

Disappointed.

Too bad Mr Prager thinks God is a liar. I will continue to wait for a religious version.

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  • James Wang
  • 06-02-19

A strong sense that i will listen to this book a couple of more times in the coming years.

The book gives rational explanations on some of the questions lurking in my mind while reading the bible.

For example, the creation story mentioned twice at the beginning of the bible, how to understand it chronologically when the bible doesn’t provide a clear answer.

The book is very dense based on my current understanding of the biblical history, although the first read through gave me the perspectives I was looking for, I can sense that a few more readings are required to fully understand the author’s view.

Thus the book can continue to offer great value to me as long as I can keep the effort of developing my own understanding of the bible.

It will be good if I can read it a couple of more times in the coming years, and to compare my findings.

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