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“I was totally enthralled with the methodical and logical de-bunking of (the Bible) chapter after chapter.
Sadly, the generational indoctrination of people of ALL religions has – as you have stated – caused so much death, destruction, pain and alienation over thousands of years.
I can now understand why my own early religious instruction glossed over the absolute hypocrisy of the Old Testament and ‘cherry-picked’ verses and chapters that propped up the shaky and improbable fairy tales that we were led to believe were true.
No doubt like you, and hundreds of millions of other impressionable young children, I was sent to Sunday School for several years but soon discovered my teachers didn’t have the answers to the simplest of questions.
My Sunday School teachers had no explanation for these stories, but relied on ‘faith’ being the only reason to believe – and I must not believe otherwise or I would burn in the fires of Hell for eternity.
I also enjoyed your own humorous comments sprinkled throughout and agree with every word of your ‘Postscript’ chapter.”
Mr. Ian Ridgway - author of the Red Cedar - Red Gold trilogy
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Limerick Leader Ireland - Cathal Doherty
A review by Cathal Doherty in Limerick Leader Live
Email: [email protected] 07 Oct 2022 2.30 PM
A NEW BOOK written by an Irish man previously based in Limerick looks at the big question: is God real or man made?
Joseph ‘Tony’ Cronin who spent time growing up in Caherconlish but now living in New South Wales, Australia decided to write the book to try and make more sense of the Catholic religion he was exposed to all his life.
“It started off as an autobiography and then I changed away from that and got to looking at the Bible in extreme detail,” Mr Cronin said.
The book titled Reflections of a Catholic Altar Boy was released on September 30.
“I went looking for answers in the Bible to try and convince myself, one way or another, if a god existed,” Mr Cronin added.
“I tried to make the book light hearted and humorous to keep it readable and I was blown away by the things I found that our Catholic teachers growing up never told us about,” he said.
Each chapter of Mr Cronin’s book summarises the 66 texts from the King James version of the Bible and at the end reflects upon the teachings.
“You don’t have to read the book chronologically, you can open the book at any chapter and begin reading,” Mr Cronin said.
Mr Cronin believes that his big finding from the Old Testament is that heaven and hell and a life after death does not exist.
“That was one of the big shocks I found, they only appear in the New Testament,” Mr Cronin said.
“I went over each Bible text carefully like a juror would in court,” Mr Cronin continued.
“My finding after studying each of the texts in the end is that the god that exists in the Bible is man-made. It is a creation of the writers and it becomes so obvious as you read through it that they’re making this up,” Mr Cronin deliberated.
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The title of this newly published book caught my attention having been an altar boy myself for a number of years in my youth. To say I was shocked by what I read is an understatement. I certainly wasn’t expecting the enormity of what the author reveals in such an understandable and believable presentation.
I liked the author’s analogy of examining the Bible like a jury would in a trial making decisions based entirely and solely on the evidence presented. The author has done that very competently and I for one have no doubt now that what is revealed and exposed and the conclusions reached in this book are based solely on the evidence found in this so-called holy book.
One of my first reactions having read the book was that the Pope and the Catholic hierarchy should be sent copies. I wonder if they ever thought of carrying out such an analysis of the Bible content or, if in fact they had ever read the Bible from cover to cover in the first place. I think I know the answer. Surely they would have come to the same conclusions as this writer if they had.
Like the author, I was brought up in Ireland in a staunchly Catholic family that obeyed the Catholic teachings as dictated to us by the clergy and our school teachers. We never actually read the Bible nor were we encouraged to do so during all the years of our catholic upbringing. But that now seems understandable because if we did read it in any detail we too would have come to similar conclusions as this book does.
I have now started encouraging my friends (mainly disengaged Catholics) to read this book and would encourage others to do so as well - to set the record straight once and for all.
Congratulations J.A. Cronin. I am extremely grateful for your efforts and for finally putting my mind at ease. Well done.
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Dan Danaher - Clare Champion Newspaper, Ireland
This book is a personal journey of discovery, an attempt to come to terms with all the lies that the clergy have taught for centuries,” he says. “They are still pedalling the same old lies and exaggerations today. They stand to lose too much by acknowledging the truth. The powerful religious lobby world-wide keeps its influence and wealth by perpetuating these lies. It’s time for clarification, it’s time to challenge the existing orthodoxy and time for some facts about what exactly the Bible contains. The only credible way to do that is to examine every text carefully, all 66 of them and reveal the findings.
“I have done this for my own enlightenment and for my family and friends. I want to share with them what I found so they can make more informed choices about what they believe in. I contend that very few people in religious callings have read the Bible carefully, if at all. Anyone who does so will see the unsustainability of what is in it. All the evidence is there for everyone to see it. I am now a happy, informed and well-adjusted atheist as a result of examining the Bible carefully,” he said.
“If we are to understand what motivates radical, Islamic terrorists and hope to stamp out evil in the world, then we must put our own house in order first. The belief that the Angel Gabriel dictated the Koran to Mohammed dissolves when you accept that angels are non-existent mythical creatures. Neither did an angel impregnate the Virgin Mary nor do any of the deeds they are given credit for in Biblical texts. This book was not written to offend but rather to encourage intelligent thought and discussion. It may contribute to the debate about religion generally and the origin of things, whether there is some creative force in the universe or not. But it does challenge the authenticity of the God being presented in the Bible,” he explains.
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A perfect read for people interested in religious issues but who cannot find the time to read the multitude of books in the bible and surmount their archaic language - the author has done the deep dive for you! What makes this book especially appealing is that Cronin has done this deep dive with a light touch. Plenty of humour is mixed in with the analysis so the book is entertaining, along with being informative. The book will be illuminating for those who approach the bible from a fundamentalist view. Presented in an easily digestible format, the book should be required reading for anybody who treats the book as the literal word of God. Thought-provoking and scholarly on one level, this is also a fun read with the author inserting colourful memories of his Irish upbringing to enliven what might be dry reading in the hands of another writer. Definitely recommended reading it!
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This is a great read. For anyone who wouldn’t have the time to read through so much literature on religion, this is a book where the author has done all that for you and left you as the reader to come to your own conclusions.
Very well done and humorous too!
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I found J Cronin’s “Reflections of a Catholic Altar Boy” a methodical, detailed, and from my point of view objective analysis of what the bible, in reality, tells us. He has structured his investigation in such a way that makes it easily accessible for the general public to understand and appreciate what he has done, an avenue for those not well-versed in biblical teachings to explore. The approach of summarising each book of the Old and New Testaments in detail, but then providing a concise bold text overview of the more relevant/interesting elements is clever, and his conversational style, combined with amusing, ironic, and wry observations adds an enjoyable element to the discussion.
His account of personal experiences, and what it means for him going forward, provides authenticity and emotional gravitas to the text with which I empathize. The idea of seeing himself as a juror and putting the bible “on trial” is inspired and helps the reader feels that there is no agenda here and that this book is a genuine attempt to really understand the text upon which so many have based their spiritual beliefs. Alas, for many of those believers, this book may prove a pivotal turning point, or at least provoke some in-depth reflections of their own.
A thought-provoking, stimulating, and at times entertaining read. Highly recommended!
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I should state at the outset that I believe there is no greater cure for Catholicism than a Catholic education. While I have encountered some decent and honorable members of the clergy, they have been far overshadowed by the disappointing, the unpleasant, and the completely shameful.
J. Tony Cronin’s book Reflections of a Catholic Altar Boy is focused as much on answering the author’s questions as it is on the readers. His book-by-book analysis of the Bible allows one to agree or disagree with his conclusions because the tone is instructive and about enlightenment, rather than dogmatic. One gets the feeling that the author rejoices in you having an opinion, irrespective of whether it is the same as his. He simply wants you to be thinking.
The author points out that ideas such as Heaven and Satan appear as rather late additions to the Bible. Not to mention the dramatic personality change in God from the Old to the New Testament. The book highlights the difficulty in relating the teachings of Jesus to the harsh brutality of God in the Old Testament – there are certainly contradictions. It is a wonderful irony that the author has clearly spent considerable time studying and researching the Bible, the result of which is a confirmation of his atheism.
This book is a must-read for anyone who went through the Catholic education systems throughout the world, but many others will find it raises questions and issues worthy of contemplation. A job well done, Mr. Cronin. Highly recommended!
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I found this a very interesting read, it was humorous at times and easy to read. It highlighted so many contradictions to what most people say, or interpret about such a quoted story. I read it from cover to cover and enjoyed the many quotes and accurate references backing up the authors thought-provoking arguments. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in getting another view of such an important book. In fact, I believe it should be a compulsory text for any religious schollar. Easily 5 stars.
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A friend recommended this book to me and explained what the Author reveals.
I hesitated initially as I wasn't sure if I was ready to cope with having my Catholic upbringing shattered. Having now read the book I am shattered at what it reveals through the Authors pains taking analysis and how he presents his findings. VERY IMPRESSIVE and enlightening to say the least. I am annoyed at myself for having been so gullible all those years.
This book is well worth reading provided the reader is prepared to come to terms with its content........I'm so glad I did have the courage.
Marian Lordan
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A must read for all bible studies groups! Like Cronin I was indoctrinated as a child by both Catholic nuns and priests. Strangely the bible was never at the forefront of their teaching and we were never encouraged to study it so I didn’t. J.A. Cronin has done the job for me in a style that is investigative, humorous and readable. In so doing he has laid the bible bare as a gigantic fraud. Any sane person reading his book could not come away with the belief that the Bible is the literal word of god. It should be mandatory reading for every “bible basher” and religious cleric. It has confirmed my atheism and I recommend it to anyone seeking the truth regarding the bible.
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If you only read one book in your life, make it this one. The author J.A. Cronin takes you on a journey of discovery which should help you live a better life free of the lies and hypocrisy that religion promotes.
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Thomas William Cowen BA BSc LLB (Hons) MES
Review of AJ Cronin: Reflections of a Catholic Alter Boy.
I wonder if the author is wryly amused by the irony of his writing a non-fiction treatise to demonstrate that a book, which, as many vehemently affirm, is the truth and is perfect because it is the word of god, is in the author’s assessment, in reality, a very flawed work of fiction.
This is a very personal and subjective journey for the author. One where the author takes you into his confidence in the expectation that you will agree with his acerbic and at times sarcastic laying bare the legion of flaws, contradictions, and discrepancies contained within. To this end he uses rhetorical questions posed as statements such that you are trapped into agreeing with him, nodding your head sagely. And in this way, AJ Cronin brings you to an objectively drawn interpretation of your own from his subjective exploration of the book.
And he does it with such aplomb.
Atheists will be receptive to the author’s analysis. People who believe the bible offers them guidance on how a good life should be led will be shaken. But, if they read the bible as a metaphor they will pick and choose only those parts that support their worldview. If they read AJ Cronin’s analysis with an intelligent open mind then they too might question the basis of their beliefs. Those who read the bible literally will be flummoxed at the clear exposition of its contradictions. I could not hazard a guess as to how they might react to AJ Cronin’s analysis as I have never been able to understand how anyone could read the bible literally in any event. A complete embrace of credulity and dispensation of intellect I guess.
Can one be a good Christian without the bible? Yes. One can lead a good life irrespective of what one’s view of the bible is. But it is also possible to lead a very bad life using the bible to justify one’s actions. Both sides in the American Civil War used different parts of the bible to prove god was on their side. If A J Cronin’s reflections were read by all then relying on the bible to support odious decisions would be much rarer.
Thomas William Cowen
BA BSc LLB (Hons) MES.
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Some books help you live life a little better. This is one of those books.
Highly recommended.
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If religion is all about power, influence and control over people's lives as this
book states, then we have all been misled by this "Holy Book" for a very long
time.
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At first I didn't think this book was for me. Now I'm thankful that I read it carefully. It has changed my outlook on life in general but on all man-made religion in particular. I feel I am better equipped now for the reality ahead.
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Many of us grew up in Catholic schools being told about what's in the Bible by well-meaning nuns, priests, and brothers. Who would have thought they omitted so much and told us so many untruths? They mustn't have read the Bible themselves. It's all there in plain view and, as this book demonstrates, their stories fall apart when looked at closely.
5 stars
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My instincts told me that what we were told growing up in Catholic school was mostly lies and wishful thinking. Now I know for sure I was right having read this book carefully.
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The author having examined the Bible similar to a juror would examine evidence in a trial.His attention to detail leaves the reader confident that his findings are well researched and accurate.His concludes that we have been misled by the Holy Book.I congratulate Mr Cronin for a job well done and a stimulating read
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As Easter approaches what a time to review Reflections of a Catholic Altar Boy after reading I begin to wonder if my three sons' names Samuel, Joshua, and Jacob require closer scrutiny!
Very definitely a challenging time and a book that hopefully will open up some serious debate about the nature and existence of God and his son Jesus.
At the very least it should lead readers to challenge their own belief systems.
This is because of the detailed research that has been carried out by the author. At the conclusion of the section of the New Testament, the Postscript is very powerful as is the Introduction because it is a personal account of the author's journey to atheism having come from a very strong Catholic background in Ireland where until the last few years the faith was all-encompassing to the Irish population.
Generally, we did not begin to question our faith until we left home and ventured out into the world.
The author's humanities background at the university level and teaching English at the secondary school level are valuable assets enabling the writer to use his literary skills fully especially when discussing the various scribes writing in the Old Testament and how a number of them were very skilled as writers whilst others left a great deal to be desired.
The layout using the actual format of the Bible itself in two columns is most apt.
The research that Mr. Cronin has conducted over many years certainly pays dividends and I noted the acknowledgment of many other authors on this vexed question of whether is God real or a man-made deity who is actually not very human at all!
I hope that this book will become required reading for university Theology undergraduates and postgraduates as well as secondary school students studying Comparative Religions!
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This is an excellent book for people who had a religious education when they were young and now wish to reassess the stories and biblical quotations they were exposed to. The book’s introduction and conclusion are essential reading. Readers will also be entertained by the humorous and insightful way in which A.J. Cronin writes about each of the books of the bible, although you may feel the need to skip the analysis of some of the lesser books of the Old Testament, in which case a handy summary is included in a square in the middle of each page.
A word of warning; if you give this book as a gift to friends or family who are committed Christians, you may find they are offended by some of the author’s jocular remarks. In which case, keep the book for yourself to use as a useful reference book in debating with these people. Highly recommended.
