Reviewed
by Shobana Gomes, Poet/Writer,
Published Author, Book Reviewer
https://reviewservicebyshobana.blogspot.com
Date of
Review: 31st January 2019
Title of Book: Looking for God within the Kingdom of Religious Confusion
Author: AW Schade
ISBN-13: 978-1983049378
Publisher: Independently
Published
Publication Date: June 4, 2018
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 208
Price: USD9.95 (sold on Amazon)
Review
“Where is God?”
Blessed
are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom
of Heaven, one of the beatitudes of Catholicism, and I believe what started
Jacob A.Hinsen on a journey of religious self-discovery, and to seek the
authenticity of a God who through his own faultless account in this book
“persecutes as well”. A God who punishes, and destroys to reveal his wrath on
all believers, and non-believers who do not succumb to his ways. A God of the
ancient times, who may have not revealed his true mercy, and compassion to the
world before, and of our time.
Jacob,
a Roman Catholic questions the faith he was born into after losing his
daughter, Jessica, in a devastating car accident. He struggles to accept her
death, and blames God, who he finds merciless and ruthless to have let her die
in a cruel manner, at such a tender age. “Where is God,” he begins.
Jacob’s
quest to search for the true meaning of religion, and in a way be able to find
God who is able to manifest himself to him, so that his hunger for truth is
revealed, takes him on a road to seek the three main religions of the world.
Jacob’s
road to search for answers leads him through the ancient Gateway of Abraham –
the only entrance to The Religious Kingdom of Confusion. There, he meets great
scholars of the different faiths, and begins his inquisitorial journey into
finding true religion and its meaning.
As
Jacob advances in his mission, he learns that all the religious scholars
advocate peace, and tolerance for each other’s religions.
I
found this book such an eye-opener to the many different faiths that Man has
fought over since the beginning of time in order to gain supremacy. This is a
great book to read which will take the reader, just as the writer intended, on
a journey to self-discovery, and “open up minds” to the different advocacy of
religious interpretations.
This
book, I recommend, to everyone who wants to re-look the meaning of religion, and
its hold on us. A very well written book, it will keep you glued to its
contents from the beginning, and also satisfy your curiosity to the many
questions you may have regarding God, and his hand in this world. It is a must
read!
About the Author
A.W. Schade is a
Marine Veteran turned prolific writer. With an impressive track record of 30
years in the corporate sector, first as a Bank Manager and thereafter in
corporate executive marketing, business development, operations and sales,
positions that he held right after his early retirement from the Marines. (He
opted for early retirement as a result of recurring flashes of his darkest
memories of combat in Vietnam). As fate would have it, Schade was
diagnosed with PTSD, something that in the early stages, he was not inclined to
accept and denied. After eventually seeking assistance in therapy and recognizing
the need to raise awareness to PTSD, in order to help other veterans who were
experiencing the same disorder, he began to write stories to “open minds” as he
so aptly writes in his biography.
AW Schade has
skillfully demonstrated in his books that the effects of war on veterans and
families are very real, damaging and one that needs lifelong healing and
support.
His energy
directed at writing and thus seeking remedial recovery is credible. What is
more commendable and admirable is that he shares his experience to help other
veterans and families affected by PTSD by raising awareness of the disorder
through therapy sessions and support groups.
Schade is
married, a father of three and a four-time grandfather. He holds a degree in
Business Management from Syracuse University.
His Written
Accreditation to-date
His first story was the award-winning novel,
"Looking for God within the Kingdom of Religious Confusion," An
enlightening 'creative non-fiction' story of one man's journey to find the
truth about God and religion.
To help veterans recognize and accept PTSD, he wrote a
story titled “The Demons of War are Persistent – his personal account of denial
and living with PTSD and an essay titled “Not Alone” about the trepidation of
entering group therapy. Both books are free to read and download on his website https://www.awschade.com
His keen eye and
experience in combat techniques saw him publish his first suspense-filled short
story. In “If I fail, what doom awaits the children”, Schade shows his
humane and compassionate side as he writes fiction about three kidnapped
children who are saved by an elderly veteran, Jacob A.Hinsen.
In August 2017, Schade went one step further and
consolidated all his stories into a single volume “anthology PERCEPTION.' Thus
making his stories easier for readers to acquire individually or all in one
compelling storybook.*
In conclusion, AW Schade writes with clarity and
honesty and comes across as a war veteran who shares his stories through the
many personal tragedies that he has faced during combat in Vietnam.
