Synopsis "Reincarnation"
Have you ever thought that you have had a previous existence? What if you woke up one day and discovered that you had been transported back 4,000 years to an earlier life? This is what happens to Mel, a modern-day architect who is shortly to be married. He returns to his previous incarnation as Melchizedek, a warrior, king, and high priest briefly mentioned in the Bible. Although he considers himself to be ill-equipped to succeed in this role, guidance is always there when needed. From time to time Mel returns briefly to the present, and eventually has to choose between the two existences. Very little is known about Melchizedek. But his name crops up in a few ancient texts including the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Gnostic Gospels discovered in Egypt, The Book of the Secrets of Enoch, and in various Jewish oral and written traditions. Despite the sparsity of information available, the author's intention is always to try and keep the narrative as historically factual and credible as possible. Readers are free to regard the whole account as pure fantasy--or maybe it will provide some food for thought. Hmm, could it actually have happened? ""This absorbing novel is based on reincarnation and 'moving between lives.' In the hands of a lesser writer such material could be merely speculative, but Mike Lowis fashions it into a compelling and convincing narrative- a real page-turner, in fact. The novel is securely founded on his scholarship and erudition, but will be highly accessible to any intelligent, open-minded reader. Rewards include a visit to the Ark and the Garden of Eden, and a meeting with the archangel Michael. Recommended!"" --Chris Stanley, Head of English, Pitsford School, United Kingdom ""Michael Lowis's fast-paced speculative narrative convincingly links the modern and ancient worlds, and the adventures of Mel/Melchizedek lead us to engage with a range of fascinating philosophical, religious, and spiritual questions. Although Lowis wears his scholarship lightly, it underpins everything in his novel, from the practicalities of living (and ruling) in Old Testament times to the nature of the soul and the possibility of reincarnation. A challenging and stimulating read."" --Christopher Ringrose, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia ""Mike Lowis's creative reworking of the story of Melchizedek in Genesis 14 interweaves biblical themes of the Garden of Eden, the flood, God's sovereignty, and human freedom, with perennial concerns of nationhood and international trade agreements. A figure of blessing and redemption to the people of Salem, Melchizedek is reimagined not just as a man for our time, but outside of time itself, offering an individual view of what is meant by an eternal priesthood."" --John Pymm, University of Wolverhampton Dr. Michael J. Lowis is both a psychologist and theologian. This book is his sixth, and he has also authored over fifty research papers and book chapters. He is a founding member of The Journal of Applied Arts and Health, and currently serves on its academic board. Now retired from university lecturing, he enjoys the challenge of exploring some of the bigger questions about life to try and separate facts from myths and legends.
