cover image The Genesis Prayer: Discover the Ancient Secret to Modern Miracles

The Genesis Prayer: Discover the Ancient Secret to Modern Miracles

Jeffrey Meiliken. St. Martin's Press, $22.95 (248pp) ISBN 978-0-312-34779-6

The number 42 is key to unlocking the secrets of the Genesis Prayer, according to mathematician and self-described ""student of spirituality"" Meiliken. Exploring the meaning of numbers in scripture is nothing new-the third-century Christian leader Origen was famous for his mystical interpretations of scriptural number symbolism, and Meiliken works within Judaism to crack the many-layered significance of 42 from Genesis 1:1. Meiliken wastes no time getting to his overall message beyond the prayer itself, promising readers from the very first that ""this book is for anyone who wants a miracle...or needs proof of God's existence."" By way of the Genesis Prayer, Meiliken assures readers they ""will discover an ancient gift that works every time, no questions asked."" The magical promises appearing throughout the book give it a ""get-spiritually-rich-quick"" flavor that may have readers wondering if a money-back guarantee is also on the table. Based on talks Meiliken gives about the prayer, the book never quite departs from having a seminar feel. He aims to convince readers his knowledge of the prayer will not only change their lives but eliminate all difficulty, from extreme personal suffering to the mundane traffic jam.