Jesus Books - Page 8

The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus

Earl Doherty

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Total reviews: 104 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The gospel story of Jesus is a work of dramatic fiction 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 9 people found this review helpful.

"The Jesus Puzzle" by Earl Doherty.

This book should be of interest to those who have doubts about divine intervention in human affairs (theism).

Doherty addresses the Jesus Puzzle by tracing the likely ancestry of the books of the New Testament. There are two "traditions". The Jerusalem Tradition, which refers to the "Son of God", and includes the Pauline and other epistles; and the Galilean Tradition, which refers to the "Son of Man", and includes the gospels and a hypothetical collection of sayings known to Biblical scholars as Q.

The epistles, written in the first century CE, refer to Christ as a mythical character and intermediary between God and man; they draw on Old Testament prophesies. But they fail to mention a human Jesus. It is not until the earliest gospel, written by Mark about 90 CE, that Jesus appears in human form, complete with biography. Doherty suggests that if such a person had existed, the epistle writers would have mentioned him, as that would have stregthened their case.

Because the epistles are silent about the biography of Jesus, Doherty infers that no such person existed. Instead, Jesus was created by the author of Mark's gospel, not as an historical person but as a fictional character. Mark's writing used the technique called "midrash" to combine material from the Q document with Old Testament prophesies. The result was a brilliant work of drama which was futher embellished by the other gospel writers. The entire gospel account of Jesus's life and death, says Doherty, is a literary fabrication.

As a non-believer, I found this theory to be quite reassuring, as there is no longer any need to account for the unnatural events in the life and death of Jesus. But in order to appreciate it more fully you would need a more thorough knowledge of the Bible and Christian doctrines.

Editorial Review:

(Please see description attached to book on Amazon site under former publisher--in Special Orders category).

Lessons from a Sheepdog: Following the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ (Hodder Christian Paperbacks)

Phillip Keller

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 23 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

An Easy Read 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I love Keller's writings and Lessons From a Sheep Dog was no disappointment. With gentleness and transparency the author shares his lessons in life that only God can teach . . . through a dog. This easy read makes for the perfect morning devotion.


The Birth to Five Book: Confident Childrearing Right from the Start

We are the sheepdog 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

A beautiful allegory that clearly illustrates our growth as Christians. We start as lost and disobedient, then through the gift of the Holy Spirit and the process of sanctification we become eager obedient servants of our God. I want to be the sheepdog.

Sheepdog Christianity 5 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

I've read this book, and found it delightful. I've given it, along with the "Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23" to pastors for their ordinations. This particular book is a great analogy to our growth learning to trust, listen and obey Christ, and let go of the distractions of the world. It was deeply and practically insightful, yet simple enough I could read it for worship with children and they enjoy it as well as understand the deeper lessons as well. Very well done. Highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

Woven just under the surface of this simple parable, Philip Keller presents profound spiritual truth. It is the story of Lass, a worthless animal thought to be untrainable, who becomes a magnificent and valuable sheepdog—not terribly unlike how God's love can transform our worst characteristics into blessings that serve to further His Kingdom.

Maya Cosmogenesis 2012: The True Meaning of the Maya Calendar End-Date

John Major Jenkins, Terence McKenna

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 41 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

The 'Zero Time' Is Upon Us 4 out of 5 stars.
4 of 5 people found this review helpful.

Overall this book is pretty solid I think as far as the research.

The main point is that we are very close to the end of what people call "The Platonic Year". This is a 25,800 year period of time during which our solar system travels through the 12 signs of the zodiac.

On 12/21/12 a strange astronomical alignment will occur where our solar system will get lined up with the super massive black hole in the center of the Milky Way galaxy. The "black sun". I think I read somewhere else that an energy beam is emanating from the black sun and this beam will strike the earth on that date.

The author doesn't really say exactly what's supposed to happen on that date. Perhaps the change that occurs will be within all of us I don't know.

Another re-occuring point is the Mayan shamans' use of mind altering substances such as certain mushrooms. To avoid the upset stomach that these concoctions could cause they would sometimes inject the mixture directly into their intestines.

In appendix 6 he critiques some other books on this subject and compares them to his own research. He disagrees with others that the ancient Egyptians were more advanced that the Mayans. My own take is both cultures have a common source (Atlantis). The pyramid of Kukulcan compares very well to the other pyramids around the world. However the pyramids at Giza, especially when they were in their original condition, stand alone.

Nobody really knows how these pyramids were built by the way, much as traditional Egyptologists like to make us think they know.

He is correct that people in our modern world today may in some cases tend to underestimate the knowledge that these ancient cultures possessed.

Many people today have a feeling that something strange is going to happen soon. I do anyway. Perhaps a lot of people like to read those 'left behind' books because that's a Christian response to this feeling.

There are some truly tragic desecrations and destructions of culture and knowledge that stand out in human history. Here's my short list:

1) the Muslims destroying the surfaces of the pyramids at Giza in Egypt so they could use the limestone for their palaces for Mohammed

2) the burning of the library at Alexandria by the Christians

3) the Spanish burning all of the Mayan's ancient codex booklets and melting down all of the Aztec's priceless gold artifacts

So we see that no single religion or country had any monopoly on destroying knowledge and history.

Jeff Marzano

The Mystery of the Crystal Skulls: Unlocking the Secrets of the Past, Present, and Future

The Giza Power Plant : Technologies of Ancient Egypt

The Giza Death Star

Edgar Cayce's Egypt: Psychic Revelations on the Most Fascinating Civilization Ever Known

Edgar Cayce's Atlantis and Lemuria: The Lost Civilizations in the Light of Modern Discoveries

Lemuria & Atlantis: Studying the Past to Survive the Future

The Hunt for Zero Point: Inside the Classified World of Antigravity Technology

Initiation

Initiation in the Great Pyramid (Astara's Library of Mystical Classics)

Editorial Review:

Why does the Maya calendar end in 2012? In this groundbreaking book, Jenkins shows that the end date of the Maya long count calendar on December 21, 2012, marks the rare alignment of our solar system with the galactic center. This happens every 26,000 years, and the Maya believed this alignment would greatly accelerate human evolution. 200 illustrations.

The Importance of Being Foolish: How to Think Like Jesus

Brennan Manning

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Total reviews: 9 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

In the eyes of the world, Jesus was a fool. He did not abide by the rules of his day; the people he associated with were shunned by society; his Sermon on the Mount reads likea primer on being left behind, stepped on, and ignored. In order for us to truly be the people Jesus wants us to be, we too must learn to become "foolish."

Becoming a Christian is not a magical enterprise by which we are automatically transformed into better people. We must train to become who God intends us to be. In The Importance of Being Foolish, bestselling Christian author Brennan Manning teaches us how to think like Jesus. By reorienting our lives according to the gospel we may appear to be fools in the eyes of the world, but Manning reveals that this is exactly what Jesus wants.

In a powerful exploration of the mind of Christ, Manning reveals how our obsession with security, pleasure, and power prevents us from living rich and meaningful lives. Our endless struggle to acquire money, good feelings, and prestige yields a rich harvest of worry, frustration, and resentment. Manning explores what Christ's mind was truly focused on: finding the Father, compassion for others, a heart of forgiveness, and the work of the kingdom.

Coming from the gentle yet compelling voice of Brennan Manning, The Importance of Being Foolish is a refreshing reminder of the radical call of Jesus and the transforming love of God.

Jesus, the One and Only

Beth Moore

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 19 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

fresh perspective on a familiar story 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

So far this is my favorite Beth Moore book. I've already read it twice and am sure to read it again. She tackles a very familiar story with fresh insights just about every chapter. It's not a "preachy" book. Rather she makes you feel like you're a fellow learner with a good friend. Unlike some of her other books, this does not require looking up many references which makes it ideal to read when you're reading somewhere other than your desk at home.

Editorial Review:

In her previous books, Beth Moore has introduced her readers to David and Paul. In Jesus, the One and Only, Beth introduces them to an intimate Savior as they get a close-up and personal portrait of the life of Jesus the Messiah.

But this is far more than just a work on the life of Christ. As He has done in the past, God uses Beth’s words to woo the reader into a romance with the One and Only. The reader comes to know Christ personally, watching and listening as He breaks up a funeral by raising the dead, confronts conniving religious leaders of His day, teaches on a Galilean hillside, or walks on the waves and calms the storm.

True Devotion to Mary

Louis De Monfort, Frederick Faber

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Total reviews: 28 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A masterpiece written by the Holy Spirit Himself 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 8 people found this review helpful.

This is, in my opinion, the greatest single book ever written on the Blessed Virgin. It is, in reality, like a compendium of all that the Holy Catholic Church had taught on devotion to the Blessed Virgin up to that moment, although nothing has really been added since then. In 215 pages it explains everything you need to know about TRUE devotion to the Blessed Virgin - it even explains false devotions, such as hypocritical devotees etc - and the crucial importance, by the will of God, of Mary in salvation history. You can clearly get the impression when reading this magnificent book that the author was not really the one who physically wrote down the words, St Louis Marie Grignion de Montfort, but in reality the Holy Ghost himself acting through this servant of God. This book is an absolute must for anyone who wishes to better his/her spiritual life. Needless to say, I think everyone should read this book - sinners and saints alike. For sinners, as a way to escape from spiritual ruin, and for saints, as a way to reach perfection which otherwise is very difficult to reach without a deep devotion to Our Lady. This book definitely has the power to change the life of the one who reads it. As St Alphonsus de Liguori stated, "Only God knows the good that can be done on a soul by reading a good book" and this book certainly falls in this category.

Editorial Review:

Considered the greatest single book on Mary ever written, this classic shows the way to Jesus through Mary. It sums up the entire Christian life and provides the key both to sanctity and to salvation. Beloved by countless souls; makes lasting devotees. St. Louis De Montfort prophesied that True Devotion to Mary would be the way of life of the great Saints of the latter times. This devotion is destined to change the world!

When Jesus Became God: The Struggle to Define Christianity during the Last Days of Rome

Richard E. Rubenstein

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Total reviews: 83 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

The story of Jesus is well known, as is the story of Christian persecutions during the Roman Empire. The history of fervent debate, civil strife, and bloody riots within the Christian community as it was coming into being, however, is a side of ancient history rarely described. Richard E. Rubenstein takes the reader to the streets of the Roman Empire during the fourth century, when a fateful debate over the divinity of Jesus Christ is being fought. Ruled by a Christian emperor, followers of Jesus no longer fear for the survival of their monotheistic faith but break into two camps regarding the direction of their worship. Is Jesus the son of God and therefore not the same as God? Or is Jesus precisely God on earth and therefore equal to Him? The vicious debate is led by two charismatic priests. Arius, an Alexandrian priest and poet, preaches that Jesus, though holy, is less than God. Athanasius, a brilliant and violent bishop, sees any diminution of Jesus' godhead as the work of the devil. Between them stands Alexander, the powerful Bishop of Alexandria, who must find a resolution that will keep the empire united and the Christian faith alive. With thorough historical, religious, and social research, Rubenstein vividly recreates one of the most critical moments in the history of religion.

The Historical Reliability of the Gospels

Craig L. Blomberg

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Total reviews: 16 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Scholarly defense of the gospels' historical reliability 5 out of 5 stars.
6 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Blomberg, an expert in the Synoptics, does a superb job, showing the inadequacies of much liberal gospel scholarship, and making an eminently credible case for the overall historical reliability of the canonical gospels. This is clearly going to be a classic, and anyone interested in Biblical Studies should read it.

Editorial Review:

For over twenty years, Craig Blomberg's The Historical Reliability of the Gospels has provided a useful antidote to many of the toxic effects of skeptical criticism of the Gospels. Offering a calm, balanced overview of the history of Gospel criticism, especially that of the late twentieth century, Blomberg introduces readers to the methods employed by New Testament scholars and shows both the values and limits of those methods. He then delves more deeply into the question of miracles, Synoptic discrepancies and the differences between the Synoptics and John. After an assessment of noncanonical Jesus tradition, he addresses issues of historical method directly.

This new edition has been thoroughly updated in light of new developments with numerous additions to the footnotes and two added appendixes. Readers will find that over the past twenty years, the case for the historical trustworthiness of the Gospels has grown vastly stronger.

He Chose the Nails

Max Lucado

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Total reviews: 46 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Savoring the Cross of Christ 4 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

Max draws you into the cross of Christ, as he attempts to capture your mind with reference to things you would not even consider. The Via Dolorosa is our journey too. Bravo!

He Chose Nails 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

I have read many of Max Lucado books, and this one is one of his best. It brings us even closer to our Lord and Savior, and the sacrifice He went through for you and me.

Doug Bolton

Editorial Review:

The wood. The thorns. The nails. Christ's sacrifice has defined the very essence of mankind's faith for the past 2000 years. And now, Max Lucado invites you to examine the cross, contemplate its purpose, and celebrate its significance with He Chose the Nails. With his warm, caring style, Max examines the symbols surrounding Christ's crucifixion, revealing the claims of the cross and asserting that if they are true, then Christianity itself is true. The supporting evidence either makes the cross the single biggest hoax of all time, or the hope of all humanity. More than a book, the campaign includes the first stand-alone workbook, leaders guide, and video package from Max, as well as a praise & worship CD from Here to Him music featuring several of today's favorite Christian artists.

The Historical Figure of Jesus

E. P. Sanders

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Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Pitch-Perfect Introduction 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

E.P. Sanders is the giant in contemporary American Jesus scholarship. Unlike the anti-intellectual sensationalist bigot John Shelby Spong, you will not find anything "NEW!" or "CONTROVERSIAL!". Sander's, while certainly a liberal, is first and foremost a historian. And he methodically goes over the criteria in examining the Gospels and reconstructing the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth. He focuses particularly on the Canonical Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and Q). He finds these to be the most reliable in investigating who Jesus was and where he stood in the stream of Palestinian Judaism.

Unlike the other popular liberal scholar, (and member of the controversial Jesus Seminar) John Dominic Crossan, he does not think Thomas has any particular value in investigating Jesus. I would say Sanders has more in common with Marcus Borg than Crossan, although I think the latter two tend to adapt First-Century Jesus to the fleeting philosophies of today and try to make Jesus "appealing" to the modern mind (Borg especially falls into this). Sanders (like the centrist Catholic scholar John P. Meier) presents Jesus fully, warts and all.

This book was a joy to read. It is especially geared towards those who are interested in Jesus, but not so much Christianity and those Christians who are looking to further illumine the figure they worship by learning about this Jewish Peasant in the historical circumstances in which he dwelled. It is much more accessible than his scholarly treatment "Jesus and Judaism". The technical introduction that is in the aforementioned text is absent, in this book Sanders is focused on the non-scholar reader.

Sander's is probably my favorite scholar (although Meier and Wright follow closely behind) and I particularly enjoy the way he addresses the controversies with the Jewish leaders and his crucifixion (and the responsibility for it). The chapter on the Resurrection is also fantastic, whether you believe in it or not. Sanders does not come down on a position because it is outside the historians realm of inquiry, but nevertheless I liked what he had to say about it.

Out of all popular books about the historical Jesus that plague the market, Sanders is a breath of fresh air. Of course it does not get nearly the amount of press as James Cameron's "Jesus Family Tomb" (or Gnostic revival; Holy Blood, Holy Grail, etc) but when did meticulous scholarship become fun and exciting to the sensationalist media and the masses?

If anyone is looking for a great introduction to contemporary New Testament scholarship, look no further for such a balanced treat! It is perfect as an introduction.

Editorial Review:

A portrait of Jesus Christ moves beyond the certainties of His historical context to consider what Jesus what like as a person, His intentions as a teacher, and the disciples' roles in Christianity. Reprint.