Book Description
Why Were the Teachings of the Original Christians Brutally Suppressed by the Roman Church?
• Because they portray Jesus and Mary Magdalene as mythic figures based on the Pagan Godman and Goddess
• Because they show that the gospel story is a spiritual allegory encapsulating a profound philosophy that leads to mythical enlightenment
• Because they have the power to turn the world inside out and transform life into an exploration of consciousness
Drawing on modern scholarship, the authors of the international bestseller The Jesus Mysteries decode the secret teachings of the original Christians for the first time in almost two millennia and theorize about who the original Christians really were and what they actually taught. In addition, the book explores the many myths of Jesus and the Goddess and unlocks the lost secret teachings of Christian mysticism, which promise happiness and immortality to those who attain the state of Gnosis, or enlightenment. This daring and controversial book recovers the ancient wisdom of the original Christians and demonstrates its relevance to us today.
Customer Reviews:
Enlightening.......2007-09-11
I loved this book. It clearly shows how religion has developed into its authoritarian nature from what should be a spiritual path. It for the first time in my understanding of Christianity show a truly spiritual side to what has become an unfortunately Hierchical authority driven religion. I believe it shows (indirectly) the reason why more and more westerners are becoming more interested in eastern traditions. Take fer example that it is integral to religious christians that the ressurection and the like must be actual events. Take the teachings of Taoism for instance that teach Lao Tzu was born at over the age of 80. I have never known a taoist teacher to enforce that idea as actual truth but more of a spiritual analogy. Finally! it seems the same is known of the monotheistic religions as well. Fantastic read! 6 stars!
Great intro on the subject.......2007-06-05
Freke and Gandy do a wonderful job. If you read this book and like it, then I suggest for those who want to delve even deeper, to consider 'Lost Light: An Interpretation of Ancient Scriptures' by Alvin Boyd Kuhn. However, I highly suggest reading Freke and Gandy first, as Kuhn is far from a light read. I was very impressed with this book overall.
Gnostic Good Book.......2007-01-14
The authors decode the secret teachings of the original Christians and theorize about who the original Christians really were and what they actually taught. The book explores the many myths of Jesus and the Goddess and unlocks the lost secret teachings of Christian mysticism, which promise happiness and immortality to those who attain the state of Gnosis, or enlightenment. The original Christians portrayed Jesus and Mary Magdalene as mythic figures based on the Pagan God and Goddess. The original Christians wrote the gospel story is a spiritual allegory encapsulating a profound philosophy that leads to mythical enlightenment. While I haven't read even nearly enough on the Gnostics, I enjoyed this book and leaned even more details about Jesus, Sophia, and the first Christians.
FREKE AND GANDY HAVE OUTDONE THEMSELVES!.......2006-12-12
If you read and enjoyed The Jesus Mysteries you'll find this sequel nearly as helpful and interesting. This time Freke and Gandy take us further into the actual teachings of the earliest Christians, the Gnostics. If you aren't used to reading about spirituality and religion, you'll have to chew on some of this for awhile, but it's well worth the effort. No pain no gain. This book is another open window through which the Light is shining, a Light that may one day set the earth free of fundamentalist superstitions. Two thumbs up for Jesus and the Lost Goddess.
JEHOVAH UNMASKED is the perfect companion volume, a fascinating Gnostic look at the identity of the god Jehovah. Is Jehovah the real Almighty God or just a pretender? Is God an insane murdering lunatic as the Old Testament says, or is that just a pretender god? Did the first Christians believe in God the Mother? What and where is the Kingdom of God? Who told the First Lie in the Garden of Eden, Jehovah or the Serpent? Are you SURE? Who or what was it that gave us the list of New Testament books as we have them now? The answers to these questions will shock
Gnostic Christianity,Gnostic Islam.......2006-10-30
Congratulations again Timothy and Peter and thank you for the very welcomed insite to gnostic Islam and Mohammed. This is just a small chapter in this book, yet so important.Every one should read this book who wants to know some truth about Islam the way it was. This book as well as The Jesus Mysteries show when, where, and how women began being oppressed and suppressed; what a shame. I would never have thought that women in Iraq and those areas ever had any freedom.
Though this book does amplify certain topics from the other book, I feel that it was necessary for those who have not read The Jesus Mysteries.
Both books have confirmed many of my own personal revelations I have had over the last 10 years. Love to me is the goal - and if these ancient gnostics were not filled with love or desire, they would have never known the truth as they did. This is a wonderful book. Buy it! and also The Jesus Mysteries. Read this book with an open mind. Let your inner Christ reveal to you what the authors are trying to disclose.
Book Description
The image of the historical Jesus takes form in the words of the Gospel Q. The Lost Gospel Q represents the very first Gospel, older than the traditional Gospels and written by Jesus's contemporaries. It preserves Jesus's original words -- the Sermon on the Mount, Beatitudes, the Lord's Prayer, parables, and his counsel for a compassionate life. The original of the Gospel Q was lost for 2,000 years, but for the past 150 years historians and theologians have been digging through the many layers of the New Testament to uncover the original Gospel.
Customer Reviews:
purely hypothetical .... a "Quelle" of Borg et all's theology ... yet an ejoyable and recommended read.......2007-02-02
personal RATING: 3.25 stars
First of all, I think this book is going to divide more fellow Christians than to help them work together (a fundamentalist will never read it, and a skeptic will never consider anything else). As an evangelical Protestant (and conservative) I am grateful for the beautiful layout of the Q verses presented in this booklet (82 Q verses - verses that are common between Matthew and Luke but foreign to Mark). Reading the footnotes for various verses I learned quite a bit about the culture in Jesus' time, thus having a better understanding of his down-to-earth parables and what they meant to Jesus' audience of 1st century Palestine.
Allow me to explain my review title.
1) Purely hypothetical
I do agree with Dr. Marcus Borg that "Q is a hypothetical document," (pg.15) although I wonder why the publishers and editors decided to call it the LOST gospel Q ? And why the subtitle of "the Original Sayings of Jesus" ? The history section of hypothetical Q is well done (Q was first postulated in 1800s Germany and stands for Quelle (germ. for "source").
I do have to point out that the editors of this book repeatedly make references to Q as if it is already established (as if it exists but it is just a matter of time before it's found): "The Lost Gospel Q ... in the judgment of most scholars, it is the first Christian Gospel", "Q had become widely accepted by scholars involved in the study of Christian origins", "the Lost Gospel Q was possibly a codex", "it is older than the traditional Gospels, older than the Christian church itself", "Q is the closest we can come to the historical Jesus", "the discovery of the Lost Gospel of Q ...detective work by historians and theologians", "Q... a diamond in the rough", "What we have is a long-lost gospel with a very contemporary message." I count myself among those who think Q is simply hypothetical, and it is quite dubious to make further assertions that "Q can be separated into three layers or stages of development" branching off of a hypothesis (pg.16-17). As a history reader, I was surprised that there was no mention of the Gnostics and their Gospels when the editors discussed the condition of the early Christians and early church. I was surprised that considering the lack of archeological evidence, the lack of any secondary or ternary mention of such a gospel anywhere in antiquity or later periods. I would challenge the reader to view this as a good literary hypothesis (that strips a lot of layers from the canonical gospels) but a very bad historical hypothesis, which should never be qualified as "The Original Sayings of Jesus Christ" (as the subtitle reads) until such an archeological discovery is made.
2) Borg et all's theology
Regarding my second point, Borg and et all's theology. In the Introduction (by Thomas Moore) one simply reads the bias of this book in "I expect it to give me a Jesus who is ...." (pg.12) I appreciate Borg for his honesty and his passion for a vibrant faith (as expressed in his contemporary published works). Sadly, Borg's (as well as many of "Jesus's Seminar" scholars) Jesus is only a:
a) "wisdom teacher", and a
b) "radical cultural critic", and a
c) "religious ecstatic", and a
d) "healer and exorcist", and
e) "the Wisdom of God", and a proponent of
e) "apocalyptic eschatology and a sapiential eschatology."
As a lover of history and a Christian, I cannot just take at face value the statement that "the four Gospels are riddled with the interpretations, biases, and agendas of their editors." Unlike Borg, I would encourage every reader to consider the WHOLE of historical evidence and consider ALL points of view, and to question why these scholars cannot accept a Jesus who is the Christ, the Savior ?
3) Enjoyable and recommended read
Could not agree more with the editors of this little book that it provides an "extraordinary opportunity to approach with an open mind, fresh ears and new understanding the good news of the mysterious kingdom that Jesus announced." (pg.9) I do think the translators watered down the message of that kingdom by using alternate terms and words than ones used in historical Christianity and traditional translations (e.g. "blessed are you" becomes "fortunate are you", and "kingdom of God" becomes "realm of God", etc.). The cultural insights at the bottom of many Q saying are trully invaluable in allowing one to visualize what it was like to live in Jesus's time. The editors acknowledge that this translation is not "the" scholarly version, but rather "seek to re-create a text in contemporary language." For both, liberal and conservative, the resulting hypothetical Q CAN be a "diamond in the rough."
In CONCLUSION,
if you find this read too challenging to your faith in the Christ of Christ-ianity, I will wonder what is your faith based on. If you find this read as the only window or prism thru which you view or see Jesus, I will wonder if you are not just as subjective as the fundamentalists accused of being narrow-minded and using an alternative "tunnel vision".
"The Lost Gospel Q", A Review.......2005-10-12
"The Lost Gospel Q"* is what many scholars believe to be the first Christian Gospel. Although this Gospel was never actually found, scholars surmise its existence because of over two hundred identical verses found in Matthew and Luke but not in Mark. Since most scholars don't think Matthew and Mark knew each other, this material must have come from another source, what they call the Gospel Q. Then in 1945 early Christian manuscripts were found in Nag Hammadi. Among these was the Gospel of Thomas. One third of the sayings in it were found to be similar to those in Q. This demonstrated that Q was more than a collection of quotes. It was a handbook for early Christians, or pre-Christians.
The name Q comes from the German word Quelle, meaning source. It is believed this gospel was written only a couple of decades after Jesus died, and is therefore the closest thing we have to what he actually said, a real look into the spirit of Jesus.
The editors insert commentary on the text and time to help the reader picture what the historical Jesus and the day he lived in were like. It is a fascinating little book for anyone wishing to go back to the beginnings of the Jesus tradition.
Beth Avary
[...]
*Edited by Mark Powelson, Ray Riegert, and Marcus Borg consulting editor, with an introduction by Thomas Moore.
The Book That Does Not Exist.......2003-12-30
The farce that is the Gospel of Q begins with unbelieving scholars who intend to prove that Jesus did not say 70% of what is recorded in the gospels and Christianity is not about Christ but only about a few selected teachings.
Only after reading deep into this book does one find the carefully worded disclaimer that "Lost Gospel" does not even really exist. It is the imagined set of teachings found in the Gospel of Mark, which are not found in the other synoptic Gospels (Matthew and Luke).
From this comparison (Mark to Matthew & Luke) there are found sayings which are supposed by this author to have been the "original" teachings of Christ. From there it gets ugly. The author falls off the edge of the earth to say that the early community of believers was only interested in Christ's teachings and not in him as the Messiah. This type of unbelief is of the worst type because it uses a comparison of the gospels (a valid scholarly endeavor) to prove a point that is patently unbiblical. For seeker who is pure of heart, the Gospel of Barnabas found in the "Lost Books of the Bible" is a fair more enlightening read.
Scholars May Not Be Impressed.......2001-12-07
The editors of this book add an interesting note at the end on the subject of the translation of the text. They point out that the sayings of Jesus contained in the book represent a 'paraphrase' since the principal of 'dynamic equivalence' was followed in producing their work. They do not seek a word-for-word translation but rather an overall meaning. Many scholars may be turned off by this approach.
A Serious Book.......2001-12-07
The arguments for the existence of THE LOST GOSPEL Q put forth by Marcus Borg in the Preface are the most interesting and provocative part of this book. It is easy to understand why the work of the Jesus Seminar is challenged by skeptics. However, I do think it is important not to dismiss it too quickly before it receives the attention and scrutiny it deserves. THE LOST GOSPEL Q is a serious attempt to shed light on the historical Jesus.
Book Description
Reveals the true role of James, the brother of Jesus, in early Christianity
• Uses evidence from the canonical Gospels, apocryphal texts, and the writings of the Church Fathers to reveal the teachings of Jesus as transmitted to his chosen successor: James
• Demonstrates how the core message in the teachings of Jesus is an expansion not a repudiation of the Jewish religion
• Shows how James can serve as a bridge between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
James has been a subject of controversy since the founding of the Church. Evidence that Jesus had siblings contradicts Church dogma on the virgin birth, and James is also a symbol of Christian teachings that have been obscured. While Peter is traditionally thought of as the leader of the apostles and the "rock" on which Jesus built his church, Jeffrey Bütz shows that it was James who led the disciples after the crucifixion. It was James, not Peter, who guided them through the Church's first major theological crisis--Paul's interpretation of the teachings of Jesus.
Using the canonical Gospels, writings of the Church Fathers, and apocryphal texts, Bütz argues that James is the most overlooked figure in the history of the Church. He shows how the core teachings of Jesus are firmly rooted in Hebraic tradition; reveals the bitter battles between James and Paul for ideological supremacy in the early Church; and explains how Paul's interpretations, which became the foundation of the Church, are in many ways its betrayal. Bütz reveals a picture of Christianity and the true meaning of Christ's message that are sometimes at odds with established Christian doctrine and concludes that James can serve as a desperately needed missing link between Christianity, Judaism, and Islam to heal the wounds of centuries of enmity.
Customer Reviews:
The truth so long concealed is out!.......2007-07-03
This book takes its place alongside recent books by SGF Brandon and Robert Eisenman -- and the classic work by Robert Eisler, difficult to find except in photocopy form -- all of which show that Christianity as we know it is a hoax. Jesus, James the Just and all the apostles were to one degree or another extremely hostile to Roman rule; some advocated direct action, others a sort of emigration into the wilderness to await God's judgment on Rome. Of course God never judged Rome and Rome survived. Paul's esoteric theories about the divine Christ were the backbone of what became Christianity -- a turning away from the real Jesus in favor of a pacifistic mystical religion of salvation. Christians who believe in Jesus ever since believe in a fiction. Of course the real Jesus, if James is any indication, might not be so appealing either. Schweitzer over one hundred years ago suggested that the real Jesus had nothing for us at all.
The churches have survived on the lies they have told. Christianity is weakening not because the truth is coming out but because salvation is seen as a farce. Ultimately the real Jesus will be re-discovered. Whether his reputation in the post-Christian west will survive is a good question. In any case the Jesus of Islam and of enlightened Jews like Joseph Klausner and Samuel Sandmel is more real than the Jesus of Christian faith.
The real James leads us to the Real Jesus.......2007-05-26
I wrote a review earlier; I was wrong in one point: Having read more "James" books, it is clear that there is no better book out there, page for page, than Butz's. This view can no longer be considered a new paradigm - it has entered mainstream. Please see my earlier review. D. Showley
Jewish christianity versus Paul.......2007-04-29
Illuminates the tension between Jewish Christianity and gentile converts, represented by James and paul, respectively. Sheds light on Jerusalem as the center of Christianity (as opposed to rome, which was the capital of the western world) immediately after Jesus' death, until it was destroyed in 70 A.D. describes the Jerusalem meeting between paul, James, and Peter, along with pauls greek companion Titus, about the imposition of Jewish law on gentile converts. Discusses the question of salvation by faith and/or works, and the history behind this theological point of contention.
An excellent introduction to James the Just.........2007-01-11
While browsing a favorite bookstore, I happened to find "The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity". I've read other books about James the Just previously, but this one put a lot of information into "easily digestible bits" for me. This may not be an easy read for some conservative and fundamentalist Christians, but its worth a try.
This book spotlights First Century Palestinian Jewish Christianity as led by James the "Brother of Jesus". Bütz introduces the reader to the writings of various scholars - some of them controversial - on the subject of James the Just. I had not known about the work of scholars such as Chilton and Painter previously. Thus, for me, it was a good way to be introduced to ideas put forth by these scholars, and how their ideas might interact with other scholars with whom I had more familiarity.
I would also recommend reading "The Lost Religion of Jesus: Simple Living and Nonviolence in Early Christianity" by Keith Akers (if one doesn't mind the writings of a scholar with a vegetarian agenda). Another good book that discusses the role of James the Just is "The Jesus Dynasty: The Hidden History of Jesus, His Royal Family, and the Birth of Christianity" by James D. Tabor. Lastly, if one would like to investigate the connection between early Jewish Christianity and early Islam and Sufism, I suggest reading "The Muslim Jesus: Sayings and Stories in Islamic Literature" by Tarif Khalidi.
Real Christianity.......2006-10-23
This book supports the fact that early Christians observed the 613 Laws. Everything from Sabbaths (Saturday) To the seven Holy Days. Nor did they believe the soul of a person goes to Heaven or Hell, nether a trinity. Anyways this book among others shows much proof that the early Christians were indeed Judaism, and nothing more. They accept the Messiah for the most part as the King and high priest. The Temple became an assemble point rather then the House of God after Christ died. A very good book, a very good read!
Book Description
Mark and Elizabeth Prophet show that the New Testament itself contains unmistakable signs that major portions of Jesus' teaching are missing. Much of it was never recorded. And some of what was recorded was tampered with by numerous editors or lost at the hands of "guardians of the faith" who suppressed it entirely. This volume is a bold reconstruction of the essence of Jesus' message -- both his public teachings to the multitudes and the private teachings given in secret to his closest disciples -- then and now. Profound, surprising, thoroughly engaging, The Lost Teachings of Jesus illumines the New Testament -- and the Old -- and then goes beyond to the Everlasting Gospel. 26 color illustrations including 15 paintings by Nicholas Roerich. softbound 425 pp.
Customer Reviews:
Marketing issues..................2006-02-12
At times an interesting read, but the lost teachings seem to be just that....lost. And you won't find them here, unless they are hidden. I suppose they are not, in fact. Just lost. On the other hand, the publishers have a great marketing gig. The Lost Teachings of Jesus....by the Prophets!! But minor ones.
What??!!.......2006-01-12
Sam, I'm with you. I kept reading and reading, hoping to find out what the lost teachings were. Maybe they're shrouded in mystery same as the Bible. I began to think maybe I wasn't enlightened enough to receive these teachings, but I what a misguided thought. There IS a lot of rambling in this book; very few concise concepts to latch on to. Wish I would have read these reviews before purchasing the book. Sorry to say, I'm on to the next read with a heavy dose of disappointment in this one.
Classic New Age Stuff--Nothing New.......2005-11-11
I bought this book after reading the "Lost Years of Jesus", which was a great book. This book I thought was going to be about lost writings and teachings of Jesus. Instead its about channeling to the spirits of the Ascended Masters, which are the souls, like Jesus and Saint Germain and Buddha, that have perfected themselves to the image of God. The idea is that all of us on this earth are in the process of spiritual growth and are being perfected, through our personal trials and tribulations, unto God. Fair enough. But Prophet goes onto say that there are secrets in the Bible that have been kept from us that that without knowing them, stops us from being closer to God. Now this sounds what I am looking for. Well, by studing the way that the Accended Masters tuned into God with these secrets, then we to can emulate their techniques and get closer to God as well. But then when you read the book she just keeps rambling on and never seems to get to the point. Then comes the channeling to the Ascended Masters. So where is the lost teachings of jesus? (Keep in kind that there are 4 books in this series, this is book 1, and does not give a lot of information, but then neither do the other books). As an evangelical Christian, this sounds to me to be classic New Age stuff and the type of thing that the Bible tells you not to participate in. Talking to the dead is what the Bible calls necromancy--talking to familar spirits--and leads to all kinds of problems because you are listening to spirits of the dead (often believed to be demons) and not God. This is a common problem for New Age types which often discredits them. Sure enough, I did a Wikipedia (the popular online encyclopedia) search on her and she and her church are listed a cult. There are also a lot of lawsuits against her by fellow members of her church and financial problems. Then came the doomsday revelations and moving the church to the wilds of Montana and building bomb shelters, and gun charges. Now that doesnt sound like perfection to me!
A Terrific Disappointment.......2005-08-15
In the first few pages the authors tell the reader that there must have been teaching of Jesus that were never recorded or deleted at some later date. Fair enough. Then, just when you think that this lengthy tome will reveal some of these "lost teachings" the authors instead - without explanation - launch into 400 pages of bizarre religious teachings that are completely unrelated to Jesus. Including the wacky assertion that there are three tiny flames (actual fires) burning inside your heart, and that they are only 1/16 of an inch high, and they've never been discovered by science because when they examine your heart you're already dead and the fire has gone out by then (has the author ever heard of modern medical diagnostic technologies such as MRI which could easily detect a actual fire burning inside a human heart?). Four hundred pages.... FOUR HUNDRED PAGES of recycled thread-bare gobildy gook, then you finally get to the clincher - the author actually says... "Who's to say that a middle aged man couldn't be channeling the lost teachings of Jesus". What? WHAT?! Are you telling me that you expect me to believe that Jesus channeled this stuff to you? Don't you have the courage to just say it up front? Don't pussy foot around, sparky - just say it... "I am channeling the lost teachings of Jesus!". Sadly the author doesn't even have the courage to do that. Please save your time and avoid this mess. And don't be fooled by positive reviews, the author(s) apparently have some sort of religious group which is polluting this site with false positive reviews. If what you really want is a search for the true lost teachings of Jesus, you won't find them here. I should have been able to smell a rat when I noticed that the pictures of the authors are clearly from the 60's. What about a honest representation of what you look like? What are you guys hiding?
can't put it down.......2003-10-01
This book opens like a mystery which you just have to keep reading until it is solved! I loved the human voice and the simple way it is written, at the same time it discusses deep spiritual ideas. It's a way to self-transcend, and to me, that's awesome. I found this book is a great complement if you've read or are going to read "The Lost Years of Jesus" by the same author. The first looks at where he was, and this book looks at what he was teaching. A really satisfying book
Average customer rating:
- The Lost Coin: Finding true worth...
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The Lost Coin: Parables of Women, Work and Wisdom (Biblical Seminar 86)
Manufacturer: Sheffield Academic Press
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Customer Reviews:
The Lost Coin: Finding true worth..........2003-05-24
As Elisabeth Schussler Fiorenze says the foreword to `The Lost Coin: Parables of Women, Work and Wisdom' begins, `Thirty years ago nobody had ever heard or dreamt of feminist biblical studies. Today the articles and books offering ever more sophisticated feminist biblical interpretations abound.' This book is part of that growing tradition, and represents the first such work to look specifically at parables through this particular lens. This is somewhat surprising, given the importance of parables in the teaching of Jesus. However, the traditional view of parables finds that most of the actors and characters in the parables are men. This book will challenge the reader's view.
The title itself, `The Lost Coin' signifies the search for the lost in the parables themselves. Where are women? Where are women's voices and women's concerns? As Beavis states in her introductory chapter, `Even a parable that seems solely occupied with the relations between men may imply female characters.' Looking at the peripheral characters and how they might be affected (the mother of the prodigal son is held up as an example) gives new insight in interpretation and analysis of the parable.
There are five primary sections to the book. The first section looks at parables with easily identifiable and prominent female characters. The parables of the woman searching for the lost coin, the persistent widow, and the wise and foolish virgins are prominently featured (the persistent widow is represented in three different essays each exploring different aspects). The section concludes with an essay recasting the parable of the prodigal son, looking at it from a perspective of possible family abuse - what would make the son want to run away? Why do we assume the failing on the part of the son?
The second section deals with parables of women's work. Looking at sociological and historical data outside the bible to illustrate `typical' patterns of women's work, and aspects of women's labouring that in some regards has not changed through the ages (Schottroff presents evidence that `female labourers earned half as much as men in antiquity'; Wire and Hearon's look at women as cooks and bakers continues a familiar pattern through much of the world today).
The third section looks at particularly Johannine images of the bride and the mother/birthgiver. These images from John's gospel are often overlooked given the difference between the synoptic gospels and their narrative styles and the content and style of John. The parables are in some ways given short shrift in John, but as Rushton states, `Although "John" may well have done a particular disservice in obscuring this tradition, by a stroke of brilliance the shapers of the text recorded its core in the tope of a metaphor.' The strand of images we have in John as mother and bride are obscured and open to interpretation on several levels, but certainly allow for new feminist ideas to illuminate the text.
The fourth section looks at parables of wisdom/Sophia. The idea of wisdom being a feminine image is prominent in the Hebrew scriptures, and carries over into much of Jesus' own speech. Jesus personifies Jerusalem and Wisdom as feminine, mothering figures who weep for and protect their children; however, Wisdom is also vindicated by her children. Reid likens this to the current climate in the church.
`Wisdom's female children in the church today continue to experience the frustration of having been schooled in her Word and in her ways, yet find resistance, rejection, and even vilification when they attempt to proclaim the Word or preside at the Eucharistic table. This gospel parable can offer hope to women today with its assurance of vindication for all of Wisdom's children.'
The fifth and final section is itself a new parable, written by Christin Lore Weber. It is more in the manner of a short story than a parable (most parables being relatively short). It is a mythic parable, and one that will perhaps not resonate well with those looking for a more traditional message. This parable is offered without commentary - Jesus frequently gave commentary to the disciples, but not to the crowds. This parable is meant for the crowds.
Overall, `The Lost Coin' offers a fascinating look at parables. Much material for reflection and for preaching in new and refreshing ways can be gathered from the pages of this text. The recovery of lost or obscured images and voices is a primary task for the authors; the presentation not only of new interpretations but also of new questions to be asked is also important here. What difference will this make? That is not an easy question; indeed, it is a question to be asked in each community separately.
Many of the essays introduce principles of exegesis and historical analysis, but some familiarity with hermeneutic approaches and biblical studies is assumed. However, this is not a text meant solely for an academic audience. It would be very useful for church-based bible studies and small community groups who wish to look at parables in a new way.
I would like to turn for a moment at the conclusion to one particular chapter, `Women's Work and the Realm of God', by Holly Hearon and Antoinette Clark Wire (because Holly Hearon is a friend of mine, I shall give pride of place to highlighting her chapter). This chapter looks at women's work, particularly baking and spinning, as these are traditional occupations for women in ancient times as well as in most of the world today. Hearon and Wire examine the issues following multiple strategies that look at historical, textual, linguistic, ideological, and current readership concerns. Finally, the authors invite the readers to take these things into consideration and `revision ourselves differently: not as exploited workers in the patriarchal household, but as the hands of God who promises a new economy for the household of God.'
Book Description
The gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John are not the only record we have of the words spoken by Jesus. Designed to challenge, enlighten and inspire, they are also quoted in a wide variety of other ancient sources--including the Qur'an, writings by early Christian church fathers, and fragments of lost gospels only recently discovered. Some of these sayings are familiar; many are surprising; all expand our conventional understanding of the scope and essence of Jesus's original teachings.
More than a "Christian" compilation, this collection of more than three hundred sayings reveals a Jesus whose words encapsulate spiritual truths that resonate across religious boundaries. From the encouraging "I am hope for the hopeless," to the wise and practical "Love those who hate you and you will not have an enemy," to the candid "Give no opportunity to the evil one," these pointed sayings not only reveal how Jesus was understood and portrayed across a wide variety of cultures long ago--they will also penetrate to your heart, challenge your assumptions, and energize your own spiritual quest.
Now you can experience the wisdom and power of Jesus's sayings even if you have no previous knowledge of these little-known texts.
Customer Reviews:
A nice collection of Jesus' sayings.......2007-08-01
This book contains sayings attributed to Jesus from various sources. I quickly counted (about) 119 sayings from Christian sources, 26 from Jewish sources, 88 from Gnostic, 95 from Islamic and 27 from other sources ~ 355 altogether. On every other page the author has added his own comments, but I didn't care much about the commentary myself. Dialogue of the Savior, Apocryphon of James, Book of Thomas the Contender and Gospel of Mary are excluded from the Gnostic sources... All in all - certainly not definitive, but a nice collection of sayings.
Highly recommended reading for all students of the Abrahamic religions .......2006-06-03
The Lost Sayings Of Jesus: Teachings From Ancient Christian, Jewish, Gnostic, And Islamic Sources--annotated And Explained is expertly translated and annotated by Andrew Phillip Smith is a compendium of the timeless wisdom of Jesus of Nazareth drawn from sources that include not only the New Testament, but writings from many of the non-canonical ancient writers of the Apocrypha, early church fathers, the Qur'an, the Talmud, and other fragments of the Gnostic gospels recently discovered, restored and translated. The Lost Sayings Of Jesus offers readers an impressively organized body of annotated quotes and excerpts arranged in of five basic sections with the "sayings" on the right page and the commentaries on the left page: Christian Sayings, Jewish Sayings, Gnostic Sayings, Islamic Sayings, and two additional sections "Further Traditions, Fictions, And Forgeries", and "Suggestions for Further Reading". A core addition to personal, seminary, academic, and community library reference collections, The Lost Sayings Of Jesus is very highly recommended reading for all students of the Abrahamic religions offering as complete and engaging collection as is currently possible on the many teachings ascribed to Jesus of Nazareth, whom some called a prophet and others the Christ.
No More Middle Man!.......2006-04-23
Well researched and footnoted compilation of all the sayings of Jesus.Why not read the words that are attributed directly from Jesus and not from others interpretations?Readers are not only given the saying but an excellent description and source of the saying as well.No stone is left unturned and leaves the reader with God given inspiration and wisdom directly from Jesus himself.Highly recommended to those who want to reflect on the Word of God.
Book Description
In "The Lost Teachings of Jesus," Mark L. Prophet and Elizabeth Clare Prophet show that many of Jesus' original teachings were lost. Some were never written down. Others were altered by Church councils. And those that were recorded in the Bible are misinterpreted to this day. The Prophets set the record straight with a bold reconstruction of the essence of Jesus' message. In this fourth volume of their landmark series, they show you how to put the teachings of Jesus into action to meet the challenges of life in the '90s and beyond. And they share effective techniques you can use to access the creative power of your Real Self.
Customer Reviews:
Just an opinion.......2005-10-05
I have read (and continue to read) many books on the whole 'New Age', including books about your higher self, the (Christ) power within,Karma, how thoughts create responses in the universal and so on. I have read the 'Lost Years of Jesus' as well. I think the 'Lost Years of Jesus' even if it cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Jesus traveled in other parts of the world, it at least opens the possibility of that; therefore it opens the very intriguing and interesting possibility that in fact all religions have the same basic fundamentals. (That in its self is a huge and very interesting subject worth of investigation).
Anyway, the series of the Lost Teachings of Jesus, I think, are just very long rumblings going on and on. So far (I am still trying to finsh reading these books just because I never quit) I have not found ONE teaching that would get me to say "aha". The books just ramble on and on about how Jesus (and Christ) spirit is within, that we all are a drop of the ocean, a fragment of the Father and the universal creator, that the world we perceive as our reality is a mask, that disease is a cause of spiritual imbalance and so on and on it goes.
Most of the teachings Prophet refers to, at are not lost at all - they are right in the Bible - and he just quotes the Bible and St. Peter's writings but other than that I found nothing of real value in these books. As a matter of fact I almost stopped reading infuriated when Prophet suggests that cancer is a result of avarice and selfishness. So is that why young children get cancer? They are selfish and avar?. Give me a break! That karma may play a role, maybe - but Prophet is definitely in a subject he does not quite get here! A lot of what's going on, a lot of death and pain is about 'learning lessons' we as souls selected to learn. I hope and pray I have not selected (when I was a soul and choose to incarnate) to learn about loss. Read some books on spirit after life (read Michael Newton)
Life is a class-room. Life is about working on your spirit and energy to be closer to the Jesus like image (a perfect balance made of love, gentleness, forgiveness, understanding, non-judgmental, accepting of ALL humans, life is about developing powers to become healers and teachers and a lot more).
But none of this is clearly written in these so called 'lost teachings' books. Prophet mentions the secret Mysteries, teachings that Jesus spelled out any for a very select few (as Peter). Well, a lot of people who are very evolved in their spirituality, talk about the secret Mysteries and pretend the 'have it'. If Jesus considered that we as humans are not ready to receive the Mysteries then we maybe are not ready and trust me Prophet's 'lost teachings' books are not going to shed any light on that. Just take a second and look around you at the level we sank as human race - think of the black cloud of hate and violence we are sinking into more and more. We are at war and we kill each other in the name of 'Justice' and 'Religion'. Are we ready for Jesus' Mysteries? I don't think so!. Maybe a very few.
Find your own path, meditate, pray that peace, love and forgiveness covers this planet and maybe read other books - the 'Lost Teaching of Jesus' are not gonna do it! May the spirit of God be with you in your quest.
an inspirational book, when read with an open heart and mind.......2001-01-16
This book along with the entire series of lost teachings books are truly inspiring. I read this series of books several years ago. The author Mark Prophet's profound revelations and insights are humbly cloaked in many 'down home' vignettes, proving that we can all follow the path of christhood if we apply ourselves. I now have a deeper love and profound respect toward christianity, and the master Jesus, thanks to this series of books. If you are a true seeker, and you have an inkling that there is so much more to what you have been lead to believe, you cant afford to bypass a true twentieth century 'western' mystic that was Mark Prophet.
Lost History.......2001-01-13
History or popular fiction, what should we call it. All the teachings of Christ that we see in the bible were reported by disciples who were not as intelligent and spiritual as Christ was, so they might have written what they understood and might have left out things which they couldnt comprehend. Again, the Christian religion that we have today is greatly different from what Christ might or might not have wanted it to be. The influence of the Roman Catholic church, on the religion made Catholics belive is something, this inturn made Protestants believe in something else though both the sects are based on the same preachings. So what we have now is popular belief and not FACT. So when you read this book, read with an unbiased viewpoint and you will learn more. It is said that Christ learned and close to mastered the greatest yoga which invokes the GOD in a person. Christ's teachings are similar to the teachings in the Bhagavat Gita (spiritual Hindu text which existed much before Christ) and the teachings of Gautama Buddha(existed much before Christ). And coming to reincarnation, the proof which exists in the current day world is sufficient to enhance the belief of a believer in reincarnation. But a person who does not believe in reincarnation will remain a non believer no matter how much proof is provided.
Based on dubious private revelations.......2000-11-22
The claim of Jesus trip to the Far East has been repudiated by all scholars who researched the subject. The spurious claims of Soviet journalist N. Notowitch have been checked and proofed false by Max Müller from Oxford University who at the beginning was sympathetic to the idea. There is no historical or archeological data supporting the claim, only revelations from demonic spirits pretenting to be Jesus or Mary, on which this book is based.
Book Description
Mrs. Prophet offers her unique perspective on the feminist movement that never got off on the right foot because of what early church fathers did to Jesus' true teachings on woman, which would have elevated her role in church, state and society. Jesus learned of the Divine Feminine while studying in the East before his Jerusalem mission.
Average customer rating:
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The Misunderstood Jesus: 10 Lost Keys to Life
Clyde E. Fant
Manufacturer: Peake Road
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ASIN: 1573120154 |
Books:
- Jewish Book of Why - Boxed Set with The Jewish Book of Why and The Second Jewish book of Why
- Know What You Believe: Connecting Faith and Truth (Know What)
- Kundalini Tantra
- Lammas
- Law of Attraction: The Science of Attracting More of What You Want and Less of What You Don't
- Learning How to Learn: Psychology and Spirituality in the Sufi Way (Arkana)
- Let My People Go Surfing: The Education of a Reluctant Businessman
- LIGHTING THE WAY: NINE WOMEN WHO CHANGED MODERN AMERICA
- On The Wings Of Heaven
- Our Endangered Values: America's Moral Crisis
Books Index
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