Book Description
For 1,600 years its message lay hidden. When the bound papyrus pages of this lost gospel finally reached scholars who could unlock its meaning, they were astounded. Here was a gospel that had not been seen since the early days of Christianity, and which few experts had even thought existed–a gospel told from the perspective of Judas Iscariot, history’s ultimate traitor. And far from being a villain, the Judas that emerges in its pages is a hero.
In this radical reinterpretation, Jesus asks Judas to betray him. In contrast to the New Testament Gospels, Judas Iscariot is presented as a role model for all those who wish to be disciples of Jesus. He is the one apostle who truly understands Jesus.
This volume is the first publication of the remarkable gospel since it was condemned as heresy by early Church leaders, most notably by St. Irenaeus, in 180. Hidden away in a cavern in Middle Egypt, the codex (or book) containing the gospel was discovered by farmers in the 1970s. In the intervening years the papyrus codex was bought and sold by antiquities traders, hidden away, and carried across three continents, all the while suffering damage that reduced much of it to fragments. In 2001, it finally found its way into the hands of a team of experts who would painstakingly reassemble and restore it.
The Gospel of Judas has been translated from its original Coptic in clear prose, and is accompanied by commentary that explains its fascinating history in the context of the early Church, offering a whole new way of understanding the message of Jesus Christ.
Customer Reviews:
Religious.......2007-09-17
After reading this book and knowing what I know from many gospels, I
find this book very hard to believe. It just is far to away from all
the other gospels out there. I have read the "Other Bible" and many
of the gospels not found in the Bible of today, but none talk like the
gospel of Judas. I do not know who actually wrote this book, but I
would not put a whole lot of faith in it as truth. Why would Jesus
want to be crucifed in order to go back to the spirit world. I can
think of a lot of ways to kill yourself that are less painful. To
think Jesus wanted Judas to turn him in, so that he could be killed,
so he could go back to heaven, is just plain stupid. Jesus could
have just drank poison to do that. No one would ask for such a
painful death as crucifixion.
The Gospel of Judas: Fascinating and Controversial.......2007-09-03
A Review of The Gospel of Judas, edited by Rodolphe Kasser, Marvin Meyer, and Gregor Wurst, with comments by Bart D. Ehrman. (Washington, D.C.: National Geographic, 2006).
Humankind is often left with evolved systems of belief and organized religion, which are the products of those who have had the greatest political power. This is undoubtedly the case with Western Christianity. As recent discoveries have unequivocally shown, many alternate versions and constructs of today's multifaceted Christian heritage have been silenced or vilified over the ages. The Nag Hammadi Library, discovered in the late 1940's, brings to light some of these long forgotten and contested versions. Careful study of these and other documents demonstrate the great diversity of thought and conflicting testimonials, exhibited by earliest followers of Jesus. There has also been a trail of conflict and difficulty regarding scholarly and universal access to the Library for a good number of years.
With the access to an unquestionably authentic Coptic document called the Gospel of Judas, scholars again have the ability to explore historical diversity. Initial scholarly analysis has just surfaced in a recent book published under the auspices of National Geographic. This work, compiled by Kasser, et. al. is obviously written for the general public, although annotations and endnotes bring it to the depth of academic study usually shared by Early Christian Studies experts. Judas, the traditionally portrayed betrayer of Jesus, is presented in this lost Gospel as the handmaiden of salvation. However, it is not a salvation directed toward enabling the sacrifice of Jesus. In the contemporary version of Christianity with us today, Jesus dies to free men from their sins and therefore, to win the possibility of eternal life for those believers in and followers of his teachings. Rather, in this Gospel, Judas enables the soul of Jesus, a divine entity in human guise, to rid itself of its "mortal coil," and to rejoin with the highest, unnamable divine entity beyond this world.
The mythology of this particular Gospel is charged with a form of proto-Gnosticism: a term which conjures up debate among scholars, because it has been primarily defined through attacks by heresy seekers from the early, organized church. Gnosticism is a term derived from the sense of knowing as in "being aware" or enlightened. As one piece of the evolutionary puzzle, this Gospel shows the use of Sethian Gnosticism in early Christian thinking and how this thinking relates to evolving Jewish beliefs and to Greek writings (both Neo and Middle-Platonic).
To move this term from Platonism and to "Christianize it" within the Gospel of Judas (as Dr. Meyer writes) is to see the point Jesus makes in the Gospel: we are not the bodies we are in; nor are we defined by our existence in a mortal and often corrupt world. Rather, to know in the depths of our soul that we are mirrors of the divine is to know our true nature. Judas alone understands this and aids Jesus in his quest to reach his divinity by handing Jesus over to be killed. The other disciples do not understand this, and therefore cannot do what Jesus has asked of Judas.
Parallel to the publication of the Kasser book is a rather "polemic" review written by Dr. James Robinson. Robinson's critique is both critical and troubling. According to Robinson, as with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Nag Hammadi Library, document dealers, middlemen and scholars have not always been as forthright as one would hope. Robinson contends that National Geographic and the editors of The Gospel of Judas seem to gloss over questions of proper legal ownership by Frieda Tchacos, whose name now labels the Judas Gospel and three other manuscripts ("Codex Tchacos"). The Maecenas Foundation, which currently holds the manuscript, may also have had intentions more directed at profit than preservation. These and other circumstances, Robinson claims, have limited the accessibility of this discovery.
As they broadcast their findings, and as scholars assist one another in the universal quest for knowledge, some things seem to fall short in the intensive drive to procure rare manuscripts. It is often difficult to secure a manuscript from a seller, especially when confounding circumstances may often result in its slipping away. This manuscript surfaced in 1983, and scholars are both critical and defensive about interactions surrounding it then, as they are now. Maltreatment of the manuscript by greedy and ignorant handlers almost destroyed the Judas Gospel. Knowing document fragility and how dealers can keep works out of reach, scholars are often hard pressed, whenever a document surfaces, to do all they can to get the work into safe keeping, before it is invariably destroyed. What drives any scholar, we would hope, is first and foremost, proper stewardship. In the real world, the best and most ethical approach to procurement often requires compromise.
The reader, who senses the undercurrent of frustration by any and all scholars during this document's long history of neglect and evasion, should credit all (current critics and scholars alike) with a driving desire and effort to get the truth of the manuscript out where it belongs. For their best efforts in a long history of difficult circumstances, all deserve our gratitude.
An Interesting Dip Into Unknown Waters.......2007-08-23
This book, edited by Kasser, Meyer and Wurst, seemed fairly repetitive, given the limited amount of material they had to work with; however, it does add to our knowledge of early Christianity. Whether it holds up to scholarly scrutiny however, remains to be seen......
Hmmmmm...........2007-07-03
I will give this 4 stars since it was very well written; however, I still feel it is missing a piece of the puzzle. How could there have been time for Judas to have developed a following in order for someone to have written "the gospel of Judas", when he killed himself shortly after betraying Jesus? He certainly didn't write it, as it was written after he died. I'm a big fan of the Gnostic Gospels, but this one doesn't make sense. Again, very well researched and written, but...
Early Christianity.......2007-05-13
This gives a more detailed commentary on the Judas Gospel than is possible in a TV show or magazine article, and of course the footnotes lead one on to a more detailed study!
Book Description
What if a fascinating stranger knew you better than you know yourself?
When her husband comes home with a farfetched story about eating dinner with someone he believes to be Jesus, Mattie Cominsky thinks this may signal the end of her shaky marriage. Convinced that Nick is, at best, turning into a religious nut, the self-described agnostic hopes that a quick business trip will give her time to think things through.
On board the plane, Mattie strikes up a conversation with a fellow passenger. When she discovers their shared scorn for religion, she confides her frustration over her husband’s recent conversion. The stranger suggests that perhaps her husband isn’t seeking religion but true spiritual connection, an idea that prompts her to reflect on her own search for fulfillment.
As their conversation turns to issues of spiritual longing and deeper questions about the nature of God, Mattie finds herself increasingly drawn to this insightful stranger. But when the discussion unexpectedly turns personal, touching on things she’s never told anyone, Mattie is startled and disturbed. Who is this man who seems to peer straight into her soul?
Customer Reviews:
Great Book.......2007-09-17
This book is the sequel to "Dinner with a Perfect Stranger." Whereas the first book involves Jesus speaking with a man, this one is Jesus' witnessing to the man's wife. Like him, she's not a Christian. Jesus slowly leads her where he wants her to go, always dealing with her in love. Jesus meets the woman on an airplane, where he also entertains the child ahead of him by making faces. Yes, I think Jesus would do that! Another wonderful book that shows witnessing done God's way. It's a book you'll want to keep.
Excellent follow-up.......2007-09-10
I thought this book was an excellent follow-up/sequel to Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. As in the original...it is easy to read, thought-provoking, not bogged down or time consuming. Really, if you've read the first one...THIS is a MUST read as well!
A good book.......2007-07-14
I enjoyed this book but not as much as Dinner With a Perfect Stranger. I wished God would have revealed Himself sooner.
They're both books I will suggest to others.
God at work in every way.......2007-05-24
My wife and I read this after reading _Dinner with a Perfect stranger_ and they both compliment each other. These books give some terrific insight into life's 'workings' and provide another viewpoint about love, life, religion that can be intimately identified with for each of us, although in a different manner for each.
It was a thouroughy enjoyable read.
Day With a Perfect Stranger.......2007-05-13
I found this book to be so very awesome in it's presentation, purpose and perspective. I got lost in the book and when I was finished it I felt a sense of loss; I would not have this literary "friend" to read each night before retiring.
David Gregory presented some very thought provoking ideas.
I passed it on to a friend who also gives this book a rave review.
Average customer rating:
- Calculations are only as good as your numbers
- Pants on fire?
- Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed.
- Very Interesting
- History as Science Fiction
|
History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Anatoly Fomenko
Manufacturer: Mithec
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Similar Items:
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History: Fiction or Science? Chronology 2 (Chronology)
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History: Fiction or Science? Astronomical methods as applied to chronology. Ptolemy's Almagest. Chronology III
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ASIN: 2913621058 |
Book Description
Recorded history is a finely-woven magic fabric of intricate lies about events predating the sixteenth century. There is not a single piece of evidence that can be reliably and independently traced back earlier than the eleventh century. This book details events that are substantiated by hard facts and logic, and validated by new astronomical research and statistical analysis of ancient sources.
Customer Reviews:
Calculations are only as good as your numbers.......2007-08-03
Yes, we can all agree that mainstream history is nearly 100% BS due to politics, economics, ego, problems with dating techniques, and various conspiracies. Agreed. But, I've been researching the distinct possibility that human history (in terms of civilizations) are much more ancient than we've been told, so coming across this book was very interesting to me. I wondered how Fomenko could be wrong (if at all) because he is very persuasive in his presentations. Then it dawned on me. If at previous times in prehistory, due to the various catastrophies that are well documented (comets, asteroids, planetary disruptions, plasma discharge, pole reversals, etc) the Earth was in a different position in relation to the sun, different tilt on its axis, different orbit, different rotation (in terms of velocity and DIRECTION), and the continents were in different positions, then would this not cause the ancients to see the sky (constellations) differently? In other words, is Fomenko making erronious assumptions about the physics of the Earth in pre-history, which then corrupt his data with regards to dating the relevant astrology? The last event to seriously disrupt our planet occured roughly 3500 years ago, according to other good researchers, so is it possible Fomenko has been confused by this? The vastly different physics of our planet in the not so distant past may explain this confusion, which is not to say the "mainstream" version of history is correct; on the contrary. I am not an expert in these fields, but wanted to see if this idea could spark discussion.
Pants on fire?.......2007-07-19
Will people ever read before spamming? Yes, Jesuits could not rewrite world history alone, they had help. Anyway, Dr Prof Acad A.Fomenko does not point to jesuits as the driving force of world wide history manipulation in published volumes 1,2,3;, actually he barely mentions the poor devils. Check it with 'Search inside' feature, please. China is rarely mentioned either, in fact, Dr Fomenko is completely eurocentric. Right, his theory contradicts all mainstream schools of history, because in their actual state they are all built on blatantly erroneus chronology. You don't need a mysterious cabal (conspiracy) to falsify history, the falsification is its modus operandi. It is inherent to history(ians) to falsify (distort) events, as it is inherent to humans to boast as it is inherent to power (authority) to legimize itself by referrring to glorious past made to its own order. Dr Prof Fomenko and team have identified scores of instances of such manipulation in Russian, European, etc.. history, and delivered valid statistical proof thereof. His own 'reconstruction' is completely another story. Forget c14 as a valid method of dating. W.Libby has initially discovered a brilliant method of INDEPENDENT dating. Too bad, c14 method has become a joke after a forced marrige with dendrochronology with consensual chronological scale inbuilt. Radiocarbon method can't stand blind tests, but is so very productive as a rubberstamp.
Accepted History & Chronology Must Be Changed. .......2007-04-09
There is no doubt that history as most know it is a sham, & institution's version of History both University & Church is fradulent & inaccurate. Everything was established with an agenda, The real "Dark Ages" are now when we have access to incredible amounts of information past authorities & more important 'common folk' didn't have but our institutions & educators are slow to evolve because of what has ignorantly & arrogantly been taught for too long. This is on many subjects not just Chronology.
For anyone to question "Why would a Mathematician have anything credible to say of History?" The answer is from Dr. Fomenko's preface in the book: "It would be worthwhile to remind the reader that in the XVI-XVII century Chronology was considered to be a subdivision of Mathematics." These volumes could possibly be some of the most important works to date & should be read by everyone with an interest in History, especially professors & educators who have a duty to the public. I have read both books & must say that 'Chronology 1' has some very eye opening & revolutionary information. Even if these volumes are part true the implications are profound & opens the doors to further investigations & questions which must be done. I speak several different lanquages & must say the logic Dr. Fomenko uses with "inflection" of words & words being read from left to right in one region & right to left in another then written backwards, the removal of vowels & get down to basics of words, or different cities & locations having the same name etc. is correct. Vowel usage has always been optional & varied, actually complicating linquistics & study. The first thing one has to understand is that words never had a fixed spelling in history like we do now, the spelling of words was mutable & regional, as well as names & titles of people were vast, varied & changed, NOTHING WAS FIXED or understood linear. Matters of Life & Death as well as financial profiteering yesterday & today were & are made with ignorant, illogical & conspiratorial views of history & reality, it's time people get closer to the Truth & society collectively grow up.
Very Interesting.......2007-03-07
It is a good proposal and I believe it will mature into something even better in the future. I think it deserves to be read.
History as Science Fiction.......2007-01-10
Anatoly Fomenko has written a very intriguing book, full of pictures, charts, and computer 'proof' of his thesis: backwards of AD900 we don't really know what happened or when. Between AD900 and AD1600 there is more certainty, but there is still a lot of fuzzy ground, and things don't get reliable until we get past the 1600's where the printing press made it very difficult for the perpetrators of this timeline manipulation to change anything that had been committed to print. The Dark Ages did not happen. Books were burned for a reason. One organization has doubled the actual length of its existence by expanding the real chronology. Read why.
I had always wondered why Christ died about AD33 and yet men waited until the 11th century to form the Knights Templar, the Cathars, etc and go after the Holy Land by force. Why the 1000 year gap? Turns out there wasn't more than a 10-12 year gap and he proves it using astronomy. This also implies that the planet is not as old as we have been told, and current Christian and other creationist scientists are already championing that idea without being aware of Fomenko's book. The two groups, creationist scientists and the Russian mathematical analysts corroborate each other. Fascinating.
Of course, all this flies in the face of what we have been told traditionally is the 'proper' chronology of western civilization, and most readers will experience 'cognitive dissonance' in reading this book. It means that our history going backwards from AD1600 becomes progressively more incorrect and unreliable until it cannot be trusted at all... in the space of 700-800 years.
Naturally, the curious, open-minded reader will want to know WHO did this, WHY, and did any of the events we think of as really ancient ever happen?
Dr. Fomenko is a respected scientist/mathematician at Moscow State University who has already answered these questions to the satisfaction of his initially skeptical colleagues. Most of them are now believers, a few still refuse to believe (the usual diehards), and of course the western press has ignored Fomenko's work -- for obvious reasons when you read the book. The ones who perpetrated this chronology ruse have a lot to answer for. They are still with us. That's why this book is a well-kept secret.
I gave the book a 4-star rating because I was unable to check out some of his claims; those I checked were as he said. But if even 1/3 of his claims are true, this punches a big hole in what we think is our history, the meaning of western civilization, our educational process (for repeating the ruse as gospel), and the trustworthiness of the organization that perpetrated this ruse, well-intentioned or not.
This book relates to current research into a Young Earth paradigm, to John Keel's discoveries about our planet, and Fr Malachi Martin's insights (in his now out-of-print books). We are indeed sheep who are manipulated and kept ignorant -- for a reason. While knowing what these men have to say may be the "booby prize" (as in: 'what can you do with this knowledge?'), it will provide interesting reading. Didn't someone say: "...and the Truth will set you free."?? For you to judge if this book contains the truth.
Book Description
Isreal's feasts are infinitely more important than just a series of cultural observances. These feasts are appointed by the Lord, and they are owned by the Lord. He calls them "
my feasts." Together they form God's prophetic calendar, outlining the work of history's most important person...Jesus, the Messiah. As such, few themes are more timely or rewarding for God's people today.
The Feasts of the Lord covers all aspects of the biblical feasts...historical background, biblical observance, and prophetic significance. Yet, this book is not just another reference book on the feasts. It is written from the Hebrew Christian viewpoint, helping you to see the feasts through Jewish eyes.
The words of the Savior, His messianic claims, and Bible prophecy will all take on a rich, new relevance for you against the exciting backdrop of
The Feasts of the Lord.
Customer Reviews:
A Treasure Chest of Information.......2007-02-16
The pages are falling out of my copy of "The Feasts of the Lord" simply because of how many times I have referred to it while preparing lessons or sermons. I am almost brought to tears every time I read of the literal meaning of the "afikomen" at Passover. I gave a copy of this book to a Jewish friend who helped me in proofing the manuscript of "Maccabee." Though "The Feasts of the Lord" demonstrates unapologetically the New Testament fulfillment of the Old Testament feasts, the book was well received. A big thank you to the authors.
Incredible book.......2007-02-07
This is one of the most beautiful, high-quality books I own. The illustrations are amazing with rich colors and magnificent details. The writing is understandable and gives wonderful insight into Jewish history. This is an incredibly valuable tool for any serious Bible student and a treasure for any serious book collector.
Eye-Opening.......2007-01-13
This is one of my most treasured books. So wonderfully written, I felt like I was literally attending these feasts. Very eye-opening to end time events.
The Feasts of the Lord God's Prophetic Calendar From Calvary to the Kingdom.......2007-01-09
Beautifully put together book! Wonderful illustrations. A wealth of information and insight.
Review of the Lord's feasts.......2006-11-12
This is an excellent source and must reading for understanding God"s purposes im mankind's affairs. Further, it increases the understanding for the Christian in his roots and history. It connects all the dots to bridge, with understanding, the Jewish faith and the Christian faith to give clarity to the Christian belief system.
Book Description
Answering the many "spiritual" questions left unaddressed by such popular historical bestsellers as A History of God and God: A Biography, renowned author Marcus Borg reveals how to embrace an authentic contemporary faith that reconciles God with science, critical thinking and religious pluralism.
How to have faith––how to even think about God––without having to stifle modern rationality is one of the most vital challenges facing contemporary religion. In providing a much–needed solution to the problem of how to have a fully authentic yet fully contemporary understanding of God, Borg––author of the bestselling Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time––traces his personal journey. He leads readers from the all–powerful and authoritarian God of his (and their) childhood and traditional faith to an equally powerful but dynamic image of God that is relevant to contemporary seekers and more biblical and spiritually authentic. Borg shows how the modern crisis of faith is itself rooted in delusion––misinterpretation of biblical texts and of God's true nature––and challenges readers to a new way of thinking about God. He opens a practical discussion about how to base a relationship with the divine both immanent and transcendant, here and now, always and everywhere.
Arguing that the authentic Judeo–Christian tradition is that God's being includes the whole world, Borg persuasively shows how this understanding accounts for the whole variety of human religious experience. Ultimately, he introduces readers to a way of thinking about God who is "right here" all around them, rather than distant and remote. This understanding is more intellectually and spiritually satisfying and allows readers to reclaim a stronger sense of God's presence.
Customer Reviews:
The God we Never Knew by Marcus Borg.......2007-08-04
I found this book enlightenting and recommend it to people who are interested in seeing God in a different light.
getting to know God.......2007-07-06
i loved this book and have sent it to a friend in prison.i think it helps you see that God loves you and is with you through everything. its not written as a high brow book but something anyone could read and understand. i love how Borg presents God. i would recommend this book to anyone interested in knowing God in a more real way.
Very thought provoking.......2007-05-13
This book makes a lot of good points about the negative affects of the way that many people practice Christianity. He gives examples from both the Bible and other published work, both modern and ancient. The tone of the book is very similar to "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time."
The God we Never Knew.......2006-11-10
Marcus works diligently to bridge the gap between faith and reason. He is partial to a panenthiastic view of spirituallity and makes the concept understandable. I find his discription of the highly oppressed 1st. century Jewish community most interesting, making fertile grounds for the roots of Christianity.
Who is he arguing with? .......2005-11-15
This is my fifth Borg (not counting Star Trek), and in each he comes across as a likeable person. A conservative NT scholar once told me John Crossan would make the perfect next-door neighbor; one gets the feeling Borg (Crossan's Jesus Seminar colleague) would also cheerfully lend a cup of sugar or the weed-eater in the name of the Lord. He explains himself with a fetching simplicity and naturalness that are all the more attractive for the long, serious study that clearly lies behind his ideas.
As for his main argument, that God is both transcendent and imminent, I do not know whom he is trying to convince. I not only grew up in evangelical churches, I have attended hundreds of them around the world, and found the imminence of God both taught and (often) experienced. God did not seem that far away to me in church -- sometimes dangerously close. Borg's experience might have been different -- though he couches his story in such subjective terms that one wonders if he did not merely misunderstand, or misremember. It seems to me Borg is not arguing with orthodoxy, but with the cold embers of an old deism that may have nested down in some Lutheran church on the plains, or else in his own imagination. My main critique of Borg is that he offers too many false choices. Here, too, his device is to compare wrong, even heretical, views that he took for orthodoxy in childhood with present educated opinions.
"Panentheism" is an interesting term, and I am glad to know the distinction Borg makes between his own position and pantheism. But I am not sure what it really adds to the Christian tradition: God is more than the world, sure, and closer than our brother -- "in him we live and move and have our breath." But what does it mean to say that Pol Pott, say, was "part of God?" I still don't see what such language means, or how it can be verified.
As a student of world religions, I do not always find "spirit" to be the nectar of the gods. Often the shaman who is (as the Chinese say) the most "ling," the most connected in the spirit world, is the most deeply involved in misogeny, human sacrifice, and political oppression.
Borg promotes the idea of a "spiritual resurrection." After N.T. Wright's rebuttal in The Resurrection of the Son of God, it is hard to imagine the bones of that argument coming together again.
I take my shots at Jesus Seminar scholarship in general, and at Borg's naive concept of "spirit" in particular, in my book, Why the Jesus Seminar can't find Jesus, and Grandma Marshall Could; I won't repeat that here. Suffice to say, I think the weight of the historical evidence, fairly considered, suggests that the "Jesus of history" is the Christ of orthodox Christianity.
Nor do I find Borg's discussion of politics helpful. About half of American spending is done by government, which also regulates the rest half to death (ask any contractor!) Borg talks as if "individualistic" Americans barely have a government. He invokes the authority of the prophets to increase government spending, never mind that OT social compassion was the duty of individuals, not the state. One might argue that the religious right, in its fight against the social injustice of abortion, and private support of the poor, sick, and marginalized (yes, conservative churches often do that, too), often does act in the tradition of the prophets.
Obviously, I found a lot to criticize. But I also found a fair amount that was helpful. Borg's discussion of images of salvation in the Bible does provide helpful balance to the usual evangelical emphasis, for example. I found many arguments unpersuasive, but Borg seems the kind of person you can argue the whole evening with, then part friends.
Book Description
Many Christians are used to the idea of a meek and mild Jesus, the stereotypical ''nice guy.'' Countering these all too prevalent notions, Mark Galli offers a unique study of seventeen troubling passages from the book of Mark to prove we should be anything but comfortable with Christ. Highlighting the incontrovertible fact of an untamable and often militant Messiah, Galli gives readers a training manual in spiritual growth to awaken sleeping believers and transform them into devoted disciples. Hinging on the compelling nature of the love of God, he explains how this mean and wild Jesus shows us truer love than our pleasant construct ever could. Striking and bold, but always rooted in Scripture, Jesus Mean and Wild will put readers on the road to true discipleship.
Customer Reviews:
Whitewash.......2007-09-10
What? Jesus curses a fig tree for not bearing fruit out of season or calls a mother seeking help for her child a dog? No worries. It's all good, a kindness don't you see. I believe a miracle is in order here. It's not so much turning water into wine, but the venom of brutish, nasty behavior into the milk of human kindness. Why start thinking now? To say it is to make it so!
Once you throw reason out the window, you can let pretty much anything in the door.
This is how faith evolves with time
And the sun turns even as your mind
Need Help Smashing Your "God Box"?.......2007-06-11
Wow! So many things make sense when you get a more accurate understanding of Who Jesus is and how He views things. I got so much encouragement regarding the church in its seemingly impoverished state, and my involvement therein---(I was beginning to faint)...Not to lift up the man, but God speaks cutting, cleansing, healing truth through Mr. Galli. Anyone would benefit from this encounter!
Is a book you won't want to miss --- and really, you can't afford to.......2007-06-06
Jesus is often portrayed as meek and mild, but a thorough reading of the gospels reveals that the Son of God was anything but passive. Mark Galli, managing editor of Christianity Today and a former Presbyterian minister, takes a hard look at the real Jesus --- one whose actions, words and wisdom are anything but gumbylike.
In 17 short chapters, JESUS MEAN AND WILD walks readers the book of Mark, digging deep into bite-size portions of scripture. Galli writes:
"For those who truly want to know and love God as he is, the warm and friendly Jesus, although an attractive idea, is but an idol. And the fascist God will simply not do. To enjoy a full-orbed faith will require that our idea of God gain some unnerving texture, some dynamic energy, some subtlety and depth. It will require that we live into the love of God as manifested in the mean and wild Christ. This Jesus reveals not a one-dimensional, sentimental love --- a love that merely makes us feel good --- but a love capable of saving a desperate world."
Galli's writing is poised, thought-provoking, and at times tastes like Godiva. Not only does he manage to weave stories of himself and his experiences into the text, he also draws on a rich well of insights from theologians, writers and Christians from all ages who have displayed the mean and wild side of Christ. Stories of well-known believers such as Hudson Taylor and St. Francis of Assisi run alongside tales of saints scarcely heard of. The result is a compelling book that brings you deeper into the heart of God.
Tucked within the pages of this book, you'll find Galli exploring, explaining and tackling some of the pendulum swings of the modern church. He delicately raises hot-button issues and offers a balanced response to some of the more excessive trends in the church.
In his chapter "Love That Makes Enemies," he writes:
"To be sure, there is risk especially in loving the theologically or morally wayward. Out of mere sympathy, we may become tempted to compromise our values to be nice to them. But true love is robust. It includes compassion and confrontation, empathy and truth-telling, kindness and sternness. When we enter such relationships, we must enter them not with sentimentality but with full-orbed love. This takes not only compassion but courage. Yet it is that very combination that so often gets us in trouble."
Overall, JESUS MEAN AND WILD is one of the best books I've read this year. I had planned on a quick read, but instead I found myself savoring each chapter like fine chocolate --- enjoying a single piece a day in the hopes that the sweetness would last. Eventually the book came to a close, and I found myself wanting to read it again. With chapters short enough to read like a devotional, JESUS MEAN AND WILD is a book you won't want to miss --- and really, you can't afford to.
--- Reviewed by Margaret Feinberg
Too much of a stretch.......2007-01-28
Mark Galli's book helps to shed light upon Jesus's character -- instead of the "warm and fuzzy" Jesus some people follow, Jesus is portrayed as "not always nice", "demanding", "fear and shame-maker", "forsaker", "desire unfulfiller".... Galli chooses to base each chapter on a different aspect of Jesus from 1-2 verses taken from the Gospel of Mark. Some of what Galli writes fits with the verses chosen, but more often than not found that what he writes was really out of context with the entire passage the verses came from.
Many of the chapters made me feel uncomfortable -- not because the book was doing it's job of changing my perspective of Jesus -- but rather the author's stretching of the truth. For example, he wrote "So we struggle with Jesus in such moments because he so willing employs shame and fear and physical intimidation to motivate people." His quote refers to Mark 11:15-17. None of the versions of the Bible mention this scenario with Jesus actually using "shame" tactics; it's the author's own interpretation.
My main concern is that someone who takes Galli's ideas to heart will become demanding, impatient, guilt-driven, mean followers of Jesus. And not in a good way.
Thought-Provoking!.......2007-01-13
Awesome! Couldn't put the book down. It's certainly changed the way I read the Gospels in the Bible. It made you think of just how multi-faceted Jesus is. The concept that has affected my total understanding of Jesus is that we can never fully know Him. There is always more 'mystery' to be discovered, so He is always new . . . every morning!
Customer Reviews:
The Lord healed me after I read "Jesus Wept'' by Bruce Marchiano. .......2007-01-04
I was very sad and my heart hurt for years because someone very close to me had become a drug addict. During this time the Lord led me to read "Jesus Wept" by Bruce Marchiano. I read about Bruce's experience of portraying Jesus in the film "The gospel according to Matthew". Through this experience, Bruce learned about Jesus' heart of compassion towards hurting people. In the book, he gives some beautiful illustrations of Jesus' compassion and how Jesus weeps with people who are weeping. This book was life changing for me, because through it the Lord has taught me to deal with my pain through prayer. Because of this, Jesus has given me so much healing. I recommend "Jesus Wept" to everyone especially those who are hurting. Also for everyone who loved Bruce's presentation of the joyful Jesus in the film "The Gospel according to Matthew", I recommend that you check out the plans for his next film "The Gospel According to John".
He is close to the brokenhearted..........2006-11-09
In this remarkable book, "Jesus Wept", author Bruce Marchiano passionately reveals the "heart" of Jesus - the broken heart. In the midst of our anguish we question: Why is there pain and suffering? Why doesn't He do something about it? Doesn't He care?
According to Mr. Marchiano, the answer is the shortest verse in the Bible: Jesus wept. With rare insight, he's able to reveal the "heart" of Jesus... opening our eyes and hearts to the reality that this is a loving God - He doesn't just sit idly by and watch our suffering - He became one of us! Because He was subject to the same trials and tribulations that we face... He knows... He knows and feels our pain, our suffering, our despair... and He weeps. Page after page, you'll find comfort, encouragement, consolation and insight.
God used this incredible book to speak to me, comfort me, escort me into the deeper recesses of the "heart" of Jesus... I really can't recommend it highly enough!!
Jesus Wept provides rest for our souls!.......2006-11-06
Have you ever heard someone say..."If God is so good, then how could He let painful, hurtful things happen?" Or, perhaps you have even thought this during the course of your own life? Then, you owe it to yourself and those you love and care about to read Jesus Wept and share this book with others! Bruce Marchiano provides us with a deeper insight into the undying love of Jesus. As a faithful reader of Marchiano's work, I have come to rely on the fact that he will lead me to a greater understanding of the fullness of Jesus' love. In this book, Marchiano not only does that but also shows us the comfort we receive when we know that the Spirit Hand of Jesus is holding ours during the hard times! Yes, Jesus weeps...and grieves...and hurts along with us! My thanks go to Bruce Marchiano for once again guiding us to a more intimate and personal relationship with Jesus and revealing to us that in the midst of our brokenness, Jesus provides rest for our souls! Marchiano fans should check out his website for his new project, The Gospel According to John...a new film to feed the masses! Amen!
The most profound phrase in all the world.......2006-11-01
"Jesus wept." It's the shortest verse in all the Bible, but it's also the most profound. When Job accused God of not being able to sympathize with mankind's sufferings, Jesus who is God-With-Us became our answer. And the Gospel According to John (which Bruce is now adapting as a full-length motion picture) chapter 11 verse 28 says, "Jesus Wept."
What's great about this book is that, Bruce casually talks about this topic in plain English
In our brokenness and pain, He weeps..........2006-10-31
John 11:35, "Jesus Wept." (NIV) Jesus, after seeing Mary and Martha weeping, was deeply moved in spirit and troubled, the bible tells us, and He wept. For anyone and everyone, this book, "Jesus Wept" by Bruce Marchiano opens up a deeper understanding of what that scripture is talking about - about the heart of Jesus. In the way God has gifted him, Bruce Marchiano brings scripture into today's reality of brokenness and pain. When we hurt, He knows and He is with us. As other reviews have noted, from the most individual pain to the global-sized disasters, Jesus weeps. He weeps and He holds. He is with us always - This book opens up that reality to the reader, and explains why, things may happen the way they do. Pull up a comfortable chair, rest by the fire, and spend some time with the Heart of Jesus: "Jesus Wept." Jesus: He's there for you, and with you - always. Thanks Bruce, you've done it again!
Product Description
Salvation is more than just being saved from sin. Salvation is being saved to the glory of God. We were created in the likeness and the image of God, and it is His desire for us to be crowned with His glory and honor. The Blood and the Glory reveals how the power of the Blood of Jesus and the glory of God fit together in God's plan of redemption. This exciting book draws from the experiences of great leaders of faith from the past to rekindle the power of the Blood of Jesus in the Church today. Combining personal stories with strong biblical principles, Billye Brim teaches the importance of depending upon the Blood of Jesus in your daily walk with God. You will understand as never before that without the Blood of Jesus, it is impossible to be prepared for the glory of God. By using the principles outlined in this bookm you will learn: How to use the Blood of Jesus to overcome the enemy How to use the Blood of Jesus to protect your family How to draw a blood line around your property and possessions How to maintain victory through the Blood of Jesus How the Blood of Jesus is connected to the outpourings of the Holy Spirit We are in the last days. The circle of glory is almost complete. It is through the Blood of Jesus that we can be redeemed to our rightful place of glory and honor in the kingdom of God.
Customer Reviews:
This will revolutionize how you pray.......2007-09-11
This teaching has given me a "spiritual backbone" like I have never experienced before and has revolutionized the way I pray, especially for my children and myself. Satan is defeated. Christians have been given the authority over Satan and he is "overcome by the word of God and the blood of Jesus" Rev 12:11 and all we have to do is use it.
This book is the most awesome teaching that I have read in many years. I have had the head knowledge of these truths, but had not accepted the spiritual knowledge into my spirit man and was not using these truths in my life.
A Must Read for Seasoned and New Believer Alike!.......2007-08-21
Ms. Brim has an excellent way of putting very complex ideas in very simplistic terms. This book is absolutely necessary for every believer for the times we are living in today. My eyes have been opened in a new way and I have seen things in a clearer way than I ever thought I could. I highly recommend this book for the new believer as well as for the seasoned Christian.
Great service.......2007-05-27
Thanks for your prompt service. Book arrived as promised in good time.
Powerful information, a must read and must have!!!.......2007-05-17
This book was such a blessing to me, I will definitely be "doer" of pleading the blood over my family,myself, and my possessions. The importance of the blood is broken down and it encourages you to use it. Buy the book, buy several to sow into other people lives. I know I will. Be blessed
Very Good Read.......2007-05-16
This book was very good. I couldn't put it down and actually read it all yesterday. It included excerpts from other books and literature. I plan to read a few of those as well.
Book Description
Cutting through the wholesome image projected by the Mormons, Decker and Hunt reveal the researched and fully documented facts that expose the startling truths about Mormon beliefs and practices. A great witnessing tool.
Customer Reviews:
The God Makers Is Hard fact.......2007-08-07
I have found this book so hard to read but knew when I did read it, that it was totally true. Ed Decker gives a truthful and first hand experience account of what the Mormons believe. On the back of the book, Dr. Walter Martin, Dr. John MacArthur and Hal Lindsey have given their stamp of approval by making comments about the book. This is very useful book to help someone understand the differences in beliefs. It explains the difference in the Jesus that Mormons believe in and the Jesus that Born again Christians believe in. I suggest this book for anyone who wants to know what the Mormons believe in comparison to christianity.
very informative.......2007-06-27
I bought this book because I have moved to Utah just recently, and not being a Mormon in a perdominately LDS state can be hard especially when you do not know much about the LDS church. This book is easy to read and helps a lot. This book has helped me understand better the neighbors and co-workers that I interact with everyday.
The God makers.......2007-05-13
Well written book with some very interesting and thought-provoking information. As a former member of the LDS church myself, this book reaffirms what I've believed for many years. One has to give pause to the notion that an entire religion is based on one man's "vision." Without corroborating evidence of any kind, it takes an enormous leap of faith, literally and figuratively, to believe what Mormonism requires of its members. If you are a devout Mormon, you probably would not like this book for obvious reasons. For all the others, you might take time to read this book from an insider who really knows the truth about Mormons.
Not what I expected.......2007-03-05
Somehow I didn't notice, when I ordered this book, that it was published by a religious press. I was surprised on reading it to find that it is a book-long religious argument about how Mormonism is actually a work of the devil. (Yes! the church was inspired by Satan, according to this book!) If that's the kind of thing you're looking for, then this is your book. If you just want to learn more about the big controversies around Mormonism, you would probably be better off with the very comprehensive but entertaining book called _Mormon America_, by Richard and Joan Ostling, which is more journalistic/factual in approach.
Enquirer Magazine.......2006-11-25
I've heard them all! All the lies, all the anti- Mormon propaganda, all the ignorace based rumors. It took me years to join the Church due to false information. I was one that believed the lies because of ignorant under educated individuals spreading their hate around because they had nothing better to do. I wan't to be the first to thank people like Ed Decker for all the garbage I was fed through the years! The individuals who make up these stories, I ask one thing of you, please find some new ones, these are getting old after 25 years of hearing them. There are good Mormons and some not so good, It's called human nature and choice. Eddie Boy got booted, bottom line, and now he can be free to torment his wife and destroy the lives of his children while making money on a book of hate and ridiculous outhouse antics. If you like Enquirer Magazine then buy his book, I found it a laugh, kind of like the mother that had a 400 pound baby, come on people grow a brain, and then try using it, or you can read Decker's book and let him grow it for you. And by the way Decker, in case your reading this, " no women desrves to be treated like that". , The LDS or Mormon Church whatever you wan't to call it has always taught the men during meeting to love and respect your wife, you did not do that, write a book on how to Love and respect your wife, your time will be better spent. If you wan't a car fixed, you take it to the Mechanic that has a license, and if you want to know about Mormonism , you go to a Mormon, not one that is has strayed from their beliefs and looking for the Church as an excuse.
Book Description
The inner teachings of early Christianity and the numerical symbolism of ancient solar divinities.
Customer Reviews:
It isn't called Jesus Christ SUN of God for nothing!.......2007-08-24
This is an eminently readable, well researched piece of work that I would recommend to anyone interested in the "hidden" origins of Christianity.
Fideler goes to great length to show the reader what you might call the evolutionary process that took place over centuries - in terms of spiritual ideas, religious thought, pagan practices, and related symbolism (especially concerning the Sun, the Solar Logos) - eventually culminating in an amalgamation that came to be known as Christianity.
Especially interesting to me was the section dealing with gematria, an ancient form of numerology - although I hesitate to use that term to describe it because gematria is definitely not your grandmother's drugstore paperback numerology. The author presents a detailed examination of how the Biblical tales of the 153 fish in the unbroken net and the feeding of the 5000 people by the magical multiplication of a few fish are actually "encoded" parables containing all the elements required to construct intricate, symbolic patterns of "sacred geometry". The reason I found Fideler's examination of the Greek gematria so fascinating is because I've spent several years exploring the possibility that the English language might also be "encoded" in such a way as to produce synchronistic alphanumeric "equations". For example, in the context of the title of this book, I found a remarkable equation using the simple code of A=1 through Z=26. It is this:
JESUS CHRIST SUN OF GOD = 252 = CHRIST CONSCIOUSNESS
Just as I found this book to be a valuable and insightful addition to my personal area of research, I'm confident that others with interests in any of the concepts that Fideler deals with will find the book just as valuable.
Highly recommended.
An Intelligent Response to Fundamentalist Evangelical Christians.......2007-05-11
This book is a a treasure to anyone interested in Comparative Mythology/Religion. Like "The Jesus Mysteries", it presents historical facts that relate to the shared metaphors of world religious thought over thousands of years. Whereas "The Jesus Mysteries" is a wonderful introductory book for people new to the concepts presented, this work provides in depth considerations more geared to a well educated and/or intellectual reader. I keep buying copies, as I keep giving this book to fascinated friends. It is a fabulous work of scholarship, presented in wonderful ways.
One of the very best books on early Christianity.......2006-05-24
David Fideler, PhD, has written a seminal work on ancient understandings of the cosmos and early Christian symbolism. Delving into sacred geometry, astronomy, and gematria, he explores the ancient world with meticulous scholarship and groundbreaking research and ideas. Replete with extensive diagrams and clear explanations, even for the lay person, this book is a must read for anyone interested in what really was indicated by many myths and parables of antiquity.
An astonishing book - recommended.......2005-03-28
I pick up this book regularly at easter time and re read some of the wisdom of proportion it contains. Selecting chapters and appendices to combine with my current projects and other reading material. Synthesis is the name of my game. This year I have synthesised ancient gematria and divine proportion into a sales seminar.
If you have ever wondered about the origins of christianity and its relationship with the cultures of the mediteranean at the time of its origination. This is the book with the answers.
Missing the Jewish Element.......2003-11-23
This author asserts pagan backgrounds to many Christian concepts and images. But he overlooks the fact that many of these concepts were in Judaism before much of a pagan influence crept in.
It makes more sense to think that most of these came from the Judaism of Jesus, rather than the paganism of the surrounding culture.
Books:
- The History of the Church: From Christ to Constantine (Penguin Classics)
- The Language of Letting Go (Hazelden Meditation Series)
- The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
- The Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary : Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, and Habakkuk (Minor Prophets: An Exegetical and Expository Commentary, Vol. 2)
- The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari: A Fable About Fulfilling Your Dreams & Reaching Your Destiny
- The Natural Way to Draw: A Working Plan for Art Study
- The Osha: Secrets of the Yoruba-Lucumi-Santeria Religion in the United States and the Americas : Initiation, Rituals, Ceremonies, Orishas, Divination, Plants, s
- The Phoenix Affirmations: A New Vision for the Future of Christianity
- The Politics of Jesus : Rediscovering the True Revolutionary Nature of Jesus' Teachings and How They Have Been Corrupted
- The Power and the Glory (Penguin Classics)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Accounting for Managers: Text and Cases
- Sheep in a Jeep
- Johnny The Homicidal Maniac: Director's Cut
- INSIDE WELLINGTON'S PENINSULAR ARMY: 1808 - 1814
- Pictures in My Head
- The House of Mirth
- Spirit of Animals
- How to Read a Person Like a Book
- How to Walk A Pig: And Other Lessons in Country Living
- Handbook of Sec Accounting and Disclosure: 2004-2
The Lost Gospel: The Quest for the Gospel of Judas Iscariot
The Secrets of Judas: The Story of the Misunderstood Disciple and His Lost Gospel
Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why (Plus)
The Nag Hammadi Library
The Gnostic Gospels
