It is widely recognized by many New Testament scholars that numerous sayings and actions attributed to Jesus in the gospels cannot be factually traced to him. To a considerable degree, these stories have been influenced, or even constructed, by the early church. Still, the contemporary church feels comfortable with a mythology that brings the Jesus of history close to the Christ of faith and represents the New Testament canon in its current form as the basis for Christian belief. The Great Deception exposes the dangers that accompany this approach and calls for a more rigorous treatment of the gospels. Gerd Ludemann opens his arguments by establishing the criteria by which he believes it possible to distinguish the inauthentic from the authentic sayings and actions of Jesus, and then shows which quotes and deeds can be regarded as factual. His radical conclusion - that Jesus, pared from the falsehoods, cannot support the traditional faith - will shake Christianity to its core, and has threatened Ludemann's freedom to express his scholarly views as his research dictates.
BooknewsExposes the dangers that accompany the contemporary church's representation of the traditional New Testament canon as a generally accurate record of the life of Jesus. The author establishes the criteria by which he believes it possible to distinguish inauthentic from authentic sayings and actions of Jesus, and then shows which quotes and deeds can be regarded as factual. He concludes that the Jesus of history, who emerges after the falsehoods attributed to him are pared away, cannot support the traditional Christian faith, but that Jesus remains a deeply sympathetic personality and one of the great religious figures of the world. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknew.com)
Categories:
- Religion & Spirituality
- Christian Books & Bibles
- History
- Christian Books & Bibles
Publisher : Prometheus
Author : Ludemann, Gerd
Language : English
Edition : 2nd
Published :1999-04-01
Number Of Pages : 116
Binding : Paperback
ISBN-10 : 1573926884
ISBN-13 : 9781573926881
Item weight : 0.1 lb
Dimensions : 0.5 in x 5.1 in x 8.2 in
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