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Jun 12, 2008

MattA rated it:

First, a recommendation about who should NOT read this book. Do NOT read this book if you are a Christian fundamentalist who cannot abide interpretations of Jesus different than the traditional one you receive at church. A non-traditional view of Jesus is what this book is all about. I've read many extremely negative reviews of this book from Christian fundamentalists. Most of those negative reviews were likely inspired by the last chapter of the book which directly criticizes the Christian More...

1 comment like (6 people liked it)

Feb 19, 2008

Musep rated it:

OVERCOMING SEPARATION is the goal
Much of the book encourages sort of Buddhist ideas -
nonattachment for example. Fine, but not really new insight

0 comments like (2 people liked it)

Mar 11, 2008

Lauren rated it:

Jesus taught God-consciousness. If you are open to reading this masterpiece, you will awake.

0 comments like (4 people liked it)

Jun 27, 2008

Tim added it

I'm not going through it very quickly because the class I'm taking is kicking my butt, but what I have read has given me much to think about. And that's a good thing. Deepak Chopra makes it an easy read but gives you a lot to contemplate.

Favorite quote so far:

"You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible."

I looked and looked and for the life of me I could never find that place. So I decided to build it from scratch.

More...

1 comment like (3 people liked it)

Mar 06, 2008

Carol rated it:

Picked this book up because of the back-cover comments from Bishop Spong: "As a Christian, I welcome his (Chopra's) insights into my Jesus and his provocative call to me to enter the 'Christ consciousness'"
Chopra's "Third Jesus", the Jesus of the spiritual path, is the radical loving Jesus that I long to find more often in conversations within the Christian Church. Reminding us that we don't have to wait on the church and its doctrine to walk a spiritual path, Chopra p More...

0 comments like (3 people liked it)

Nov 29, 2009

Joyce rated it:

Not much in this book is new if you've read the Bible for yourself. However, Deepak Chopra dilutes much of the Scriptures and says that all that is in the Bible is not "true." Already, believers are closing Chopra's book and running for the hills. I found some mental and spiritual challenges in this book that made me think....that's not a bad thing. Thinking and then, believing, are certainly two entirely different action verbs regarding this book. It would be a great book to take on a More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 29, 2009

Davis rated it:

As the author of a series of spiritually-themed novels, I am always on the outlook for spiritual books that broaden my perspective. This book not only accomplished that, but it helped me develop an even more intimate relationship with Jesus.

This is a book that could totally transform the spiritual understanding of Christians along with opening them up to a relationship with the Holy Spirit. It will also speak to people of other faiths since it releases so much of the dogma that can e More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 31, 2009

Megan rated it:

It was an overall interesting read, but with a wishy washy thesis and nothing that hasn't been said before, I wouldn't consider this a life changing book.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Aug 21, 2011

Ananda rated it:

I really enjoyed this book. Being a christian, there were some parts which were hard to digest, but overall - this was a great read with few extremely powerful thoughts (which I hope will accept as a part of my attitude toward life and faith). So..whatever I write in this review will surely not spoil the beauty or enjoyment of reading it. It's not a fiction with some characters you will love or hate...there is only one person here involved..YOU and your thoughts about the Third Jesus. Long time More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 05, 2009

Liz rated it:

I was never a fan of Deepak Chopra, sometimes I think he talks out of his ear, but I was intrigued by the title of this book, I skimmed through it in the library and it looked interesting enough for me to at least give it a shot. At first, I had a huge chip on my shoulder, I thought "This guy is a flake", "He doesn't know Jesus from Joe". But I kept reading, because the more I read the better the book seemed. I didn't agree with some stuff he said, but some of what he wrote w More...

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Jul 10, 2010

Ceci rated it:

This is my first Deepak Chopra book and likely my last. I started out liking his observation on Jesus but by the end of the book I felt as though he had diluted the Jesus that so many people, including myself, call their Saviour. I think I picked up a couple of good tips on meditation and how to deal with negativity. Initially, I really liked that he used the Bible to support the characteristics he observed about Jesus but when it came to discounting characteristics about Jesus he was very selec More...

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Jul 04, 2010

Chris rated it:

This book is yet another of a trend I've been following over the past five years. As more and more christians tend to be forsaking their traditional religion - most become absolutely secular in the form of agnosticism and atheism, a "new age" christianity is being molded. The call is to the doubting or departed christian.

"Jesus has been misunderstood."
"The real Jesus and his teachings were perverted by the Church who had their own motives of power More...

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Jun 08, 2010

Joe rated it:

Interesting premise but I was ultimately disappointed. I expected a more radical interpretation of the New Testament, supplemented with practical approaches to incorporating it into a modern spiritual program. Ultimately it seemed like Dr. Chopra was shooting from the hip, pointing out some obvious interpretations here and there, throwing in some historical context behind certain passages.

Had I not known this book was by Chopra, I would have found it to be an adequate, semi-informa More...

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Jul 29, 2010

Amy rated it:

The Third Jesus is inspiring. For most of my life I have tried to grappled with the understanding of the scriptures, as if it was a foreign language. Deepak Chopra quotes the bibles scripture so nicely and eloquently, that each passage grows within you a new message of understanding. He portrays Jesus message as one of hope, love, and understanding. Without the religious interventions of the Catholic Church, and generations thereafter his death who have tried to cover up the purest of simplest m More...

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Nov 27, 2009

Lori rated it:

I found this book to be very thought provoking and it touched me deeply. I have waited a long time for someone to write a book like this about Jesus. The author himself states that Christian fundamentalists would not likely be the readers of this book, and quite frankly, even if they did read the book they would discount it immediately as it is different than the talking points they are spoon fed from their institution. To appreciate a book like this you must be willing to open your mind compl More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Oct 03, 2010

Chuck rated it:

Warning!!! This is not a book about the Jesus of the Bible even though it claims to be. Chopra's take is that Jesus "attained God-consciousness." As you would expect he does selective quotations from the Bible, but explains away what he doesn't want to use as information that was obviously biased because of the views of the writer. It doesn't seem to strike him that his selections are exactly that, selections made specifically to fit the bias of the writer.

I am saddened by More...

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Jan 04, 2011

Jeremy rated it:

Well, this officially closes the door on my reading of Chopra. His "novel" on Jesus' life was bad, but this book is just brutal in every regard. I actually quit it three times but ended up with nothing else to read on a road trip so finished.
First, dude can't write. The novel was a pathetic stab, but I thought, "Maybe it's not his genre. I'll give him one more shot..." So I found "The Third Jesus" in our school bookstore for $1 and thought I'd give him another More...

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Jun 16, 2009

Aaron rated it:

I found Deepak's interpretation of the bible and Christianity interesting coming from his outside perspective. An outside interpretation is wildly needed to be heard for the devout Christian. Unfortunately, many Christians wouldn't read this book or at least not read it completely through.

It is the last chapter where Deepak addresses the controversial issues that face Christian's today; homosexuality, war, abortion, etc... This is where the book becomes most intriguing however, th More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jun 15, 2010

Suzanne rated it:

Chopra invites controversy in this book but it is well-written and is consistent with his views on spirituality and enlightenment. As a child Chopra was educated in Christian schools in India, and is well-versed in Christian history. He is very much influenced by the Gnostic gospels, works including the writing of the apostle Thomas, and gospels not accepted as part of the official Bible. Many of these gospels were discovered in Egypt in the 1940's and are considered authentic interpretatio More...

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Mar 07, 2008

Dana rated it:

I just started reading this one. I picked it up on the weekend, and had been waiting for it to come out.

Deepak Chopra elegantly unwraps the reconciliation of Jesus Christ with Eastern thought and raising consciousness. He differentiates the historical Jesus, the one that would be revealed on the likes of Discovery Channel documentaries, from the Christian church Jesus, the one who various denominations have created to provide an example of "Christian" living...forgiveness More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Jan 23, 2009

Tanya rated it:

This book is thought provoking and there has a lot to contemplate. I reccomend reading it a chapter a day to really appreciate the message. Fundamental Christians with closed minds will want to skip this read, but those seeking to develop a personal relationship with Jesus through christ consciousness based on Jesus's authentic message not skewed by centuries of church dogma and interpetation of his message by individuals and organizations seeking to advance thier own agendas.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Dec 10, 2011

Niek rated it:

Een boek dat ik ongetwijfeld binnen een aantal jaren herlees om de volledigheid van Chopra's verhaal te vatten (en het te toetsen aan mijn ervaringen)... Niet dat het werk ontoegankelijk is, verre van! Ieder die een beetje vertrouwd is met het levensverhaal van Jezus en de katholieke/christelijke geloofsleer die hieruit voortkomt, kan makkelijk volgen. Toch biedt Chopra inzichten aan, die je pas volledig kan vatten wanneer je ook daadwerkelijk op zijn niveau kan denken/voelen/leven. Iets wat bij More...

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May 30, 2008

Queen rated it:

This book deserves time and contemplation. Because of the complex nature of the subject, I have to re-read certain sections to make sure I really understand the message. On the whole, however, the writing flows smoothly and simply with moments of insight that seem to exude the PEACE that Deepak Chopra promotes via Jesus's teachings. I was magnetized to the book specifically because of the easy blend of western and eastern ideas, but I'm still skeptical of the "band wagon appeal" in More...

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Mar 24, 2009

Lianne rated it:

I chose this as a completely different Lenten book. Deepak Chopra went to a Catholic school in India even while he was raised at home in a Hindu family so he has his own understanding and relationship with Christianity. He does a convincing job describing Jesus's path from an enlightenment point of view beyond the 'first Jesus' who is historical, and the "second Jesus" who is the one based on fundamentalist literal belief.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Apr 21, 2010

Kimberly rated it:

For those who appreciate Jesus' teachings, but do not appreciate much of what has happened to them at the hands of the Church. Christ-consciousness is something most people, even those not spiritually minded, can buy into when they understand that it is linked to knowing, understanding & embracing our own highest, most excellent selves.

Dr. Chopra does a good job expressing the teachings of the highly aware man, Jesus.

0 comments like (1 person liked it)

Sep 02, 2011

Kendra rated it:

I have always deeply believed in metaphysics. This book, though, gives me new found faith in Jesus's teachings. The Scriptures solidify my understanding and belief in metaphysics, while Jesus becomes my wayshower to a life of higher consciousness. A must read for anyone who wants to understand Jesus's teachings on a deeper and more spiritual level.
Kendra Vaughan Hovey, spiritual author
KVHovey.com

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Aug 29, 2011

Tim added it

Depak Chopra's interpretation of Jesus' life and the bible are very unique and open minded. It is not for the faint of heart or those who are deep in their religion of choice. It will certainly make you question your beliefs whether or not you're Christian. I recommend this to anyone on a search for faith on their own terms, especially those claiming "spiritual, not religious."

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Jun 01, 2009

Maureen rated it:

ugh. maybe i was just not in the mood for this one. i labored through about 50 pages before finally giving up. very academic interpretations of biblical passages... the third jesus he is describing is the christ consciousness... the first two would be the historical jesus and the theological jesus. seemed like obvious material to me. disappointing.

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Mar 14, 2008

Carol rated it:

This book approaches Jesus as an individual who attained ultimate enlightenment. The traditional "dogma" of church teachings are set aside. Instead,Chopra tries to examine what Jesus says in the scriptures as an enlightened man rather than dwell on wheather he was literally the son of God. Chopra has consistantly over the years taught that every human has the compasity to find God within themselve. That God is esentially everywhere. He believes that individuals like Jesus, Buddah an More...

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May 04, 2011

Maurynne rated it:

This is pretty close to my Jesus, the radical Son who says the Kingdom of Heaven is here, if we act like God and not human beings--i.e., do the impossible and act in love always. It's a good perspective especially for someone raised outside of Christianity. Asks some tough questions like was Jesus a failure? More review later...

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