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  <title><![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]></title>
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  <description><![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]></description>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
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  <published>1994</published>
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    <body><![CDATA[I will definitely seek out more books by Borg after reading this one.  Although I did not agree with every idea Borg presented, I gained new perspectives on several old ideas. Interesting dicussion of the pre-Easter vs. post-Easter Jesus, the ideas of compassion and discipleship, the 3 macro-stories...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/32181339">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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  <read_at>Sun Mar 15 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sun Mar 15 22:17:47 -0700 2009</date_added>
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    <body><![CDATA[This is the first Borg book that I read for myself (previously my opinion of Borg was mitigated by my reading of N.T. Wright). There is a bunch here that I disagree with, but there were some insightful things as well. I would disagree with Borg that there is a strong distinction between the pre-East...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/49411091">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <date_added>Thu Oct 01 16:12:35 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Oct 01 16:13:06 -0700 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[I am always on the outlook for books that enrich my spiritual life. This book provided me with some fresh new perspectives which have enhanced my relationship with Jesus.<br/><br/>What I especially liked about the author, who is a theologian, is how he described his own struggles with his faith as...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73140475">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Monica]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <rating>4</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue Mar 10 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Mar 02 18:59:06 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Wed Mar 11 17:44:21 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[The book attempts to address the many problems modern people have with &quot;the post-Easter Jesus&quot; and reintroduces us to Jesus, the historic or &quot;pre-Easter Jesus&quot; in such a way as to reignite Christian feeling in adults who have drifted away from the faith of their childhood.  The a...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48063148">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/48063148]]></url>
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</review>
      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
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  <published>1994</published>
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  <read_at>Mon Oct 12 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Mon Oct 12 18:39:35 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Mon Oct 12 20:01:49 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[In this book, Marcus Borg reviews recent research on the historicity of Jesus and his message for the modern world.  The book is really more of a series of essays, very readable even for readers who otherwise are not familiar with modern biblical scholarship.  This book evidently has been very popul...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74337516">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74337516]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/74337516]]></link>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Fri Oct 24 00:00:00 -0700 2008</read_at>
  <date_added>Fri Oct 24 12:53:42 -0700 2008</date_added>
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    <body><![CDATA[This is the first book of Borg's I've read, and promptly ordered three more before I even finished.<br/><br/>Borg discusses the &quot;Historical Jesus&quot; which, while certainly not a new topic in religious studies, has gained some steam in the past few years.<br/><br/>It's worth noting that i...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/36118691">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
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    <body><![CDATA[All Christianity is, to some extent, idolatrous. Christian worship is a response to a worshiper's image of Jesus, and all images of Jesus fall short of his reality--in the same way that all biographies and portraits fail to depict a whole person. Scholar Marcus Borg attempts to understand how popula...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8060420">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Tue Apr 15 00:00:00 -0700 1997</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Fri Oct 30 09:02:41 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[A very interesting little book that brings contemporary Jesus scholarship to lay readers. Borg calls people away from images of Jesus as the Son of God who demands that we BELIEVE certain things about him, or as a great moral teacher. Instead, he favors an image of a wisdom figure, one who is a bear...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/67264570">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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      <review>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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    <rating>3</rating>
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  <read_at>Fri Feb 27 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Wed Apr 08 13:02:34 -0700 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Apr 25 08:58:32 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Way over my head for the most part.  And didn't like the &quot;Jesus Committee&quot; that decides what Jesus said or didn't say.  How can one have a relationship with Jesus, which the author concludes is the most important thing, if you don't believe he really said what is attributed to him in the B...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51967271">more...</a>]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/51967271]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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  <date_added>Thu Dec 04 14:42:16 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Thu Dec 04 14:43:45 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This book triggered deep reflection on my beliefs and was one of the strong influences that shifted me away from literal to a more powerful and transformative metaphorical view of scriptures. ]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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  <read_at>Sat Nov 07 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
  <date_added>Sat Nov 14 11:40:21 -0800 2009</date_added>
  <date_updated>Sat Dec 19 19:15:37 -0800 2009</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[This book was SIGNIFICANT for me. Feel like it has altered my general worldview, and helped me understand and articulate better my own faith journey. He gives historical and biblical justification for many of my beliefs and hunches which I was before UNable to defend. I just had these hunches...but ...<a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/77765817">more...</a>]]></body>
    
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>342</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
</book>

    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue Jul 28 00:00:00 -0700 2009</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Tue Jul 28 18:55:06 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[I read this book over 10 years ago.  However, I seem to return to it often.  So, I bought it for my Kindle for quick reference/review. ]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/65341859]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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    <body><![CDATA[Appreciate most of what Marcus Borg writes - makes sense, and he demonstrates the logic of working illogical biblical concepts.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/59026526]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <date_updated>Mon Oct 05 04:48:33 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[This book broadened my view of Christianity and shed light on many questions I had about the historical Jesus.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/73493044]]></url>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Becci]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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  <date_added>Tue Dec 23 07:29:18 -0800 2008</date_added>
  <date_updated>Tue Dec 23 07:30:58 -0800 2008</date_updated>
  <read_count></read_count>
    <body><![CDATA[New understandings of the Historical Jesus and how the Gospeal writers interpreted his life and death.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40750036]]></url>
  <link><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40750036]]></link>
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      <review>
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    <name><![CDATA[Kikue]]></name>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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  <read_at>Sat Dec 20 00:00:00 -0800 2008</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Sat Dec 20 20:25:40 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[A spiritual moving book from conventional wisdom to spiritual wisdom.  A Christian must read.  Inspiring, motivating and thought provoking.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40322697]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
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    <body><![CDATA[Feels like a good scholarly treatment of the historical Jesus.  Good for lay folk like me.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/42352030]]></url>
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    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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    <rating>5</rating>
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  <read_at>Tue Nov 03 00:00:00 -0800 2009</read_at>
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  <date_updated>Tue Nov 03 16:00:33 -0800 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Love this book and love Marcus Borg.  Must read another one of his books ASAP.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/76629061]]></url>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
  <ratings_count>342</ratings_count>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
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    <rating>2</rating>
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  <date_updated>Sat Dec 20 01:20:37 -0800 2008</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Might have been useful earlier in my life but too narrow for now.]]></body>
    
  <url><![CDATA[http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/40511842]]></url>
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  <title>
    <![CDATA[Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith]]>
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  <average_rating>3.94</average_rating>
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    <![CDATA[<p>Of the many recent books on the historical Jesus, none has explored what the latest biblical scholarship means for personal faith. Now, in <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time,</em> Marcus Borg addresses the yearnings of those who want a fully contemporary faith that welcomes rather than oppresses our critical intelligence and openness to the best of historical scholarship. Borg shows how a rigorous examination of historical findings can lead to a new faith in Christ, one that is critical and, at the same time, sustaining. <p>&quot;Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him,&quot; Borg writes. &quot;Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord.&quot; <p>Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life--one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community. <p>In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith. <p>For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, <em>Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time</em> frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: &quot;For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus--the living one who comes to us even now--will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time.&quot;</p></p></p></p></p>]]>
  </description>
  <published>1994</published>
</book>

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  <date_updated>Fri Sep 04 21:49:07 -0700 2009</date_updated>
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    <body><![CDATA[Helped me to understand Borg's history in my research of his theology]]></body>
    
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