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The Jesus Myth
religion
- GenresChristian
200 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1971
About the author
Andrew M. Greeley
379 books325 followersAndrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 17, 2024
A FAMOUS CATHOLIC WRITER AND SOCIOLOGIST'S EARLY BOOK ABOUT JESUS' TEACHINGS,
Andrew M. Greeley (born 1928) is an Irish-American Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist and fiction writer. He prefaces this 1971 book with the Note, "The word 'myth' is used in the title of this volume in a specific and definite sense. A myth is a symbolic story which demonstrates, in Alan Watts' words, 'the inner meaning of the universe and of human life.' To say that Jesus is a myth is not to say that he is a legend..."
He observes, "as men experience God's love for them, they respond to other human beings with love and, in that response, come to understand God's love better." (Pg. 69) Later, he adds, "We cannot love others, at least not in the way described by Jesus as the will of his heavenly Father, unless we first accept God's love for us; and in the very act of loving others we experience that love more deeply." (Pg. 116)
He argues that "Jesus is teaching that all who imitate his role as servant must approach even the marriage relationship with an attitude of service. Divorce is an easy escape from service to one's spouse, and it is rejected by Christians... The teaching of Jesus in (Mark 10:11) was strikingly novel, for it put husband and wife on a plane of complete equality. A man may no more put aside his wife than she can put him aside." (Pg. 139)
Concerning the question, "Will I PERSONALLY rise from the dead?" he gives two answers: "One is to say that ... of course we will live again. The other is to say that we know very, very little about the nature and modality of the new life and we do not put our faith so much in expectation of a literal physical resurrection as we do in God's love..." (Pg. 172)
Greeley wrote this book many years before he became a bestselling fiction writer, but it still has interest (although it relies too much upon Norman Perrin) for a modern reader.
Andrew M. Greeley (born 1928) is an Irish-American Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist and fiction writer. He prefaces this 1971 book with the Note, "The word 'myth' is used in the title of this volume in a specific and definite sense. A myth is a symbolic story which demonstrates, in Alan Watts' words, 'the inner meaning of the universe and of human life.' To say that Jesus is a myth is not to say that he is a legend..."
He observes, "as men experience God's love for them, they respond to other human beings with love and, in that response, come to understand God's love better." (Pg. 69) Later, he adds, "We cannot love others, at least not in the way described by Jesus as the will of his heavenly Father, unless we first accept God's love for us; and in the very act of loving others we experience that love more deeply." (Pg. 116)
He argues that "Jesus is teaching that all who imitate his role as servant must approach even the marriage relationship with an attitude of service. Divorce is an easy escape from service to one's spouse, and it is rejected by Christians... The teaching of Jesus in (Mark 10:11) was strikingly novel, for it put husband and wife on a plane of complete equality. A man may no more put aside his wife than she can put him aside." (Pg. 139)
Concerning the question, "Will I PERSONALLY rise from the dead?" he gives two answers: "One is to say that ... of course we will live again. The other is to say that we know very, very little about the nature and modality of the new life and we do not put our faith so much in expectation of a literal physical resurrection as we do in God's love..." (Pg. 172)
Greeley wrote this book many years before he became a bestselling fiction writer, but it still has interest (although it relies too much upon Norman Perrin) for a modern reader.
June 2, 2024
The author spends a majority of this book dispelling false myths about the message and resurrection of Christ for a true myth. He challenges the concept of Christ’s message needing to be “relevant” in any age, past or present. The invitation into the kingdom of God simply surpasses all human concepts of relevance, for something much greater.
This book is full of hope and the style of the writing is very down to earth. I really enjoyed it.
This book is full of hope and the style of the writing is very down to earth. I really enjoyed it.
September 12, 2008
this affected my view of Jesus more than any single book.
full of hope. first chapter sucks--rip it out
full of hope. first chapter sucks--rip it out
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews