The Jesus Sayings: The Quest for His Authentic Message

by Rex Weyler

Book Overview

Is it possible to reconcile Jesus, the Prince of Peace, with religious violence? From the Inquisition to the burning of women healers to modern pedophilia scandals, spiritual leaders and followers are... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0887848192
• ISBN13: 9780887848193
• Release Date: April 2009
• Publisher: House of Anansi Press
• Length: 392 Pages
• Weight: 1.24 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 5.4" x 8.4"

Customer Reviews

A great overview of modern Biblical research

Weyler is a dynamic figure; writer, journalist, and a founder of Greenpeace International. His previous books were on music technology (//The Story of Harmony//), Greenpeace (//Greenpeace: The Inside Story//), and a history of the American Indian movement (//Blood of the Land//). Here, in //The Jesus Sayings//, Weyler explores many of new research on early Christian writings, and new techniques in language and manuscript analysis that allow better tracing of the ancestry of those manuscripts. In addition, recent archeology has brought new documents to light from those early days of the Christian Church's development. //The Jesus Sayings// is both the story of modern Biblical archeology, research and scholarship, and that of the subject, the words and teachings of Jesus, using the most original documents possible, stepping outside the traditional Gospels, and looking at the documents used to create them, and those gospels rejected by the African Synod of Hippo in 393 and further upheld by the Councils of Carthage in 397 and 419 and St. Augustine. While potentially controversial to Biblical literalists, //The Jesus Sayings// provides an interesting view of that period of time in the early Church when people were trying to make sense of Jesus' message. Weyler also draws similarities between Jesus' teachings and those of the Cynics, a Greek school of philosophy that encouraged living a life of virtue and lack of possessions and rejecting wealth and power. A very interesting book, handled with concern and care for the subject, and providing a great overview of modern Biblical research.

Amazing book

This is an amazing book that informs and challenges the reader. It is interesting and engaging. It provides color where once there was black and white. It is credible in its approach and candid about what we know and do not know. Yet even in the what we do not know it is not a challenge to the foundation of faith. This is well worth the read.

Excellent Book

The down to earth wisdom in this book will benefit anyone. Weyler places the reader into the 1st century where Greek philosophers and Jewish teachers serve as a rich background for the words of Jesus. The author's analysis of spiritual thought and social movements shine as he relates Jesus' teachings according to popular and more recently discovered texts such as Thomas and Magdalene. As he details the evolution of the Jesus movement into the beginning of the Church one is given the opportunity to see what remains of history as it progresses through the hands of power. I was surprised and inspired to learn the differences in Jesus' teachings in contrast with what I had previously understood. The stories and images that Jesus uses are even more meaningful in their social and historical context. His ideas still offer help for our times. "The Jesus Sayings" is a fascinating and well-researched book that still flows like a great tale. A must for anyone interested in Jesus, social movements, spiritual wisdom, and the beginning of the Christian Church.