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tgh124's review against another edition
5.0
This book had more of an impact on me because I had previously read "How Jesus became God..." and "Zealot." The book acknowledges what Biblical and Historical research says (and challenges) about Christianity, but restores a Jesus spirituality.
kshiner's review against another edition
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
5.0
Wow. There’s so much to think about in this book. So many in the Christian faith don’t want to think too deeply about their theology, but those of us who do will truly appreciate this book.
Marcus Borg expertly puts into words ideas about Jesus that I have struggled with. He also puts an idea about Christianity that i struggle with (namely, the atonement for our sins through Jesus as sacrifice) into a context that makes much more sense.
I’ll come back to this one again and again.
Marcus Borg expertly puts into words ideas about Jesus that I have struggled with. He also puts an idea about Christianity that i struggle with (namely, the atonement for our sins through Jesus as sacrifice) into a context that makes much more sense.
I’ll come back to this one again and again.
ryberst's review against another edition
3.0
This book focuses on how the historical Jesus can remain relevant, and even enrich, one’s Christian faith. Enlightenment ideals prevalent, but still allows for a rich spiritual life.
kipahni's review against another edition
4.0
it is not orthodox/heterodox but i have been ruminating the many points Borg brings up. i do not have enough scholarly knowledge to support or refute. it is a good overview of progressive research on the historical jesus
rumbledethumps's review against another edition
4.0
As a non-Christian living in the US in the early 21st century, I almost instinctively recoil from Jesus talk. And the title of this book almost made me reject reading it. But I'm glad I did, as Borg does an admirable job of breaking down those barriers for people like me.
He draws a distinction between "pre-Easter Jesus" and "post-Easter Jesus." In other words between Jesus the man and Jesus the Christ his followers turned him into after his death. In this book, he almost exclusively focuses on pre-Easter Jesus, and how and why as a teacher and spiritual person, Jesus was a revolutionary. This focus allows the reader to see and understand his teachings without requiring the belief in the supernatural aspects of the story.
He draws a distinction between "pre-Easter Jesus" and "post-Easter Jesus." In other words between Jesus the man and Jesus the Christ his followers turned him into after his death. In this book, he almost exclusively focuses on pre-Easter Jesus, and how and why as a teacher and spiritual person, Jesus was a revolutionary. This focus allows the reader to see and understand his teachings without requiring the belief in the supernatural aspects of the story.
findyourgoldenhour's review against another edition
5.0
I’ve heard many interviews with Borg but hadn’t read any of his books. I picked this one up after hearing a Brene Brown refer to it in her sermon at the National Catherdral. I regret not reading this sooner. So much here to think about.
davehershey's review against another edition
3.0
I found myself nodding my head in agreement quite a lot more then I had expected to as I read this book. When I began reading Christian books way back in college, one of the first I read was The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel. I am pretty sure Borg, as a member of the Jesus Seminar, was mentioned in that book in a not-positive way. My experience with Borg was limited for many years to mentions in books by those who disagreed with him. Eventually I read a book where he and NT Wright dialogues and I found myself in much more agreement with Wright. At the same time, I did recall finding Borg not as...evil as my perception of him had become.
In other words, Borg, and those like him, had been painted as evil people, perhaps servants of Satan, with an agenda to tear down historic Christian faith. But as I read that previous book, then the first chapter of this one, I was moved by Borg's personal story. It turns out he is just a man trying to figure out the truth of who Jesus is.
Do I disagree with him on many things? Yes. I am still in the more traditional camp on issues such as the Trinity and the resurrection of Jesus. Yet in that disagreement I can still appreciate his scholarship, as well as a well-written, often moving book such as Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time.
This book is not a scholarly examination of who Jesus is. There is a little of that, but it reads, at least to me, much more like a Christian living book. As far as Borg's message is a call for us to seek to follow Jesus rather than go along with whatever it is the surrounding world preaches, this book could almost sneak into the "evangelical devotional" category.
Maybe I'm just getting kinder in my old age. Years ago I may have gotten mad at this book for all I disagreed with, ignoring the places I agree. Now I find truth and encouragement where I agree and manage to gently move past, though not ignore, the things I disagree with.
I guess the test will be when I read more Borg books and he works hard to show how the resurrection didn't really happen...will I still be kind or will I throw the book across the room?
In other words, Borg, and those like him, had been painted as evil people, perhaps servants of Satan, with an agenda to tear down historic Christian faith. But as I read that previous book, then the first chapter of this one, I was moved by Borg's personal story. It turns out he is just a man trying to figure out the truth of who Jesus is.
Do I disagree with him on many things? Yes. I am still in the more traditional camp on issues such as the Trinity and the resurrection of Jesus. Yet in that disagreement I can still appreciate his scholarship, as well as a well-written, often moving book such as Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time.
This book is not a scholarly examination of who Jesus is. There is a little of that, but it reads, at least to me, much more like a Christian living book. As far as Borg's message is a call for us to seek to follow Jesus rather than go along with whatever it is the surrounding world preaches, this book could almost sneak into the "evangelical devotional" category.
Maybe I'm just getting kinder in my old age. Years ago I may have gotten mad at this book for all I disagreed with, ignoring the places I agree. Now I find truth and encouragement where I agree and manage to gently move past, though not ignore, the things I disagree with.
I guess the test will be when I read more Borg books and he works hard to show how the resurrection didn't really happen...will I still be kind or will I throw the book across the room?