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3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
challenging
informative
slow-paced
I would have loved to read this book with either more explanation or less detail about all the players on the scene in Jesus’ time… like a dummy version of this book for those of us not as familiar with Roman and Biblical history. But ultimately I’m glad I read this book and did takeaway some really key themes on how Jesus was transformed from basically a Jewish nationalist who created a movement challenging Roman occupation to Jesus the Christ that we see in the Bible today.
Really interesting guy. Too bad he was lost to history. People could learn something from him.
This book provides a context of the life of Jesus and how Christianity evolved based on historical facts. Very readable and I learned more in this book than my 10 years in Catholic school.
I would have liked more of a narrative account but I appreciated the detailed, technical aspect of it in terms of it being a non-emotional study of Jesus' life.
challenging
informative
medium-paced
Fascinating look at the political, ideological, and social contexts that Jesus existed in. For me, it was tough to get into because it didn’t start chronologically, but it got more easily digestible as I kept reading.
Very well researched and well defended.
Very well researched and well defended.
Some parts of this I really liked, but there were other parts I skimmed. I have mixed feelings about it and can’t really get behind the argument that Jesus was interested in armed rebellion against Rome but it was an interesting read.
In norwegian (bokmål).
One of the best books I read in a long time. Analyses the historical figure, disconnected from the mythological figure.
Interesting notes on the history of how the Gospels and the letters present in the Canonical New Testament were written, plus some notes on other contemporary historical sources.
One of the best books I read in a long time. Analyses the historical figure, disconnected from the mythological figure.
Interesting notes on the history of how the Gospels and the letters present in the Canonical New Testament were written, plus some notes on other contemporary historical sources.
Until reading this book, I don't think I ever quite understood the world Jesus lived in. Reza Aslan really brings the brutality of first century Palestine to life, and he manages to do it in a captivating way that made it difficult to put the book down. Aslan attempts to put aside the current image of Jesus and instead uses the few historical facts and the context of the world Jesus lived in to try and understand who this historical Jesus was. The Jesus he portrays is no less inspiring than the one of the gospels. And perhaps the most fascinating part of the book is how Aslan shows how the events following Jesus' death helped give rise to a new religion and a new image of Jesus that is most likely quite different than the historical Jesus. In other words, he shows how Jesus went from an illiterate Jew to being Jesus Christ.
Whether you're religious or not, if you're interested in the life of Jesus, you should read this book. A fair warning, though, to the most religious: If you don't like to see the gospels challenged, then don't waste your time. Aslan takes Bible verses that I've heard my entire life and puts them into the context of the first century Palestine and suddenly they take on a whole new meaning. He creates an image of Jesus that, to me, is much more real than the one popularized today and yet is no less inspiring.
Whether you're religious or not, if you're interested in the life of Jesus, you should read this book. A fair warning, though, to the most religious: If you don't like to see the gospels challenged, then don't waste your time. Aslan takes Bible verses that I've heard my entire life and puts them into the context of the first century Palestine and suddenly they take on a whole new meaning. He creates an image of Jesus that, to me, is much more real than the one popularized today and yet is no less inspiring.
3 1/2 stars. I was raised Catholic and I never knew any of this stuff. So this was a very informative read for me. I recommend it if you have any interest how Christianity was formed by a Jewish man. Son of God? I still have my issues with that one!
Reza Aslan finds more than enough in the historical Jesus, the man, to admire, respect, love, revere, and follow before mystical and universalist qualities were ascribed to him and given precedence starting decades after he lived. Aslan is criticized for his credentials and there is controversy about the conclusions he draws from his research. However, from my non-historian perspective, I found the case plausible. Aslan's account of the volatile interaction of Roman and Jewish law and culture in Palestine at the time of Jesus seems to be based on actual historical sources. Aslan uses that as background against which he analyzes biblical tracts to extrapolate Jesus' beliefs, activities, and role as a devout conservative Jew and nationalist activist. I did have difficulty listening to Aslan read his own work on this CD version of the book, as he uses his pedagogic style too much to convince the listener, rather than relying on the [one would hope] credibility of the written word.