Customer Reviews

The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

What I know to be true is this much, the modern versions of the new testament like King James is full of information added by the many transcribers from years past. Then there is a lot of Jesus' life left out to also suit the whole puritain way of thought. Those versions are quite hard to read as well. They suit the whole ritualistic way of spiritual life. Jesus himself said to beware of men in fancy garb who think that by performing rituals that they are holy. I've read the reviews that are disgusted with this book. Those people are holding onto what has been engrained in them. They claim that there is no proof that this is the real words of christ. Have an open mind and I promise you will not be dissappointed. Once you have read it, your own heart will tell you whose version is truth. You don't need any proof. Christ himself said that those who believe without seeing proof are thrice blessed. Don't let someone else make up your mind for you about what's right and what's wrong. I pray you to at least give this book a chance. If you don't, you could be missing out on what just might be the most profound and greatest book you have ever read. Give yourself a chance to decide what version you believe is real.

The "Church" (whether any of the Catholic sects or Protestant denominations) has always taught their adherents "traditional truths" about the man that they worship as God, Jesus Christ. Throughout the history of "Christianity," these churches have emphasized rituals and outward demonstrations of devotion to this "god," no less so than the ancient Israelites making the Golden Calf. What has been taught for almost two thousand years is a complete distortion of who Jesus really was. He is the most misunderstood (and most taken-advantage-of) man in the history of the world. This book is certainly not for anyone who is happy or satisfied with the church that they belong to. This book is for people who have doubts about what they are being told, and for people who NEED to understand WHY things are the way they are in this world. Its not good enough for a religious "authority" to proclaim, "You should not have sex before marraige," but not tell you exactly why you shouldn't. The Aquarian Gospel will answer many questions, but those answers will not be accepted by a great many people who will read it. If you are skeptic about Edgar Cayce's "readings" then you should not even bother with this book. Ultimately, Levi and Cayce have tapped the same source; a source which most people cannot grasp, because they are hard of heart.

Yesterday I ordered this book to be sent to a pen pal friend in prison. I did so for a few reasons. One is that prisons allow many fundamental Christians virtually free reign in their attempts to "save" the sinners all prisoners are. These well meaning folks in many cases essentially add to the guilt and alientation virtually all prisoners share. Another reason I'm sending it to my friend is that he is well respected for his insights regarding spirituality so when he recommends this book those that know him will be prone to consider what it invites.

Reading a few reviews I can see where what is contained in the book is quite threatening. One person looked at it primarily in the historical perspective using the Bible as the benchmark to disagree with its accuracy.

For me having first read this work over 20 years ago the invitations within it are not just about Jesus by any means. It is a metaphysical treatise. If one has an open heart and mind there will be found within its pages invitations to move past some of our self created limitations.

People quibble if its Divinely inspired. Those that do do not accept and understand that everything is at its core Divine. In time they will.

If you are seeking a further understanding of your place and relationship with what Is this book could help.

Namaste,
Michael

This book explains everything you couldn't understand when you read the bible. I wish I could find the words to explain what a very, very special book this is, it changed my life. Christ IS the power of love and peace and everything we so desperately need in this world today.

It's a deeper, clearer image of Jesus as a teacher of the human race and God's divine messenger. Having grown up as a disenchanted Catholic girl, I welcome this new/old synopsis of Jesus' life, from his education and training abroad, to his practice of Reiki healing among the people. The parables are enhanced by expanded background descriptions of those who were listening and why. Levi relates a real world of travelers, politicians, and common folk of that era. No wonder Jesus could inspire and terrify so many. This is the Christ I feel close to-- a bright burning fire of love and mercy, practical, courageous, waiting to guide us home.

Recommended for intelligent, open-minded readers interested in matters of Spirit and the human heart.

"The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus The Christ" was originally recommended to me 10 years ago. I have read and reread it several times. I must say that on my first reading (especially the introduction) I found it hard to believe. However, the content of the book "felt right" and that is the only way I can describe it. As the years have past and I have encountered other books on spiritual matters I find that "The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus The Christ" makes so much more sense to me and has become one of the staple books in my spiritual Library. Many may have a hard time believing what this book has to say because it gives no evidence that it is truth, but to quote Pontius Pilate "What is truth?", I believe we must each listen to that quiet voice from our hearts for the answer.

This book has transformed my life beyond my expectations. I hope more people will be able to read this book especially those who have left any mainstream religious order. This book has also opened my life to understand myself being closer to God and inrelationship to Jesus the Christ and the Love he has always advocated for us to follow.

The only problem with this book is that when I tell my
patients the missing parables and lessons I have learned
from it, I end up giving them the book.
(I should probably keep 3 copies at hand at all times)

The last time was to a patient who has since
shared the story about the alcoholic who was cured through
his own good work after a fire, rather than a miracle
that would have been easy to do. This restored self
esteem that was a better and more long lasting cure.

Since then, he has shared this with at least 8 others
coming out of many stubstance struggles. You will know a book by
it's fruit rather than debating time lines. This one
is delicious!

The prose and style of the book is quite beautiful, and there are wonderful spiritual truths in it, but the sad fact is that it isn't what it claims to be- it's a fabrication. Here's the big giveaways I found while reading it:

1) Almost no information is provided about "the messenger" Levi Dowling. "of his personality we are permitted to write but little" claims the introductions. The most that can be gained is that he was a big time student of world religions and served a bunch of posts both in protestant churches and as a chaplain in the civil war. Considering the enormous importance of character in determining whether or not a medium is who they claim to be, a refusal to provide evidence/background for supposedly spiritual reasons is a big warning flag.

2) Herod Antipas is written to be the ruler of Jerusalem at the time of Christ's first few years. Wrong Herod- the Herod of Judea was Herod the Great. Herod Antipas was the tetrarch of Galilee. Somewhat understandable mistake, but when one is claiming to have it "to the word"...

3)The journeys that the gospel alleges are too perfect. Jesus singlehandly manages to hit all the major religious centers of the time and to comment on all the traditions and how they interact with Christianity. Reading through the account, you feel that its too good to be true- the locations are too ideal, the journey too perfect.

4)A story is related about Abram, saying that his father and him were heretic brahmin priests that fleed persecution- even so far as saying that Terah named his son after the Brahma. While I tend to be more skeptical of the Old testament than most people, it is still worth noting that Abram is hebrew for prince, and that the whole concept of changing his name to Abraham, king, doesn't make any sense if he was named after Brahma. On top of this, Ur, the city of Abram's birth, was under the dominion of the Sumerians at the time, who had a very powerful religious system in themselves. While Hinduism has been powerful, historically it hasn't spread much beyond modern day Pakistan. Saying it got all the way to the fertile crescent is a stretch.

5)Jesus is alleged to have stayed and studied with Hindu priests at the Temple Jagganath in the Indian Province of Orissa. According to the Encarta Encylopedia, scholars have dated the start of the worship of the Jagganath of Krishna to the 4th century CE. While that is somewhat debatable, the temple which is obviously referenced wasn't even begun to be constructed until the 6th century CE, and the practice of the Juggernaut car that Levi has Jesus poke fun at wasnt' around yet for sure.

6)One chapter has Jesus declaring the falseness of evolution to a Buddhist priest. While the beginning part of it is mostly an attack on animal-to-man reincarnation (you weren't a bird in a past life), from there Jesus goes on to attack the doctrine of "survival of the fittest". People didn't even start having that philosophy up until the last century! The style clearly gives away that it was designed to be a refutation of Darwinism, hardly an ancient belief.

7)Jesus is reported to have met with the Confucian scholar Meng-tzu (Mencius) in a Tibetan monastery. It is a historical fact that Mencius died in the last years of the 3rd century BCE.

At this point, I put the book down. I will admit, I think that Levi's intentions and spirit were pure. I agree with about 98% of the philosophy he has Jesus expound, and his style and prose are beautiful- there are some very emotional scenes. But as a fair scholar striving for truth, I have to say that its a fake. The guy was incredibly intelligent, and I can see that he drew on a number of sources in his writing, include apocryphal texts for accounts of the early years of Christ. He was definately out to try to prove Gnostic truths. But he was trying to use a false vehicle to do it. His crime was the same as Paul of Tarsus- spread Gnostic truths, but change and alter Christ into a vehicle you can use for your teaching style. Defeats the purpose.

To the say the least, I was bummed.

I was given my copy by a dear man that showed me reading about Jesus in this book was not like any other works. This is not your average Bible--this is more of a diary of Jesus' life. When you read this it is like reading a best selling novel--you know a bit about what is going to happen but it is told more in the 1st person. This makes it much more personal- the way I am sure Jesus actually talked and acted.
I whole heartedly say to read this, even if you never read any other thing about Jesus.