For Christ's Sake [Paperback]

Tom Harpur (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1993

This radical book reveals the real, historical Jesus – and reminds us what he actually said.

Who was Jesus Christ? Was he God in human form? Was he the divine Son of God, conceived by a virgin, who came down to earth to found the one true religion? This is what the Church has been preaching since the Middle Ages, but the Church’s portrait is a far cry from the Jesus Christ described in the New Testament.

For Christ’s Sake is Tom Harpur’s classic study of what the Bible actually tells us about Jesus. Controversial and radical, in that it goes to the roots of what is known, Harpur’s book strips away the mythology about Jesus to reveal a man whose message is still fresh and relevant today.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Canadian Tom Harpur observes that the traditional language and dogmas concerning Jesus, particularly his deity, are incomprehensible to modern people. Furthermore, he asserts, they represent a mistaken interpretation of the recorded events of Jesus's life by early and later Christianity. Harpur draws on contemporary biblical scholarship to portray a fully human Jesus, who nevertheless did perform miracles, and whom God raised from the grave as a seal upon his message and ministry. For Christ's Sake presents Jesus "without myth" in a manner accessible to the general reader. It concludes with a statement of faith that focuses on the message of Jesus rather than on the messenger. Myriel Crowley Eykamp, formerly with MIT Libs.
Copyright 1987 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“If Harpur’s research and reasoning was the stuff of which sermons were made and honestly presented from the pulpit, churches wouldn’t be empty.”
–Roy Bonisteel, Toronto Star

“A wonderful book, extremely positive.”
–Dr. Harvey Cox, Dean of Divinity, Harvard University

“For Christ’s Sake is Harpur at his finest. It is articulate and hard-hitting…a timely and important challenge for the Church in this increasingly secularized world.”
–The Anglican

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: McClelland & Stewart (September 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 077103945X
• ISBN-13: 978-0771039454
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.4 x 8.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,478,215 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars For Christ's sake, let us see what the man really taught!, June 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: For Christ's Sake (Paperback)

I read this book after reading "The Thinking Person's Guide to God" by the same author. There were so many references to "For Christ's Sake" in it, that I was intrigued. I was already familiar with Harpur's smooth and lucid style, so I didn't wait too long to buy this book. Again, it was a good choice.

In "For Christ's Sake" Harpur tries to peel off all the cliches and dogmas about Jesus Christ and goes into the very text of the New (and Old) Testament to make out what he really taught us. There he shares with us very interesting insight on what and who Jesus was and what he wanted to convey to his disciples. I like Harpur's clarity on these issues: he plainly says that he does not believe that Jesus Christ was/is the Second Person of the Trinity, because, first of all, there is no such thing as the triunity of God. He still does not deny the divinity of Christ, but he defines it through his humanity. In other words, Christ's divinity lies in his being a fully realized human being, who has fully revealed his unity with his Creator. Having taken that as the main premise, we can see the role of this unique man in an entirely different light. As Tom Harpur rightly says, the teaching of the Church had too much focus on the person of Jesus and not on his teaching; on the Messenger and not on the Message itself.

And what did the real message bring to us? The dogma of the Trinity? The Sacraments? The hierarchical church, "a special caste of people", vested with some special powers? The necessity to believe in the divinity of Christ in order to be saved? No. This is not what Christ came to tell us. It is simply that God is always with and within us if we want to open ourselves to His love. Jesus wanted all of us to be "sons of God". And this is exactly what we need to follow in Christ: strive for unity with our Creator. Tom Harpur used Bucke's term "cosmic consciousness" and I think it is a very good approach to understanding the relationship of man and God.

After reading this great book, I now have more sympathy, compassion and understanding towards the man called Jesus Christ than ever before. If I had to compare two simple, easy-to-read works on the essence of Christianity from the two Orthodox and Unorthodox camps, I would take and read this book, "for Christ's Sake", and "Mere Christianity" by C.S. Lewis and then see where the truth lies.

Also recommended: "The Kingdom of God is Within You" by Leo Tolstoy (Some of Tom Harpur's ideas are strikingly similar to those of Leo Tolstoy on Christianity and that is why I would recommend this book).

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A revelation about the true, loving spirit of God, April 7, 2002

By 

Francis King "Frank King" (Calgary, AB, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: For Christ's Sake (Paperback)

I've just returned to Christianity after many years away, yet could not reconcile myself to the notion of an angry god demanding part of Himself to die on a cross for people's sins. I remembered reading For Christ's Sake years ago and enjoying it, so I read it again. What a revelation! With compassion and intelligence, Harpur shows, repeatedly and through investigating the New Testament, why Christ is not and never was God in the flesh. After much reading of other Christian writers -- and through his own training and education (he's an Oxford-trained, Anglican minister) -- Harpur suggests a loving, positive reason for Christ's death and resurrection. It's a reason I can easily understand and joyfully accept. And that brings me fully back into the fold of Christianity. If you have questions, if there are things that you don't understand or things that you find repugnant about aspects of Christianity, READ THIS BOOK. It won't take long, but you might finish it the way I did...with tears in my eyes and saying a prayer of thanks to God.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Page turner, May 6, 2001

By 

phil reda (woodinville, wa USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Christ's Sake (Paperback)

I have read the book twice. It is hard to put down. Mr Harpur makes you think - even if you dont agree with all of his points you will have gained a tremendous insight into the gospels. My faith has been kicked into overdrive after reading this book and his other book "Thinking persons guide to God". Thank you Mr Harpur for putting into words what I have been tring to express.