Jesus in an Age of Controversy [Paperback]

Douglas R. Groothuis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1996

Doug Groothius exposes the questionable logic and faulty conclusions that abound about Jesus in our society, then clearly shows the overwhelming logic and historical evidence that confirms the biblical teaching about Him

Product Details

• Paperback: 374 pages
• Publisher: Harvest House Pub (July 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565074971
• ISBN-13: 978-1565074972
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,879,647 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am a philosopher who serves as Professor of Philosophy at Denver Seminary and as an Affiliate Faculty at Metropolitan State College of Denver. I have authored two dozen academic papers published in journals such as Religious Studies, Inquiry, Sophia, Philosophia Christi, Think, and Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society. I have also published dozens of articles in magazines such as Christianity Today, Books and Culture, The Christian Research Journal, and many others.

I am the author of eleven books:

1. Unmasking the New Age (InterVarsity Press, 1986)
2. Confronting the New Age (InterVarsity Press, 1988)
3. Revealing the New Age Jesus (InterVarsity Press, 1990)
4. Christianity That Counts (Baker Books, 1994)
5. Deceived by the Light (Harvest House, 1995)
6. Jesus in an Age of Controversy (Harvest House, 1996)
7. The Soul in Cyberspace (Baker Books, 1997)
8. Truth Decay (InterVarsity Press, 2000)
9. On Jesus (Wadsworth, 2003)
10. On Pascal (Wadsworth, 2003)
11. Christian Apologetics: A Comprehensive Case for Biblical Faith (InterVarsity Press, 2011)

I also co-edited the volume, In Defense of Natural Theology: A Post-Humean Assessment (InterVarsity Press, 2005) with James Sennett.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Well-Written, Easy to Read Overview, May 3, 2006

By 

D. S. Bornus (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus in an Age of Controversy (Paperback)

With the current furor over the "Da Vinci Code" and its hints about Jesus' "secret past," this book is a great factual resource. Groothuis establishes a foundation of evidence showing why we can have confidence that the New Testament accounts are reliable and accurate in what they say about Jesus. Then chapter by chapter he discusses such modern and/or old warmed-over fads as the "Jesus Seminar," gnostic "gospels," and other new-age stories about Jesus traveling to India, being an Essene, becoming an Egyptian mystic, being married to Mary Magdalene, dying of old age, etc. as well as images of Jesus we receive from modern "channelers," near-death experiences, etc. In each case, Groothuis goes through a clear, concise examination of the evidence supporting each view (or lack thereof).

Some current academic scholarship portrays Jesus as a misunderstood social revolutionary preaching a message of social justice, whose life and message was co-opted after his death by his disciples (particularly Paul) seeking power over the masses by re-casting Jesus as divine. Groothuis shows why it is grossly inaccurate to "pick and choose" such a sanitized version of Jesus' acts and sayings, and why we had better take Jesus' real message seriously.

Regardless of your beliefs, anyone who wonders what we can actually know about Jesus should read this book for a well-written overall analysis of the subject.

15 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More Credit Due, September 19, 1999

By 

Julia Finley (St. Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Jesus in an Age of Controversy (Paperback)

I went into this book expecting a lash-out at the New Age exotica that plagues and devalues spirituality in the last few years. This intelligent young unknown named Douglas Groothuis delivers accurate and well-developed blow upon blow to the New Age movement. He deserves the recognition that usually goes to frontline clowns like Robert Funk, Marcus Borg, Calvin Roetzel and John Dominic Crossan. Not only does Groothuis detail the growth and spread of New Age, he includes chapters to increase Christian faith and expose those who attempt to play down Jesus' deity, therefore rendering Him "tame and manageable" to their own imaginations.

Overall, Groothuis shows complete control over every element of his book that needs exploration. While staying in an easy-to-understand writing style, and not without humor, Douglas Groothuis is a young author set in his ideals, and obviously shining with intelligence.

All we need now is recognition of his talent, as he should replace the members of the Jesus Seminar as "the next big thing".