Customer Reviews

Jesus in an Age of Controversy

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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.

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".