Jesus Through Pagan Eyes: Bridging Neopagan Perspectives with a Progressive Vision of Christ [Paperback]

Rev Mark Townsend (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 8, 2012

For Pagans and Christians alike, Jesus Through Pagan Eyes offers a provocative portrait of  Jesus—as a compassionate, life-affirming, nature-inspired spiritual teacher, freed from the limiting ideology of the Church. Rev. Mark Townsend sets the stage by exploring the historical evidence of who Jesus was as a human being before delving into the realm of metaphor and mythology, the notion of Christ, and the Church’s conception of Jesus as Christ.

The heart of this unique book lies in the thoughtful and deeply moving collection of stories, essays, and interviews about Jesus from today’s most respected Pagan, Wiccan, and Druidic leaders. Contributors such as Maxine Sanders, Christopher Penczak, Janet Farrar, Diana Paxson, Philip Carr-Gomm, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, John Michael Greer, Selena Fox, and Raven Grimassi explore the historical figure of Jesus in relation to Witchcraft, the tarot, goddess worship, and shamanism—while illustrating how this god of the Christian church blesses and inspires those who embrace non-traditional spiritual paths.

Whether you envision Jesus as an ascended master, a human teacher, or a mythic god-man, this remarkable book will introduce you to a Jesus who fits fully into the Pagan imagination. 

Praise:

"Townsend uses Jesus to initiate dialogue, and he does so in way that is accepting and inclusive of many understandings and interpretations of Jesus, his purpose, and his relevance (or irrelevance) in the religious practices of contemporary Pagans." —Huffington Post

"This work admirably promotes understanding between belief systems that have a sometimes uneasy relationship."—Publishers Weekly 

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

A former clergyman in the Church of England, Reverend Mark Townsend now leads his own inclusive and ecumenical ministry that nourishes a strong appreciation for the diversity of faith beyond Christianity, and which strives to honor the divine in all people, regardless of their faith, culture, sexuality or background.

A priest of the Open Episcopal Church and member of the Progressive Christian Alliance, in addition to being a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, the author has been featured on the BBC and several other news programs throughout Britain. He is the author of The Gospel of Falling Down, and Jesus Outside the Box (O Books). He lives in Hereford, England.

Find out more at: http://www.marktownsendministry.co.uk.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Llewellyn Publications (June 8, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0738721913
• ISBN-13: 978-0738721910
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #186,968 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #93 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Earth-Based Religions > Paganism

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

90 of 99 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Christians shouldn't be this reasonable. May 14, 2012

By Gavin Andrew

Format:Paperback

Be warned. This book is trouble. Not least because the author, Reverend Mark Townsend, has a nasty habit of being reasonable when provoked.

When Christian authors address a modern Pagan readership, they are supposed to state that we are well-meaning people in search of the Sacred. Those of a more fundamentalist stripe may go so far as to concede, amusingly, that we don't consciously engage in devil-worship. By the end of their essay, however, they will have told us that we are worshiping the Creation rather than the Creator. They will have suggested that Wicca in particular can be a gateway to other, more sinister forms of occultism.

Most of all, they will have stated clearly that Jesus is the ONLY way (John 14:6).

Thus, the author goes away content in the knowledge that they have fulfilled their `Great Commission' to spread the good news of Jesus Christ to unbelievers, and Pagans go away expressing their distaste for those who proselytise. Prejudices are reinforced, and everyone stays happy.

That is the way it is supposed to work.

Christian authors are not supposed to confess their outright attraction to earth-based spiritualities. They are certainly NOT supposed to use words like `Churchianity' to describe the shortcomings of their faith.

And it gets worse. Reverend Mark Townsend has collected essays by Pagan authors, leaders and interfaith representatives, inviting them to give their opinions of Jesus. People like Emma Restall-Orr, Maxine Sanders, Joyce Higginbotham, Janet Farrar, and Raven Grimassi.

The hide of the man!

In Townsend's words:

"......I noticed that whenever I spoke about it to my [Pagan] friends, while most of them had issues with organized Churchianity, almost none of them had a problem with Jesus himself. In fact some seemed to think of him as an 'honorary Pagan.'

In my discussions I came across many Pagans who still loved Jesus deeply but could not fit him into their spirituality any more."

Regrettably, Rev. Mark Townsend displays remarkable broad-mindedness and desire for dialogue, in a manner quite unreasonable for a Christian.

Quite frankly, if Christians can't express unease at our beliefs and practices, projecting their collective insecurities onto an `other', accusing us of being a symptom of the `attack' upon Christendom... and if we Pagans can't bang on about the privileges Christians enjoy within civil society that are denied to Pagans through both direct and institutional discrimination, well, what is the point any more?

Here is a true heretic, occupying a difficult middle-ground of inclusiveness and acceptance between two intertwined and unreconciled opponents. Read more ›

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Must read! May 13, 2012

By Roger D. Mcclellan

Format:Paperback

Mark Townsend's new book, "Jesus Through Pagan Eyes" begins with a bit of a departure for this master storyteller. In Part One, Mark undertakes to introduce the reader to a Jesus seldom found in the institutional church; one bereft of the theological baggage heaped upon him by centuries of churchianity. Mark skillfully and convincingly weaves oft-forgotten wisdom from early church leaders with modern Historical Jesus scholarship and concepts from the Pagan and Druidic traditions into a beautiful tapestry of both the person of Jesus and the Christ- consciousness that he exhibited. This is a Jesus simultaneously stripped down to a beautiful soul-friend and elevated to an incarnation of love and grace that we can all aspire to emulate. Freed from the ideological shackles of the tradition-laden church is found a Jesus that we should all find. In Parts Two and Three Mark gives way to respected Pagan leaders and invites them to share their own insights and feelings about Jesus in the form of essays and interviews. Whereas Part One was a scholarly yet accessible examination of theological or Christological concepts interspersed with personal reflections; parts two and three are deeply personal and compelling portraits of a Jesus seldom found inside the institutional church. While some of these reflections will be seen as controversial, as will the whole book; the beauty found herein is undeniable. This is a truly remarkable work, as it combines both the cerebral approach and the emotional. As a lifelong Christian and a pastor to boot; I found much wisdom and beauty in this book; and was introduced to aspects of Jesus that had never been exposed to, but found myself asking "Why did I never see this before"?
Revd. Roger McClellan, Co-Founder and Moderator of The Progressive Christian Alliance

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustive, Exhausting Tomb June 27, 2012

By Cygnet

Format:Paperback

This seemingly exhaustive (and exhausting) tomb is divided into three parts: 1) a discussion of the nature of Jesus as a tri-part being (man, man-God, Spirit); 2) a selection of stories and essays by various pagan elders; and 3) transcriptions of interviews with additional pagan elders. First let me say that I believe the Reverend Mr. Townsend has accomplished his goal of laying out before the public what various and sundry pagan elders understand about Jesus and his teachings. Along the way to compiling the book, he has also reached a junction in his own personal spiritual journey. (I do not say destination because there is no destination on the spiritual path, only the journey.)

The structure of the book is clearly delineated and followed. However, I found the rigidity of the structure somewhat daunting. I eventually found myself bogged down in various opinions with no ability left to distinguish individual voices. Ironically, this was particularly true in the third section which contained the interview transcriptions. The very repetition of the interview questions, which was necessary to obtain some form of objectivity and comparison among those interviewed, became the very thing which blurred the lines among interviewees. Maybe that is all to the good since there is no one pagan voice to whom a single opinion belongs. The blend of voices became for me a united chorus, singing a primarily harmonious tune around the man/god/teacher called Jesus.

As an individual who by definition can no longer call herself a Christian, I found resonance with those who have come full circle back to a cosmic Jesus. Having travelled the journey myself, though, I found nothing startling or new in the readings.... In Section II, the more personalized stories held greater appeal for me than did the erudite essays. Relationship with a higher power must needs be personal and from the heart; experiential, not from the mind (which has no hope of explaining it) nor from authority (which removes personal responsibility). While the interviews were interesting - the reader can learn a lot from them about the diverse pagan community - they almost seemed redundant, the territory having been trod once in the essays. I found myself hoping each next interview would be the last.

All that having been said, the bottom line to me is whether the book will do the job the author hoped it would do. Reverend Townsend has shared the opinions of pagan elders on the subject of Jesus. Will this bring the Christian and the pagan communities together? Will it spark the beginning of something new? Who knows? In truth Spirit is Spirit; truth is universal (love, joy, peace, etc.); and truth needs no defense. All people of Spirit recognize this and come together regardless of the trappings of any specific religion. So it is and so we let it be. Read more ›