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The Masks of Christ: Behind the Lies and Cover-ups About the Life of Jesus (Touchstone Books)

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There is not very much we know about the authors except that they are writers and researchers into the paranormal. They had written on similar topics ("The Turin Shroud" and "Sion"). The matters covered in "The Masks of Christ" are not original and the points had been made by biblical and religious scholars as well as other writers of the paranormal. However, this book was very well organized and written in a lucid and concise style and so it will be very useful for readers who are interested in knowing aspects of the Bible that the Church will never admit, let alone teach.

The two most important points made concern the birth of Jesus and his resurrection. These are the two of the most important aspects of the Christian faith. Pinknett and Prince examined the synoptic gospels of Mark, Matthew, and Luke, and the Gospel of John and set out very clearly how the "inerrant word of God" contradicted itself in these crucial matters. Mathew's version says Jesus was born in the time of Herod the Great. Undisputed historical records showed that Herod the Great died in 4 BCE (or BC as the Christians say). However, Luke's gospel, which also had a similarly elaborate story of Jesus' birth, set it in the time of the Roman census in the time of Quirinius, the Roman governor of Syria. That census did not take place until 10 years after the death of Herod the Great. Not only were the plot in the stories differ (one said Jesus' parent fled to Egypt immediately after the birth of Jesus because Herod wanted to kill all male infants under the age of 2; the other said that There was great rejoicing when Jesus was born and there was no fleeing to Egypt), the date of birth took place 10 years apart. Matthew and Luke wrote in detail tracing Jesus' lineage from Mary to King David (so as to prove the Old Testament prophecy that the Messiah will come from David) but the two lineages are entirely different. Even if one can accept the apologist argument that the describe lineages are "roughly" the same (the authors here showed why that argument is wrong) and are not unaccepteable just because a few names have been left out, many important questions would still have to be answered. Can the Bible still be regarded as containing the "inerrant word of God"? By what criteria does one verify stories and interpretations of such stories?

The authors also set out in detail, all the different accounts of the crucifixion and resurrection as well as the ascension to heaven of Jesus. While Christian will deny any contradictions in the gospel versions, one should read this (or any other critical account) with an open mind and decide for himself whether there were contradictions or not. In one version, after having risen from the tomb, Jesus met his disciples in a mountain in Galilee; another version says he met them in a house in Jerusalem. Read this book with a Bible handy and you will see much of what the authors wrote is correct. Those are the parts that are obvious - and there are many such parts. What you might wish to contemplate and study in more detail are the hypotheses that the authors make in those areas in which evidence is not clear. For example, the authors argued it was a persuasive argument though) that for the reasons they set out, it would not be surprising that the Jews think Jesus to be the antichrist rather than the Messiah.

The book is replete with interesting nuggets of information and thought-provoking questions. Ever wondered why Jesus had to be baptized by John the Baptist? Baptism is a ritual in the cleansing of sin. If Jesus was god (or even son of god) did he need cleansing? Did he sin? Would that admission (partaking in a baptism by a mortal man) tend to show that the argument that if Jesus had in fact existed, he was mere mortal and not god - a more plausible argument than the argument that Jesus was god turned man?

Picknett and Prince once again ask the right questions, offer their usual well thought out hypothesis, and ask us to rethink what we have taken in from various sources throughout our lives. What i find amazing is that works like this are called rank speculation, yet i have over the course of my life, found that most of what we believe to be history is little more than speculation from established sources. Read, think, enjoy, question what you believe, and why you believe it.

This book presented a comprehensive review of the most important figure in western culture. It backed up certain of the claims with an unexpected level of scholarship from a review of the syncoptic and gnostic gospels and said nothing outlandish or that was not supported in the literature or historical record. A must read for Christians and non-Christians (and even atheists).

The Masks of Christ is an excellent look into the life of Jesus of Nazareth and the strange goings on which surround the historical Jesus. If you're looking for a in depth look at the genuine history behind Jesus Christ and some challenging, yet objective, questions which ponder the deeper meanings of the life and teachings of this man, then this is an excellent place to start.

The authors, Picknett and Prince, do an excellent job of citing the interesting and provocative moments in Jesus' life. Some of their questions are challenging ones, as they ponder the intentions behind Jesus' political and spiritual actions, enigmatic teachings, and if what is contained in the scriptures is the whole truth?

With the findings in Kibbutz Tzuba caves near Ein Kerem, linked to John the Baptist, the authors offer some surprising evidence which points to the fact that the movement the Baptist was, perhaps, a part of a much larger denomination of the Jewish faith.

If true, the implications could have profound consequences on the historical interpretation of the Bible and of Jesus' mission on earth. Delving deep into the evidence the authors search for clues which bring to light the mysterious aspects of Jesus Christ's teachings and discuss other possible interpretations including:

1) Jesus was a pupil of John the Baptist and weren't related.

2) Many of the scriptures have been changed to make Jesus into the Christ when in actuality there is evidence which supports reason to believe that John the Baptist was considered the true Messiah.

3) Jesus may have practiced a pagan form of Greek magus mysticism.

4) The Eucharist may be a secret teaching of Christ.

5) Jesus may have been linked to the rarely mentioned second Jewish Temple in Egypt.

5) Jesus may have purposely usurped John's movement and used his newfound position of power, as the new Messiah, to better enact his radical political and religious revisions.

6) If these theories and many more like them prove to be true, Christians may be following the wrong version of Christianity.

After bring up some surprising evidence the authors leave each chapter with an open ended question which lets the reader decide for themselves whether or not the evidence supports their theories, or whether there are more masks/variations/interpretations which still need to be considered?

The Masks of Christ is the most fun I've had reading about the historical man who would be God for millions of believers. But there may be more to Jesus Christ than meets the eye, and this book peels back the layers of masks in search of some hidden truths. Whether or not the authors succeed is up to you.

Recommended for anyone who wants to know the historical Jesus of Nazareth, is interested in looking at things from a different angle, and has an open mind.

This book is a great detailed overview of the complexities, opinions and analyses existing behind Jesus's person and the context he has been place into by scholars, lay persons and Christians. Exhausting and well-written.

I have not finished reading the "Masks of Christ" but so far I've found that not only does it support many of my observations in my forthcoming book, "Papered Over", but it has opened new avenues to pursue in my next book. It is interesting and well-written

Jared Collard

This book is apparently aimed at people with no common sense, but who are sure there are vast, dark conspiracies out there, hundreds of them, no doubt some involving aliens. Among the idiotic claims:

Paul's "Letter to the Galatians...is generally accepted as the oldest known Christian writing" (p 5-6). Wrong. Nearly all scholars agree the first of Paul's epistles is 1 Thessalonians.

"Masks" claims that there are no "writings from Jesus' actual lifetime or the years immediately afterward" (p 5). False. Paul wrote about 20 years after the crucifixion. Embedded in Paul's epistles, as proven by textual evidence, are hymns and creeds. These date to the first years after the death of Jesus (see Martin Hengel "Between Jesus and Paul").

"Masks" claim the gospels have "clearly been changed" (p 5). False. If the gospels were changed, how could 1) all the fragments of papyrus we have found from the 2nd century onwards still be exactly what the gospels say today, and 2) how could all the quotations from the gospels from the church fathers--thousands and thousands of quotation, so many that we could easily replicate the gospels from the quotations--be exactly the same as the gospels we have today?

"Masks" claims "Paul...created a new and potent religion" (p 5). False. James, the relation of Jesus, not to mention most other relatives of Jesus, as well as the majority of the apostles, and all the thousands and thousands of people who knew and saw Jesus were still alive when Paul was preaching. What, nobody noticed Paul was telling lies? And what about Paul visiting and talking to James and Peter, and what about the Jerusalem church council? The man wrote and wrote. Nobody noticed he was writing lies? And if Paul invented the religion, how come the 4 gospels portray the same Jesus that Paul worships as God?

Here is Paul himself proving he did not start a religion: "I went up to Jerusalem again...I laid before the leading men the Good News as I proclaim it among the pagans; I did so for fear the course I was adopting or had already adopted would not be allowed". From Galatians, and very clearly showing Paul has to ask if what he is preaching is "allowed".

"Masks" call Paul a "fanatic" (p 6). Here are Paul's actual words: Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable, and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged. It is never glad about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance. Sound like a "fanatic" to you?

"Masks" claim he moved from Tarsus to Jerusalem to "be close to the temple" (p 8). False. Paul went to Jerusalem to be a student of one of the most famous rabbinic teachers, Gamaliel.

"Masks" claims Paul was "blithely unconcerned with his Lord's earthly life" (p 10). False. Paul spent months, sometimes years, with each community. All the members no doubt heard the story of Jesus and his life and resurrection hundreds of times. There was no reason to repeat the story again in a brief letter, but what the heck do the author's think Paul meant when he kept telling everyone to hold fast to the traditions and to what he had told them?

"Masks" says "Paul went out of his way to avoid all eyewitnesses" (p 10). False. And why didn't these people even read the bible once before they made all these silly claims? Paul spent time with James and Peter, attended the Jerusalem council, and studied with other converts after his conversion.

"Masks" says "Paul never referred to the physical resurrection" (p 11).
False. Paul claimed he was last in line to see the resurrected Jesus, and that he could name at least 500 witnesses who also saw the resurrected Jesus.

"Masks" says there was another version of Christianity "which was radically different from Paul's" (p 11). False. Hello, Jerusalem council? Asking to be allowed to teach things? Letters being sent to and fro? Lots of travel from one city to another on those well built Roman roads?

"Masks" says "Many authorities argue that...Paul was influenced by the pagan mystery cults of the Roman...world" (p 13). At last!! Something that's--almost--true. Yes, there were many authorities who claimed Paul was influenced by the mystery cults--in 1900. For pity's sake, this is called the "History of Religions" theory, and it is utterly refuted. There are thousands and thousands of books on the subject. Why didn't the author's read one?? Here are two good books on the subject: "The Jesus Legend" by Eddy and "The Gospel and the Greeks" by Nash.

This is ridiculous. I am only up to page 13 and already running out of space unless I want to write a book myself. Suffice to say, this book, which is as silly as it gets, goes on to propose every easy-to-refute conspiracy theory ever proposed about Jesus. The so-called secret gospel of Mark! Jesus surviving the cross and rolling away a huge boulder with hands stabbed by nails, all without making any noise or being seen by the soldiers placed at his tomb. Then Jesus hobbles through Jerusalem, crowded with hundreds of thousands of people for the Passover, and yet no one notices this strange figure, staggering in his grave wrappings, groaning and bloodied and ghastly, until he locates the apostles, and then as he bleeds all over the floor and collapses, the stupid apostles think it's a resurrection. Oh, yes, how very believable.

When I went to the index, what to my wondering eyes did appear: they put this book on the top of their references, "The Sacred Mushroom and the Cross", which claims Jesus was a mushroom. I kid you not.

The authors of this book make a somewhat compelling case against Jesus Christ's diety...although their exploitative arrangements of their research is alike of a lawyer who assembles a garden variety of case-law to pock holes into the Fifth Amendment, for example, before a very skilled federal appelate court, only to be discovered by the federal appelate panel on close reading of the (frivolous) brief that the basis of the argument is devoid of supportive "legislative history" and other concurring legal opinions establishe long ago that the Fifth Amendment is one of our most secured and firm constitutional clause arising in the final phases of the federal constitutional convention at Philadelphia (and thereafter "confirmed" and "reconfirmed" by numerous Supreme Court rulings). Immagine the foregoing book of these two authors in like manner! Here are three examples of credible history about the incredible force of Jesus Christ's teachings and AFFIRMATIONS before an ENTIRE (equivalent) SUPREME COURT OF HIS DAYS IN JERUSALEM (although illegally held during night hours), that HE AFFIRMED HIS DIETY, and the High Priest clearly stated that Jesus was "incriminating himself" by affirming that HE IS GOD or the Son of God--either way, diety certainly caries with it immortality! So we cannot vainly DISMISS this highly CREDIBLE HISTORY! All of Jesus Christ's "enemies" who pushed for His crucifixion were working in confederation with the Roman Security apparatus and their Temple security apparatus participated early in the morning before Pilat in a show of force! The masses of believers in Jesus Christ's teachings and many credible affirmations were not present before Pilat alingside the Temple security!Then, we have historian Tacitus who is clearly conducting credible correspondence with his emperor--and refers to Jesus Christ with consternation over the episode of crucifixion (the fear of Gods retaliating on the Roman empire--they understood well the supernatural power of Gods better than we do nowadays, and the Roman empre did realize that it crucified a member of the supreme diety).
And, the final example here is about the foregoing Diety's supernaturally frightful resurrection from the state of dead (after 3 days and 3 nights--as He clearly and publicly stipulated) before the sworned Roman Guards expressly assigned by Pilat at the Diety's site of burial! The Aramaic text on this example and on the episode of His arrest in the Garden of G. conclusively affirms that He was the "Living God" (a member of the Supreme Diety Council). For example, in the Garden of G., during His "voluntary arrest", the whole (armed) police system present before Jesus Christ was swiftly nailed to the ground twice!!! Such a tremendous supernatural force cannot be dismissed as some "Christian invention"--as some incompetent researchers would like to believe! Most of these researchers' theories are untenable pursuant to credible history! Here's one additional point made by a former "enemy" of Jesus Christ's followers (Apostle Paul of Tarsus--and a Roman Citizen, lawyer-theologian by education). He AFFIRMED that there were some 500 eye witnesses to Jesus Christ's resurrection! Some "researchers" will be hard pressed to dismiss this public evidence of his day! What court today would dismiss the testimony of 500 eye witnesses speaking the same thing about such an important act in human history!