Customer Reviews

Nine Faces of Christ: Quest of the True Initiate

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a fascinating book for anyone who is an earnest seeker of enlightenment and has a fascination with Jesus Christ but is not into fundamentalist christian ideas and instead views Christ as a great spiritual master whose true teachings only come to us in fragments through the New Testament.
Although this book is not directly a book about uncovering the real Jesus, one can certainly make a lot of sense out of the gospels with this interesting book.
The main character of our story is one Jeshua Joseph-bar-Joseph. The author takes us through a story that pretty much unfolds exactly the way it does in the New Testament gospels, however in this version the author has put a lot of emphasis on the back story of how Jeshua has become a Christ. It isn't just a man born a "divine perfected being", Jeshua has to earn his Christhood through much training and many, many challenges. We get to see HOW he came upon all this great wisdom and ability. We get to see all the great trials Jeshua went through before he went out to deliver his message to the masses. Basically, we get to see a kind of Christ training process. One great thing is we see Jeshua challenged all along the way. Even after he has achieved great heights of exalted consciousness, he still continues to grow and be challenged. It has a very human quality to it that we can all identify with. It's not just "one day while praying he saw the Light and from then on he was the perfected Christ". No, this book has Jeshua really challenged at times while in the process. His core is always very strong and resiliant, but in this story we are shown some "growing pains". Enough to make this story quite inspirational because of how we all can identify with Jeshua trials and tribulations, how we all need to stay focused on staying strong during those challenging times that bring us those break-throughs,it is a story that resonates with our own process of growth. It makes one realize that Enlightenment is more than just having blissful meditations. Christ consciousness only comes from really pushing past your comfort zones spiritually!
So many things in the New Testament make so much more sense after reading this or at least can be viewed in a new light.......One of the most interesting books I've ever read of the "New Age" Christ works.

I have read this book 3 times and will now purchase it again for a 4th reading, since I loaned it and well, you know. But, this book I believe carries so much truth with it that the soul cannot deny it and continues to seek it out, read after, read after, read. I find it to be an amazing amount of wisdom and spiritual teaching, more than I ever got from the New Testament. For me, it is more of the bible, or what I believe they would never print, or allow to be written in the bible then I have seen before. It feels like a channeled piece of work though I do not believe it claims to be so. But, it feels like Christ is speaking to you and telling you his story, how it really happened, and what he really meant when he said and did the things he did.

I read the Nine Faces of Christ many years ago before Dr. Whitworth ever thought of publishing it on the open market. It was and still is considered very controversial. I've read it over and over many times and always find something different. It is an insight into what the "missing" years of Christ were like, and makes one think of what "Jesus, the man" may have been like. It is said that this book may offend Christians. If you are a Christian with an open mind, it is not offensive at all, and makes one think more about our Savior. Many times after reading the book, I've looked in the Bible for various things. Yes, it contradicts the Bible, but you must put it in prospective, it's a fiction book and a "what if..." I feel the book can open a lot of minds to what may have been. The book is an interesting read and can take you places you've never been.

Is this book actually pretending to tell the truth about the life of Jesus, over and beyond what the new testament narrates? I don't know, and frankly, I don't care.
...Are the mortal sins imported from Egypt? Or shall adultery be punishable in the eyes of God? Well, in the eyes of the church, yes. And we know this is control. I have never accepted the idea that God could give us tools only so he could forbid us to use them. It's like putting candies in the hand of your own child and telling him that he may not -ever- eat them. What is this? Love and care, or torture?
At least Eugene E. Whitworth had the courage to expose his ideas.
If you don't like the idea that this is another 'truth' about the life of Jesus, why not simply accept it as a daring novel?
Eugene E. Whitworth is offering you HIS truth. This deserves respect.
I'm not knowledgeable enough in theology to give any opinion on how truthful the book may be. But then I'm back to quoting the author: what is the difference between reality and actuality?
...

This work was used as source material or referenced in several books that I digested recently and so via what I thought may have been divine providence, I secured a copy that unfortunately, took a long time for me to read and assimilate. The protagonist was ostensibly a facsimile of the Nazarene, whom was educated in many lands and inculcated with just about every source of spiritual acumen known at the time. Our hero was subjected to many initiations, exercises, trials and tribulations in order for him to achieve complete liberation; all of which was of course designed to parallel what Jesus may have borne. Long story short: the prose was clumsy & cluttered, the ideas plentiful but never really fleshed out and reading this piece would have been an inordinate waste of time for me except that the last 10 or 15 pages vindicated the book to a mildly satisfying degree. To quote Clara Peller: "Where's the beef?!" 2 meager stars for what could have been a real treat.

A good friend of mine sent me this book years ago, and I strive to find the words to convey its simple elegance. In its simplicity, in its honesty, in its truth, there is an innocence, a perfection that has no competition. The fact that this book hasn't been acknowledged by main stream best seller lists simply adheres to it majesty. I loved this book so much that I booked a vacation for myself to go to an island and just lay on the beach and be completly absorbed into this beautiful piece of art. There is no comparison.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It is both inspirational and intriguing.

If you haven't read this book, you are truly missing a fine read! I would not recommend it for the casual reader as it digs deep into long held beliefs. This is a book that will stretch your imagination, as well as, your awareness. It is a story of the initiate, the work, discipline, and the miraculous phenomenon that takes place along the way. It is a fascinating journey that takes you into a world of ages past. If you are a seeker or student of ancient wisdom, allow your mind to walk through the pages while your spirt is swiftly transported to the place where time does not exist.

This was a great book. The book affirmed a lot things, and allowed me to understand myself a bit more.

It's a novel. It's not passing itself off as a historical, scholarly work. While it's understandable how and why someone with a particulary strong, ensconsed perspective on the life of Jesus Christ might be challenged with this narrative, there is no doubt in my mind that the book is fascinating, surprising, compelling writing. And isn't that of major importance when reading a novel? How much of this novel is based on conjecture? How much on possible sources not commonly known about or available to the general public? How much is metaphysical possibilities deleted or sensored in the rewrites of the scriptures? How much is alagory? How much is symbolic? What is ment by the authors comment "what is the difference between reality and actuality?"

Good writing will evoke these kinds of questions. And THE NINE FACES OF CHRIST is good writing. There are many aspects of the story line, it's perspective, that I appreciated not only for it's theatrical effect, but more importantly for its contemplation. The distinction between the occult and mystical path, the possible hidden intentions underlying recognized biblical stories (such as Jesus's teaching in the temple), the introduction of various spiritual teachings including the Druidic and Egyptian, the certainly provocative take on the immaculate conception, and the serious, intense aspects of spiritual initiation.

There are so many books I'm wanting to read. You know the adage "so many books, too little time." NINE FACES is one of those rare, unique books that deserves a 2nd and even 3rd read to deepen one's insight and appreciation for the richness of the material.