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What Jesus Meant (Hardcover)

~ (Author) "For me, the most convincing pictures or sculptures of the Annunciation to Mary show her in a state of panic..." (more)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Christianity has been twisted and warped to such an extent that not even Jesus would recognize it now. This is Wills's thesis in his stimulating, fresh look into the life and message of Jesus of Nazareth. The now-ubiquitous phrase, "What Would Jesus Do?" encouraged Wills, professor of history at Northwestern University and prolific writer on contemporary religion, to take a closer look at how the Christian message has been used and abused in recent times. Wills believes that most Christians don't understand Jesus' startlingly radical message, so they should not claim to have knowledge of how he would act today. People of all political persuasions have used Jesus' words to rationalize a domesticated, flaccid Christianity that upholds the status quo, or, worse yet, supports discrimination toward those who are on the margins. This attitude, according to Wills, completely misses the truth that Jesus "walks through social barriers and taboos as if they were cobwebs." Readers who are familiar with Wills's writing know that he is not shy about critiquing organized religion, and they will not be disappointed. Although his arguments lean toward hyperbole at times, at its core this book invites Christians toward more honest reflection on the life and message of the one they call "Savior." (Mar. 6)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.


From Booklist

From the foreword's critique of the initials WWJD (What Would Jesus Do?) and politicians who claim to be guided by the slogan, Wills' explication of the canonical expressions of Jesus may seem to merit the publicity pitch that the book is a pre-midterm-elections volley in the politico-religious theater of the culture wars. It is much better than such touting suggests. For instance, instead of co-opting the Christian Right-associated WWJD for liberals, Wills directs us to such things as 12-year-old Jesus sneaking off to palaver at the temple without telling his parents, and grown-up Jesus telling others to hate their parents and asserting "I am the truth." This is scandalous behavior in a person, comprehensible only of "a divine mystery walking among men," Wills says. Looking more closely at Jesus' words and deeds, Wills says we find God with us in them, and an inescapably egalitarian message of love. Jesus establishes no institutions and endorses no political structure or leader. Indeed, he rails against religious hierarchy in the harshest terms, and he utterly divorces religion from politics. Yes, he preaches justice, but beyond justice, he preaches the personal acceptance and security of love. Wills' dissent from certain pro-clerical and exclusivist statements Benedict XVI has made assure him the continued opprobrium of institutional church hardliners, but his portrayal of Jesus the radical is so profoundly familiar as to be irrefutable. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Product Details

  • Hardcover: 176 pages
  • Publisher: Viking Adult (March 2, 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0670034967
  • ISBN-13: 978-0670034963
  • Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (80 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #322,117 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Garry Wills
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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For me, the most convincing pictures or sculptures of the Annunciation to Mary show her in a state of panic. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
heavenly reign, holiness code
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John the Baptist, Last Supper, Saint Peter, Palm Sunday, Pontius Pilate, Saint Paul, Temple of the Lord
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What Jesus Meant
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Customer Reviews

80 Reviews
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4.0 out of 5 stars (80 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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270 of 291 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars An Introduction To The Historical Jesus By a Believer, March 9, 2006
Garry Wills is a historian specializing in the first 100 years of America (see "Lincoln At Gettysburg"-1992 and "Inventing America: Jefferson's Declaration of Independence"-1994 among his other works). He is also a practicing Catholic who has written about "Saint Augustine" (1999) and "The Rosary" (2005) and other works about Christianity. His newest endeavor, "What Jesus Meant" explores what it means to be a follower of Jesus.

This slender volume can be read at one sitting but will cause the reader to ponder the author's title. Many Christians forget that Jesus hung out with society's outcasts of his day, had few possessions, was apolitical, and yet his radical message of love and redemption, healing the sick/raising the dead and challenging the religious structure of his day contributed to his crucifixation. Image Jesus among us today: eating with prostitutes, AIDS victims and drug abusers: claiming no party affiliation; condeming the wealthy; and challenging the rigidity of the institutional Church while calling the reader to give up all your possessions to follow Him. Mr. Wills writes as a believer to explain the faith while accepting the historical Jesus. For the reader who desires to move beyond Mr. Wills' brief introduction to Jesus, please read any of the works by either John Meier (especially his three volumes entitled "A Marginal Jew"), Ray Brown ("The Death of the Messiah") or Gunther Bornkamm ("Jesus of Nazareth").
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42 of 43 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Deeply moving, deeply spiritual book, April 17, 2006
By Robert H. Stine Jr. "Bob" (Arlington, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I very much enjoyed this book. It's a quick but thought-provoking read, and I plan to re-read it in the near future. In part because of his expertise in Koine, the original language of the New Testament, Wills is able to breathe life and provide insight into many well-known Biblical passages.

The viewpoint is from that of a devout believer. As I was reading Wills's book, I was also reading "Mere Christianity", by C.S. Lewis, and I was struck by the similarity in outlook of the two authors. Although I recognize that some of the passages critical of church hierarchy in general and Pope Benedict XVI in particular will ruffle some feathers, Wills did not seem to stray from Scripture or interject modern political sensibilities into the Christian message. In fact, the hypocrisy of attempting to use Jesus' message for worldly purposes is one of the book's major themes.

"What Jesus Meant" would be a good companion volume for anyone who is working through the New Testament.
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132 of 148 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Not For the Right or the Left--Well Worth Reading, March 27, 2006
By Big D (Auburn, AL. USA) - See all my reviews
Those who would align Jesus with today's poltical right or political left (and there are both) may not like this book. They may well brand it heresy...But those of us who think Jesus was not a political figure in the sense of today's thinking will find it well worth the read. Much of modern religion tries to compartmentalize Jesus to espouse their preconceived notions. Thus the title of the book: "What Jesus Meant" It could be subtitled "What Jesus REALLY Meant!" A reader who approaches this book with an open mind and a sincere search for knowledge and truth will find this to be a valuable read. Those who come with preconceived notions of their own infalibility will be threatened by it. Read it. Think. That is part "working out" one's faith.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars reading it is like meeting JESUS for the very first time
this is an astonishingly lucid yet simple book: at just over 140 pages, it richly condenses JESUS (like a good shot of espresso) all the better to stimulate and expand our... Read more
Published 4 days ago by Hector Lasala

5.0 out of 5 stars Wills What Jesus Meant
I've taught from this book twice now. His approach to the teachings and life of Jesus are different and provide thought-provoking sessions. Read more
Published 22 days ago by L. Don Smith Church

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Read/Study
"What Jesus Meant" is an introspective book, written with great skill by one who has pondered the depths of his Christian faith through studying the life of Jesus. Read more
Published 27 days ago by L. Olson

4.0 out of 5 stars Nutshell summary of the life of Jesus Christ
What Jesus Meant - Nutshell summary of the life of Jesus Christ

It is interesting to me that Mr. Willis, suggests that Jesus Christ was fairly frail. Mr. Read more
Published 4 months ago by L. R. SANDERS

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvelous
As usual, the author took the painstaking route of study before attempting this theological endeavour backing it with pure scripture. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Chris J. Trevino

5.0 out of 5 stars Understanding the Jesus of Faith
WHAT JESUS MEANT is a small gem by the prizewinning author of historical and religious books, Garry Wills (NIXON AGONISTES, LINCOLN AT GETTYSBURG, WHY I AM A CATHOLIC). Read more
Published 9 months ago by M. L. Asselin

4.0 out of 5 stars A More Radical Jesus Than Often Presented
I seem to be on a Garry Wills kick lately, not a bad thing to be on. Wills won two National Book Critics Award and has published numerous books, including translations (most... Read more
Published 9 months ago

5.0 out of 5 stars A Provocative But Inaccurate Re-Interpretation
In writing his well-researched but somewhat disturbing re-interpretation of the message brought to the world by Jesus, and the records of that message as preserved in the Gospels... Read more
Published 10 months ago by John Howard Reid

5.0 out of 5 stars An honest look at who Jesus really was.
Excellent. You will gain a fresh and wonderful new prospective on what Jesus really stands for.
Published 10 months ago by V. Cull

5.0 out of 5 stars Great ideas in a small book
Garry Will has packed a lot of points to ponder in this slim volume. Great for someone who really likes to think about and act upon the Gospel message.
Published 10 months ago by L. M. Crane

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