Happy Easter. By Geniusofdespair

The best book I ever read about Jesus was "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time: The Historical Jesus and the Heart of Contemporary Faith" by Marcus Borg (I have seen him speak as well. And the book did change my perception of Jesus and organized religion. Borg was a member of the Jesus Scholars at the Jesus Seminar (a group of 150 Critical scholars, founded in 1985).  I was given the book by then Cannon Fred Masterman. It is a far cry form the OTHER Christian groups I have been reporting on. Borg and Masterman were all about compassion.

This is a review on Amazon of the Borg book by Peter A. Kindle:

Reconstructing the pre-Easter life of Jesus with historical criticism, Borg explains that Jesus was a spirit person (chapter two), a social prophet and movement founder (chapter three), and a teacher of wisdom (chapter four). In these chapters he does not heed the consensus opinion of the Jesus Seminar, but provides his personal conclusions with sensitivity to their implications for the Church and Christian life.

The concluding chapters (five and six) deal with the metaphorical use of language in Christology and the macro-stories of Scripture as imaginal material for contemporary living of the meaning of Scripture.

I recommend this book for anyone who feels the water leaking in. There is more to the experience of God than conformity to denominational patterns and the exaltation of obedience. Let Borg point the way for you, too.

Marcus Borg and Rev. Frederick J. Masterman of the Episcopal Church

Borg says of his own book:

"Believing in Jesus does not mean believing doctrines about him," Borg writes. "Rather, it means to give one's heart, one's self at its deepest level, to . . . the living Lord."

And the review, I assume press release:

Drawing on his own journey from a naive, unquestioning belief in Christ through collegiate skepticism to a mature and contemporary Christian faith, Borg illustrates how an understanding of the historical Jesus can actually lead to a more authentic Christian life—one not rooted in creeds or dogma, but in a life of spiritual challenge, compassion, and community.

In straightforward, accessible prose, Borg looks at the major findings of modern Jesus scholarship from the perspective of faith, bringing alive the many levels of Jesus' character: spirit person, teacher of alternative wisdom, social prophet, and movement founder. He also reexamines the major stories of the Old Testament vital to an authentic understanding of Jesus, showing how an enriched understanding of these stories can uncover new truths and new pathways to faith."

For questioning believers, doubters, and reluctant unbelievers alike, Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time frees our understanding of Jesus' life and message from popular misconceptions and outlines the way to a sound and contemporary faith: "For ultimately, Jesus is not simply a figure of the past, but a figure of the present. Meeting that Jesus—the living one who comes to us even now—will be like meeting Jesus again for the first time."

An audio by Cannon Masterman, who gave me the Borg book, speaking on Easter.  This is relevant to the gay struggle of today, he touches on civil rights in his sermon.

Another review of Borg's book:

Review, Manny Diaz self serves at Univ of Miami ... By Harry Emilio Gottlieb

I attended last night’s event. It was a Love Fest For Manny. Donna Shalala introduced him and Elizabeth Plater Zyberk interviewed him. Manny looked like he was rehearsing for a job interview with the Obama administration or preparing his spiel for the FL Governor’s race. There was no mention of his support for the Marlins Stadium Funding Fiasco, the illegal rezoning of much of our community like that of the Mercy Hospital property to perpetuate an even greater glut of condos or the dissolving of the Marine Industry on the Miami River for the purpose of Gentrification. There was a brief Q& A. But I was not offered the microphone. Will see if he runs for Governor’s office or gets invited to join the O administration. I hear he cannot get elected to a state wide office. I fear that outside of Miami they will see him as a pretty sophisticated Latino with a lot more charisma and achievements than Rubio. I personally think he has done more harm than good in Miami. Spinning his career as Miami’s Visionary Green and Urbanely Astute Mayor, is a little like praising Romero Britto as Picasso or Andy Warhol!

Reading for the Eve of the End of the World, "The Testament of Mary" ... by gimleteye

My favorite novel of the year is by Irish writer Colm Toibin; a slim, 90 page rendering of the thoughts of the mother of Jesus, 20 years after his death and as she confronts her own mortality at Ephesus, in exile. Mary recounts both her love and alienation from her son, and the terrible emotions of a mother who feels that she could have done more to protect him. In its modesty, the book feels especially relevant today because from all directions, we are assaulted by immodest certainty attached to convictions of faith. You can buy "Testament of Mary" online at Books and Books.