This book demonstrates that the stories and themes of the Bible were part of the great mythic systems of the ancient world by u sing comparative mythology, tell tale verses in the Bible and archaeology. The abstract God of modern monotheistic Judaism, Christianity and Islam is a comparatively recent creation. In later times the myth of a messianic deliverer was combined with that of the pagan god-man who suffered a horrible, excruciating death but was physically resurrected to produce the Christ myth.

New York Times bestselling author and Pulitzer Prize winner Garry Wills interprets the four Gospels. Garry Wills’s recent New York Times bestselling books What Jesus Meant and What Paul Meant were tour-de-force interpretations of the teachings of Jesus and the Apostle Paul. Now Wills turns his remarkable gift for biblical analysis to the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. Wills brilliantly examines the goals, methods, and styles of the evangelists and how these shaped the gospels’ messages. The earliest book, Mark, emphasizes Jesus the sufferer; in Matthew, Jesus the teacher; in Luke, Jesus the reconciler; and in John, Jesus the mystic. Hailed as “one of the most intellectually interesting and doctrinally heterodox Christians writing today” (The New York Times Book Review), Wills guides readers through the maze of meanings that have accrued around these foundational texts, revealing their essential Christian truths. What the Gospels Meant will prove to be a valuable source of wisdom and inspiration for all.

For too long, religion has been a political plaything of theright-wing in this country. American churches seem more concerned with whatpeople do with their bodies than with their souls. Now, Kathleen KennedyTownsend issues a spiritual call to arms to those who feel like her thattoday's churches–Catholic and Protestant alike–are failing to promote thewelfare of those who depend upon them. After recounting her personal storyin one of the most prominent Catholic families in America, she shows howAmerica's neediest are now forgotten while their churches fight politicalbattles against abortion rights and homosexual marriages. She provides hopethrough powerful examples of individuals effecting change, from obscuresocial workers to The Purpose-Driven- Life's Rick Warren, and maintainsthat our individual actions can return our churches to their traditionalrole as shepherds to their flock.

I am very impressed with Rick Renner's teaching and I would recommend his work to every believer. He is led by the Holy Spirit and his ministry is operated through the anointing and the true power of the living God. Please disregard the hateful comments made below by a couple religious Pharisees who have been brainwashed at some unmentioned cemeteries (a.k.a. seminaries). 85%+ of the salvations and probably 98% of the healings and deliverances that we are seeing in the Church today are taking place in charismatic Christian churches. Don't let these religious fundamentalists, with twisted approaches to Greek study, discourage you. Press on and continue to endure the persecution that you are going to receive from people like them!

Jesus came preaching, but the church wound up preaching Jesus. Why does the church insist upon making Jesus the object of its attention rather than heeding his message? Esteemed Harvard minister Peter J. Gomes believes that excessive focus on the Bible and doctrines about Jesus have led the Christian church astray. "What did Jesus preach?" asks Gomes.

Short description: Is there a theology of the New Testament? Bishop Neill shows that arising out of many traditions and interpretations of Jesus even within the New Testament there is an underlying unity of faith summed up in the words Resurrection-Spirit-Reconciliation.

"I join the ranks of those who are angry, because I have watched as the faith I love has been taken over by fundamentalists who claim to speak for Jesus but whose actions are anything but Christian."
—Robin Meyers, from his "Speech Heard Round the World"

Millions of Americans are outraged at the Bush administration's domestic and foreign policies and even angrier that the nation's religious conservatives have touted these policies as representative of moral values. Why the Christian Right Is Wrong is a rousing manifesto that will ignite the collective conscience of all whose faith and values have been misrepresented by the Christian Right.