Secret Origins Of The Bible

Callahan strictly interprets the Bible through the lens of comparative mythology, where the mythic content of Biblical stories is illustrated as a way to understand the purpose the stories served for the people who wrote them. Biblical history is merely a mythic representation of human psychology and meaning-making in human conscience. Callahan contends that most of the histories and stories were written and manipulated centuries after the events described. He cautions against literal interpetation of the Bible, but seeks to understand why society validates the myth.

Christianity is in crisis in the West. The Inkling friend of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, Owen Barfield, analysed why. He developed an account of our spiritual predicament that is radical and illuminating. Barfield realized that the human experience of life shifts fundamentally over periods of cultural time. Our perception of nature, the cosmos and the divine changes dramatically across history. Mark Vernon uses this startling insight to tell the inner story of 3000 years of Christianity, beginning from the earliest Biblical times. Drawing, too, on the latest scholarship and spiritual questions of our day, he presents a gripping account of how Christianity constellated a new perception of what it is to be human. For 1500 years, this sense of things informed many lives, though it fell into crisis with the Reformation, scientific revolution and Enlightenment. But the story does not stop there. Barfield realised that there is meaning in the disenchantment and alienation experienced by many people today. It is part of a process that is remaking our sense of participation in the life of nature, the cosmos and the divine. It's a new stage in the evolution of human consciousness.

A literary history of our most influential book of all time, by an Oxford scholar and Anglican priest In our culture, the Bible is monolithic: It is a collection of books that has been unchanged and unchallenged since the earliest days of the Christian church. The idea of the Bible as "Holy Scripture," a non-negotiable authority straight from God, has prevailed in Western society for some time. And while it provides a firm foundation for centuries of Christian teaching, it denies the depth, variety, and richness of this fascinating text. In A History of the Bible, John Barton argues that the Bible is not a prescription to a complete, fixed religious system, but rather a product of a long and intriguing process, which has inspired Judaism and Christianity, but still does not describe the whole of either religion. Barton shows how the Bible is indeed an important source of religious insight for Jews and Christians alike, yet argues that it must be read in its historical context--from its beginnings in myth and folklore to its many interpretations throughout the centuries. It is a book full of narratives, laws, proverbs, prophecies, poems, and letters, each with their own character and origin stories. Barton explains how and by whom these disparate pieces were written, how they were canonized (and which ones weren't), and how they were assembled, disseminated, and interpreted around the world--and, importantly, to what effect. Ultimately, A History of the Bible argues that a thorough understanding of the history and context of its writing encourages religious communities to move away from the Bible's literal wording--which is impossible to determine--and focus instead on the broader meanings of scripture.

How did the Bible we have come to be? What do biblical scholars mean when they talk about canon, the Septuagint, the Apocrypha, or the Masoretic Text? All this biblical study is interesting, but does it really matter? Leading international scholars explain that it does. This thought-provoking and cutting-edge collection will help you go deeper in your understanding of the biblical writings, how those writings became canonical Scripture, and why canon matters. Beginning with an explanation of the different versions of the Hebrew Bible, scholars in different areas of expertise explore the complexities and issues related to the Old and New Testament canons, why different Jewish and Christian communities have different collections, and the importance of canon to theology.

In recent years several books about the beginnings of Christianity and/or of Jesus and the disciples have been written. They range from books based mainly upon faith and the gospels to the outlandishly sensational, which barely even suggest that they are based upon actual, documented history. Yet, in one way or another, they all purport to provide the reader with the historical truth. Still, when reading these other works, one finds that they are at best only loosely based upon real history of the time period and they provide little in the way of historical documentation, let alone critical analysis. This book is an exception because it sticks to the cold, hard historical evidence and proceeds where that evidence leads. This important work of historical non-fiction will serve to enhance public understanding of the true origins of Christianity. This book is designed to serve that purpose. It is not meant to offend, but is meant to provoke critical thought and debate.

THE SECRET ORIGIN OF JESUS CHRIST tells the life story of Jesus of Nazareth as it has never been told before.In every other "Life of Jesus," things just seem to happen. Events unfold without interpretation, and nothing is ever explained. This is the first "Life of Jesus" where everything is explained - the teaching, the miracles, even the resurrection. If you want to know the secret, read THE SECRET ORIGIN OF JESUS CHRIST.

The relationship between the characters in the bible and Royal Family of the 18th Dynasty are discussed.

Almost every young adult today deals with issues of religion, though they may not be comfortable talking about it. Many of them have problems with the Christian influence in their family and society. It’s an important topic and has become the subject of several best-selling books for adults. However, young people have been mostly left out of the discussion. Until now. Happily Godless introduces the main ideas of atheism to the people who matter the most—the generation just coming into society as decision makers. With a skeptical look at the existence of God, the story of Jesus, and the founding of the United States, the book also includes essays contributed by young atheists from all over North America. Happily Godless opens the door for all young adults who are questioning religion or who believe that reason is more powerful than faith.