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Jesus: The Human Face of God
The author of The Last Station brings a life’s worth of contemplation on Jesus to the first volume in ICONS, a series of short, thought-provoking biographies edited by James Atlas.
Jay Parini’s Jesus brings the powerful narrative skills of an award-winning novelist to a figure who for over twenty centuries has changed lives in a deep way.
The main trend of modern theology has centered on the notion of “demythologizing Jesus,” first presented by Rudolf Bultmann in 1941. Parini’s book seeks to re-mythologize him. Parini considers the story in all its mythical radiance, taking Jesus as the human face of God. He keeps in mind one question at every turn: What’s so moving about this story that millions of people over two millennia have considered it a paradigm for living?
Far from dogmatic, Jesus takes into account the multiple ways that its subject has been viewed and draws them into a coherent narrative, dramatizing the transformation from Jesus to Christ, from man to myth, from obscure Jewish carpenter to someone who pointed a finger toward God and said with conviction: This is the way. Follow me.
Jay Parini’s Jesus brings the powerful narrative skills of an award-winning novelist to a figure who for over twenty centuries has changed lives in a deep way.
The main trend of modern theology has centered on the notion of “demythologizing Jesus,” first presented by Rudolf Bultmann in 1941. Parini’s book seeks to re-mythologize him. Parini considers the story in all its mythical radiance, taking Jesus as the human face of God. He keeps in mind one question at every turn: What’s so moving about this story that millions of people over two millennia have considered it a paradigm for living?
Far from dogmatic, Jesus takes into account the multiple ways that its subject has been viewed and draws them into a coherent narrative, dramatizing the transformation from Jesus to Christ, from man to myth, from obscure Jewish carpenter to someone who pointed a finger toward God and said with conviction: This is the way. Follow me.
194 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 4, 2013
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425 people want to read
About the author
Jay Parini
192 books152 followersJay Parini (born 1948) is an American writer and academic. He is known for novels and poetry, biography and criticism.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 51 reviews
December 9, 2013
Skeptics--religious and otherwise--will surely ask what more could possibly be said about Jesus, who has been mythologized, de-mythologized, re-mythologized and then some over twenty centuries. While novelist and professor Jay Parini hardly breaks new ground with this erudite yet accessible Jesus: The Human Face of God--the first in a series of short biographies known as the ICON series--he manages, in less than 200 pages, to raise and examine the most important questions about the founder of Christianity. For those already steeped in religion, myth and literature, Parini’s offering is mostly a guidebook. But to those seeking to understand both who Jesus was and how he came to dominate the minds and hearts of millions over thousands of years, this is the perfect primer--arriving, of course, at the perfect time of year.
February 25, 2014
In his preface Parini quotes from the Gospel of Thomas, one of the Gnostic Gospels discovered at Nag Hammadi in Egypt in 1945:
"If you are searching
You must not stop until you find.
When you find however,
You will become troubled.
Your confusion will give way to wonder.
In wonder you will reign over all things.
Your sovereignty will be your rest."
This is a book for those who believe that one is "not saved by simply checking off the boxes in a code of dogmatic beliefs". Parini humanizes Jesus and puts forward a mythos that challenges us as believers. His research into how the translation of words, for example, from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to English has often changed the original meaning resulting in a distortion from which we still misunderstand. He incorporates the Canonical as well as the Gnostic gospels, Eastern philosophy including artistic and archeological historical references that create a sense of time and place guiding the reader along. This a a small book, and simply written but thoroughly researched and referenced. It is a gem. Recommended for everyone on a spiritual journey.
"If you are searching
You must not stop until you find.
When you find however,
You will become troubled.
Your confusion will give way to wonder.
In wonder you will reign over all things.
Your sovereignty will be your rest."
This is a book for those who believe that one is "not saved by simply checking off the boxes in a code of dogmatic beliefs". Parini humanizes Jesus and puts forward a mythos that challenges us as believers. His research into how the translation of words, for example, from Aramaic to Greek to Latin to English has often changed the original meaning resulting in a distortion from which we still misunderstand. He incorporates the Canonical as well as the Gnostic gospels, Eastern philosophy including artistic and archeological historical references that create a sense of time and place guiding the reader along. This a a small book, and simply written but thoroughly researched and referenced. It is a gem. Recommended for everyone on a spiritual journey.
July 31, 2021
What do you get when a gifted novelist, literary critic, and generous teacher tackles the most central and controversial figure in the history of Western civilization? You get Jay Parini’s Jesus: The Human Face of God, a fascinating biography that is as inspiring as it is informative.
For those readers who already know the story of Jesus well, Parini re-imagines it through a rich kaleidoscope of secular and religious sources, ensuring that you will notice things you hadn’t before. For those less familiar with the details of Jesus’ life, Parini’s book provides an engaging and useful introduction. To all of us Parini extends a warm invitation to join him on his own quest to better understand and live by the wisdom embodied in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Parini avoids the two extremes that often accompany contemporary discussions of Jesus: dogmatic fundamentalism, on the one hand, and on the other, the emptying of Jesus’ spiritual significance by those who insist on seeing him only in his historical and social context. “Modern theologians have talked about demythologizing Jesus,” Parini writes in the preface, “but I want to remythologize him.” By which he means that he wants to offer a portrait that fully considers the facts of Jesus’ life and times, while at the same time illuminating the deeper symbolic significance of those facts for all times. I especially enjoy how Parini interweaves discussions of world literature and art into his narrative, thereby reinforcing his point that the story of Jesus ultimately transcends religion to become part of our shared human culture.
Parini’s Jesus changed the moral landscape of the world, not because he preached salvation “by simply checking off the boxes in a code of dogmatic beliefs,” but because he demanded that we continually strive to hold our egos in check and act in accordance with our best selves. Here is a vision of salvation as relevant today as it was in Jesus’ own turbulent times—a salvation that is more realistic, more humane and more demanding than that offered by most of today’s religious ideologues, TV evangelists and mega-preachers.
Parini’s gifts as a literary critic are apparent in his nuanced interpretations of key events in Jesus’ life. A brief, seemingly insignificant conversation with a Samaritan woman by the well in Sychar becomes, in Parini’s hands, a fascinating social commentary as well as a moment of subtle human transformation. The Passion and the Resurrection become the ultimate symbols of our shared human suffering and destiny.
The book contains a number of beautiful passages full of poetry and passion, such as the description of Jesus’ wanderings on the eve of his final, fateful entry into Jerusalem during Passover week: “And so a new world rises with the son/sun, breaking over the horizon, beckoning as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, stopping by the wayside to listen to his simple, comforting, at times alarming words.” Passages like this one make you realize just how deeply Parini is himself engaged in the very quest for meaning that is embodied in the life of Jesus. It's clear that this book is for him much more than a scholarly exercise; it is a necessary labor of love.
In sum, this is a marvelous book for scholars and general readers alike—a riveting story, a fascinating piece of literary and cultural interpretation, and perhaps most importantly, a call to action. In this book Parini reveals himself to be a profound spiritual teacher in his own right. In powerfully re-constructing the tragic and inspiring story of Jesus, he reminds us all not only who we are, but who we can become.
For those readers who already know the story of Jesus well, Parini re-imagines it through a rich kaleidoscope of secular and religious sources, ensuring that you will notice things you hadn’t before. For those less familiar with the details of Jesus’ life, Parini’s book provides an engaging and useful introduction. To all of us Parini extends a warm invitation to join him on his own quest to better understand and live by the wisdom embodied in the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth.
Parini avoids the two extremes that often accompany contemporary discussions of Jesus: dogmatic fundamentalism, on the one hand, and on the other, the emptying of Jesus’ spiritual significance by those who insist on seeing him only in his historical and social context. “Modern theologians have talked about demythologizing Jesus,” Parini writes in the preface, “but I want to remythologize him.” By which he means that he wants to offer a portrait that fully considers the facts of Jesus’ life and times, while at the same time illuminating the deeper symbolic significance of those facts for all times. I especially enjoy how Parini interweaves discussions of world literature and art into his narrative, thereby reinforcing his point that the story of Jesus ultimately transcends religion to become part of our shared human culture.
Parini’s Jesus changed the moral landscape of the world, not because he preached salvation “by simply checking off the boxes in a code of dogmatic beliefs,” but because he demanded that we continually strive to hold our egos in check and act in accordance with our best selves. Here is a vision of salvation as relevant today as it was in Jesus’ own turbulent times—a salvation that is more realistic, more humane and more demanding than that offered by most of today’s religious ideologues, TV evangelists and mega-preachers.
Parini’s gifts as a literary critic are apparent in his nuanced interpretations of key events in Jesus’ life. A brief, seemingly insignificant conversation with a Samaritan woman by the well in Sychar becomes, in Parini’s hands, a fascinating social commentary as well as a moment of subtle human transformation. The Passion and the Resurrection become the ultimate symbols of our shared human suffering and destiny.
The book contains a number of beautiful passages full of poetry and passion, such as the description of Jesus’ wanderings on the eve of his final, fateful entry into Jerusalem during Passover week: “And so a new world rises with the son/sun, breaking over the horizon, beckoning as we walk in the footsteps of Jesus, stopping by the wayside to listen to his simple, comforting, at times alarming words.” Passages like this one make you realize just how deeply Parini is himself engaged in the very quest for meaning that is embodied in the life of Jesus. It's clear that this book is for him much more than a scholarly exercise; it is a necessary labor of love.
In sum, this is a marvelous book for scholars and general readers alike—a riveting story, a fascinating piece of literary and cultural interpretation, and perhaps most importantly, a call to action. In this book Parini reveals himself to be a profound spiritual teacher in his own right. In powerfully re-constructing the tragic and inspiring story of Jesus, he reminds us all not only who we are, but who we can become.
February 12, 2014
Parini, a poet and novelist who has written of the lives of Leo Tolstoy and Herman Melville, says in his preface that he is writing a biography of Jesus, not a theological tract. This biography, he emphasizes, shades into the symbolic and mystical, reflecting the personal opinion that he has formed of the meaning of Christ’s life.
He adds that the gospels, both canonical and Gnostic, as well as Paul and other early writers, provide no coherent narrative thread to follow, but rather “various windows, some of them cloudy, through which we look at the life of Jesus.” Parini wants to reimagine a mythic Christ, rather than follow the kind of 20th century scholarship which tries to locate Christ as a historical figure. Such a recent book as Reza Azian’s widely publicized ZEALOT, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS OF NAZARETH would probably fall into that category.
Mythologizing Christ means that “we should not expect to recognize Jesus at first, even as he awakens within us.” Rather, coming to know what Jesus represents is a slow process of growing awareness, such as occurred with Buddha’s enlightenment. Support for this view can be found particularly in the post-resurrection stories where Christ’s disciples fail to even recognize him at first
The resurrection itself for Parini is not about any literal return from the dead, but a representation of the awakening in his followers of a larger and wider consciousness that moves beyond the “deadening confines” of every day life and brings compassion and love. Christ, as a human being grew into this role and so he became the “human face” of God, an ideal toward which all humans strive, regardless of what they call it. He is not the god/man that orthodox Christianity insists upon, although there’s certainly room here for the role of faith in identifying with Christ.
How did Christ “grow” as a human? Through ordinary experiences as well as prayer , meditation, worship. What about the “miracles” that Chr ist is reported to have performed? Whether they’re literally true or not doesn’t concern Parini; Christ was an exceptional man and for the author the miracles and wonders attributed to him emphasize his extraordinary appeal. The responses that Christ gave to direct questions about his divinity are ambiguous and sometimes contradictory.
To a degree Christ and his teachings parallel a key Buddhistic idea that the universe will take care of us. “We have only to observe the present world, pay full attention to its details, and its meanings will reveal themselves.” Psalm 19 with its “For the heavens declare the glory of God” is a presentiment of this notion.
Parini’s short book is certainly not exhaustive, and no doubt many objections could be made to his interpretation of Christ’s life, but as he says, he is “reimagining” Christ’s life, emphasizing that his view is a personal one, as is anyone’s. That makes sense to me; I think that approaching Christ’s life is like reading a great poem, the meaning of which reveals itself in multiple and inhaustible ways. That’s due both to the experience the reader brings to the poem and to the shifting and allusive nature of language. A rigid approach limits and deadens the response, the same is true of Christ’s life.
He adds that the gospels, both canonical and Gnostic, as well as Paul and other early writers, provide no coherent narrative thread to follow, but rather “various windows, some of them cloudy, through which we look at the life of Jesus.” Parini wants to reimagine a mythic Christ, rather than follow the kind of 20th century scholarship which tries to locate Christ as a historical figure. Such a recent book as Reza Azian’s widely publicized ZEALOT, THE LIFE AND TIMES OF JESUS OF NAZARETH would probably fall into that category.
Mythologizing Christ means that “we should not expect to recognize Jesus at first, even as he awakens within us.” Rather, coming to know what Jesus represents is a slow process of growing awareness, such as occurred with Buddha’s enlightenment. Support for this view can be found particularly in the post-resurrection stories where Christ’s disciples fail to even recognize him at first
The resurrection itself for Parini is not about any literal return from the dead, but a representation of the awakening in his followers of a larger and wider consciousness that moves beyond the “deadening confines” of every day life and brings compassion and love. Christ, as a human being grew into this role and so he became the “human face” of God, an ideal toward which all humans strive, regardless of what they call it. He is not the god/man that orthodox Christianity insists upon, although there’s certainly room here for the role of faith in identifying with Christ.
How did Christ “grow” as a human? Through ordinary experiences as well as prayer , meditation, worship. What about the “miracles” that Chr ist is reported to have performed? Whether they’re literally true or not doesn’t concern Parini; Christ was an exceptional man and for the author the miracles and wonders attributed to him emphasize his extraordinary appeal. The responses that Christ gave to direct questions about his divinity are ambiguous and sometimes contradictory.
To a degree Christ and his teachings parallel a key Buddhistic idea that the universe will take care of us. “We have only to observe the present world, pay full attention to its details, and its meanings will reveal themselves.” Psalm 19 with its “For the heavens declare the glory of God” is a presentiment of this notion.
Parini’s short book is certainly not exhaustive, and no doubt many objections could be made to his interpretation of Christ’s life, but as he says, he is “reimagining” Christ’s life, emphasizing that his view is a personal one, as is anyone’s. That makes sense to me; I think that approaching Christ’s life is like reading a great poem, the meaning of which reveals itself in multiple and inhaustible ways. That’s due both to the experience the reader brings to the poem and to the shifting and allusive nature of language. A rigid approach limits and deadens the response, the same is true of Christ’s life.
August 11, 2021
For me, seeking is believing, and the teachings of Jesus are important in my life. More specifically, the example Jesus set forth with his good words and deeds means more to me than trying to prove every detail of his historicity. My search for understanding Jesus attempts to remain in perpetual engagement with him, to have his message of compassion and forgiveness active in my life as a guide so that I can continue to improve and grow. I do not see value in a stagnant God or a static Jesus as mere figures to believe in and then gain salvation from. I need to be active with them, so I keep engaging with them to continue learning and growing.
Parini’s illuminating and empowering biography Jesus: the Human Face of God explores how we can discover, appreciate, and interact with the literal and mythical Jesus through “continuous revelation” whether we use the Gospels or other vital source material. I like how Parini refers to his own active and ongoing process of engaging with Jesus as “the gradually realizing kingdom of God—a process of transformation” (Parini’s italics). I commend his quest, which mirrors my own journey of seeking and searching to learn more about Jesus by having my heart and mind open to engage with him.
Parini seeks to establish a broader and fuller picture of Jesus that enables the vitality of myth and history to reveal to us both Jesus’s “symbolic contours” and the “literal heft” of his life and ministry. Moreover, Jesus endured over time because of his humane and ethical words and deeds and because of what he meant and represented to so many people throughout history.
Parini says, “Jesus was a religious genius, and the Spirit moved in him in unique ways, with unusual force, allowing him access to the highest level of God consciousness.” I like this analysis of Jesus, just as I agree with Parini’s description of Jesus as “a devout Jew” deeply invested in the halakha, the Judaic laws and traditions, while at the same time he had an open-mindedness to absorb the influence of Buddhist and Hindu knowledge from those who traveled to Palestine from the East and the West along the Silk Road.
Parini makes clear that Jesus’s ministry did not speak for the elites. Rather, his message confronted and challenged those in positions of religious prominence as he gave voice to the disadvantaged and underprivileged. Whether someone has power or status or neither, I agree with Parini that attaining salvation must be more than merely accepting a doctrine or announcing repentance. Salvation means committing to a sincerity of “having a change of heart” and yearning beyond one’s self by “reaching for awareness of the spirit, for a deep grounding with God.”
I further agree with Parini that the quest to understand Jesus attains more purpose when “seeking often seems more important than finding.” Parini suggests that a lifetime of seeking to connect with and understand the truth of Jesus humbles us into confusion, wonder, peace, and most importantly compassion and sympathy for others. He says, “What matters is the way that God moved in the life of Jesus, who showed us how to find this spirit within ourselves.”
Parini goes on to explain how Jesus’s followers saw him as an extraordinary spiritual teacher who sought to reform the conventions and strictures of Jewish law, yet Jesus himself did not have a motive to initiate an entire new religion of his own. Parini, furthermore, offers us a profound observation of how to view those who were transformed by Jesus’s teachings: “Each felt the mystery and power of his presence, his intense contact with the kingdom of God, his emotional and intellectual resources, and the life-enhancing waters that flowed from him.”
In discussing Jesus’s healing miracles, Parini observes how Jesus empowered those who were ailing and ill with the “tonic” of faith, and so Jesus instructed them to place their unconditional trust not in himself but in God. I like how Parini approaches faith as a rejuvenating and revitalizing force that can help us heal, whereas Jesus’s other miracles, such as walking on water or calming storms, reflect more about his “intensely symbolic acts,” yet Parini also reminds us that symbolism does not dismiss those miracles as untrue.
Parini makes clear how Jesus guided us to love and accept each other, but Jesus also understood the difficulty of what he asked of us. Therefore, Jesus sought out and embraced God’s help, and Parini explains the process: “Change requires God’s intervention in our lives, an overflowing of the Spirit into consciousness. Only by the grace of God can we begin to effect change, to participate in the gradually realizing kingdom that lies within us.”
In order to reach that kingdom, Parini explains how Jesus committed himself to prayer as a method to experience, embrace, gain, and ultimately communicate with “God consciousness.” Parini says, “He [Jesus] had developed a primal intimacy with God, and the spirit began to work, in him and through him, in ways that would affect everyone who came after.” Just as Jesus taught that “The kingdom of God is within you,” Parini sees the kingdom of God as “an interior realm.” He also observes how God sent Jesus in order that we could gain an understanding and witness an example of how “through love and reconciliation, atonement or union with God was possible.”
Regarding the resurrection, Parini views how Jesus’s ability to rise was an experience that made him “otherworldly” and “fully transfigured.” I admire how Parini goes on to explain his way of embracing the enlightenment, hope, and joy of the resurrection: “What this part of the mythos invites is meditation as well as blunt refusal to accept easy answers, a willingness to submit to the incomprehensible.” I agree with his suggestion that maybe arriving at an acceptance of such incomprehension is the true test and testament of having faith in Jesus’s holiness.
In whatever way we engage with Jesus, whether through the Bible or another source of strength and comfort, Parini suggests, “A living and active reading of such passages draws us more fully into the text, into the living word, which is unstable, always challenging, never set in stone.” I would add that in order for Holy Scripture to remain relevant, vital, and eternal for each generation, it must be engaged and examined and made active in the service of guiding us to do good in our lives.
Moreover, we must yearn to discover and rediscover a scripture’s capacity to reveal uplifting and fulfilling truths that enable us to gain renewed and continual connection with God to compel us to do good in the world and good for others. For me, that’s a kingdom worth seeking after and striving for. Everything I hope to learn from Jesus steers me towards realizing an eternal kingdom, both here on Earth and beyond.
For me, faith cannot be static or stagnant, and I admire and appreciate Parini’s studies of Jesus that expand, energize, and inspire our understanding of him through an active endeavor of seeking him out in all his grace and humanity. Whatever our path to belief, we can gain a greater connection to Jesus by opening our hearts and minds in carrying out his message of having a compassionate and forgiving heart.
Parini’s illuminating and empowering biography Jesus: the Human Face of God explores how we can discover, appreciate, and interact with the literal and mythical Jesus through “continuous revelation” whether we use the Gospels or other vital source material. I like how Parini refers to his own active and ongoing process of engaging with Jesus as “the gradually realizing kingdom of God—a process of transformation” (Parini’s italics). I commend his quest, which mirrors my own journey of seeking and searching to learn more about Jesus by having my heart and mind open to engage with him.
Parini seeks to establish a broader and fuller picture of Jesus that enables the vitality of myth and history to reveal to us both Jesus’s “symbolic contours” and the “literal heft” of his life and ministry. Moreover, Jesus endured over time because of his humane and ethical words and deeds and because of what he meant and represented to so many people throughout history.
Parini says, “Jesus was a religious genius, and the Spirit moved in him in unique ways, with unusual force, allowing him access to the highest level of God consciousness.” I like this analysis of Jesus, just as I agree with Parini’s description of Jesus as “a devout Jew” deeply invested in the halakha, the Judaic laws and traditions, while at the same time he had an open-mindedness to absorb the influence of Buddhist and Hindu knowledge from those who traveled to Palestine from the East and the West along the Silk Road.
Parini makes clear that Jesus’s ministry did not speak for the elites. Rather, his message confronted and challenged those in positions of religious prominence as he gave voice to the disadvantaged and underprivileged. Whether someone has power or status or neither, I agree with Parini that attaining salvation must be more than merely accepting a doctrine or announcing repentance. Salvation means committing to a sincerity of “having a change of heart” and yearning beyond one’s self by “reaching for awareness of the spirit, for a deep grounding with God.”
I further agree with Parini that the quest to understand Jesus attains more purpose when “seeking often seems more important than finding.” Parini suggests that a lifetime of seeking to connect with and understand the truth of Jesus humbles us into confusion, wonder, peace, and most importantly compassion and sympathy for others. He says, “What matters is the way that God moved in the life of Jesus, who showed us how to find this spirit within ourselves.”
Parini goes on to explain how Jesus’s followers saw him as an extraordinary spiritual teacher who sought to reform the conventions and strictures of Jewish law, yet Jesus himself did not have a motive to initiate an entire new religion of his own. Parini, furthermore, offers us a profound observation of how to view those who were transformed by Jesus’s teachings: “Each felt the mystery and power of his presence, his intense contact with the kingdom of God, his emotional and intellectual resources, and the life-enhancing waters that flowed from him.”
In discussing Jesus’s healing miracles, Parini observes how Jesus empowered those who were ailing and ill with the “tonic” of faith, and so Jesus instructed them to place their unconditional trust not in himself but in God. I like how Parini approaches faith as a rejuvenating and revitalizing force that can help us heal, whereas Jesus’s other miracles, such as walking on water or calming storms, reflect more about his “intensely symbolic acts,” yet Parini also reminds us that symbolism does not dismiss those miracles as untrue.
Parini makes clear how Jesus guided us to love and accept each other, but Jesus also understood the difficulty of what he asked of us. Therefore, Jesus sought out and embraced God’s help, and Parini explains the process: “Change requires God’s intervention in our lives, an overflowing of the Spirit into consciousness. Only by the grace of God can we begin to effect change, to participate in the gradually realizing kingdom that lies within us.”
In order to reach that kingdom, Parini explains how Jesus committed himself to prayer as a method to experience, embrace, gain, and ultimately communicate with “God consciousness.” Parini says, “He [Jesus] had developed a primal intimacy with God, and the spirit began to work, in him and through him, in ways that would affect everyone who came after.” Just as Jesus taught that “The kingdom of God is within you,” Parini sees the kingdom of God as “an interior realm.” He also observes how God sent Jesus in order that we could gain an understanding and witness an example of how “through love and reconciliation, atonement or union with God was possible.”
Regarding the resurrection, Parini views how Jesus’s ability to rise was an experience that made him “otherworldly” and “fully transfigured.” I admire how Parini goes on to explain his way of embracing the enlightenment, hope, and joy of the resurrection: “What this part of the mythos invites is meditation as well as blunt refusal to accept easy answers, a willingness to submit to the incomprehensible.” I agree with his suggestion that maybe arriving at an acceptance of such incomprehension is the true test and testament of having faith in Jesus’s holiness.
In whatever way we engage with Jesus, whether through the Bible or another source of strength and comfort, Parini suggests, “A living and active reading of such passages draws us more fully into the text, into the living word, which is unstable, always challenging, never set in stone.” I would add that in order for Holy Scripture to remain relevant, vital, and eternal for each generation, it must be engaged and examined and made active in the service of guiding us to do good in our lives.
Moreover, we must yearn to discover and rediscover a scripture’s capacity to reveal uplifting and fulfilling truths that enable us to gain renewed and continual connection with God to compel us to do good in the world and good for others. For me, that’s a kingdom worth seeking after and striving for. Everything I hope to learn from Jesus steers me towards realizing an eternal kingdom, both here on Earth and beyond.
For me, faith cannot be static or stagnant, and I admire and appreciate Parini’s studies of Jesus that expand, energize, and inspire our understanding of him through an active endeavor of seeking him out in all his grace and humanity. Whatever our path to belief, we can gain a greater connection to Jesus by opening our hearts and minds in carrying out his message of having a compassionate and forgiving heart.
February 22, 2014
Jesus Christ is sort of what the Bible says. That pretty much encapsulates Jesus, the Human Face of God. In this book, Jay Parini uses the Bible text as a core to explain the life of Jesus, but he does allow extra-biblical "gospels" and more liberal theologians to round out his "biography" of Jesus.
In no way does Mr. Parini assent to Jesus as a member of the Godhead. He allows the belief that Jesus performed great miracles (though he leaves room for those who would believe that a person's faith is enough to heal them, even if it's not a faith in God), and even rose from the dead. But other than seeing him as an enlightened man--along the lines of a Buddha or Mohammed, Parini deflects any of Jesus's claims of divinity or our need to follow him by expecting us to believe that Jesus really never claimed he was God, and that just wants us to follow his teachings and not him personally.
But the Bible says that Jesus did indeed claim he was God, and while he wants us to follow his teachings, we only truly please God by being "in Christ" and having the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit enable us to live godly lives.
All in all, a book I'd recommend for those wishing to understand Jesus as others see him, but in no way a proper representation of the Bible's text on his life.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
In no way does Mr. Parini assent to Jesus as a member of the Godhead. He allows the belief that Jesus performed great miracles (though he leaves room for those who would believe that a person's faith is enough to heal them, even if it's not a faith in God), and even rose from the dead. But other than seeing him as an enlightened man--along the lines of a Buddha or Mohammed, Parini deflects any of Jesus's claims of divinity or our need to follow him by expecting us to believe that Jesus really never claimed he was God, and that just wants us to follow his teachings and not him personally.
But the Bible says that Jesus did indeed claim he was God, and while he wants us to follow his teachings, we only truly please God by being "in Christ" and having the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit enable us to live godly lives.
All in all, a book I'd recommend for those wishing to understand Jesus as others see him, but in no way a proper representation of the Bible's text on his life.
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
December 19, 2013
See Parini's interview with NPR's Tom Ashbrook's On Point (12/17/13 air date): http://onpoint.wbur.org/2013/12/17/je...
March 6, 2015
I finished this little gem today. I don't remember how I found it, but, it piqued my interest when I saw it. Though it weighs in at only 192 pages it was well thought out. It gave me quite a bit to consider as I continue this journey in Christ. I think the biggest thing I got out of it was that no matter what denomination, or larger Christian movement we are in, I don't think we have it as figured out as we think sometimes. It seems as though we want to put Christ in this little box that contains all that he is and was. But, it's just not that simple. He is so much more than we can comprehend. And while I welcome the journey of discovering Him, I have to realize that there is so much more than I will ever understand. Just because I go to church in a particular denomination, or movement, should not define or limit my Christian journey. There is a lot out there to discover and learn about my Lord and Savior, and I am excited to find out more. I would highly recommend this book to those seeking to learn more. Not that it will answer your questions, but, it may have you coming up with more.
March 8, 2014
Even as a Jesus follower the search for Christ never ends. Sometimes we pour over theological tomes seeking enlightenment. At other times we wander through writings of those seeking the Christ of history. And at other moments we throw our arms in the air shirking off the academic enterprise and embracing the Jesus of myth and mystery. In "Jesus: The Human Face of God," Jay Parini pulls us into his seeking of Christ. While he embraces the resurrection, the mysteries of Christ, the literal nature of scripture; he also allows himself to explore Apocryphal literature, Gnostic Gospels, and Eastern teachings that may have influenced the climate in which Jesus lived. He draws upon work from various strains of thought about Jesus: Luther and Bonhoeffer, Bultmann and Borg, Cross and Wright, Bourgault and Pagels, Tillich and Ratzinger. In all he provides an insightful journey through the story of the life of Christ - and encouragement to keep seeking, learning, journeying toward Christ.
November 11, 2014
This small (150 pages or so) book is appealing because Jay Parini, a scholar of literature who is also a Christian, sets out to explain why Jesus and his teachings remain so compelling, even radical. While the book relies on Parini's wide reading of commentators on Jesus and the New Testament, historical and theological background is not the book's focus. (The last chapter does give an overview of Biblical scholarship over the last two hundred years.) Instead, he explains the key ideas of Jesus' ministry, often typing them to their antecedents in Judaism or to other philosophical traditions that Jesus likely had contact with. This is not a book that is likely to appeal to those who believe in a literal interpretation of the Bible. It really isn't an introduction to Christianity, either. Those who will appreciate it are readers who have some understanding of Jesus' ministry and who would like a fresh and very readable perspective on the subject.
M. Feldman
M. Feldman
September 20, 2014
I liked it. I stumbled on the book accidentally, liked how it sounded, and was not disappointed by it. I'd like to read it again. I didn't really think the author had any particular axe to grind, it was more of a "here's what we know, here's what seems reasonable, do with it what you will" approach to the life and teachings and followings of Jesus, the Son of God.
August 9, 2016
Jesus: the Myth
My title is not pejorative. Indeed, the stated purpose of this biography of Jesus by novelist Jay Parini, himself a believer, is to counterpoise the recent trend of research into the historical Jesus, and instead to demonstrate how its truth is ideally poised to be carried on wings of myth. While skeptics may use the term to belittle another's belief, it is also true to say that none of the world's great religions have been propagated without the aid of myth. In this sense, myth and truth are partners, not opposites.
I am no longer a believer myself. Yet I have long been interested in Jesus as a literary figure. His story continues to fascinate novelists who may be Jewish (Naomi Alderman: The Liars' Gospel ) or atheist (José Saramago: The Gospel According to Jesus Christ ) as well as those from Christian backgrounds. I would not be interested in reading a dogmatic hagiography that presented Jesus only in terms of the doctrinal certainties of a particular faith. But I was intrigued by a book that would use historical fact to explore how this figure could transcend history and give rise to a story that would resonate for two millennia. A mythos, as Parini calls it: an entity that includes not only the story but also its archetypal meaning and means of transmission.
And did I get what I expected? Not entirely. Sandwiched between scholarly chapters on ancient Palestine and Christian historiography, Parini essentially retells the gospel stories, pointing out the various differences as he comes up with his composite version. With the exception of well-known poetic passages such as the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer, the translations he quotes are his own, which give a welcome immediacy to the story. He has done an impressive amount of homework but tells me comparatively little I did not know before. I was interested to be reminded of the differences between the gospels of Matthew and Luke, the one contextualizing Jesus in the line of Jewish kings, the other widening his appeal to the Gentiles; this is very much in line with his intent to focus on the role of myth. At several points, he quotes Joseph Campbell to show how the Jesus story lines up with seminal myths in other cultures. In a more doctrinal context, he focuses on the Baptism, Transfiguration, and Passion as crucial sacramental moments marking the nexus between man and God, again an essential element of mythos.
Parini is refreshingly dismissive of doctrinaire extremism, whether in ultra-orthodox Judaism or Christian fundamentalism. But whatever his intent in writing, it is clear that the Christian story does not resonate with him primarily for its mythic underpinnings, but because his own life is based on the personal belief that Jesus was indeed "The Human Face of God." I have no quarrel with that; this appears to be a book for thinking Christians. But if the ICONS series, which this short book inaugurates, is intended as an introduction to many different religions, each volume will have to offer more to readers from other beliefs. I admire Parini's scholarship, but miss the critical detachment of the novels by Saramago and Alderman mentioned above, both of which led me to more profound reflection than I had when reading this.
My title is not pejorative. Indeed, the stated purpose of this biography of Jesus by novelist Jay Parini, himself a believer, is to counterpoise the recent trend of research into the historical Jesus, and instead to demonstrate how its truth is ideally poised to be carried on wings of myth. While skeptics may use the term to belittle another's belief, it is also true to say that none of the world's great religions have been propagated without the aid of myth. In this sense, myth and truth are partners, not opposites.
I am no longer a believer myself. Yet I have long been interested in Jesus as a literary figure. His story continues to fascinate novelists who may be Jewish (Naomi Alderman: The Liars' Gospel ) or atheist (José Saramago: The Gospel According to Jesus Christ ) as well as those from Christian backgrounds. I would not be interested in reading a dogmatic hagiography that presented Jesus only in terms of the doctrinal certainties of a particular faith. But I was intrigued by a book that would use historical fact to explore how this figure could transcend history and give rise to a story that would resonate for two millennia. A mythos, as Parini calls it: an entity that includes not only the story but also its archetypal meaning and means of transmission.
And did I get what I expected? Not entirely. Sandwiched between scholarly chapters on ancient Palestine and Christian historiography, Parini essentially retells the gospel stories, pointing out the various differences as he comes up with his composite version. With the exception of well-known poetic passages such as the Beatitudes and the Lord's Prayer, the translations he quotes are his own, which give a welcome immediacy to the story. He has done an impressive amount of homework but tells me comparatively little I did not know before. I was interested to be reminded of the differences between the gospels of Matthew and Luke, the one contextualizing Jesus in the line of Jewish kings, the other widening his appeal to the Gentiles; this is very much in line with his intent to focus on the role of myth. At several points, he quotes Joseph Campbell to show how the Jesus story lines up with seminal myths in other cultures. In a more doctrinal context, he focuses on the Baptism, Transfiguration, and Passion as crucial sacramental moments marking the nexus between man and God, again an essential element of mythos.
Parini is refreshingly dismissive of doctrinaire extremism, whether in ultra-orthodox Judaism or Christian fundamentalism. But whatever his intent in writing, it is clear that the Christian story does not resonate with him primarily for its mythic underpinnings, but because his own life is based on the personal belief that Jesus was indeed "The Human Face of God." I have no quarrel with that; this appears to be a book for thinking Christians. But if the ICONS series, which this short book inaugurates, is intended as an introduction to many different religions, each volume will have to offer more to readers from other beliefs. I admire Parini's scholarship, but miss the critical detachment of the novels by Saramago and Alderman mentioned above, both of which led me to more profound reflection than I had when reading this.
April 16, 2014
"If you are searching
You must not stop until you find.
When you find however,
You will become troubled.
Your confusion will give way to wonder.
In wonder you will reign over all things.
Your sovereignty will be your rest."
Gospel of Thomas
Every Lent, I try to read a book to enhance my understanding of Jesus and his teachings. This year’s book was Jay Parini’s Jesus The Human Face of God which he calls a “biography of Jesus rather than a theological tract.” Backed by extensive research, Parini walks with the reader through the life of Jesus, focusing special attention to the historical context of his life. As a boy living along the Silk Road , Parini explains that Jesus would have been exposed not only to the teachings of the various sects of Judiaism but also the ideas from Greek philosophers including Plato. Parini writes: “Jesus benefited from the eclectic mix of ideas in Palestine during his coming of age. Yet it could not have been easy for him or any other devout Jew during the Roman occupation at the beginning of the first century when there were strenuously competing notions about the nature and worship of God and the proper forms it should take.”
In other words, Jesus’s teachings sorted out how best to understand God’s messages and how to live a faithful life. “In a unique fusion, Jesus gathered up many of the loose ends of Judaism, which had frayed badly in Palestine during this era.” And, although he had no intention of creating a new religion, Jesus’s teachings became the basis for Christianity.
Parini also focuses on key events in the life of Jesus and explains why different Gospels tell slightly different versions.
This was one of the best books about Jesus I’ve read in a long time. I have a greater understanding of the man as well as what his ministry might have felt and looked like to those in the crowds who followed him every day. It was a wonderful overview of things that’s I’ve learned over the years, put in context, with various discrepencies explained. One of the other things I was reminded is that we continue to learn more about Jesus, his contemporaries and his world through archealogical research, the most recent being a piece of parchment that seems to refer to Jesus’s wife. Ours is a faith that continue to grow as we get to know Jesus better.
This is a book I will want to re-read since I’m sure I missed much.
You must not stop until you find.
When you find however,
You will become troubled.
Your confusion will give way to wonder.
In wonder you will reign over all things.
Your sovereignty will be your rest."
Gospel of Thomas
Every Lent, I try to read a book to enhance my understanding of Jesus and his teachings. This year’s book was Jay Parini’s Jesus The Human Face of God which he calls a “biography of Jesus rather than a theological tract.” Backed by extensive research, Parini walks with the reader through the life of Jesus, focusing special attention to the historical context of his life. As a boy living along the Silk Road , Parini explains that Jesus would have been exposed not only to the teachings of the various sects of Judiaism but also the ideas from Greek philosophers including Plato. Parini writes: “Jesus benefited from the eclectic mix of ideas in Palestine during his coming of age. Yet it could not have been easy for him or any other devout Jew during the Roman occupation at the beginning of the first century when there were strenuously competing notions about the nature and worship of God and the proper forms it should take.”
In other words, Jesus’s teachings sorted out how best to understand God’s messages and how to live a faithful life. “In a unique fusion, Jesus gathered up many of the loose ends of Judaism, which had frayed badly in Palestine during this era.” And, although he had no intention of creating a new religion, Jesus’s teachings became the basis for Christianity.
Parini also focuses on key events in the life of Jesus and explains why different Gospels tell slightly different versions.
This was one of the best books about Jesus I’ve read in a long time. I have a greater understanding of the man as well as what his ministry might have felt and looked like to those in the crowds who followed him every day. It was a wonderful overview of things that’s I’ve learned over the years, put in context, with various discrepencies explained. One of the other things I was reminded is that we continue to learn more about Jesus, his contemporaries and his world through archealogical research, the most recent being a piece of parchment that seems to refer to Jesus’s wife. Ours is a faith that continue to grow as we get to know Jesus better.
This is a book I will want to re-read since I’m sure I missed much.
January 19, 2015
I really enjoyed this book. I like that he takes a different viewpoint than some of the other authors I've read, (Borg, Crossan, Aslan). It is going to be very helpful to re read the gospels and letter of Paul after reading this. I would recommend this book to those wanting to learn more about the humanity of Jesus.
April 27, 2014
A short biography of Jesus by the author who wrote The Last Station. I think this is a worthy endeavor from a writer who does not claim to be a religious scholar. Parini speaks of his understanding of Christ as one that is still evolving, which is refreshing. This is great for those who are new to Christianity, or simply curious.
February 24, 2015
Such a fascinating book even for those who don't consider themselves religious (especially for history buffs). Parini brings together all of the influences that would have affected Jews during the first days of Christianity, including the Silk Road, societal norms, and the position of Jerusalem in the old world. It's an engaging read that often times reads more like a novel.
February 8, 2014
Parini's writing is both clarifying historically and enlightening philosophically. He does a great job of addressing the hisorical criticisms of Jesus as the Son of God, making the case for true believers. Great pacing, a good read for students of both history and/or religion.
February 21, 2014
Read this awesome account of Jesus's life. It combines Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John's versions of the life of Christ, detailing the political situation and Jesus's interactions with each one. Patrilineal also details why Jesus was eventually maligned against and eventually crucified .
December 30, 2014
Recommended by Ellen J. Read her review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
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Check our catalog: http://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/...
August 5, 2014
I expected a lot more from the book.
June 13, 2019
Anyone who attempts to biography Jesus is bound to fail. An author is bound to project herself or himself onto the narrative. That’s why all theology eventually turns into autobiography. In Parini’s work, clearly, both the object (Jesus of Nazareth) and the subject (Parini the author) are worth learning from, and the reader can find much to aspire to.
Much of late twentieth and early twenty-first century studies on the Jesus of history devolve into “demythologizing” Jesus. As such, they tend to make Jesus into one of us – merely a human who was mistakenly imputed divine characteristics. Unfortunately, the only Jesus we can ever know were by people who claimed some sort of divine touch. Even the earliest accounts were filtered through years of oral tradition.
As a skilled and experienced biographer who is not a professional theologian, Parini does not take this route. Instead, he attempts to “re-mythologize” Jesus by focusing on the main narratives we have about his life (including the Gospel of Thomas). He treats the texts with a great deal of respect and decency – meaning that he approaches them with a reasonable amount of human trust instead of unending skepticism. He is not a literalist or a fundamentalist, however, who focuses only upon the simple meaning of the text (as with the historical-grammatical hermeneutic). He is willing to dwell deeply upon any allusion or remembrance that the texts offer.
What results is a beautiful portrayal of the Jesus who has influenced Western civilization through the centuries. Where critical thought is called for, critical thought is given. Where skepticism arises, it is given. Where trust and faith are called for, they, too, are not withheld. Honesty, authenticity, and an I-and-Thou belief tell us about Jesus and about Parini. This book is a worthy pursuit for intellectuals like myself who like to study faith. Though respectful, it is an academic work and not a devotional. Nonetheless, it attempts to explain why this one person has echoed and continues to echo through the centuries of human history.
Much of late twentieth and early twenty-first century studies on the Jesus of history devolve into “demythologizing” Jesus. As such, they tend to make Jesus into one of us – merely a human who was mistakenly imputed divine characteristics. Unfortunately, the only Jesus we can ever know were by people who claimed some sort of divine touch. Even the earliest accounts were filtered through years of oral tradition.
As a skilled and experienced biographer who is not a professional theologian, Parini does not take this route. Instead, he attempts to “re-mythologize” Jesus by focusing on the main narratives we have about his life (including the Gospel of Thomas). He treats the texts with a great deal of respect and decency – meaning that he approaches them with a reasonable amount of human trust instead of unending skepticism. He is not a literalist or a fundamentalist, however, who focuses only upon the simple meaning of the text (as with the historical-grammatical hermeneutic). He is willing to dwell deeply upon any allusion or remembrance that the texts offer.
What results is a beautiful portrayal of the Jesus who has influenced Western civilization through the centuries. Where critical thought is called for, critical thought is given. Where skepticism arises, it is given. Where trust and faith are called for, they, too, are not withheld. Honesty, authenticity, and an I-and-Thou belief tell us about Jesus and about Parini. This book is a worthy pursuit for intellectuals like myself who like to study faith. Though respectful, it is an academic work and not a devotional. Nonetheless, it attempts to explain why this one person has echoed and continues to echo through the centuries of human history.
December 10, 2023
In this book, Parini considers the life of Jesus from many different angles. The book traces the story of Jesus in a loosely chronological way, beginning with the societal context in which Jesus was raised, then through the events of Jesus's ministry, followed by a short look at the churches and doctrines that have arisen since his death. Parini exhibits an interesting depth of knowledge throughout the book, not only from historical and theological perspectives, but also with how a variety of poets and artists have addressed Jesus and faith.
One of the things I enjoyed about the book is its sensitivity to issues of language, and how words that were used have been misconstrued since Jesus's time. Parini's discussion of word such as "hamartia", "metanoia", or even what it is to be considered "meek" are all interesting and thought-provoking. Without getting into any discussions about how different sects misunderstand the messages or being of Christ, Parini seems to seek to concentrate on Jesus's words of faith and love, and to kind of obliquely point at what the Kingdom of God probably represented.
A curious aspect of the book is that Parini discusses the efforts of people like Schweitzer, Tolstoy or Jefferson to humanize Jesus and eliminate any focus on miracles, which Parini seems somewhat in accord with, but in his book, Parini deals a lot with the Resurrection, but never actually addresses whether it happened or not? He also expresses a very curious ambivalence about a group of scholars (the 'Jesus Seminarists') who have attempted to use scholarship to get closer to what Jesus actually said, as opposed to what churches and various councils have wanted him to have said. He professes agreement with Garry Wills that this diminishes Jesus, which does no make much sense to me. This seems a rather odd departure for the author to make.
One of the things I enjoyed about the book is its sensitivity to issues of language, and how words that were used have been misconstrued since Jesus's time. Parini's discussion of word such as "hamartia", "metanoia", or even what it is to be considered "meek" are all interesting and thought-provoking. Without getting into any discussions about how different sects misunderstand the messages or being of Christ, Parini seems to seek to concentrate on Jesus's words of faith and love, and to kind of obliquely point at what the Kingdom of God probably represented.
A curious aspect of the book is that Parini discusses the efforts of people like Schweitzer, Tolstoy or Jefferson to humanize Jesus and eliminate any focus on miracles, which Parini seems somewhat in accord with, but in his book, Parini deals a lot with the Resurrection, but never actually addresses whether it happened or not? He also expresses a very curious ambivalence about a group of scholars (the 'Jesus Seminarists') who have attempted to use scholarship to get closer to what Jesus actually said, as opposed to what churches and various councils have wanted him to have said. He professes agreement with Garry Wills that this diminishes Jesus, which does no make much sense to me. This seems a rather odd departure for the author to make.
April 15, 2023
It was an interesting view of the life of Jesus from birth to crucifixion to the rise of the religion. The book raises some interesting questions. I want to now read more and understand more. At times it was difficult to follow, but overall an interesting reading.
January 24, 2018
Inspiring. Just beautiful.
December 31, 2019
Rounding up from 3.5. I liked the general approach to the book, but wouldn’t have minded if Parini went deeper.
January 6, 2014
I've been reading a lot of New Paradigm theology the past few years, of which Marcus Borg is a leader. This has brought a new fresh perspective to my religious experience; however, at times it feels like Jesus has been "demythologized" Jesus. Parini's focus here is to provide a new biographic view of Christ with the goal of "re-mythologizing" him. I think he did a great job of that. His view is that the focus on what Jesus the person said or did is as much a literalism as is fundamental Christianity.
As time passes we focus on interpreting the bible in our own era's context. This has morphed over the past century to a literal reading of the bible. This is full of difficulty given the various tellings of the stories; for example, which of the resurrection stories iw the one that would reflect what a video camera would have caught. Wo it is refreshing to revisit the bible as a representation of earliest Christianity and why the various versions of the stories might have been developed by the authors.
An excellent example of this is when Parini reflects on the scriptures' suggestion that one should "repent" in order to be "saved". He points out that the Greek word soteria doesn't relate to "salvation" in our 20th century meaning of the word. Rather it means "being filled with a new spirit". "A better way to translate this verse in Matthew would be: 'Have a true change of heart and wake up to God'". (Preface location ˜137 Kindle edition). Another example of this is when Parini notes "It's important, in fact, to notice that Jesus was not a condemning sort of person. He rarely suggested that others would be damned. The emphasis on hell that preachers from the middle of the nineteenth century onward has very little of Jesus in its overtones." (page 97)
Parini also takes on the notion that we must "believe" certain things in order to get to heaven. In the first place, Christ's commandment was only to love on another. Secondly the Greek word translated to "believe" doesn't mean, as it does in today's scientific world, to trust in some unknowable fact. Rather the root meaning is "to hold dear". (page 134). "And so to believe in Jesus means to hold him darly, to value his presence and example. As Reinhold Niebuhr, the influential American theologian, once said, belief does not mean that we should claim to know anything about 'the furniture of heaven or the temperature of hell, or to be too certain about any details of the kingdom of God in which history is consummated.' That would be to reduce the unknonable to something thin and paltry, far too literal to contain the larger truth of eternal life - the good news in its fullest sense." (Page 134)
All in all a very nice biography of Jesus which largely fulfills its goal to re-mythologize Christ.
As time passes we focus on interpreting the bible in our own era's context. This has morphed over the past century to a literal reading of the bible. This is full of difficulty given the various tellings of the stories; for example, which of the resurrection stories iw the one that would reflect what a video camera would have caught. Wo it is refreshing to revisit the bible as a representation of earliest Christianity and why the various versions of the stories might have been developed by the authors.
An excellent example of this is when Parini reflects on the scriptures' suggestion that one should "repent" in order to be "saved". He points out that the Greek word soteria doesn't relate to "salvation" in our 20th century meaning of the word. Rather it means "being filled with a new spirit". "A better way to translate this verse in Matthew would be: 'Have a true change of heart and wake up to God'". (Preface location ˜137 Kindle edition). Another example of this is when Parini notes "It's important, in fact, to notice that Jesus was not a condemning sort of person. He rarely suggested that others would be damned. The emphasis on hell that preachers from the middle of the nineteenth century onward has very little of Jesus in its overtones." (page 97)
Parini also takes on the notion that we must "believe" certain things in order to get to heaven. In the first place, Christ's commandment was only to love on another. Secondly the Greek word translated to "believe" doesn't mean, as it does in today's scientific world, to trust in some unknowable fact. Rather the root meaning is "to hold dear". (page 134). "And so to believe in Jesus means to hold him darly, to value his presence and example. As Reinhold Niebuhr, the influential American theologian, once said, belief does not mean that we should claim to know anything about 'the furniture of heaven or the temperature of hell, or to be too certain about any details of the kingdom of God in which history is consummated.' That would be to reduce the unknonable to something thin and paltry, far too literal to contain the larger truth of eternal life - the good news in its fullest sense." (Page 134)
All in all a very nice biography of Jesus which largely fulfills its goal to re-mythologize Christ.
November 13, 2020
Poet Jay Parini is "re-mythologizing" the life of Jesus, in opposition to the movement to de-mythologize Jesus, stripping the gospels of the mythological and heroic aspects of Jesus's life. Parini's biography includes all the miraculous elements (in a fantasy book, they would be called "magical" but I'm not going there in this review) and explanations for why they were included and what they meant to the people of that time. Like all biographies and writings of Jesus for the last 2,020 plus years, Parini's Jesus is Parini's Jesus, just like Crossan's Jesus or Borg's Jesus or Ehrman's Jesus (Or Matthew, Mark, Luke and John's Jesus); every historian (and every Christian) writes their own biography of Jesus. How could we do otherwise, with as little as we actually know. But this was a good, short book all the same; Parini is a great writer, and writes with belief and conviction.
April 7, 2014
I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
This was a very difficult book at the beginning the author uses many words that the ordinary reader will either have to stop and look them up or guess the meaning. He is a bit too technical in the beginning which makes for slow, boring reading.
It gets somewhat better during the story telling of Jesus' life but still contains unusual vocabulary. Also, he seems to think his opinion is the truth and there are several things he lists as fact that I disagree with.
This was a very difficult book at the beginning the author uses many words that the ordinary reader will either have to stop and look them up or guess the meaning. He is a bit too technical in the beginning which makes for slow, boring reading.
It gets somewhat better during the story telling of Jesus' life but still contains unusual vocabulary. Also, he seems to think his opinion is the truth and there are several things he lists as fact that I disagree with.
June 26, 2014
Strange. Parini weaves an ahistorical and inexplicable continuous narrative from the four Gospels, even where they have significant differences and contradictions. It's totally unclear what criteria he uses for including some stories in his narrative and excluding others. When dealing with the supernatural, he typically abandons any considerations of reason and resorts to mysticism that is incomprehensible to the non-believer. The final chapter is a weak dismissal of the Historical Jesus movement. Disappointing overall.
October 21, 2014
Short Review: A biography of Jesus that tries to 're-mythologize' Jesus. But mostly just repeats traditional liberal theology. I am not opposed to reading liberal theology because I intentionally try to read outside my tradition regularly. But there was just nothing here that was engaging or new or helpful. I read about 70% of the book and then my Kindle Unlimited subscription ended and I had no desire to buy the book and finish it.
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/human-face-god/
My full review is on my blog at http://bookwi.se/human-face-god/
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