JESUS IN A NEW LIGHT

Was Jesus convinced he was the Messiah and Son of God? What do such terms actually mean? In what belief systems were they coined? Why does Christianity suppress Jesus' proclamation of the imminent kingdom of God? What did Jesus really want to achieve? Did he as some of his biographers have claimed try to foment a popular rebellion against the Romans or did he attempt to convince people to resign themselves to their lot? Did he foresee the catastrophes that were awaiting Israel and try to raise the alarm? Is it really St. Paul who ordered women to keep silent in churches? To what extent is the expansion of the Catholic Church attributable to a Roman emperor? These are just a few of the questions that this book answers with clear and convincing arguments. Biblical statements and beliefs that were shaped by the ancient mindset have been mindlessly repeated for way too long. In the process some of these ideas were eventually dogmatized. By investigating the historical origin of such dogmas the author carries out an in-depth analysis of the contents of established Christian doctrines without bothering about political correctness. He is outspoken but is careful not to throw the baby out with the bathwater. This book is therefore especially aimed at people with an interest in theology who are no longer satisfied with the usual clichés. During his research the author put expert opinions to the test and found out quite frequently that they leave much to be desired. He realized that many a Bible scholar makes his or her point on the basis of a limited and incomplete view of the world that is shaped as the case may be by his or her own faith or atheism. As a result of the globalization that has occurred over the past few decades and the greater insight it has afforded us into other religions and worldviews our perspective on the nature and abilities of spiritual masters such as Jesus has broadened considerably. Since such discoveries have been taken into account only rarely in biographies of Jesus it has been the author's intention to illustrate parallels between the teachings and actions of Jesus and those of spiritual masters from other religions. This book also asks the questions: What message does the Shroud kept in Turin Cathedral convey to us? Did Jesus really lie in it? Does the Shroud make it possible for us to see Jesus' face some 2000 years after his death? With forensic meticulousness the author provides proof that not everything went by the book during the 1988 radiocarbon dating that exposed the Shroud as a medieval fake. The role of the Catholic Church leadership comes thereby under intense scrutiny. Hence the aim of this unconventional book is to invite the reader to accompany the author as he tries with the help of Jesus' example to acquire a better understanding of the meaning and purpose of human existence and to show what consequences such a better understanding might have for the way we conduct our lives.