5 comments about The Life of the Buddha : According to the Pali Canon.

1. Buddhists have no equivalent of the Bible. But this book is perhaps is as close as it comes in the English language, a history of the Buddha, his teachings, and his community, derived entirely from original translations of the earliest sources.
   
   Shortly after World War II, Englishman Osbert Moore went to Sri Lanka to monastic vows - and a Buddhist name. In his 11 years of practice, he translated a number of important Buddhist texts to English, but perhaps his best known work is this history of the Buddha, published posthumously after a heart attack at the age of 55 in 1960.
   
   Bhikku Nanamoli's work is based on his own translations of the Tripitaka, the earliest written records of the Buddha and his teachings, recorded in the ancient language of Pali more than 200 years after the Buddha's death. The bulk of the material included monastic rules and a collection of suttas, the Buddha's lectures and sermons. There is no chronological history linking these rules and teachings, which requires a historian to search the Tripitaka for clues to help place events in some sort of sequence. Nanamoli consulted two additional sources in corroborating his sequencing, a 5th century BCE Pali source (the Acariya Buddhaghosa) and a 15th century Burmese history (the Malalankaravatthu).
   
   Besides problems of historicity, Nanamoli has in brining this text to a modern English readership to wrestle with issues of accuracy and style. As the Tripitaka was for nearly three centuries an oral tradition, it's structure was built on repetition, both of phrases and key ideas. As modern song writers employ a verse-chorus-verse-chorus pattern, so too did the monks of 2,500 years ago repeat elements in their verse to facilitate memorization. For a modern reader, these elements are initially quaint, but very quickly become tiresome. Nanamoli has judiciously elided most of the extraneous recycled verses, thankfully leaving in a smattering taste.
   
   The result is a work that reads like epic myth, with a flavor and texture lacking in modern biographies. This is often charming and engaging, as in the repetition throughout the text of key phrases, such as:
   
   + Thus I heard. At one time the Blessed One was living at ...
   + The Blessed One instructed and urged and roused and encouraged with talk on the Dhamma.
   + She paid homage and sat down at one side of the Blessed One.
   + He paid homage to the Blessed One and departed, keeping him on his right.
   + The Blessed One set out to wander by stages to ....
   
   It is also to be found in refrains, as from this extract where the Buddha shows his exasperation with a monk who broke his vows by having sex with an alms giver's daughter:
   
   =====================================
   Have I not taught the Dhamma in various ways for the sake of dispassion, not for the sake of passion? Have I not taught the Dhamma in various ways for the sake of unfettering, not for the sake of fettering? Have I not taught the Dhamma in various ways for the sake of relinquishing, not for the sake of clinging? The Dhamma thus taught by me for dispassion, unfettering, and relinquishment you would conceive to be for passion, fettering and clinging. Has the Dhamma not been taught by me in many ways for dispassion, disintoxication, for curing thirst, for abolishing attachment, for severing the round of being, for exhausting craving, for dispassion, for cessation, for Nibbana? Have I not described in many ways the abandoning of sensual desires, the full understanding of perceptions of sensual desires, the curing of thirst for sensual desires, the eradication of thoughts of sensual desires, the allaying of the fever of sensual desires? (p159)
   =====================================
   
   Attentive readers will have no trouble comprehending the main ideas or following Nanamoli's narrative, though at times the text would benefit from explanatory notes. In some instances historical or cultural references are perplexing, such as fire chambers, the Four Divine Kings, or the Brahma Sahampati, the god that knows the Buddha's mind and as his better conscience intervenes from time to time to change the course of events. Conversation in verse between Buddha and his nemesis Mara is not attributed, causing the reader to have to parse the exchange. And there are times when an explanation of nomenclature would save time searching for references, such as Mara's Hindu name, Namuci. In order to preserve the historical accuracy of his text, Nanamoli provides no analysis or interpretation, an understandable decision but one that will leave many readers without a clear understanding of some of the more difficult theories, such as Dependent Origination. Thankfully, the author has collected most of these suttas on theory to a separate chapter on Doctrine.
   
   These are small quibbles, though, and in no way detract from the overall experience of the text or from an appreciation of the scholarship, expertise and effort that went into the translation, organization and composition of this book. It is recommended especially for Buddhists who'd like to sample the original source material without having to first master Pali.
   
   #



2. Firstly, Bhikkhu Nanamoli (Osbert Moore) was a gifted intellectual and prized authentic textual translation above mere book writing. Unlike soooo many Buddhist authors in the West, he was NOT looking to sell a book and become an Author to impress friends and family or help sell his meditation retreats. His intent was always aimed at a scholarly (re: intellectually rigorous) rendering of sacred texts. This rare combination of a deeply intellectual mind with the veneration of a monk's spirit towards his textual sources has given us some of the most pristine English translations of the Buddha's works.
   This book was culled from the Pali canon and aims to give the modern reader an overview of the life of the Buddha. As the texts chosen for this work are strewn across 10 000 or so pages of the Pali language canon, the author has achieved a remarkable feat of editing. It gives the English world an authentic overview of who the Buddha was and what he did. The selections are rendered in clear lucid English, with every passage referenced. It is not a biographical novel however. There are no artificial attempts at plot, or other literary devices, or to turn the Canon into something more conventional. It is wholly faithful to the source material.
   If you have any interest in whom the Buddha was and what he taught, start with this book. And leave the pseudo-biographies and novelizations to the hacks.



3. The book presents a selection of the suttas with an historical underpinning and without ever extending beyond the limited borders of the Pali Canon.
   This Biblic-like account, given the basically atemporal nature and catechism of the Buddha's teachings, results in a quite sketchy approach to Buddhism that might contrast in method with the Dhamma teaching and that might thus suggest against using the text as an introducion to the practice.
   Still the book has the great merit of providing translations from the Vinaya Pitaka, the basket presently most neglected by Western translators, as well as giving a handy reference to specific episodes difficulty retrieved in the original texts.



4. This is my humble opinion on the importance and place of this book.

   The Changes of Buddhism:

   1. Theravada Buddhism = techniques of making art
   2. Mahayana Buddhims = the skillful and creative artist
   3. Western (existential) Buddhism = modern artist

   Theravad: "The Life of the Buddha"
   is filled with the actual teachings and words of the Buddha.

   Mahayana: "A Guide To The Bodhisattva's Way of Life" by Santideva
   is filled with relevant insights in everyday life that were first inspired
   by the original words of the Buddha

   Western: "Buddhism Without Belief" by Stephen Batchelor
   asks do we really know? What is relevant?
   Instead of accepting or rejecting,
   we can admit that we don't really know,
   but still be open minded and have the resolve
   to continue to question and explore.




5. This is an excellent book using only material from the earliest accounts provided from the time of the Buddha.

   You can make your own mind up about this enigmatic human being rather than relying on hearsay. It includes biographical material by observers, autobiographical accounts from the Buddha and also includes a section on the teaching. All sections are prefaced with opening remarks like the acts of a play in more or less chronological sequence of the Buddha's life.

   Nanamoli was one of the best Pali translators and tries to produce as authentic and as lucid an account based on the Pali sources used.

No comments about Jesus: A Portrait.

5 comments about Heaven: Close Encounters of the God Kind.

1. I just watched the DVD... I was skeptical at first, but then God spoke to me, and softened my heart, and I ended up crying like a baby by the end.
   
   My grandma experienced seeing angels before. She was dying of an untreatable disease, but an angel came in a form of little babies who were worshiping God and she saw them and was instantly healed. My grandma never read the Bible because she didn't know how to read, but she knew how to receive Jesus with a childlike heart!
   
   Jesse shares his experience in rather childlike manner as well. I believe that what he saw was real because it made a lot of sense to me and it went alone with the Bible very well! I realized that fellowship is what's important! Through what Jessee shared, I only saw that people and angels living in Heaven constantly communicated with each other in a most lovable manner imaginable! They are filled with joy just for the fact that they're there in Heaven, and it's real, it's no joke!
   
   People loose faith, and try to make things up to match things with science and such! So some start thinking that Heaven is symbolic, that it's not really real, etc, etc... But Heaven is real! And Jesus is real!
   
   Some people forget that God created us in His image, and that He is real, that He's not some energy or simply light! God can be seen if allowed! He did appear to Moses, and He did take Elijah up to heaven on a chariot! Why don't we realize that it all actually happened, and God is the same always!
   
   As I watched the DVDs, I felt presence of the Lord, and I felt closer to Jesus! I remembered how when I was a kid, my mom would always say, "nick, every time you do something bad and you don't repent, it hurts Jesus". As I grew up I stopped believing in that, but Jesse reminded me of it! Jesus actually does gets hurt every time his people go astray! Jesse reminds us that Jesus has feelings, and He loves people so much that every time there is a murder happening, or hateful words fall out of someone's mouth, Jesus cries!!
   
   Also, we tend to think that everyone in heaven is so uptight, and serious and such, but it made a lot more sense when Jesse explained that David and Abraham were very nice and friendly! Even Jesus acted humble with him! Which is amazing! That only confirms that Jesus is truly a lamb! We can hurt Jesus, or we can love Jesus, and even though he is glorious and powerful, he is in fact a lamb, a Son of God who longs for a friendship with his people, and that's us!
   
   We often pray, "Jesus make me happy", when in reality all we have to do is simply have a relationship with Him! That's the message I got from Jesse!
   
   Another message I got from his, is that JESUS IS COMING SOON!
   
   To all the people who posted negative responses to this book, I say, JESUS IS COMING SOON, get your blind folds off of your eyes, stop judging people, learn to love, clean up your act, and get yourself ready for the Kind of Kings is coming!



2. I read the book and was blown away by the descriptions of things in heaven. He did this in 1988 and wrote the book. In the Book he talks about walking on a 100% pure gold sidewalk in heaven and being able to see through it as it was translucent. Scientist didn't/couldn't make 100 percent pure gold until the mid 90's and guess what. ONLY 100 percent pure gold can be seen through like mirror sunglasses, just like the book said.. How could he have known this.. unless it was true. many other parts of the book touched my spirit.. It's a must read for A TRUE Beliver.



3. Jesse Duplantis is a very, very funny person. With his imagination and humor he should be great entertainment for satan and his demons when he really does depart this life.



4. To all those who read the word to acquire a greater relationship with the Most High God, and those who take the responsibility of discipleship joyfully and all others, I greet you. Simple matter this book of Jesse's. With two scriptures we can continue our prayer for this brother . Those who have ears let them hear.
   
   Colossians 2:18
   Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind,And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.
   
   I sat in the audience in Vegas at one of jesse's sermons. This scripture is what came to mind.
   Finally let's take care of the notion that a man was in the presence of God, or has seen the Holy city.
   
   1 Timothy 6:16
   Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen
   
   It's clear that false prophets will come, Jesus said this as well as other writer's in the word of God. Whether jesse is or not doesn't matter. Salvation is individual and judgement is also. The only ship you must get right is the one you ride on! Search the scriptures and right your own ship. jesse going to pluto or plano texas does not matter. Where are you going?
   Romans 10:9 helps with this and remember that 2 Cor 3:3 says,
   
   Forasmuch as ye are manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God; not in tables of stone, but in fleshy tables of the heart.
   Paul declares believers to be letters of Christ. What are others reading when they see you?



5. God took Jesse to heaven to give people hope. Those that are botherd by this book need to take a look at there love walk. In the bible God transported Elijah to different places and took him up in a fiery chariot. Why would it be different now. God is the same yesterday today and forever!

5 comments about Fire in the City: Savonarola and the Struggle for the Soul of Renaissance Florence.

1. This is a book about the politics of Renaissance Florence, not a book about religion or theology. The title tells you that, and that's what Martines delivers. Martines makes it plain that he is not interested in Savonarola's theology or in religion generally, except as far as it affects politics. It is a book that will help you understand Florence.
   
   The book is thoroughly researched using documents in the original languages and is well written.
   
   For those readers who want to study the religious aspects of Savonarola's thought and life I recommnend the collection of Savonarola's sermons and other documents also available here on Amazon by putting his name in as a search term.
   
   Some of the reviews here seem to criticize Martines for not writing the book about Savonarola that they wanted to read.
   
   For example, there is a controversy among Italian historians about whether Savonarola was a proto-Protestant, a forerunner of Martin Luther. That is the kind of question that does not interest Martines and that's fine. It's his book, and well worth reading.



2. Overall good
   I was hoping that there would be more on the content of the sermons of Savonarola



3. Fire in the City is another revealed hornet's nest from Martines that picks up the thread where his previous book April Blood left off. As the title suggests, this is not an exclusive biography on Savonarola, the author casts his net wider than that detailing, in a very readable fashion, the political and social settings that were bound in with Savonarola's actions.
   
   With Lorenzo's death, Florence is at the mercy of his vain and incompetent son, Piero de Medici, whose diplomatic bungling with the invading King of France, Charles the VIII, gets him run out of town by the citizens of Florence, creating political alternatives to Medici rule. Into this anxious period of uncertainty, the searing personality of the reforming Dominican Friar, Savonarola, is catapulted.
   
   Martines shows how Savonarola's political instinct was very much in line with the Christian ethos he espoused from the pulpit, preferring a broader based franchise through the Great Council, sustained by a Republic, instead of oligarchic rule by an elite. Salvation meant not just the deliverance by redemption from the power of sin, but also preservation from tyrannical harm. Yet Savonarola's motives were not as subversive or ego driven ('vainglorious') as his inquisitors and future Medici regimes led history to believe.
   
   Martines also shows how Savonarola's prophecies, another contentious quality to his personality used against him by his enemies in Rome and elsewhere, were not far off the mark. The sack of Rome by Christian mercenaries in 1527, twenty-nine years after Savonarola's execution, seemed to vindicate much of Savonarola's visionary utterances. Was that, indeed, the scourge against the Church he claimed Charles the VIII capable of a generation earlier?
   
   Emphasising the importance of this little Dominican Friar from Ferrara who was prepared to take on Pope Alexander VI over issues of simony and moral corruption, reminds us just how much of a precursor he was to Martin Luther. His insistence on a reformed Church was not merely rhetorical either, his own example proved otherwise.
   
   No doubt Savonarola was a force to behold with his lightning bolts of apocalyptic doom. He profoundly affected Michelangelo and Botticelli who heard him speak, but Martines has stained orthodox whitewash with the blood of historical realism, showing us that Savonarola was more vital and complex and his contribution more positive, than that of just a preaching terrorist who infuriated Rome and encouraged the `bonfire of the vanities'.
   
   After reading April Blood and Fire in the City, the enigma of Florence is much better understood. We patiently wait for his next publication, to read again where it will lead.



4. I had read enough about Savonarola to have a vague idea as to what he was about, but this book gave me a very different perspective. Savonarola was much more complicated, and less a mad man than I had thought. The destuction of the "vanities", which was the most lamentable of all his actions from our perspective, is better understood after reading this book. Obviously, the value of the destroyed art in Savanarola's context is quite different than it is in ours, and Mr Martines made the point very well. It is a great read, full of history, and I enjoyed it very much.



5. This is a must read for anyone planning a vacation to Florence, or for those wanting to experience the place and time without the expense, as Martines reaches far beyond the story of a single man and into Renassiance Florence. Readers will find this gripping and complex historical drama impossible to put down. "April Blood" (the Pazzi conspiracy against the Medici) sets the stage for this great book, and Martines combines expert scholarship with dramatic narrative skill in both works.

5 comments about Saints: A Year in Faith and Art.

1. As a Catholic School librarian, I highly recommend this
   book. One of the very delightful aspects of this book is
   it's beautiful physical appearance. It is small in size,
   remanisant of medieval hand printed books. The smooth
   paper and gilt cover add to it's appeal. There is a brief
   description of each saint with an accompanying picture
   on the opposite page. The old masters art work is
   lovely. However, some of the pictures are graphic and
   may not be for very young children.



2. I bought this book for my son as he received First Communion. He has consulted it almost every day since, reporting to the rest of the family on the saint featured. Every page turn has a brief story of the saint of the day on one side and a stunning artwork depicting a scene from the saint's life on the other.
   
   One word of caution: martyrdom is not for the faint of heart. Some of the artistic renditions are quite graphic, even explicit, as in the case of Saint Agatha, who apparently had her breasts ripped out with pincers.



3. This is an amazing little book of saints. Designed for a "saint a day", it sometimes has two saints per day, but what really stands out is the absolutely beautiful artwork from medieval to modern times. Although the book is small, and hence the pictures also small, they are so sharp and beautiful that their size won't matter. The lives of each saint, being limited to a page or a page and a half, are only overviews, but good for a brief reading on a daily basis. No large time commitment here.



4. The book offers a daily review of a saint or blessed within the Catholic faith. An overview of their life and who they are patron saints of is included. What I enjoyed most was learning the Saints name origin and what it means. Each review is only 1 large paragraph and a picture is included. What a wonderful way to start or end your daily prayers!



5. As a Catholic priest for over 30 years, I am a lover of spiritual books and stories of role models of the faith. SAINTS: A YEAR in FAITH and ART is just such a book! In addition to the brief paragraphs about each saint, the art work presented relating to the saint is itself worth moments of reflection. If you want more knowledge of a saint, I suggest ALL SAINTS by Robert Ellsberg. If you want a succint understanding of a saint, this is your book! The cover, the daily portrayals and the art work all are worth this price!
   PS: I bought several copies and gave them to my Staff for Christmas gifts. They loved it!

5 comments about The Historical Figure of Jesus.

1. E.P. Sanders, a very professional and judicious scholar, provides here the best, short volume on a historical appraisal of Jesus. The book was published in 1993, though the research holds up remarkably well.
   
   He doesn't start out with any prejudices; rather, he uses his formidable historical knowledge, skill, and writing to follow the evidence. He may very well be the best person to do this in the English-speaking world today.
   
   He never strains to make the dots connect or come up with something novel. Novelty for the sake of novelty--making Jesus a bohemian hippie, Mediterranean cynic, or a skeptic--is not his intention. He has to deal with 200 years of searching for the history of Jesus, and people's intimacy with the primary sources; even, their desire to know his inmost thoughts. The job is certainly a very difficult one.
   
   He states his cards with full clarity on page 5--"The aim of this book is to lay out, as clearly as possible, what we can know [about Jesus], using the standard methods of historical research, and to distinguish from inferences, labeling them clearly as such"--and goes from there. He does, however, admit as an historian he subjects "the gospels" to "rough handling" for a believer. To wit, "The historian selects, but on different principles [unlike "the politician, novelist or moralist"]: what can be proved, what disproved, what lies in between?" (8)
   
   He also acknowledges that "Matthew and Luke...would not have appreciated having Jesus' teaching separated from their own theological conviction that God sent him to save the world." Most people want to be seen agreeing with Jesus, which is understandable. It is "the professional obligation" of the historian, however, "to subject sources to rigorous cross-examination," Sanders writes on page 8.
   
   He is certainly not hesitant to do so.
   
   The result is judicious, albeit one often at odds with traditional Christian belief.
   
   For example, the discussion of Pontius Pilate in the Gospels is devastatingly shown to be obscurantism. Matthew and John present a Pilate goaded by a feckless, blood-thirsty Jewish mob into crucifying Jesus. Even Pilate's wife, aided by a dream, counsels tenderness. What nonsense!
   
   Using the written evidence of non-Gospel resources--in this case Philo and Josephus, who understandably is the main source for much of his history--to clearly make the case that Pilate was the Hannibal Lector of the Roman world, we discover something new. This Pontius Pilate psychopath wasn't in the practice of hemming and hawing over torture and execution, which he probably did with less thought than I do in purchasing dental floss. In fact he was recalled for excessive brutality by a very brutal regime--Pilate's "reluctance and weakness of will are best explained as Christian propaganda." (274)
   
   Another example of Sanders's well reasoned, balanced historical appraisal occurs on page 260 in connection with Jesus' overturning of the money lenderers and pigeon sellers: "Moreover, I think it highly probable that Jesus himself intended the action to predict the destruction of the Temple, rather than to symbolize its need of purification. It is impossible, however, to prove that the statement about a 'den of robbers' was not actually said by Jesus or that what he said was 'I will destroy the Temple.' I must confess that I doubt the authenticity of the 'den of robbers' statement. It looks to me like an easy phrase for the evangelists to lift from Jeremiah to make Jesus appear politically innocuous to Greek-speaking Gentile readers."
   
   Very like.
   
   I've recently become acutely uncomfortable with the New Testament's blood libel of the Jews that's read at Catholic churches at Eastertime. Here Sanders is witty in his understatement: "The traditional Christian view that other Jews hated [Jesus] because he was good, and because he favoured love, which they opposed, will not do." Indeed.
   
   I learned from this book that scripture says that the punishment for defrauding someone is full restitution plus twenty percent. I recently used this when my nine-year-old son stole four dollars from my five-year-old daughter.
   
   This judicious scholar has given us the best introduction to Jesus from a historical perspective. I wish I had started with it--I've been interested lately in learning about the greatest figure in world history--though I agree with reviewer John Ryan, my Amazon teacher, that Jesus' political stance vis-a-vis the Roman Empire, which controlled the eastern Mediterranean, is largely overlooked even when it seemed to warrant a fuller discussion.
   
   This book, a real tour-de-force by a consummate historian, does require a quiet setting and lots of time. Since I have neither in ample quantities, it took me over two weeks to finish reading. It's the most significant history I've read after Paul Johnson's Modern Times, Barbara Tuchman's Guns of August, and J.M. Roberts's History of the World.
   
   Read it, folks, with an open mind!



2. I am using this text as a source for my Education for Ministry (EFM) class. I have not read the entire book. What I have read is very interesting.



3. In my opinion it is THE best book on Jesus of Nazareth. There is no bias toward or untoward christain faith.
   It is strictly academic and also popular book about historical figure of Jesus.
   If your faith, dear reader, would weaken after reading this book, it would mean that knowlege of your religion was not thorough.
   This is superb book in every respect. It will make you think about nothing else for a while - just Jesus and first century Palestine. So beware!



4. E.P. Sanders is the giant in contemporary American Jesus scholarship. Unlike the anti-intellectual sensationalist bigot John Shelby Spong, you will not find anything "NEW!" or "CONTROVERSIAL!". Sander's, while certainly a liberal, is first and foremost a historian. And he methodically goes over the criteria in examining the Gospels and reconstructing the historical figure of Jesus of Nazareth. He focuses particularly on the Canonical Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and Q). He finds these to be the most reliable in investigating who Jesus was and where he stood in the stream of Palestinian Judaism.
   
   Unlike the other popular liberal scholar, (and member of the controversial Jesus Seminar) John Dominic Crossan, he does not think Thomas has any particular value in investigating Jesus. I would say Sanders has more in common with Marcus Borg than Crossan, although I think the latter two tend to adapt First-Century Jesus to the fleeting philosophies of today and try to make Jesus "appealing" to the modern mind (Borg especially falls into this). Sanders (like the centrist Catholic scholar John P. Meier) presents Jesus fully, warts and all.
   
   This book was a joy to read. It is especially geared towards those who are interested in Jesus, but not so much Christianity and those Christians who are looking to further illumine the figure they worship by learning about this Jewish Peasant in the historical circumstances in which he dwelled. It is much more accessible than his scholarly treatment "Jesus and Judaism". The technical introduction that is in the aforementioned text is absent, in this book Sanders is focused on the non-scholar reader.
   
   Sander's is probably my favorite scholar (although Meier and Wright follow closely behind) and I particularly enjoy the way he addresses the controversies with the Jewish leaders and his crucifixion (and the responsibility for it). The chapter on the Resurrection is also fantastic, whether you believe in it or not. Sanders does not come down on a position because it is outside the historians realm of inquiry, but nevertheless I liked what he had to say about it.
   
   Out of all popular books about the historical Jesus that plague the market, Sanders is a breath of fresh air. Of course it does not get nearly the amount of press as James Cameron's "Jesus Family Tomb" (or Gnostic revival; Holy Blood, Holy Grail, etc) but when did meticulous scholarship become fun and exciting to the sensationalist media and the masses?
   
   If anyone is looking for a great introduction to contemporary New Testament scholarship, look no further for such a balanced treat! It is perfect as an introduction.



5. I would totally agree with the earlier comment that "The author thinks there has to be a rational explanation for everything, and if there isn't, then it must be disregarded as untrue - it did not happen".
   
   There is a key problem in this book of the over rigidity in applying his frame of reference.
   
   As a historian, he is obsessed with the chronological order of events. Consequently he draws completely invalid conclusions based on absence of, or gaps in, chronological order.
   
   Associated with this he does not allow the Gospel authors to select their material according to their themes and also to post rationalise their selection of material. This includes integrating their material into Old Testament sources. As a researcher in social science, this is not an omission by the Gospel writers but a quite normal approach. All research is by necessity highly selective and related to the purpose or themes at hand. Plus we integrate our `primary' sources into our `secondary' sources to add or elaborate meaning. Therefore one can draw no real conclusions based on this approach.
   
   He is also I am afraid highly ethnocentric. His cultural frame of reference is modern North America. He really does make many serious errors when interpreting culture from outside this limited frame of reference. Frequently he assumes that this or that could not have happened, when in fact it was normal, even in western society, upto a few years ago. He similarly has little understanding of number or names outside the modern American context.
   
   (If I take his arguments and apply them to myself, as I come from a different cultural background and don't conform to his stereotypes, I can conclusively prove I don't exist. Therefore do I conclude, following the direction of the good professor, that I am just an interpolation?)
   
   The book is interesting but as a work of social science it does not really stand up. I certainly would not recommend it as an academic text.

5 comments about The Jefferson Bible: The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth.

1. This book is historically important, and used in US military schools as a template of good values.
   
   This book is merely a cut an paste of most of the "interesting values" in some of the gospels accepted and selected by the church.
   
   I do wish that Thomas Jefferson could include the recently discovered gospel of Judas, and also the gospel of Marie.
   
   This book should in my view be seen in the historical context of the late 18th century: the Christian church was much discredited by the abuses of the inquisition, and large use of abuse, torture and killing of opponents which were really political opponents.
   
   A few examples: In England John Tyndale (his only crime was to translate the bible in english, re-edited by his friend Cannondale, it became, with political help from the king, the "King James Bible") was burned at the stacke, in France Calas was executed for just not align themselves with the official (and very lucrative) policies of the catholic church.
   
   In my view, again, a good book in the historical context.
   From a theological point of view, unless I missed something, there is nothing really new, just an attempt to create a simple short document, much easier to read than the whole set of the gospels.
   
   Here Thomas Jefferson makes the case, that religion without ethical values is mere superstition.
   
   But if you wish to know much more about Thomas Jefferson on religious issues, suggest that you also read his writings: many letters including to members of the church will clarify his strictly monotheist, unitarian christian point of view.
   
   So byzantine discussions about the theological value of this book, seems to me un-necessary and vaines: christianism like most large religions has many schools of thought, and when disagreement are non violent, then, they are acceptable ones...
   But the extreme violence that the Christian church unleashed against any unorthodox theologic view, from the twelve century (first crusade 1095) to the present times, must make dissenters cautious.
   
   Suggested related reading: (beside the Torah and some accepted version of "the new testament" (there are many, the ones translated from the Greek language are usually accepted from being of better quality...).
   
   1) The Writing of Thomas Jefferson.
   2) "The book of sins".
   3) "Misquoting Jesus".
   4) The Gospel of Judas.
   5) The Gospel of Mary.
   6) The Chouraqui Bible (In French, my Andre Chouraqui, mayor of Jerusalem).
   7) "The decline and fall of the Roman empire" by Edwards Gibbons.



2. I was curious as to what & how the new Testament was "edited" by Jefferson. The description of miracles was minimised. Dialogues focussed on exposition of morality & basic belief. I wonder as to leaders/ advocates of several organised faiths reaction & agreement with the corpus of Jeffersons "ommisions"



3. The best study of the "social & moral" teachings of Jesus
   is this version of the Jefferson Bible.
   It has red-letter text for the quotations of Jesus,
   and cites the NT passages from which they are taken.
   It is in the King James version,
   so you may want to use [...]
   for the modern English translations of the Jesus quotations,
   which will give the poetry of the KJV new life.
   Taking out all the Theology & Eschatology
   was a brilliant inovation by Thomas Jefferson.



4. I have long believed that the way Jesus said to live was more important than his immortality (or mine). I knew our "Founders" didn't base our constitution on "Judea-Christian values", as is frequently proposed by some
   political/religious leaders, but on principles of the Enlightenment which they believed would bring a new kind of government, free of religious oppression, first to America, and then to the world.
   
   The only books on the subject are very large, very scholarly, very informative, but... how nice to have this little book on my coffee table where curious minds can explore the thinking of one of America's most forward looking leaders, and read just the words of Jesus, without the mythology attached to his death by future theologians.
   
   The preface, the introduction and chapter about Jefferson's contemporaries is a history lesson every
   American should review. No-one who has visited my home has found it in any way offensive, but all
   find it enlightening !



5. This bargain is an impoprtant piece of American history. Jefferson was a diest, which they viewed God as like a fine clock maker and made the government intself, not the constitution. They got rid of anything supernatural from the Bible. It stands along side the King James Bible and the 1611 edition of the King James, the works of Martin Luther as one of the most important reads for a Christian in American history. I liked it a lot, but it's too skimpy a volume to be a classic, but it is famous.

5 comments about Gospel of Sri Ramakrishna :Abridged Edition.

1. This book, and the complete version as well, are one of the most beautiful books i have ever read.
   Please, get it! is the real thing!!!!
   i do recomend to get both versions, this one is great for travelling, but you want to have the complete version at home.



2. I'm reading the book for the third time--and I'm sure it won't be my last reading of this living document. Anyone who loves God or wants to love God must read this transmission of Ramakrishna's unification with the creator.



3. As a rationalist, I read this book as a historical document. I was quite impressed. Mahendra Nath Gupta is quite amazing. It is an excellent primary source of description of life in Bengal during the ninteenth century.



4. This book is highly recommended to those who are ready to renounce the world and live a life filled with God-consciousness. It encourages the reader to be steadfast in his spiritual quest and gives the reader hope and guidance in the spiritual path.
   
   This book is based on a journal maintained by one of Ramakrishna's close disciple, M. The clarity of explanations and the allegory used by this great master to teach simple spiritual truths is indeed outstanding, to say the least. It gives the uninitiated reader a simple understanding of complex spiritual philosophy. The parables told by Ramakrishna in this book can also be compared to the usage of parables by Jesus as well.
   
   Finally, I wish to state that this book is highly recommended to all sincere seekers of Truth, whether he/she is a Hindu, Muslim, Christian or belonging to any different sects or religious groups. This book unites ALL faiths!



5. This is truly the best spiritual book I have ever read. There is nothing that can be found in another spiritual book that is not contained in this Gospel of Ramakrishna. What a spiritual teacher he was! The insights! The clarity of explanation! I wished everyone on earth has a chance to be exposed to Ramakrishna's words. He makes the spiritual path understandable and brings it down to earth. I could go on and on saying the praises of this great being.
   C.K.

1 comments about Jesus and Paul: Parallel Lives.

1. Murphy-O'Connor is careful to say that there are parallels between Jesus and Paul.Paralleling two significant people is not new. It has its precedents in ancient literature. Murphy-O'Connor dazzles with intriguing information. A must read for those interested in the New Testament world.

5 comments about Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: An Ordinary Christian.

1. Frassati is an excellent model for the life of a young person, and this is a helpful introduction to the qualities that made him extraordinary.



2. I found myself unable to put this book down, devouring it in a day's time and finding myself to inspired by this great saint. The author's organization makes it for an easy read - starting with one aspect of Blessed Pier's life and spirituality, covering it in depth, and then moving on to another. Pier was a multi-faceted man - a romantic, a mystic, an athlete, a student, an outspoken political critic, a son/brother, and a friend. Thank God this author is able to write beautifully on Pier from each of those aspects in such a manner that anyone who reads this book will feel a connection to this blessed youth.



3. Pier Giorgio was athletic, fun-loving, knew the true meaning of friendship, and yet had a small vice or two (he smoked a pipe). He came from an average, and averagely disfunctional, family. He was deeply in love with a beautiful girl whom, rightly or wrongly, he felt he had to give up because his parents would object. And so he courageously did so, not even letting the girl suspect the depth of his feelings for her. His love for God and for the poor filled his young life. His sister Luciana felt that his death from polio at age 24 was indirectly caused by the inattention and even neglect of his parents during his grandmother's last illness. A good read, and an inspiring one!



4. Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati's life-though brief-was truely a model example of the heroic, an unyielding quest to fully and earnestly live out the Gospel. At times, it's an indefinable journey that is filled to the brim with unimaginable heartbreaks and delights of unprecedented scope, a trek that is sometimes lived out both publicly and privately. In the case of Pier Giorgio Frassati-in his cultured and affluent upbringing-he was the private Catholic Robin Hood, living a life divided of what his family and the moneyed society he was born into expeced of him versus what his heart yearned to bring to fruition: helping the less fortunate and living out his vocation of faith with zeal, simplicity and adventure. He could have lived a cushioned life as a freewheeling member of the intellectual Italian aristocracy, his agnostic father, Alfredo, being the founder of the noted newspaper, La Stampa, as well as being a politician and diplomat, while his mother, Adelaide, was a sculptress of acknowledged repute. Yet, there was an aspect of heavyheartedness and mistrust regarding the life he was born into, often shunning society balls and all the baggage associated with it. He did not yearn to be an executive paper pusher within La Stampa, as his father had set up for him. Rather, he wanted to be a mining engineer in order to work with the poor and needy miners, to cater to their spiritual and economic needs--foregoing even the priesthood, becasue he believed he could give more and better as a member of the laity, offer more hands-on, practical service where he saw fit, which was almost everywhere. Sadly, the unmistakable vocation to the religious life was never fostered nor promoted by his parents, as noted on page 30: "Once, when a nun asked Adelaide what she thought of the idea of Pier Giorgio becoming a priest, she answered abruptly, 'I would rather he graduate from the university and die.'" As that was so, Pier Giorgio, thrust himself behind Catholic Action, adhering strictly to their motto of action, prayer and sacrifice. He also became a political Catholic neophyte, getting into brawls to protect the faith, while denouncing Mussolini's facism. All the while, he would make private visits to the poor, trudging with an abundance of care packages into the most dilapidated and disease infested areas conceivable, only to rise very early in the morning for devotions, to pray with Mary for guidance and sing the litany of the Blessed Virgin Mary or do the rosary, which was the "testament in my pocket."--page 53. Tersely yet eloquently written, An Ordinary Christian is a beautifully crafted biography of a most remarkable, humorous and winsome young man, a keen mountaineer who made his Catholic faith his priority; his compassion, openness, feisty doggedness, enthusiasm, grinding patience and loving acceptance of God's will for him, definitely makes him a Catholic Blessed and hopefully a soon-to-be Catholic Saint that all humainity-young and old-can look up to, a man who scaled beyond the mountain crests up to the heavenly realm.



5. If you are interested in a book about Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati, this is the one to get - or at least to start with. The other two books available in the U.S. are "Man of the Beatitudes" and "His Last Days - My Brother Pier Giorgio", both written by Pier Giorgio's sister Luciana. If you're really interested in getting to know Pier Giorgio I recommend these books as well, but they are not as succinct, nor are they as well written as "Ordinary Christian". "Man of the Beatitudes" is written by his sister, is of course based on first hand accounts, and has a lot of great information. However, it jumps around a lot and doesn't read very well. There is also a flawed representation of Frassati's parents according Frassati's niece Wanda Gawronska, head of the Associazione Pier Giorgio Frassati. "His Last Days" is a better book, and a powerful telling of Pier Giorgio's tragic and heroic last six days. I highly recommend this very detailed acount of the last days of his life.
   
   "Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati: An Ordinary Christian" is simply a much better biography. Well written, easy to read, filled with information, quotes, and pictures - it combines much of the information from the other two books and adds new information to produce a fine book that covers almost every aspect of his life personally, politically, and spiritually -including the process involved in his beatification.
   
   As the moderator of the Frassati Society at the Catholic high school where I teach, having a deep devotion to this amazing Christian, and having been blessed to personally meet and talk with Wanda Gawronska several times in Rome - it is my opinion that this is the best introduction to the life and witness of Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati - perhaps the most relevant example of a devout and dynamic young Catholic life for the youth of today.
   
   "By his example he proclaims that a life lived in Christ's Spirit, the Spirit of the Beatitudes, is `blessed', and that only the person who becomes a `man or woman of the Beatitudes' can succeed in communicating love and peace to others. He repeats that it is really worth giving up everything to serve the Lord. He testifies that holiness is possible for everyone, and that only the revolution of charity can enkindle the hope of a better future in the hearts of people."
   
   From Pope John Paul II's homily
   at the Beatification Mass of
   Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati,
   May 20, 1990.