I just finished reading "Who Wrote the Bible" by Friedman after seeing someone reommend it on here. I was enthralled and finished it in record time for myself. I'd never considered anything that could be called 'higher criticism' before. But as I read it things began to make sense. I've not taken everything it said as 'gospel' mind you, reading one sensible sounding book on a subject hardly makes me a believer, at least not these days anyway :) The main thing that struck me was it's discussion of the "E" and "J" texts. So many of the things that have bothered me about the first few books of the bible seem to make sense when considering these two seperate accounts of earlier history that have been woven together. The duality of God, the constant struggle between his mercy, or grace, and his justice. The seeming waffleing on whether Moses was good or bad, whether Aaron was good or bad. But considering it as being written by two groups of people with conflicting political, religious, and econimical agendas makes sense.
Anyway, blah blah blah, ramble ramble ramble. Would someone reccomend another book for me to read please? I'd like to perhaps consider something about the gnostic gospels maybe. Anyway, thanks for the input.
Looking
Just read "Who Wrote the Bible", another book recommendation please?
by lookingnow25 26 Replies latest watchtower bible
-
lookingnow25
-
Odrade
How about "Who Wrote the Gospels?" by Randel Helms. Again, largely undocumented, although it builds on some widely accepted ideas about the Gospels' authorship. He speculates that the author of Luke was actually a woman, which I'm not sure I buy. But the book is persuasive and entertaining.
"Lost Christianities" by Bart Ehrman is another interesting one. It sets out how the inclusions and exclusions from the bible canon shaped Christianity. The documentation is a little better than preceding book. It's a little more scholarly read, not as entertaining, but still pretty engrossing.
O
-
DevonMcBride
The Christ Conspiracy, The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Acharya S
Devon
-
EyeDrEvil
The Jesus Mysteries
and Jesus and the Lost Goddess
both books by Timothy Freke, Peter Gandy
very interesting stuff!
-
El blanko
The Christ Conspiracy is a feast of scholarship (400+ pages; fully illustrated), not only debunking the notion of a historical Jesus but establishing clearly the roots of that mythology in the solar precession. In pursuing this avenue of research, Acharya S has attained a panoramic view of world religious history especially useful to students of conspiracy, but also one accessible to mainstream readers.
I plan to get a copy of this book, but doubt that it is the scholarly work that many have claimed - only 400 pages? Why would it take nearly 2000 years for this information to come to light?
' The book may also appeal to students of conspiracy ' .... hmmm... who usually tend to be the most rational group on the planet ?
I have a copy of "Who Wrote the Bible" by Friedman in my library, being has it has reared it's head on this website, I will add it to my "books to read" list. I had assigned it to being a book to flick through from time to time and little else.
Personally I am just ploughing my way through "Blavatsky's Babboon", a thoroughly enjoyable romp through late 19th century characters who formed the Theosophical Society.
-
Mulan
The Christ Conspiracy, The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Acharya S
A very good read. It was a bit disconcerting to read that the author believes the earth is inhabited by aliens, and some other bizarre stuff.
The book has a lot of evidence, but much of it cannot be confirmed. Her references are there, but hard to decode, as to what book and author. I still loved it and found it to have lots of very good information.
-
Nosferatu
How about Motley Crue's autobiography "The Dirt"?
-
gitasatsangha
"Jesus Lived in India" by Holger Kersten
-
Mulan
"Jesus Lived in India" by Holger Kersten
I have that book. My brother gave it to me the first year we were out of the JW's. Haven't read it though.
-
gitasatsangha
Mulan,
www.tombofjesus.com has much of the same information. I am of the opinion that Jesus was of a Buddhist-sect of Essenes (the Nazarenes) and that he was a boddhisatva.