Overview

THE GREATEST STORY NEVER TOLD. In the history of religion there has never been another figure quite like Jesus of Nazareth. We know what propelled Moses, Mohammed and the Buddha into becoming great religious leaders. What transformed this obscure villager from Galilee into a charismatic prophet who would change the course of Western civilization? Drawing on both historical and textual evidence, as well as the study of religious experience, Becoming Jesus: The Making of a Prophet, seeks to answer that question by examining in depth the central religious event in his life, his baptism by John the Baptist. Hiding in plain sight for two thousands years but obscured by Christianity's emphasis on Jesus' divinity, the conversion story embedded in the Gospels helps us to understand how Jesus came to have a unique vision of God. That vision shaped his mission and message, setting in motion a religious revolution. Written for anyone with an interest in the figure of Jesus, Becoming Jesus begins with a general overview of the many different ways the historical Jesus has been portrayed in scholarship and by the media, muddling our image of who he was. It then reviews what we know about his origins and the time in which he lived, providing the context for why his baptism experience affected him so profoundly. The final section explores how that experience spurred his development as a religious leader and came to define his mission and message.

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9781732040502

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Reviews

"FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY / BOOKLIFE Berens, a freelance writer, discusses the historical background and personal development of Jesus Christ in this enjoyable speculative biography. Beginning with the premise that Jesus would have had similar experiences to those of his contemporaries, Berens marshals archaeological evidence as well as historical and biblical scholarship to explore what Jesus's everyday life was like as well as which events and influences may have led him to make his choices. Taking a strictly historical approach, Berens situates Jesus as a Galilean man among other Galilean men, experiencing the events of his lifetime--the hardships of life under Roman rule, the recent history of religious violence--just as his contemporaries (particularly John the Baptist) did. Berens's approach is matter-of-fact and sticks close to the arc of Jesus's life as known through the Bible, continually bringing the reader back to the everyday realities of first-century Palestine and the notion that the rationales for some decisions (particularly spiritual ones) are only known to the individual making them. . . . [Becoming Jesus] will appeal to those looking for a primer on Jesus's life."" (June 11, 2018) FIVE STAR REVIEW ON AMAZON Excellent work! . . . The author offers an accessible, measured, scholarly, penetrating examination of available resources and scholarly commentaries about them to provide the reader with numerous insights as he lays out and weighs the evidence with solid objectivity. This will provide the scholar or pastor with thought-provoking analysis, and the lay reader with a eye-opening treasure trove to consider in their future studies."

FROM PUBLISHERS WEEKLY / BOOKLIFE Berens, a freelance writer, discusses the historical background and personal development of Jesus Christ in this enjoyable speculative biography. Beginning with the premise that Jesus would have had similar experiences to those of his contemporaries, Berens marshals archaeological evidence as well as historical and biblical scholarship to explore what Jesus's everyday life was like as well as which events and influences may have led him to make his choices. Taking a strictly historical approach, Berens situates Jesus as a Galilean man among other Galilean men, experiencing the events of his lifetime--the hardships of life under Roman rule, the recent history of religious violence--just as his contemporaries (particularly John the Baptist) did. Berens's approach is matter-of-fact and sticks close to the arc of Jesus's life as known through the Bible, continually bringing the reader back to the everyday realities of first-century Palestine and the notion that the rationales for some decisions (particularly spiritual ones) are only known to the individual making them. . . . [Becoming Jesus] will appeal to those looking for a primer on Jesus's life. (June 11, 2018) FIVE STAR REVIEW ON AMAZON Excellent work! . . . The author offers an accessible, measured, scholarly, penetrating examination of available resources and scholarly commentaries about them to provide the reader with numerous insights as he lays out and weighs the evidence with solid objectivity. This will provide the scholar or pastor with thought-provoking analysis, and the lay reader with a eye-opening treasure trove to consider in their future studies.

Author Information

Michael J. Berens, M.S., Ph.D., is a freelance writer, editor and researcher with more than thirty years of professional communications and publication experience. Apart from his professional pursuits, he has had a lifelong interest in the history of religion and the intersection of religion and culture.

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