Overview

""Helton's engaging adaptation of Jesus's story, 'The Metta Valley Gospel, ' opens the imagination to the depths of our shared histories, emphasizing the interconnected and universal nature of wisdom and compassion."" -Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life ""Zachary has given us a story that dares to imagine Jesus-not as a distant, dogmatic figure-but as a wounded and curious human. Metta Valley Gospel goes beyond narratives of control and fear, instead offering a compassionate vision wide enough to hold all our doubts and longings. For anyone healing from fundamentalism, this book feels like freedom."" -Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness ""Not since Christopher Moore's Lamb has there been a fictionalized retelling of the Jesus story that had this much imagination, style, and punch. Metta Valley Gospel asks profound questions (""What if Jesus' genius was the result of spiritual abuse?"") while at the same time telling a rip-roaring story about a young Jesus trying to find himself...and his calling. Metta Valley Gospel is the most fun you can have with Jesus outside the monastery. Don't miss it."" -Rev. Dr. John R. Mabry, author of the award-winning novel The Worship of Mystery, andGrowing Into God: A Beginner's Guide to Christian Mysticism. A story for those grieving the faith that once defined them. Raised in a world of rules and shame, Jesus has always been the one to question what others accept. But when his defiance leads to exile, he must leave behind everything familiar and journey across cultures, wisdom traditions, and inner landscapes. Disillusioned and guarded, he finds himself determined to find a deeper truth-even if it means unlearning everything he was once taught to believe. For fans of Sue Monk Kidd (The Book of Longings), Paulo Coelho (The Alchemist), and Hermann Hesse (Siddhartha), this novel speaks to those who are deconstructing religion, exploring spiritual-but-not-religious fiction, or searching for a new way to tell a familiar story.

Full Product Details

9798992864946

Table of Contents

Reviews

Author Information

Zachary Helton is an author and board-certified spiritual care counselor whose work speaks to exvangelicals, mystics, and seekers reimagining their relationship to the sacred. A former pastor raised in evangelicalism, he now writes stories and reflections that blend emotional depth, spiritual insight, and narrative craft. His debut novel, Metta Valley Gospel, reimagines the Jesus story through the lens of healing, liberation, and interspiritual wisdom. His work has appeared in Braided Way, Flash Fiction Magazine, Baptist News Global, and Nurturing Faith. He lives with his partner, two kids, and the world's cutest Cavapoo-and when he's not writing, he's probably getting way too into a new series or re-reading something by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Tab Content 6

Countries Available