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Title: The Myth of the Resurrection and Other Essays (The Freethought Library) by Joseph McCabe ISBN: 0-87975-833-3 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: August, 1993 Format: Paperback Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $19.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 3.4 (5 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Classical work on biblical criticism
Comment: Another reviewer has criticized this book for its lack of reference, and I agree. McCabe should've given citations, so that we can check the reliability of his sources and their methods. Also, there are a lot of good ideas scattered throughout this book, that Prometheus should have an index placed at the back.
The content of the book itself is very well written and thoroughly engaging. In the first part, McCabe documents specific beliefs and practices of the pagan cults, and draws parallels with christian beliefs and practices. He rightfully concludes that the gospel resurrection myth is a pagan derivative, and that it did not happen.
The Second part concerns the historicity of Jesus. While very skeptical of the gospel narratives, McCabe shows that it is more plausible that there was a hstorical Jesus behind the stories, than to believe that it is all myth. He reviews contemporary Jesus Mythicists like arthur Drews, who wrote The Christ Myth, and finds them wanting.
The last part of the book chronicles the rise of christianity, and how it was instrumental in the downfall of the Roman Empire shortly after gaining power via Emperor Constantine. It is definitely an eye-opening look at how christianity is vastly different from, an intolerant of, other beliefs. Rome was better off with Paganism as their official national religion.
Rating: 2
Summary: Clear but not referenced
Comment: My title for this review pretty much says it all: the author has a clear and well thought out structure, but since these are truly essays, they contain almost no quotes or references of the source material. Had the author made use of such referencing, this could have been a powerful work. The authors' opinions are presented without the backing of the base material, and as such sound as if they are propaganda. As it is, it is of little use to a serious reader of this subject.
Rating: 3
Summary: Another recommendation
Comment: I find the subject of the historicity of Jesus to be absolutely fascinating. Joseph McCabe's Myth of Ressurection is an interesting and scholarly work, but if you want a truly insightful and profound book check out Earl Doherty's The Jesus Puzzle. Doherty basically focuses on the "conspiracy of silence surrounding the Paulian epistles. He questions why Paul makes nary a mention of the deeds, life, and sayings of Jesus. His conclusion is simple yet surprising: Paul wasn't writing about a human Jesus but rather a mythical Jesus similar in scope to the "savior gods" which he learned about in his youth. I guarantee by the end of Doherty's arguments, you'll be thinking as I did: "Damn, why didn't I think of that."
Read it, and then if you want you can check out McCabe's take on Jesus.
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Title: The Forgery of the Old Testament and Other Essays (Freethought Library) by Joseph McCabe ISBN: 0879758503 Publisher: Prometheus Books Pub. Date: December, 1993 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Book Your Church Doesn't Want You to Read by Tim C. Leedom ISBN: 0939040158 Publisher: Truth Seeker Pub. Date: 01 September, 2001 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Jesus Puzzle. Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? : Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus by Earl Doherty ISBN: 0968601405 Publisher: Canadian Humanist Publications Pub. Date: 19 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $14.50 |
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Title: The Christ Conspiracy: The Greatest Story Ever Sold by Acharya S ISBN: 0932813747 Publisher: Adventures Unlimited Press Pub. Date: September, 1999 List Price(USD): $16.95 |
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Title: Forgery in Christianity: A Documented Record of the Foundations of the Christian Religion by Joseph Wheless ISBN: 1564592251 Publisher: Kessinger Publishing Company Pub. Date: March, 1997 List Price(USD): $31.00 |
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