When believing gets hard...
Believing in God
in Jesus
in the Church
A book that helped me with the Jesus Question was CH Dodd's The Founder of Christianity. We could call it "The Jesus of Luke" as Dodd bases his study on the Gospel of Luke.
This is not a book of apologetics but it is quite good "Biblical Theology and Spirituality" which made sense to me while during my latter years in the Legion of Christ and maybe it prevented me from losing 'all my faith' during the leaving process.
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Here is a synopsis
C.H. Dodd is recognized as one of the great New Testament scholars of the twentieth century. Dr. Dodd was for many years Professor of New Testament at Cambridge University. Published by the MacMillan Company, New York, 1970. This material was prepared for Religion Online by Ted and Winnie Brock.
Preface
This books is based on the author’s four lectures given in February 1954 at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
This books is based on the author’s four lectures given in February 1954 at the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth.
Chapter 1: Introduction
A brief history of the church’s dependence upon its founder for the last nineteen centuries.
A brief history of the church’s dependence upon its founder for the last nineteen centuries.
Chapter 2: The Documents
What the gospels say about the founder of Christianity and some of the problems in knowing the reality of the events chronicled.
What the gospels say about the founder of Christianity and some of the problems in knowing the reality of the events chronicled.
Chapter 3: Personal Traits
The sayings of Jesus indicate an individual mind. What is the nature of that mind -- its style, its characteristics, its manner and mode?
The sayings of Jesus indicate an individual mind. What is the nature of that mind -- its style, its characteristics, its manner and mode?
Chapter 4: The Teacher
Jesus’ teaching is oriented in a direction which differentiates it from rabbinic Judaism. His whole approach to morals was different from that which prevailed among Jewish teachers of his time. His critics rightly divined that his teaching threatened the integrity of Judaism as a system in which religion and national solidarity were inseparable.
Jesus’ teaching is oriented in a direction which differentiates it from rabbinic Judaism. His whole approach to morals was different from that which prevailed among Jewish teachers of his time. His critics rightly divined that his teaching threatened the integrity of Judaism as a system in which religion and national solidarity were inseparable.
Chapter 5: The People of God
Violent convulsions had disturbed society for more than a century. Then Jesus came proclaiming, "The time has come, the kingdom of God is upon you!" This was interpreted as having revolutionary implications. This misunderstanding persisted to follow Jesus until the end. He was put to death as "King of the Jews."
Violent convulsions had disturbed society for more than a century. Then Jesus came proclaiming, "The time has come, the kingdom of God is upon you!" This was interpreted as having revolutionary implications. This misunderstanding persisted to follow Jesus until the end. He was put to death as "King of the Jews."
Chapter 6: The Messiah
Jesus’ action towards his being called "Messiah," and other symbol. "Christ," or "Messiah," is here neither a personal name nor a theological term, but an index to an historical role.
Jesus’ action towards his being called "Messiah," and other symbol. "Christ," or "Messiah," is here neither a personal name nor a theological term, but an index to an historical role.
Chapter 7: The Story: (I) Galilee
A chronicling of the events of Jesus life -- his childhood, his occupation (learning his father’s trade), his baptism, various human aspects of his life in the turbulent history of first-century Palestine.
A chronicling of the events of Jesus life -- his childhood, his occupation (learning his father’s trade), his baptism, various human aspects of his life in the turbulent history of first-century Palestine.
Chapter 8: The Story: (II) Jerusalem
The travels of Jesus during his ministry after his baptism. He evidently left the Galilee area and probably did not return. Speculation of his various travels and confrontations is outlined leading to his final journey to Jerusalem.
The travels of Jesus during his ministry after his baptism. He evidently left the Galilee area and probably did not return. Speculation of his various travels and confrontations is outlined leading to his final journey to Jerusalem.
Chapter 9: The Story: (III) The Sequel
An evaluation of the beliefs, ideas and speculations about Jesus after the crucifixion. Clearly something had changed his followers. There is no answer as to what actually happened, but we do know that starting from there the church embarked on the far-reaching intellectual enterprise which is the building of a Christian theology, and philosophy of life, upon the foundation thus laid, and that is an unfinished story.
An evaluation of the beliefs, ideas and speculations about Jesus after the crucifixion. Clearly something had changed his followers. There is no answer as to what actually happened, but we do know that starting from there the church embarked on the far-reaching intellectual enterprise which is the building of a Christian theology, and philosophy of life, upon the foundation thus laid, and that is an unfinished story.
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