A profound and moving journey into the heart of Christianity that explores the mysterious and often paradoxical lives and legacies of the Twelve Apostles—a book both for those of the faith and for others who seek to understand Christianity from the outside in.“Expertly researched and fascinating… Bissell is a wonderfully sure guide to these mysterious men.… This is a serious book about the origins of Christianity that is also very funny. How often can you say that?†—The Independent Peter; Matthew; Thomas; John: Who were these men? What was their relationship to Jesus? Tom Bissell provides rich and surprising answers to these ancient; elusive questions. He examines not just who these men were (and weren’t); but also how their identities have taken shape over the course of two millennia. Ultimately; Bissell finds that the story of the apostles is the story of early Christianity: its competing versions of Jesus’s ministry; its countless schisms; and its ultimate evolution from an obscure Jewish sect to the global faith we know today in all its forms and permutations. In his quest to understand the underpinnings of the world’s largest religion; Bissell embarks on a years-long pilgrimage to the supposed tombs of the Twelve Apostles. He travels from Jerusalem and Rome to Turkey; Greece; Spain; France; India; and Kyrgyzstan; vividly capturing the rich diversity of Christianity’s worldwide reach. Along the way; he engages with a host of characters—priests; paupers; a Vatican archaeologist; a Palestinian taxi driver; a Russian monk—posing sharp questions that range from the religious to the philosophical to the political. Written with warmth; empathy; and rare acumen; Apostle is a brilliant synthesis of travel writing; biblical history; and a deep; lifelong relationship with Christianity. The result is an unusual; erudite; and at times hilarious book—a religious; intellectual; and personal adventure fit for believers; scholars; and wanderers alike.
#206142 in Books Stephen Prothero 2004-09-18 2004-08-26Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.26 x 1.05 x 5.46l; .90 #File Name: 0374529566384 pagesAmerican Jesus How the Son of God Became a National Icon
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. the icon...By Reid Mccormick“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion; or prohibiting the free exercise thereofâ€This is the first clause of the first amendment of the United States Constitution. It is probably one of the most important lines (and most debated) in all of American freedoms. It is what makes the United States unique.Christianity has a very unique history in the United States because there is no central authority. There is no pope to monitor the flock. Every American has the right to view Jesus in his or her own way and thus worship and share this Jesus with whomever they want. Our third president and founding father; Thomas Jefferson; was one of the first to challenge the accepted status quo of Jesus in America. His Jesus was different from his citizens. He did not force his subjects to accept his Jesus. He did not mistreat or torture his dissenters. They were free to express their opinions; as so was he.American Jesus walks through the different views of Jesus throughout the nation’s history. Jesus is a national icon because he is up for interpretation. If you don’t like someone’s view of Jesus; you can change it to make it yours. Your view of Jesus is up to you. This book presents the different popular views of Jesus over the years and how he has developed over the decades.The first couple of chapters were interesting; but overall; this book was too long and not super interesting. At the end of the book; I was hoping to read more about the modern Jesus during the moral majority and Reagan years. Though this book was well-researched as better than others; it still does not reach the top of my suggestion list.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A Rare Book; Indeed!By JKAs those of us who still read should acknowledge in this country; the only subject more difficult to write objectively about than politics; is religion. Mr. Prothero has accomplished this. Actually; I am a Roman Catholic; and my priest loaned me his copy to read! I enjoyed it so much that by the time I'd read the introduction I'd ordered a copy for myself; on here. I would find it difficult to dispute this comprehensive history; regardless of which religion in this country I followed. Certainly; many of the statistics; particularly from the past; were quite fascinating. It is enlightening to realize that our country's founders; and not just the founding fathers; weren't nearly so tied to organized religion as we might want to think. As well-written and researched as this volume is; it is also a peripheral illustration of the value of American media and technology in cementing this country together. It might be interesting to today's Americans that there was very little mention of Islam in the book; considering our present political situation. This is a great read; and I've already purchased another book by Prothero in anticipation of enjoying it also.11 of 11 people found the following review helpful. America's Fondness to Create/Recreate Jesus In Its ImageBy rodboomboomThis is very seductive book in pulling the reader into its web looking at what America has done through its history with Jesus. The author; a religious professor; takes the reader on a whirlwind tour of this history; revolving in his opionion around none other than Jefferson himself; who scissored the NT into his own liking and image; thus creating the American way: make Jesus what you want him to be like; probably one that is comfortable to your image.Thus the American variety of Heinz varieties: black; Mormon; Asian; female; white; even Jewish making him more Judaistic leaning. This chronicles all of them in a delightful to read style; at least for this reviewer until he hits the wall (it would seem) at about chapter six where it bogged down and dragged me to the end.This being said; it certainly opens one to the past and present matrix of Jesus' views and the ever changing embrace that this country seems to have with Jesus. Its "sola cultura" at its democratic; capitalistic; now diverse pluralistic melting pot best. The author honestly disclaims before any attacks that his goal is not to theologically judge these American Jesus iconoclasts; but rather to do the excellent and engaging expose on them which this work does enjoyably.Enjoy the read; ponder Matthew 16:13-28; clues are certainly here to be unloaded to identify the real Jesus; whether or not America is ready to confess Him.
