In this classic volume available once again, it is the title essay that is the most controversial. Jay Haley proposes an original interpretation of the Bible analyzing Jesus' actions as a man trying to build a mass movement to topple a power structure. Using wit and wry humor, Haley instructs the reader in the other essays on what it takes to be schizophrenic, as well as the art and technique required to have an awful marriage, and how to be an awful therapist. His rationale for a directive therapy is the subject of other essays.

PSYCHOLOGY/POP PSYCHOLOGY

The problem of the historical Jesus remains one of the most important themes in New Testament scholarship. Closely related to this problem is the question, How far can the impact made by the earthly Jesus and his own self-understanding sustain the weight of the Christological construction put upon them by the early church? In the past two decades some scholars have taken an increasingly gloomy attitude toward the possibility of knowing anything of substance about Jesus from the Gospels or, at the opposite extreme, have sometimes made outlandish claims about him. Others, like the contributors to this volume, have begun moving the discussion into fresh areas of creative, responsible inquiry.

A Groundbreaking and Irreverent Retelling of the Story of Jesus In this newly revised and expanded edition, bestselling author Lon Milo DuQuette draws on modern scholarship and his depth of occult wisdom to bring you a story unlike any other. This provocative novel, told from the perspective of Jesus's uncle Clopas, sheds new light on ancient questions. Jesus's charismatic teachings, his healing ability, and his miracles brought him fame, adoration, resentment, and ultimately death (or did they?). Interweaving biblical quotes with historical facts and speculation, DuQuette immerses you in a thought-provoking tale that presents a plausible case for how distorted the Jesus myth may have become. Who really was Jesus? King of the Jews? Son of God? Or simply a man caught up in the geo-political and religious intrigues of first-century Roman Palestine? Funny, tragic, and thrilling, this novel both inspires and challenges your thinking about Jesus.

This book provides a critical reassessment and fresh analysis of Jesus' attitude towards the Law as portrayed in each of the canonical Gospels, Q, Thomas, and the apocryphal Gospels. Representing William Loader's definitive work on the subject, this comprehensive study presents in a clearer picture of Jesus and his message. A special feature of this book is its textually "sequential analysis of the theme of the Law. By taking this unique approach, Loader lets Jesus' stance towards the Law emerge directly out of the Gospel narratives themselves while at the same time highlighting important similarities and differences between the texts. Comparing the canonical Gospels with each other and with crucial noncanonical sources allows Loader to probe behind the tradition in the search for Jesus' true relationship with the Judaism of his day. Despite its focused theme, this is not a book about the historical Jesus. Instead, it works with the ancient materials we actually have before us and so offers a more secure basis for the less certain task of reconstructing the history behind the texts. In treating each Gospel, Loader also begins with a substantial engagement of current and previous research before presenting his own perspectives. As a result, "Jesus' Attitude towards the Law will be valued both as an original scholarly contribution and as an unrivaled sourcebook for studying Jesus, Second Temple Judaism, and the origins of Christianity.