Read by Brian O'Byrne Six Cassettes, Approx. 9 hours In Desire of the Everlasting Hills, Thomas Cahill takes up his most daring and provocative subject yet: Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of Western civilization. Introducing us first to the people Jesus knew, Thomas Cahill describes the oppressive Roman political presence, the pervasive Greek cultural influence, and especially the widely varied social and religious context of the Judaism in which Jesus moved and flourished. These backgrounds, essential to a complete ...
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Read by Brian O'Byrne Six Cassettes, Approx. 9 hours In Desire of the Everlasting Hills, Thomas Cahill takes up his most daring and provocative subject yet: Jesus of Nazareth, the central figure of Western civilization. Introducing us first to the people Jesus knew, Thomas Cahill describes the oppressive Roman political presence, the pervasive Greek cultural influence, and especially the widely varied social and religious context of the Judaism in which Jesus moved and flourished. These backgrounds, essential to a complete understanding of Jesus, lead to the author's stunningly original interpretation of the New Testament--much of it based on material from the ancient Greek brilliantly translated by the author himself--that will delight readers and surprise even biblical scholars. Thomas Cahill's most unusual skill may lie in his ability to bring to life people of a faraway world whose concerns seem at first to be utterly removed from the present day. We see Jesus as a real person, sharp-witted and sharp-tongued, but kind, humorous, and affectionate, shadowed by the inevitable climax of crucifixion, the cruelest form of execution ever devised by humankind. Mary, while not quite the perpetual virgin of popular piety, is a vivid presence and forceful influence on her son. And the apostle Paul, the carrier of Jesus' message and most important figure in the early Jesus movement (which became Christianity), finds rehabilitation in Cahill's realistic, revealing portrait of him. The third volume in the Hinges of History series, this unique presentation of Jesus and his times is for believers and nonbelievers alike (for Jews and Christians, it is intended by the author as an act of reconciliation). With the same lively narration and irresistible perceptions that characterize How the Irish Saved Civilization and The Gifts of the Jews, Thomas Cahill invites readers into an ancient world to commune with some of the most influential people who ever lived.
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Seller's Description:
Good. Six Reliable audio cassette program in the clear clamshell case from the video store. Some shelf wear to the clear case. Former price sticker on the box. The six tapes inside are sturdy and presentable. Enjoy this unabridged worthwhile audio performance.
I was raised as a Christian and still love Jesus but had come to mocking what I call "the magic parts" (especially as the focus, by people who consider themselves Christian because they believe in the Resurrection but apparently reject everything Jesus said about non-violence, tolerance, and economic justice).
Thomas Cahill is a Catholic scholar with a loving humanistic sensibility who returns to primary sources in the original Aramaic to examine the historical Jesus. He does this in an accessible, interesting way, imbued with his own spiritual insight.
I read this in a couple of days, though I seldom have the attention span to do that with a scholarly book. But no sooner would I hit a few dull graphs than along would come some observation or important evidence that moved me deeply.
And he makes an amazingly good case for the Resurrection, so this is a great book for skeptics and doubting believers. No one has ever made it seem so credible.
I think this book would be of interest to anyone with spiritual or historical curiosity about Jesus.
legend
Feb 3, 2008
good read
I enjoy everything on the 1st century of the common era.
bookykat
Jun 22, 2007
A pleasant read
Thomas Cahill's book on the world before and after Jesus is, as the title suggests, a pleasant read. If you are expecting a dry, scholarly work, you will be pleased with the way the book reads. It is scholarly - but in a relaxed and chatty way. Mr. Cahill does not try to sell the reader on any particular view of Christianity. He does offer some interesting views on the Pauline Epistles, and on that saint himself, which may give some cause to reflect. This volume is part of a series called "The Hinges of History" which Mr. Cahill is in the process of writing.
