The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ. Philip Pullman.

Pullman's book should appeal to anyone interested in Christianity who is open-minded enough to appreciate a revisiting of the Bible from a slightly different perspective. The Gospels provide you with the most important source of Jesus's life. Pullman used the Authorised Version, the New English Bible and the New Revised Standard Version. It is NOT to be seen as a work of blasphemy.

Pullman is a storyteller and a Christian so the story respects the teachings of the Gospels and shows an interesting and extremely readable interpretation, sensitive but also thought-provoking. It is something different and original but plausible and overly sad. The story is a visionary one retelling the birth, the life and death of Jesus Christ.

Imagine: What if Jesus Christ had a twin brother? Or what if his twin brother betrayed him and not Judas  Iscariot?

Simply put, we are presented with two Almighty people, Jesus who is the charismatic one but selfish and Christ who broods, a pragmatist and a pessimist who hides away in shame and constantly weeps. He is the emotional one and oh so human. He has spent his sad life living in his brother's shadow worshipping him just like all of his followers, trying to protect him from his enemies.

Christ narrates the story and so we are fully aware of his misery and unhappiness as he chronicles his brother's teachings for posterity. The Stranger, an anonymous being whom Christ mistakes as an angel of God tells him that the truth is not the same as history. Jesus was the man the Gospels talked about but Christ was the Messiah featured in the Epistles. Jesus was history and Christ was the truth.

In Christ's frustration he asks the Stranger:"I wish, sir, you would tell me what the truth is. My vision clouded, my knowledge lacking."

Pullman poses the million dollar question: if we went back in time would we save Jesus from such a horrible death by crucifixion or let him die just like Judas or Pullman's Christ?

The ending is powerful. Christ has opted for a simple life hidden away when he is discovered. He is disillusioned and knows that history will repeat itself. Jesus and himself have been used as pawns in a dengerous game, a tragic story. He is convinced that the truth about Jesus will continue to be distorted and he will be compromised and betrayed over and over again.

And like me, I hear you agreeing.............


Publishers: Canongate.   ISBN: 9-781847-678294.



COPYRIGHT 2012. PERMISSION MUST BE OBTAINED FROM THE AUTHOR TO USE THIS ARTICLE.

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