Islam's 'Jesus Christ Superstar' -- sort of

Jeffrey Fleishman is pretty much the only remaining reporter at the LA Times whose stories I have to read when I cross his byline. He carried the Column One Tuesday with a piece about an Iranian film that critically casts Jesus as a prophet and Christianity as a sham. (Click here to read about Jesus as a talk radio host.) Fleishman's article was titled "Jesus through the lens of Islam," and it delved into far more than just entertainment:

Jesus sat and peeled an orange as his companion, Nader Talebzadeh, began to speak, precisely, so as not to be misunderstood on a matter so sensitive. The Iranian director's new film is based on the Islamic version of the life of Jesus, depicting the man Christians believe to be the messiah and son of God as a tormented Judean prophet foretelling the coming of Muhammad, the founder of the Muslim faith.

One might imagine such a tale may not screen well in the red states of America. The film, nearly 10 years in the making, draws on the Koran and the putative Gospel of Barnabas, considered by many Western scholars a medieval fable. The premise of "Jesus, the Spirit of God" is that Jesus was compassionate and performed miracles, but was not crucified or resurrected from the dead. The message implies that Christianity, a faith of 2 billion people and the core of much Western philosophy, is based on a falsehood.

"I pray for Christians. They've been misled. They will realize one day the true story," said Talebzadeh, whose film has been screened at international film festivals and is being marketed for wider release.

"People might use this film as a strategy to further demonize Iran," he said. "They may succeed. But I hope once you see that the focus of the film is sacred, it will overwhelm. No one would have imagined that an Iranian would make a film to glorify Jesus."

Not to mention an Iranian who supports President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and believes 9/11 was partly a U.S. government conspiracy. "Someone masterminded something," he said. "And this is the cause for a lot of evil America is doing in this part of the world."

There is another irony. The actor who plays Jesus, Ahmad Soleimani-Nia, once was a soldier in the Iranian army and later a welder for Iran's Atomic Energy Agency, which the Bush administration accuses of pursuing nuclear weapons. Such footnotes don't seem odd when talking with Talebzadeh, who has kept Nia in Jesus character -- flowing hair, beard, mystic pose -- for seven years because he never knows when he might shoot new sequences for the film.

"Jesus, the Spirit of God" comes out of Iran at a time of hostile rhetoric between Washington and Tehran and a divide between Islam and the West that has produced jihad websites, DVDs on the apocalypse, editorial cartoons lampooning Muhammad and a recent Osama bin Laden tape condemning Pope Benedict XVI for a "new crusade" against Islam.

Religion has long been at the heart of tensions between East and West, but it is being swept into a wider cultural war played out on the Internet, film and satellite TV in which icons and sacred texts have been attacked and manipulated. A new Dutch film by a right-wing politician, who compares the Koran to Adolf Hitler's "Mein Kampf," depicts Islam as a violent faith. In response, a Saudi blogger posted a video suggesting that the Bible could be read as a document for war.

Talebzadeh knows that his Jesus walks on volatile terrain; one wonders, given the tenor of the times, how many fatwas would be issued if a Western director made a film suggesting that Muhammad, whose depiction is forbidden under Islamic tradition, was someone other than the prophet.

"There is so much wrong with this man's understanding of Jesus and Christianity," wrote an incensed Christian blogger, referring to Talebzadeh in a conversation about the film that is unfolding in cyberspace. "It's another piece of Satanic propaganda intended to accomplish no meaningful purpose in this world."

I don't doubt that conjecture of a double standard. Cartoons about Muhammad stir enough trouble, and we saw what happened when "Family Guy" tried airing a two-part episode about Peter's previous exploits with Islam's great prophet (at least, we saw the "South Park" rendition of "Cartoon Wars").

The film first hit Iranian theaters in January. Who knows when it will make it to Los Angeles?

'First Drafts of the Parables of Jesus'

At the LA Times Festival of Books Saturday, I stopped by the McSweeney's booth. I've never read the magazine but I did indulge in Dave Eggers in college, and though I may be no hipster, I am arguably a writer. One plus one, minus one, plus one, minus another ... it seemed like I should at least take a look.

In current issue of the quarterly journal, I found this article titled "First Drafts of the Parables of Jesus." It assumes that the Bible, or at least the Gospels, was not simply a great piece of literature but, in fact, fiction. The red-letter text is same, but the "first drafts" include extraneous details that any good editor would remove. The first from Luke 11 and the second referenced in Matthew 21 and Luke 15. This is clearly satire, not suggestion.

Then Jesus said to them, "Suppose one of you has a friend, and you go to him at midnight and say, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of mine on a journey has come to me, and I have nothing to set before him. Then the one inside answers, 'OK, just gimme a minute,' and he goes to one of his friends, and says, 'Friend, lend me three loaves of bread, because a friend of a friend of mine on a journey has come to the friend who's my friend, and that friend has nothing to set before his friend.'"

One of the disciples said, "Wait, doesn't the original person's friend need three loaves of bread because a friend of his friend who's on a journey has come to the friend of the original person's friend, and that friend has nothing to set before his first friend? Or is that what you just said?"

"It doesn't matter," said Jesus. "The point is that God can get you free bread."

- - - -

"But what do you think about this?" asked Jesus. "A man with two sons told the older boy, 'Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway. Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go. Which of the two was obeying his father?"

"The first!" cried some of the disciples.

"The second!" cried the rest of the disciples.

And Jesus said, "Wait, I messed this one up. Did I mention that when the first son went to work in the vineyard he killed somebody? Because that's important. So, yeah, which of the two was obeying his father?"

"Uh ... the first?" said some of the disciples.

"The second! The second!" cried the rest of the disciples.

And Jesus said, "Oh, cripes, also the father only has one arm. And he is riding a horse the whole time. Was that clear?"

One of the disciples said, "Are you sure that's not 'The Parable of the One-Armed Father Who Rode on a Horse'?"

And Jesus said, "Maybe you're right. OK, let's change the question: Which of the two sons was the tallest?"

The disciples were silent.

Jesus shook his head in dismay. "Have I taught you nothing?"

'Pornographic' Jesus sculpture protested at London Shabbat service

The strangest story about Jesus and art since the chocolate messiah is this one involving a Jewish art collector in London and a statue she owns "depicting Jesus with a phallus."

An advocacy group called Christian Voice has been up in arms over the "blasphemous" and "pornographic" sculpture, and has added a clock to the top of its home page counting:

Time which billionaire Jewish art collector (and friend of the Chief Rabbi) Anita Zabludowicz has had to destroy her blasphemous, pornographic statue of Jesus Christ with a phallus attached, since getting it back from the Baltic Centre in Gateshead at 6.00pm on Saturday 20th January 2008.

Christian Voice has written letters to the chief rabbi and distributed fliers outside the synagogue as people should up for minchah last Shabbat. Christian Voice's leader explained:

“Just as the sin of Achan in taking a valuable but accursed thing from Jericho brought judgment on the whole community of Israel, so his [Mr Zabludowicz’s] actions and those of his wife, in clinging on to this valuable but accursed statue, is bringing the slur of blasphemy against the whole Jewish community.

“The rest of the council too are complicit in his and Anita’s continuing scorn for the One whom Christians hold most holy of all, and that includes the Chief Rabbi, who appears to have told them to ‘Carry on blaspheming’.”

(Hat tip: Bintel Blog)

Sibling spat: Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers

Get ready for an uproar, folks. Mike Huckabee apparently told a New York Times reporter that Mormons believe that Jesus and Satan were brothers. The story isn't going to run until Sunday, but somebody leaked details to the Associated Press. AP has now moved a story suggesting that Huckabee's a nut and an ignoramus for making such a crazy intolerant statement. There's only problem -- Huckabee is right...

That's from my man in Arkansas, the Bible Belt Blogger. Read the rest here.

(Image: FrenBlog)

Jesus' pick: Huckabee

From a talk at Jerry Falwell's Liberty University:

STUDENT: Recent polls show you surging... What do you attribute this surge to?

HUCKABEE: There's only one explanation for it, and it's not a human one. It's the same power that helped a little boy with two fish and five loaves feed a crowd of five thousand people. (Applause) That's the only way that our campaign can be doing what it's doing. And I'm not being facetious nor am I trying to be trite. There literally are thousands of people across this country who are praying that a little will become much, and it has. And it defies all explanation, it has confounded the pundits. And I'm enjoying every minute of them trying to figure it out, and until they look at it, from a, just experience beyond human, they'll never figure it out. And it's probably just as well. That's honestly why it's happening.

The Campaign Spot at NRO found this explanation in want:

Readers can draw their own conclusions on Huckabee’s meaning. As you probably can guess, this rubs me the wrong way. If Huckabee’s rise in the polls is the result of a factor that is not human, how about the declining poll numbers of his rivals?

It reminds me of a comedian’s joke about football players who point to the sky and thank God and/or Jesus when they score a touchdown. Nobody ever hears a defender say, “well, I thought I had him covered pretty well, but then Jesus got in my way.”

You probably expect me to agree with that. But I'm not sure I do. Praying to win in sports is silly. But sometimes the right person rises to be a leader at the right time, and if we begin with belief in an all-knowing God, isn't it possible that candidate had His endorsement?

That being said, there is a difference between the divine rule of kings and the God-ordained democracy of someone whom God has decided to use. And I'm not offering any credence to Huckabee's claim -- though, it may not be a claim and actually be a public praise. It's difficult to say. As I told a friend last night: I am wary to take at face value a politician's public expressions of something as naturally personal and private as faith and spirituality.

Christians approaching zero in PA-run parts of Holy Land

The ever-dwindling Christian communities living in Palestinian-run territories in the West Bank and Gaza are likely to dissipate completely within the next 15 years as a result of increasing Muslim persecution and maltreatment, an Israeli scholar said Monday.

"The systematic persecution of Christian Arabs living in Palestinian areas is being met with nearly total silence by the international community, human rights activists, the media and NGOs," said Justus Reid Weiner, an international human rights lawyer in an address at the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, where he serves as a scholar in residence.

He cited Muslim harassment and persecution as the main cause of the "acute human rights crisis" facing Christian Arabs, and predicted that unless governments or institutions step in to remedy the situation - such as with job opportunities - there will be no more Christian communities living in the Palestinians territories within 15 years, with only a few Western Christians and top clergymen left in the area.

"Christian leaders are being forced to abandon their followers to the forces of radical Islam," Weiner said.

The rest of the article from the Jerusalem Post is here. A Christian exodus has been a constant fear in not just Gaza and the West Bank but also Lebanon. (This to go with the fact that the Jordan River has become too toxic for baptisms.) Two years ago, the LA Times reported that Christians were becoming a scarce site in of Bethlehem, the West Bank town with a special meaning to Christians this Advent.

(Mayor Hanna) Nasser, 68, who is Catholic and displays a photograph of himself shaking hands with Pope John Paul II, gestured toward the church and considered a gloomy future for Palestinian Christians, most of whom are Greek Orthodox. "I'm afraid we'll come and see nothing but stones here -- the stones of the churches, but no people," he said.

Santa Claus, Harry Potter and Baby Jesus

Sometimes being politically correct is just so wrong:

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS — The annual Nativity creche on the Walton County Courthouse lawn will look a little different this year.

The County Commission decided this week to include secular items such as a snowman to the display after Americans United for Separation of Church and State sent the county a letter in July claiming that the creche is unconstitutional.

The article states that a snowman or Santa Claus might be added to the display. I see that, and raise the Walton County weaklings one Harry Potter statue, the complete cast of "Golden Compass" and Mr. Hankey the Christmas Poo.


(Hat tip: DMN religion blog)

Catholic bishops turned away from Western Wall

Should crucifixes and other evocative Christian images be barred from the Western Wall? I just got off the phone with an Orthodox rabbi who wasn't so sure what the right response would have been when a group of Catholic bishops approached the Kotel yesterday in fall Christian regalia.

Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch refused to give the bishops access to the site and avoided meeting the ecclesiastic delegation of approximately 20, led by Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Schonborn.

Rabinovitch denied that the incident, which took place Thursday, smacked of religious intolerance.

"Crosses are a symbol that hurts Jewish feelings," said Rabinovitch who refused to elaborate on precisely how or why the crosses were so offensive.

"I feel the same way about a Jew putting on a tallit and phylacteries and going into a Church. I would be the first to rebuke such a Jew for not behaving like a mensch." Rabinovitch added that he was surprised the Catholic clerics refused to hide their crosses.

"They did not have to take them off, just hide them. I've never encountered a Christian who has refused, including the Pope."

This reminds me a bit of Ariel Sharon's military-led visit to the Temple Mount in 2000, only the bishops' visit, thank God, has not sparked a guerrilla war.

Jesus makeup and Wash Away Your Sins soap

Well, here's another tasteless attempt to make a few bucks. Among the Looking Good For Jesus products are a mirror compact, a coin purse and a mini kit that "redeems you in his eyes and takes the edge off sinning."

The company, BlueQ, also sells Wash Away Your Sins soap -- if only it were so easy -- and Kills A Kitten Gum, and this is funny, to remind men that every time you masturbate, God kills a kitten.

(Hat tip: GeekHeeb)

Blaming Jews for killing Jesus

IN CIVILIZED circles it is considered boorish to speak of Jews as Christ-killers, or to use language evoking the venomous old teaching that Jews are forever cursed for the death of Jesus. Those circles apparently don't include the Sabeel Ecumenical Liberation Theology Center, an anti-Israel "peace" organization based in Jerusalem, or its founder, the Anglican cleric Naim Ateek.

Sabeel and Ateek are highly regarded on the hard-line Christian left, and regularly organize American conferences at which Israel is extravagantly denounced by numerous critics. So far this year, such conferences have been held in Cleveland, Berkeley, Calif., and Birmingham, Ala.; another begins Friday at Boston's Old South Church.

Just as critics of the United States are not necessarily anti-American bigots, critics of Israel are not necessarily biased against Jews. But Sabeel and Ateek's denunciations of Israel have included imagery explicitly linking the modern Jewish state to the terrible charge of deicide that for centuries fueled so much anti-Jewish hatred and bloodshed.

"It seems to many of us that Jesus is on the cross again with thousands of crucified Palestinians around him," Ateek has written, envisioning "hundreds of thousands of crosses throughout the land, Palestinian men, women, and children being crucified. Palestine has become one huge Golgotha. The Israeli government crucifixion system is operating daily."

In a sermon titled "The Massacre of the Innocents" Ateek similarly condemned the "modern-day Herods" in Israel - a reference to the evil king who the New Testament says slaughtered the babies of Bethlehem in an attempt to murder the newborn Jesus. In another sermon, Ateek portrays Israelis as having "shut off the Palestinians in a tomb . . . similar to the stone placed on the entrance of Jesus' tomb."

Read the rest of that piece from the Boston Globe here. As a Christian, I'm going to try to settle bad theology once and for all: Jews didn't kill Jesus -- humanity did.

Praying for poker

The World Series of Poker, which I've written about before -- both homeless hero and Hollywood champ -- is such a long event that nerves are understandably frayed by the time players reach the final table. But what I saw last night on ESPN was just plain odd.

Jerry Yang, who went on to win the event and receive the world champion bracelet, was all-in against the most seasoned pro remaining, Lee Watkinson. Suddenly, Yang and Watkinson's girlfriend entered a pray-off.

She: "Come on, Father! In Jesus' name, no weapon formed against You shall prosper."

He: "Come on, Lord. You know your purpose for me. Come on, Lord, have a purpose for me today."

She: "Come on, make him a believer. Make me a believer, Father."

That's when color commentator Norman Chad deadpanned: "I'm not sure who the Lord is listening to, but Watkinson needs a seven or he's done."

Then Yang returned: "Father, in the name of Jesus Christ, let me win this one."

He does, and the cameras pan to his exultant mother, who is lifting her hands to the heavens and whispering, "hallelujah."



A couple hands later, when Yang catches a miracle card to take control of a hand, he tells God, "Let people see Your miracles. I believe in You."

Forget the complications of such prayer and praise (does God really care how his children fare against each other at the poker table?), these players are actually quoting scripture as if the devil is tempting them in the desert. I'm a big fan of involving God in every aspect of your life. And I would hate to underestimate the power of prayer. But this really rubs me wrong.

Yes, I do think this is different than my request that people pray for the quick recovery of Kevin Everett. And, by the way, I played poker at Hollywood Park after the World Series; I could have used some prayers.

Gay 'Last Supper' sparks outrage

Say you are a God-fearing Christian, not puritanical but also not one to take blasphemy lightly. How would you feel about a gay festival promotion that depicts leather-clad men as Jesus and the Apostles partaking of the Last Supper?

I would find it ridiculous, but I wouldn't get all worked up over it. I can't speak for other Christians, though, who use some pretty loaded language in attacking the ad, which some liken to cartoons of the Muslim Prophet Muhammad.

On TownHall:

On September 30, a Sunday – the Lord’s Day in the Christian church – San Francisco will host the Folsom Street Fair, perhaps the most hedonistic event held in public in America. The fair is the San Francisco homosexual community’s annual celebration of promiscuity, sadomasochism and debauchery. The ad for this year’s fair mocks Da Vinci’s The Last Supper, with a half-naked beefcake Christ and disciples bedecked in all manner of leather and chains. The bread and wine of The Last Supper are replaced with sex toys.

From WorldNetDaily:

"Senator Larry Craig was arrested and driven out of the Senate for allegedly soliciting public 'gay' sex, yet during this event the city of San Francisco suspends the law and allows 'gay' men and women to parade the streets fully nude, many having sex – even group orgies – in broad daylight, while taxpayer-funded police officers look on and do absolutely nothing," (said Concerned Women for America policy director Matt Barber).

Barber encouraged mainstream media to cover the event with cameras in hand.

"There's an unbelievable news story here," he said. "The Folsom Street Fair is reminiscent of biblical Sodom and Gomorrah, and the media should document exactly what the city of San Francisco is allowing to occur – in public – in the name of 'tolerance.'"

Of course, Bill Donahue of the Catholic League had something to say.

Kathy Griffin: persona non venia

I don't imagine D-lister Kathy Griffin has ever been endeared to the "family-values" crowd (or Jerry Seinfeld). Now, she's made enemies with E!, and maybe God too, with her "Jesus remark," which has been edited out of Saturday's telecast of the creative arts Emmys.



Fishbowl LA wonders now what E! will do with that award-winning Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg SNL song.

Jesus loves company

Are you reading this Roy Moore?

From the religion blog for Monday-morning thieves:

The courthouse in Slidell, La., had a portrait of Jesus on the wall, with the words, "To know peace, obey these laws." This put a burr under the saddle of the American Civil Liberties Union, which filed suit to have the portrait removed.

The court responded by adding portraits of Napoleon, Confucius, Hammurabi, Moses, Charlemagne, Octavian, Louis IX, John Marshall and other historical figures -- plus a framed copy of the Constitution. Here's a story from Christine Harvey of The Times-Picayune in New Orleans.

Mike Johnson, a lawyer from a Christian advocacy group representing the court, said the idea was "to erect an artistic display to emphasize the importance of following the law to maintain a peaceful society."

I think Johnson has the ACLU checkmated. It's hard to argue now, it seems to me, that the courthouse display is more religious than historical -- particularly since many public buildings, including he U.S. Supreme Court , contain similar art works depicting "great lawgivers of history." (The Supreme Court friezes do not include Jesus -- but they do include Moses, Solomon, and Muhammad. Yes, Muhammad.)

Yes, but there is also the issue of history and intent. Does this pass the smell test?

Was Vick born again? Christians make the call

You know what I think about Michael Vick's claim that executing poorly performing pitbulls helped him find Jesus. (A lot of people learned my opinion after Deadspin linked to my cynicism.) But if you're wondering what other Christians think, check out this poll at ChristianityToday.com.

So far, 61 percent of the 2,250 respondents are "skeptical, but hopeful that this experience will bring him to Jesus." Thirteen percent say "Great! I'm so happy he's become a Christian," and 12 percent aren't impressed because "'I found Jesus' is the new 'I'm going to rehab' (that's for you Britney and Paris). And 9 percent are flat-out "disgusted that he'd try to play the 'God card.'"

Michael Vick loves the Lord

Well, Michael Vick did it. He did what ever other celebrity does when they get in trouble. Like Britney Spears and Paris Hilton already did this summer, Vick, the dog butcher I used to find so exciting to watch as QB of the Falcons, found Jesus:

I'm upset with myself, and, you know, through this situation I found Jesus and asked him for forgiveness and turned my life over to God. And I think that's the right thing to do as of right now.

Like I said, for this entire situation I never pointed the finger at anybody else, I accepted responsibility for my actions of what I did and now I have to pay the consequences for it. But in a sense, I think it will help, you know, me as a person.

I hope he did. I really do. But -- call me a cynic -- I’m always a bit skeptical when public figures use Jesus to boost their popularity.

Second Coming: 'I hope he comes tomorrow'

I've written before about the relationship between Christian Zionists and Jews. Two weeks ago, Max Blumenthal went to the Christians United for Israel conference in Washington. The video is embedded below. Here is a note someone sent me regarding the gist of the conference.

CUFI has an ulterior agenda: its support for Israel derives from the belief of Hagee and his flock that Jesus will return to Jerusalem after the battle of Armageddon and cleanse the earth of evil. In the end, all the non-believers - Jews, Muslims, Hindus, mainline Christians, etc. - must convert or suffer the torture of eternal damnation.

Over a dozen CUFI members eagerly revealed to me their excitement at the prospect of Armageddon occurring tomorrow. Among the rapture ready was Republican Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay. None of this seemed to matter to Lieberman, who delivered a long sermon hailing Hagee as nothing less than a modern-day Moses. Lieberman went on to describe Hagee's flock as "even greater than the multitude Moses commanded."

Rapture Ready: The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour from huffpost and Vimeo.

Actress Lindsay Lohan Needs Jesus

That was the subject of an e-mail I received this morning that informed me -- thanks, Bostick Communications! -- "Christian prison minister Marty Angelo approache(d) actress Lindsay Lohan with offer of faith-based treatment program plan."

In attempt to help another troubled celebrity, prison minister Marty Angelo has reached out to actress Lindsay Lohan.

Angelo recently tried unsuccessfully to convince socialite Paris Hilton's sentencing judge, Michael Sauer to let him serve Hilton's jail time if the judge would send her to a residential treatment program. Read Paris Hilton Documentation

This time Angelo has written to actress Lindsay Lohan, who has been plagued with various drug and alcohol related problems. "There is no doubt in my mind you would benefit tremendously from a faith-based treatment program," Angelo remarked in his letter dated July 18, 2007 to Lohan six days 'before' her latest arrest for DUI and cocaine possession. He offered to assist Lohan to find Christian alternatives. Read Lohan Letter

"The secular treatment programs Miss Lohan recently participated in obviously did not work." Angelo stated, "Nothing has changed her addictive behavior."

"Lindsay Lohan's out of control lifestyle is only the tip of the iceberg," Angelo continues, "I feel Miss Lohan would benefit by enrolling into a yearlong faith-based program that allows God to get to the root of her real issues."

a) I did not realize that sending a letter qualified as "approaching;" b) I do not understand what they mean by putting "before" in quotes; c) why do they waste their time sending out e-mails like this on a semi-daily basis?

But as for the offer, maybe Lohan should take him up on it. Finding God is this summer's hottest thing. Just ask Paris and Britney.

Don't touch that dial -- you'll miss Jesus

Did you hear Jesus Christ on the radio this morning. I swear, on 640 KFI, "morrrrrrrre stimulating talk radio," as they say.

Now, of course, this voice wasn't that Jesus. It was KFI Jesus -- also known as Neil Saavedra, who is not the redeemer of man but pretends to speak as him every Sunday from 6 a.m to 9. Here's part of the profile I wrote about Saavedra last December.

Listeners heed his wisdom; some consider it divinely inspired.

"Oh, Jesus?" Pete Moyes, 54, of Murrieta said after waiting on hold for about an hour. "Question - I really appreciate you taking my call - how can I be assured of my salvation?"

"OK, what's your concern?" KFI Jesus asked.

"Well, people that know me, and I've known you for 30 some-odd years and I know that you are going to perfect whatever work I start, but I would think that after 30 years, I would get rid of some of these character defects, things that I do that I know I have to apologize for," Moyes said. "Why is my brain still thinking that way?"

"Well," KFI Jesus responded, "Scripture says it via (the Apostle) Paul very well: `The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak.' ... The benefit is that it's paid for: It's taken care of by the blood of the cross. ... You hit it on the head when you called, and that is that I will finish the work and the perfection I started in you. That comes from me and not you."

I was curious then about what people thought of Saavedra's shtick. But I didn't have a blog, so I've resurrected this story to ask you the question: Is this blasphemous?

(Image: Podsafe)

Jesus the social philosopher

One would imagine that two millennia would provide ample occasion for exhaustive study of Jesus of Nazareth, and yet somehow every generation seems to find some new way to think about him. Our own age is no exception. For more than a century now, believers and skeptics alike have tried to strip theology from biography, to rediscover the man, Jesus, who lived before the faith, Christianity.

At its best, this modern approach to Jesus combines nuanced interpretation with thought-provoking argument. At its worst, it pretends to discern, say, what Jesus might consider the optimal rate of taxation or how he might direct American policy in the Middle East. Happily, Tod Lindberg's "The Political Teachings of Jesus" belongs among the smart, sophisticated writings on the topic. Mr. Lindberg does not study Jesus' political teachings with an eye toward public policy or partisan advantage. His interest, in fact, inclines to social philosophy. He treats Jesus as a profound thinker, a man with great insight into the enduring question of how we may best live together.

Stop. That's what I did at this point in the Wall Street Journal book review. I stopped and thought, Haven't I heard this before?

Actually, I hear this all the time. "Jesus was a great teacher;" "he was a charismatic rabbi;" "he was a rebel." There is some truth to these descriptors, but they are ridiculous to use unless -- and this is a big unless, because most often I hear these statements from non-Christians -- you believe Jesus was who he said he was. Because, as C.S. Lewis reminds us, Jesus was either "lord, lunatic or liar."