The Good Man Jesus And The Scoundrel Christ - Philip Pullman

I was intrigued by the name of this book. This book is part of "The Myths" series of books. I guessed the story after page 11 and it was correct. The author retells the story of Jesus as if he were two people. In this story Mary gave birth to twins - Jesus and Christ.  Most Christians knew that the Greek word Christ means Messiah. Jews are still waiting for him where as Christians believe the Messiah is Jesus.

"There is time, and there is beyond time. History belongs to time, but truth belongs to what is beyond time. In writing of things as they should have been, you are letting truth into history. You are the word of God."

Christ was the pious one , reading scriptures,discussing their meanings with teachers and listen to Mary and Joseph, Jesus on the other hand learnt carpentry and  did everything on his own. Hearing John preaching , Jesus followed him. As Jesus was start preaching , a stranger appear to Christ and ask him to write down all the things Jesus says and promises that his name will shine with splendour.

 Jesus studiously wrote down all the words spoken by Jesus and the events attributed to Jesus through his informant. In some cases he wrote the real words , and in some he deleted and rewrote the words on his own. The stranger cleverly answers all Christ's questions and make him to believe that his words will be 'word of God ". Christ observed everything about Jesus with undiminished devotion like a artist drawing his masterpiece. Christ even tempted Jesus about having his own followers and a structured organization (Church).

"And think what worrying does: has anyone ever added a single hour to the length of his life by worrying about it?"

In Gethsemane , Jesus prays alone and questions God :"Lord, if I thought you were listening, I'd pray for this above all: that any church set up in your name should remain poor, and powerless, and modest. That it should wield no authority except that of love. That it should never cast anyone out. That it should own no property and make no laws. That it should not condemn, but only forgive" .  On the other side, the stranger makes Christ to believe the good things about Church , its power and why people needs it and recruit him to betray his brother Jesus. Christ did exactly - delivered Judas kiss and betrayed his brother.

The next step on the stranger's plan was resurrection - a staged one. Jesus died and resurrected as Christ. People believed in the resurrection and then Jesus becomes Jesus Christ . To make it believable Christ goes with Jesus's followers to Emmaus and began the process of building the Universal Church in the  name of Jesus Christ. Christ went on to live with his family far away from his home town.

This novel questions the facts and the possible ambiguities in the New Testament. The author says in afterword that he read and reread New Testament and he believes the gospels tells contradicting stories. He says "Most of the gospel narratives describe events at which there were other people present as well as Jesus, who would testify to what had happened.Even strange unlikely events , such as the Transfiguration, occur in the presence of witnesses. There is always someone who can vouch for the truth of the narrative."

 "There are some who live by every rule and cling tightly to their rectitude because they fear being swept away by a tempest of passion, and there are others who cling to the rules because they fear that there is no passion there at all, and that if they let go they would simply remain where they are, foolish and unmoved; and they could bear that least of all. Living a life of iron control lets them pretend to themselves that only by the mightiest effort of will can they hold great passions at bay "

One thing is clear, the author looks the gospels from atheist point of view but he clearly emphasizes the concept of Universal Love in Jesus's life. The author gives his own explanation for various events from Annunciation to Resurrection.  This book made me to read the gospel more closely . This book needs a good amount of knowledge about bible specially the four gospels.  This book garnered lots of criticism from Christians and negative review from believers.

Good Read! A provoking book.