This book traces Burton Mack's intellectual evolution, from a creative analyst of ancient texts, to a scholar searching for the motives and interests of Jesus's followers who composed those texts, and for the social logic of "the Christian myths" they created. Mack rejects depictions of Jesus that have emerged from the quest for the "historical Jesus"--peasant teacher, revolutionary leader, mystical visionary or miracle-working prophet--on the grounds that they are based on a priori assumptions about Jesus, and are therefore contradictory. In addition, he argues, these portrayals are untrue to the many images of Jesus produced by the early Christians. Using systematic analysis, Mack seeks to describe and understand the cultural and anthropological influences on the conception and adoption of Christian myths and rituals. "...a complex argument....His care in outlining his project opens a window on the research process." -- Booklist "His book reminds the church that the New Testament is a book one needs to learn how to read." -- Church Times, October 11, 2002 "Must Read" -- Today's Books "This is Mack at his best--thoughtful and sometimes brilliant; articulate and sometimes eloquent; persuasive and sometimes provocative and disturbing." -- Vincent L. Wimbush "This is a well researched and documented study of Christian origins .this is a book that theological libraries should have." -- Catholic Library World, July 2002 Burton L. Mack, Emeritus Professor of Early Christianity at the Claremont School of Theology, is the author of A Myth of Innocence: Mark and Christian Origins; The Lost Gospel: Q and Christian Origins; and Who Wrote the New Testament: The Making of the Christian Myth. Used Book in Good Condition