Book Description

Using the analytical tools of cultural anthropology, Ida Magli delves into the familiar material of the New Testament the same way as she would any other historical text, and carefully separates the myth and mysticism from the narrative accounts, to discern what is most likely to be historical fact, and what may instead have been adjusted so as no to clash with the customs and worldview of the authors of the Gospels. What emerges is a new understanding of just how far and drastically Jesus of Nazareth challenged the religious views of his time, defying traditions and repeatedly risking his ministry by breaking some of the most severe taboos. Among the many transgressions that are made clear in Ida Magli's analysis is Jesus' denial of the preeminence of blood-ties and family as the reason and foundation of love, when at the house of Lazarus he elects those sitting around him as his true family (Matthew: 12:46); and again when he invites a young man to defy the ancient Jewish observance of mourning his dead father, and follow him instead (Matthew 8:22). As the author reveals, the very principles of Jesus' teachings advocate a universal, indiscriminate love of one's fellow man, and not merely love and respect for kith and kin. By this standard, all people are equal to each other in the eyes of God. Each person is a vessel for communicating directly with God, and there is no further need for priestly hierarchies, go-betweens, or mediation in the me/thee equation with God himself. This tidal shift in perspective automatically entailed the empowerment of women and their emancipation from their subservient role in society, kindling their self-awareness and comprehension of their equal status. To endorse her point, Magli chooses the extraordinary account of the penitent woman entering the house of a Pharisee where Jesus was eating (Luke 7:44), and washing his feet, to the astonishment and incomprehension of all around him. The act was so bold and incomprehensible that in all likelihood it was retold with great precision, because the evangelists failed to understand its true meaning, nor could they grasp Jesus' intentions as he blessed the adoring woman and let her go. Here as in other instances, Magli demonstrates that wherever in the Gospels the deeds and words of Jesus veer drastically from what the evangelists were accustomed to, their accounts are more credible and pertinent to Jesus' fundamental message of universal love, as they did not think of finding justifications or fabricating the events related. Conversely, where the accounts evidently comply with the tradition and lore of the time, these are passages where the evangelists adjusted the text to fit in with their own spiritual worldview and religious background. For anyone who believes they knew the Gospels thoroughly already, or those who are interested in a new way of looking at these familiar texts, Ida Magli's fascinating study will bring many rewards, and stimulate further inquiry into why this man we call Jesus of Nazareth was both a genius and revolutionary of his times.