Publisher's Synopsis
Imagine if all biblical material were treated by the church as metaphor, symbol, and parable - written about ideas too large to put into words. My brother and I have dreams of such a church (always aware that we are dreaming). This series of books has been our dream journal about Jesus' teachings - an adventure that has, at times, left us all feeling bewildered and perplexed. In Book One we introduced the Beatitudes as representing an "Alice in Wonderland" world. The words seem simple, but the perceived meaning behind the words gets "curiouser and curiouser." In Book Two we re-imagined prayer as a practice of breathing in the counsel of the great spiritual teachers in order to open ourselves to an Illuminating Presence that is within us. Book Three looked at the Sayings and Healings of Jesus through different lenses. Our perceptions began to change when we loosened our grip on what we thought we knew. In Book Four the adventure continues. Reading the parables of Jesus, the Fourth Gospel, and the mystical vision of the Apostle Paul can be very much like drifting through a lucid dream. Dreams are not like everyday life; they are more like fable than history; more like wine than water; more like love than casual acquaintance. (1) The parables are designed for those of us who already think we know the answers. When we can see them as koans, we come closer to understanding their purpose. (2) If we can imagine the Fourth Gospel's Prologue as coming FROM Jesus, instead of being ABOUT him, new insight into Fourth Gospel teachings presents itself. (3) Paul's central message is about committing to transformation - not justification. His Eucharist may, indeed, be about "body (church) and blood (lineage)," but not in the improper way we have been taught. We invite you to join us, if you dare, as we continue to explore new ways of seeing and understanding Jesus' teachings.
