Jesus Through Pagan Eyes: Bridging Neopagan Perspectives with a Progressive Vision of Christ

As a Christopagan, I can say this book was a brand new perspective on Jesus and actually brought me to tears numerous times. What an amazing take on Jesus as a historical person! While I don’t agree with some of the different views of him from the interviews in the book (Townsend doesn’t either) they are all fascinating and eye opening. I am beyond glad I read this book because I have found a new love and admiration for Jesus that I have never had before. And that’s coming from someone who grew up in a very Christian household.

I know all the people who think that their view and opinion is the only one that is right will argue with me and with Rev Townsend. I am entitled to my opinion, too. And so:Thank you, Mark Townsend! This is the best book about Jesus that I have ever read. I have several diplomas in 'Bible Knowledge'. And because of all those years of bible study, I can honestly say 'Yes, this is the Jesus I loved in my childhood'. This is the Jesus that I follow.' I left the church because the most of the churches of today are the same kind of people with the same kind of attitudes that stood against Jesus.I will buy not one, but two (at least) hard copies of this book. It is awesome, phenomenal! It builds a bridge between the loving caring Jesus and the people who know that he can't be put in a box and wanted to combine the love of Jesus with the love of nature!

I'd love to use this book in a comparative religions course. Parallels have been drawn for years between the similarities of Buddha and Jesus. Finally, a former Anglican priest writes aobut parallels between Pagan belief systems and the teachings of a Rabbi whose life had a vast impact on the entire planet. The language is accessible, explanations are clear, and the author is an educated man who udnerstands his topic well. This is the sort of book that leads to better interfaith understanding, brings down intolerance and lifts fear away. I have given it to friends and ministers who have all felt it was a tool for acceptance and peaceful co-existance of traditional and non-traditional faiths in a modern world. Highly recommended for interfaith understanding and dialogue.

Mark Townsend's "Jesus Through Pagan Eyes" is an amazing book. Many people contributed -- Pagan and Pagan-Christians, you name it -- from myriad spiritual paths and backgrounds, and it is so refreshing to be presented with multiple views on a subject all in the same source!In this striking book, we learn that there are as many different interpretations (and studies) of Jesus, Jesus Christ, and Christ, as there are Pagans and Christians in the world. It is astonishingly freeing to read so many affirmations that carrying Jesus away from the Church does not make him any less of a spiritually meaningful figure. Indeed, for some people, this has been the catalyst for a *closer* relationship with or deeper appreciation of him!If you have ever spent any amount of time pondering Jesus from a historical, mythical, or even purely religious perspective, I would encourage you to pick up a copy of this book and really spend some quality time with it.

I was raised a Roman Catholic and left that path to follow my Pagan path decades ago. The Pagan groups I work with presently, are involved in interfaith work and cultivating tolerance. Through this work, I discovered an awareness of a yearning for some of my old friends and teachers from my long abandoned path. Mark Townsend's word "Churchianity" resonated with me, for it brought to light it was never the Christian mystics or Jesus who I fled, but rather "The Church". The revelation that "The Church" do not own Jesus opened up the possibility that perhaps there could be a bridge where we could meet and rekindle our relationship. A crossroads where our paths might intersect.Jesus Through Pagan Eyes has been thoughtfully researched. Mark Townsend's beautiful tapestry is created with Jesus the historical person, Jesus through the interpretations of theological development and then finely woven with the understanding of who Jesus is and what he represents by thirteen respected Pagan elders from a wide range of paths.Reverend Townsend has created an intelligent vision. There is a crossroads where harmony, understanding, forgiveness, respect and ultimately friendship can exist. Where similarities between seemingly divergent paths might be illuminated if one chooses to seek. This lovely book has encouraged me to step onto this bridge to meet half way my old friends and teachers, and forge a new and inclusive path with an opening of heart. Each must forge her own path through the forest for ultimately it is a personal journey.

I come from a Catholic family and always felt I was supposed to become a priest. Long story short, I hit the crisis of faith, realized I didn't mesh with a lot of Christianity, and ended up an odd mishmash of humanist, pantheist, and pagan. For one thing, it's good to read Rev. Townsend's story. It's nice knowing that others went from the collar to the grove. Just as importantly, however, it's nice knowing others can see the actual face of Jesus through the church that surrounds him. There's a lot of Christian bashing in some pagan circles (whether we care to admit it or not), and sometimes we lose sight of the good of the message. Me, personally, I bought it for my dad, who has some trouble accepting me, my faith, and my accepted role as a minister (ULC, of course; serving the pagans, interfaith marriages, and folks the local Christians won't deal with). I don't know if it's helped on that front, but I hope so.My only complaint is my usual one with texts in our particular end of the faith spectrum, and that's the inclusion of some of the more "woo" aspects of new age spirituality. Chakras? Tarot? Eh, not my thing, but even for someone like me who's not into all that, there's not much of it and it can be glossed over for the deeper message. Let's face it; you're getting this book to bridge the gap between the church of the white Christ and the faith of the old gods. If you can bridge that, you can ignore some woo.

the views of jesus given here are pretty honest and depending upon your own beliefs you might find that challenging to some degree, maybe even disturbing although that is not intended. i would say that this is a really brave book in terms of freedom of speech and the honesty displayed by the authors, refreshing even. this book certainly merits a good read. the way in which people look at jesus varies enormously indeed, and shows this subject within a new light.

An interesting way to look at a significant person/character in one religion is to gather the perspectives of those who know of that person who do not follow that religion. I daresay that there could be an equally interesting take on Jesus through Atheist, Humanist or Agnostic eyes.The first section of the book deals with Mark stripping away some of the gloss and glamour from the Jesus that churches have popularised, and concentrating on the essence of Jesus, rather than the hype and expectation loaded onto him. He talks from an interesting vantage of someone who is both a Christian priest and a Druid.Throughout the book both Mark and some of the other writers/interviewees have spoken of the different versions of Jesus, from historical man, to a Church-perpetuated myth, to a more universal version of a Mystic or Cosmic Christ.I found resonance, or at least a fascination, with some of the essays by the pagan writers....some more than others. I found the essays on how some of these pagans, especially the Druids amongst them, viewed Jesus drew me into their worldview.The interviews with different established pagans was a bit hit and miss for me, but not because of the style of writing or the questions asked, but more for how I could, or could not, relate to what they said.I'm not sure it has made me want to forge any greater bond with Jesus, any more than reading about Buddha or Ghandi would make me want to have a greater bond with them on a mystical/spiritual level...though I could see why there might be a loose spiritual affiliation, but it was an interesting read nonetheless.

"There are some who go into the water, and when they emerge, they recognise the Presence in everything. That is why there in nothing to be despised; a king in rags is still a king." (1)This quotation from the second century Gospel of Philip sums up the feeling-tone of Mark Townsend's 'Jesus Through Pagan Eyes'. It is cleansing and transfiguring to read.Why did I read this book? Like Mark I'm an OBOD Druid. I'm also a mentor in that tradition, aware the people enter the Order from all sort of points of view. So there's an element of homework. But beyond that, though I don't personally identify as either Pagan or Christian, I have an abiding interest in both traditions. I recognise that there are many Christianities and Paganisms loose in the world, some of which are able to interweave and so add to the creative possibilities of 21st. century spirituality.Why might you want to read it? 'Jesus Through Pagan Eyes' is a friendly and accessible book on a hot topic in the field of spiritual change and development. Mark Townsend is well-placed to develop it and has done so with authority and elegance. It is not too long - and yet covers a lot of ground.The book is structurally creative. It is written in three parts. The first, written by Mark, looks at theological development in the Christian tradition, engaging in particular with the work of theologians like Matthew Fox (who has contributed a substantial foreword) and Richard Rohr. In particular, Mark looks at different ways in which the figures of `Jesus' and `Christ' (both separately and together) can be understood.The second part comprises chapters by respected writers from pagan traditions, talking about their understandings of Jesus and what, if anything, he means to them now. Here we begin to get the full diversity of voices, which is such a feature of the book. Chapters which stood out for me on first reading included 'The Lily Gross and the Green Man', offering reflections arising from an image in an English country church, by Maria Ede-Weaving; 'Jesus, Horse of God', drawn on insights from "Afro-Diasporic and other possessory traditions", by Diana L. Paxson; and 'I Have No Temple: a Consideration of Jesus as a Pagan Teacher of Gnosis', reflecting largely on G.R.S. Mead's translation of 'The Hymn of Jesus', by Marcus Katz. From a Druid point of view, there are also significant chapters by Emma Restall-Orr, John Michael Greer and Philip Carr-Gomm.The third part comprises interviews from "respected pagan elders", these being: Maxine Sanders, Selena Fox, Raven Digitalis, Sorita D'Este, Caitlin Matthews, Janet Farrar, Gavin Bone, Oberon Zell-Ravenheart, Cassandra Eason, Raven Grimassi, Scott Blunt, Kerr Cuhulain, and Gill Edwards. The interviews contain a wealth of information and opinion, though on the whole they did not hold me in quite the same way as the chapters in part two. But good value, all the same.Overall, a book for our time.(1) The gospel of Philip: saying 98 (in Jean-Yves Leloup The gospel of Philip: Jesus, Mary Magdalene and the gnosis of sacred union, Father Leloup's own translation)

This book is a thoughtfully-researched and thought-provoking read. I found Mark's writing style very comfortable and really identified with his description of his journey to date with the subject matter.It was interesting to read other pagan impressions of Jesus - interesting and, in places, very moving.I have bought a second copy as I have already lent the first one to my Dad, a seeker of truth and enigma, and am sure that it will do the rounds.This book is in no way preachy and if I have one criticism it is that it doesn't go deep enough. It feels like an introduction to the subject in many ways. I guess that's my way of asking for more!

Whilst not giving a label to my belief system I have many pagan friends and christian friends and I know that many of these friends are trying to find places where our paths cross. This book is helpful in bringing some of the crossover places to the table. Many wrongs have been done in the name of religion and I know many practise their faith behind closed doors through fear of ridicule or other perceived fears. I also know that in the world of the Spirit ,be it what or who you understand that to be ,there is a desire to bring harmony to our world, not destruction. If this book goes some way to bring that ,then so mote it be! I recommend this book as it brings ideas and thoughts to ponder on and if needful act on.