This book challenges traditional views of Jesus, portraying him as a troubled child and questioning the existence of Christ as taught by the Roman Catholic Church. It discusses the late development of the New Testament canon, highlights newly discovered gospels, and advocates for women's roles in the church.
Only 29 years ago, in 1980, officials of the Israeli Antiquities Authority (IAA) discovered the limestone caskets, or ossuaries, of Jesus, his mother Mary, his lover Mary Magdalene and son Judah, two of his brothers James and Yoseh, and a few other relatives. The tomb was accidentally exposed by a construction crew in Talpiot, Jerusalem. The officials emptied all the bones from the ossuaries into a plastic bag which was buried somewhere in a hole in the ground. Ten bone boxes from that tomb were put in the IAA warehouse and the tomb was quickly sealed with a concrete slab. Talpiot became the “Place of the Holy Holes in Jerusalem.” One of the bone boxes disappeared from the IAA warehouse. Which one and what does it mean? Why did Jews and Christians rush to repudiate any connection of that Jesus family with Jesus of Nazareth? Why is the tomb still sealed? MYSTERY OF THE JESUS FAMILY sheds light on these grave questions.
Exploring the humanistic aspects of Jesus, the book seeks to uncover a powerful healer and social justice activist, distinct from the traditional religious narratives. It emphasizes Jesus's courage in confronting oppressive forces, rooted in the belief of a divine kingdom accessible to the marginalized. This perspective aims to liberate Jesus from religious dogmas, presenting him as a source of profound freedom and light. The mission is to reclaim a more authentic understanding of Jesus that resonates with contemporary struggles for justice and equality.