Often I am reviewing books that challenge faith. This time I am reviewing one that defends it. Lord or Legend? Wrestling with the Jesus Dilemma is written by Gregory Boyd and Paul Eddy. This book is intended for lay people and can be read easily as the style is very clear and direct. They engage with attempts to argue that Jesus is a legend and refute arguments presented to make that case. This is a simpler version of a larger book, the Jesus Legend, which I also plan to read and review.
The book covers the issues of whether pagan views created Jesus, as well as the issue of other religious figures being "like" Jesus. These are covered adequately, given the level of the book. The best chapter is the one on oral traditions and how they work (chapter 5). The ley points here are that such orality can encompass narrative (using African examples of loing stories) and are sensitive to the core of the story being consistent. The second half of the book gives ten questions about historicity and argues that the gospels meet the standard of being accurate. The book moves from question to question rather quickly and some answers and treatments are better than others. For example the issue of Osiris being parallel to Jesus is well handled, but issues tied to the dating and tradition of the authorship of the gospels are too brief to really engage objections and questions. In sum, this is a good book that covers the area nicely.
"For example the issue of Osiris being parallel to Jesus is well handled, but issues tied to the dating and tradition of the authorship of the gospels are too brief to really engage objections and questions. In sum, this is a good book that covers the area nicely."
It seems to me that the Osiris argument is so inconsequential that points for covering it thoroughly should be awarded sparingly. On the other hand, the dating and tradition of the authorship of the gospels is so central to objections to the historicity of Jesus that being "too brief" should damn the book a spot on the shelf right next "skeptic" Lee Strobel.
Scott:
It is because this book is the short version of a larger work that I have held off on a final evaluation. In fact, all of these areas are important, but I am hoping there is more on some of these subjects in the longer book. If this was all they had said, then it would be disappointing.
Have a great Thanksgiving.
dlb
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