Was Jesus a Humanist?

and other questionable essays

By: Chris Highland

Narrated by: Virtual Voice

Freethinker, humanist celebrant and former minister and chaplain, Chris Highland, links 25 concise essays that address controversial views of religion, faith and humanistic practice. Each essay hangs on a question-mark, with a central theme drawing on the title question: Was Jesus a Humanist?

Essays include: Interview with a Strange Young Teacher? A Prophetic Professor’s Greatest Challenge? The Man from Nazareth: Liar, Lunatic or Lord? Was Jesus a Humanist? What if Believing Isn’t the Point? Leaving the Choir, Still Singing? Baby Gods? Saved from What? Open for Truth? Did Jesus Teach the Christianity We See Today? Faith: Lost, Found, Misplaced or Given Away? iPhone, iHuman, iGod … I Wonder? Can Faith or Freethinking be Forced? Does the World Still Need Evangelism? Are Religion and Spirituality the Same? Secular Jesus? Holy, Holey or Wholly? Losing Friendships Over Faith? Time Served with the Criminal Christ? Where is the Christian? (Part One) Where is the Christian? (Part Two) Does the Worship of Jesus break a few Commandments? Jesus was Jewish but should Jews be Christians? Can a Secular Person be a Christian? Saving Jesus?

Highland connects his "questionable" interest in the humanity of Jesus with his years as a chaplain in jails and on the streets with people Jesus often identified with. The intent is to re-humanize the deified Christ for our day, bringing the man back to earth, offering insights into one historical teacher who may still present both the secular and faith world with wisdom to generate ethical work beyond beliefs.