Who is Jesus? In The Third Jesus, Deepak Chopra provides an answer that is both uplifting and challenging to current beliefs. There is not one Jesus, Chopra writes, but three.
The first is the historical Jesus, the man of flesh and blood who lived more than two thousand years ago.
The second Jesus is a person who never lived but is a figure created by the Church to represent thousands of years of theology and Church teaching.
Behind these two images stands a third Jesus, the radical, mystical teacher who taught his followers how to change the world. In The Third Jesus, Chopra explores Jesus’ original message, revealing a spiritual guide of profound depth and inspiration that speaks to anyone who believes in the importance of peace and love.
By turning fresh eyes on the New Testament and returning to the essentials of Jesus’ message, Chopra shows how the third Jesus can truly transform our lives—and humanity.
Editorial Reviews
Review
Named One of the Best Spiritual Books of 2008 by Spirituality & Practice
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"[Promotes] an interspirituality for the twenty-first century that tears down the walls between East and West and reveals how all the world's religions encourage the practice of transformation."
—Spirituality & Practice
"In this book, Deepak Chopra proposes a Copernican revolution in our understanding of Christianity by replacing the theological version of the holy trinity with the triptych of Jesus as possessing a human, an institutional and a mystical dimension. By emphasizing the mystical dimension and identifying Jesus as a spiritual revolutionary, he invites Christianity to perform yet another miracle in his name- that of transforming the world once again."
—Arvind Sharma, Birks Professor of Comparative Religion, Faculty of Religious Studies, McGill University
"The hardest thing to see is what is hidden in plain sight. After 20 centuries of doctrine and dogma we have nearly lost sight of the Jesus who was a wandering teacher of mystical truths. In his imaginative reconstruction of the inner meaning of the gospels, Deepak Chopra reminds us of The Third Jesus, the enlightened master of God-consciousness. It will disturb the minds of the orthodox, and delight the spirits of mystics and progressive Christians."
—Sam Keen, Philosopher and Author, Sightings: Extraordinary Encounters with Ordinary Birds
"An insightful and clarifying glimpse into the life of one of the most radical spiritual teachers the world has known. Chopra gives us the gift of knowing that we may walk in the enlightened footsteps of our brother, Jesus the Christ."
—Michael Bernard Beckwith, founder Agape International Spiritual Center and author of Inspirations of the Heart, 40 Day Mind Fast Soul Feast, A Manifesto of Peace
"In The Third Jesus Deepak Chopra unfolds for us the spirit of Jesus and with a reverence that is at once simple and profound makes his spirit accessible to us in our everyday lives."
—Father Paul Keenan, Host, "As You Think," The Catholic Channel/Sirius 159
“Distinguishing between the historical Jesus and the Christ of Theology and Philosophy developed over 17 centuries Dr. Chopra captures an intriguing vision of a “Third Jesus,” who, while living on Earth, developed a deep relationship with God. Deepak calls this “God-consciousness.” Dr. Chopra brilliantly uses the sayings of Jesus to demonstrate how his basic mission and ethic of love grew out of his God-consciousness. Through Jesus’ own words and spiritual exercises Deepak beautifully elucidates a beginning, middle and unity pathway for growing in deep God-consciousness to anchor our life on earth and our life after death.”
—Rev. Edward J. Ruetz, retired Catholic priest of the Diocese of Fort Wayne/South Bend in Indiana
"Dr. Deepak Chopra's analyses and interpretations of the sayings of Jesus, in the form of "Comment," breathe renewed life into those sayings. Chopra's work brings the teachings of Jesus into sharp focus with a marvelous, modern touch of insight from the vantage of both Eastern and Western thought. With the thought of Jesus's model in hand, Chopra provides the reader with a spiritual path of exercises -- a remarkably renewed practice in search of a higher reality, helping to cause a connection between reader and God. The views Chopra imparts are definitely worth the effort to undertake this enlightening journey of reading and practice."
—Ben Christensen, Ph.D., Prof. Emeritus Dean of the San Diego School of Christian Studies First United Methodist Church of San Diego, CA
"Jesus has now long since escaped the confines of church, Christianity and even 'religions.' Chopra's book thoughtfully presents a Jesus who is paradoxically both closer to the original and more available to post-modern people than the stained glass version. The book is bound to provoke both admiration and condemnation which, come to think of it, the maverick Galilean rabbi also did."
—Harvey Cox, author, When Jesus Came to Harvard, Hollis Professor of Divinity at Harvard
"Chopra’s book The Third Jesus reminds me of the theological work of one of history’s greatest humanitarians and the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Albert Schweitzer. Schweitzer wrote extensively about Jesus and challenged much of the prevailing theology regarding Jesus’ life and ideas. Chopra is Schweitzer’s equal in bringing to light a fresh and profound way to experience the teachings of Jesus."
—David T. Ives, Executive Director of the Albert Schweitzer Institute at Quinnipiac University
"In this book a man shaped by the religions of the East introduces the West to a Jesus we have either lost or have never known. That is itself a stunning concept, but Deepak Chopra is a stunning man. He explores what he calls the 'Christ Consciousness,' which can be identified neither with the Jesus of history nor with the Jesus of the creeds, the doctrines and the dogmas of the ecclesiastical institution. This 'Third Jesus' can be seen only when we move into a new human awareness that will carry us beyond tribe, prejudice and even beyond our religious systems. As a Christian, I welcome his insights into my Jesus and his provocative call to me to enter the 'Christ Consciousness' and thus to become more deeply and completely human."
—John Shelby Spong, Retired Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, Author, Jesus for the Non-Religious
"In this intriguing study of the sayings of Jesus, Deepak Chopra gently releases this highly evolved spiritual teacher, light of the world and son of God from the limitations of dogmatic theology. With profound wisdom and clarity Deepak offers the amazing suggestion that the same God-consciousness embodied in the human Jesus is present in all of us individually and collectively. In a spirit of humble knowingness Deepak encourages us to look deep into the mirror of our collective souls and ponder the question Jesus continues to ask “Who do YOU say that I AM ?"
—Sister Judian Breitenbach, Catholic order of the Poor Handmaids of Jesus Christ, Founder of the Sari Asher Namaste’ Center in LaPorte, Indiana
"The book makes God accessible to those who find God distant, troublesome, or both. Chopra rescues Jesus from the confusion of the ever multiplying schools of Biblical criticism. The book shows us how to investigate, in a new way, Jesus--the mysterious man with divine awareness. Chopra resolves contradictions in Jesus' sayings, sharpens our understanding of Jesus' teachings, and guides us in the application of Jesus' teachings. Jesus comes into focus. We gain new expectations of what the spiritual life looks like. The book calls even to those who have lost any sense of God. By following the book's practical applications, they, too, may find the universe meaningful instead of indifferent. This is a book to read, re-read, and incorporate into one's life."
—Bonnie Bobzien, MD, Member of board of directors of San Diego School of Christian Studies
"Literate, mainstream Christians will welcome Chopra’s championing before the world, the meaning of their commitment to action, practice, 'ortho-praxis,' following the only absolutely unambiguous demands of Jesus on his followers recorded in the New Testament: serving the poor, loving neighbor and even enemies. It is the most effective response to the Dawkins’ crowd who never even mention the Bishop Robinsons, Martin King, Dietrich Bonhoeffers, Mother Teresas who by their actions, have shown their faith in this Jesus Christ."
—Rustum Roy, Evan Pugh Professor of the Solid State Emeritus, Professor of Science Technology and Society Emeritus, The Pennsylvania State University
“'God created man and woman in His image,'a biblical poet reminds us. Deepak Chopra has returned the compliment. He joins other incisive minds who have reflected on Jesus as 'the true light who enlightens every person' (John 1:9). Jefferson, for example, revered Jesus as 'the first of human Sages.'He looked like Jefferson–dignified, brainy and humorless. Assertive, rabble-rousing Malcolm X told Playboy magazine in 1963 'Christ was a black man.' Was it coincidental that his ebony Jesus bristled at the status quo as he flashed revolutionary rhetoric? Chopra engagingly describes Jesus as looking much like Deepak. Jesus enlightens us, creating a helpful 'path to God-consciousness.' Jesus can’t be contained within stultifying Christian creeds and arid Church traditions that deify him. Yes, he is divine, for Chopra in the sense that he divines a way to Cosmic Consciousness. Here’s energy within that settles us down, excites our passions we look up to capture them and points us back to Jesus, the savant who makes us conscious of the good, the true and the beautiful."
—The Reverend Dr. Jack R. Van Ens, Creative Growth Ministries, Christian dramatist and commentator for the Vail Daily
"The message of Jesus was clear, simple and direct. But within a generation of his passion it was compromised in order to accommodate the widely conflicting views among those who claimed to follow him. In Deepak Chopra’s new book you will find much thought- provoking material related to this compromise which will elucidate many sensitive issues that have perplexed believers for centuries. In contrast to a message originally intended to inspire people to the wonders of a world reborn in God, the emphasis nowadays makes it almost impossible to think of Jesus or even Christianity itself except in terms of the suffering savior who died to appease God’s anger against us. The terrible toll this emphasis has exacted on the message is sensitively treated in a most compelling way in this very valuable new work."
—Miceal Ledwith, L.Ph., L.D., D.D., LL.D, Former President and Professor of Theology, Maynooth University, Served as a Member of the Vatican's International Theological Commission for seventeen years under Pope John Paul II when Cardinal Joseph Alois Ratzinger was President
"A testimony to the inexhaustibility of Jesus; wiseman, social reformer, advocate for the poor and for some, a savior. In this book, Deepak Chopra has given us the mystical Jesus, at one with our deepest consciousness."
—Rev. Patricia E. de Jong, Senior Minister, First Congregational Church, Berkeley, CA.
"What happens when an 'outsider' looks at some of the deep teachings of Jesus? Different angles and perspectives are awakened and different questions are asked of the Christ tradition. In this way wisdom flows in two directions, East to West and West to East and we all wake up--which is, after all, the purpose of a man and life like Jesus. This book helps to heal the divorce between East and West, underscoring that there is only one wisdom and that it demands much of all of us no matter what tradition we come from and especially at this perilous time in human and earth history when we are finally realizing we are all in this together and together we will perish or rise."
—Dr. Matthew Fox, Author, One River, Many Wells: Wisdom Springing from Global Faiths; The New Reformation; Original Blessing; The A.W.E. Project: Reinventing Education, Reinventing the Human and more.
"The story of the Third Jesus is based on the science of all the great religions. The knowledge that god dwells within each of us is realized when we enter into Christ consciousness. Its critical that great teachers of faith re-state the obvious in ways that can be digested by the masses. Specifically, that the idea of Nirvana, Samadhi or Christ consciousness is found when we become one with the universe. Deepak is one of those great teachers. His voice reaffirms the science that is the basis of all religions and echoes the truth in the human spirit."
—Russell Simmons
About the Author
DEEPAK CHOPRA, a member of Oprah's SuperSoul 100, is the author of more than fifty books translated into over thirty-five languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers in both the fiction and non-fiction categories. Chopra’s Wellness Radio
airs weekly on Sirius Satellite Stars, Channel 102, which focuses on the areas of success, love, sexuality and relationships, well-being, and spirituality. He is founder and president of the Alliance for a New Humanity. Time magazine heralds Deepak Chopra as one of the top one hundred heroes and icons of the century and credits him as “the poet-prophet of alternative medicine.”
www.deepakchopra.com
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Product details
Publisher : Harmony; 4/19/09 edition (May 19, 2009)
Language : English
Paperback : 256 pages
ISBN-10 : 0307338320
ISBN-13 : 978-0307338327
Item Weight : 6.6 ounces
Dimensions : 5.19 x 0.54 x 8.01 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #377,452 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#706 in Religion & Philosophy (Books)
#829 in Jesus, the Gospels & Acts (Books)
#906 in Christology (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.6 out of 5 stars 352 ratings
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Biography
DEEPAK CHOPRA™ MD, FACP, founder of The Chopra Foundation, a non-profit entity for research on well-being and humanitarianism, and Chopra Global, a modern-day health company at the intersection of science and spirituality, is a world-renowned pioneer in integrative medicine and personal transformation. Dr. Chopra is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Endocrinology and Metabolism, a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, and a member of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists. He serves as a Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of California, San Diego, and hosts the podcast Daily Breath.The World Post and The Huffington Post global internet survey ranked “Chopra #17 influential thinker in the world and #1 in Medicine.”
He is the author of over 90 books translated into over forty-three languages, including numerous New York Times bestsellers. For the last thirty years, Chopra has been at the forefront of the meditation revolution and his book, Total Meditation (Harmony Book, September 22, 2020) will help to achieve new dimensions of stress-free living and joyful living. TIME magazine has described Dr. Chopra as “one of the top 100 heroes and icons of the century.”
www.choprafoundation.org
www.deepakchopra.com
www.chopra.com
https://apple.co/Daily Breath
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deepak chopra third jesus new testament jesus christ gospel of thomas jesus and his teachings new age son of god reading this book christ consciousness highly recommend spiritual path even though many people jesus words holy spirit historical jesus kingdom of heaven must read catholic church
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Angela
5.0 out of 5 stars One Of My Favorites
Reviewed in the United States on May 28, 2020
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This is one of my favorite books by Deepak Chopra. It takes the vision people have of Christ, and expands upon it, to show that he was also a human. It also extends on the spiritual side of Christ, showing meditative states, thoughts and processes, that a normal human would go through. I think you have to have an open mind to read and enjoy this book. If you can only view Christ as divine and not human, this might not be the book for you. However, if you recognize both the human and the divine side of Christ, this is a great book.
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Rach67
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful book for any seeker of divine truth.
Reviewed in the United States on February 3, 2020
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This book is outstanding. I actually had come to the exact same conclusions about Christ as Deepak without knowing that he has written a book on the subject. I had even recently read the exact scriptures that he quotes. I planned to write a book myself but I am glad that Deepak did it because I could never do the subject justice as he has. Just about every word of this text resonated with me on a deep level. Thank you so much Deepak for providing me with much needed guidance on the path but also for being the voice of reason in these crazy times. You are a beacon to the world as we experience this wonderful paradigm shift. 💕💕💕💕
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5.0 out of 5 stars A fascinating, timeless meditation on the life and words of Jesus
Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2014
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I probably learned more about Jesus reading this book then in amost three decades of church. Don't get me wrong, church is a wonderful place of fellowship, but there is too much emphasis on just getting people into the fold. What happens after that? It becomes like a sales meeting, how many souls did we sell for the kingdom of God today? Instead of saying, how many lives were transformed? How many marriages restored? How many runaways came back home? How many addicts gave up the habit? How many people are actually living the abundant life Jesus promised?
Sometimes it takes an outsider from the church to stand a few feet back from the stainglass window and give us a unique perspective. As Dr. Chopra would say, "Those in glass houses, shouldn't throw scripture"
I will recommend this book to both skeptic and devout. Even if you disagree with Dr. Chopra, you have to at least admit he creates an engaging dialogue.
22 people found this helpful
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Steve Slonecker
4.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, enlightening, and confusing
Reviewed in the United States on April 26, 2016
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In explaining the third Jesus, Dr. Chopra gives an alternative meaning to what Jesus meant and what organized religion has taught. Jesus's enlightenment in God-consciousness is more believable to me than the different accounts in the gospels. It is worth reading and comparing if you too have questions. I had a little trouble with the last chapter on "what would Jesus do". It seems Dr.Chopra is very opinionated on certain opposing social issues that contradict his "perception is illusion" rational. This is the confusing part for me. I would give this book a five star rating without that section. It gave me a setback.
7 people found this helpful
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Cow Town Girl
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful and inspiring. Thought provoking.
Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2015
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I gave up on religion after some bad church experiences when I was young. I ended up taking a metaphysical path to spirituality that has benefitted my life in profound ways without a specific church affiliation. I love this book. If you are committed to a "my way or the highway" religion that stands on one biblical interpretation, this book may not be for you. Or, approach with an open mind.
Chopra honors and respects all religions by basically taking the approach that the deeper meanings Jesus wanted all mankind to understand we sometimes "encrypted" because not everyone is ready to hear the bigger message that Jesus and other teachers brought to the world. It is well written and paradigm shifting. A definite must read for those who appreciate the deeper meanings of Jesus.
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Nini
1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your time
Reviewed in the United States on May 1, 2019
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It's my opinion that the description was written to sell books. I found the description quite an inaccurate. I have many Chopra books but this one is going back. He needs to stick to his original teachings!
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Lena
5.0 out of 5 stars LIVE your Religion
Reviewed in the United States on December 13, 2016
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Love Chopra's work, and this "third dimension" look at Christ. As a Christian, I like the ways he encourages us to BE what we believe (with exercises for practice) and stop just saying it. Excellent personal workbook for developing a connection with God and more compassion in your heart/life.
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C. Skidmore
4.0 out of 5 stars A fresh look at some of Jesus teachings emphasizing the ...
Reviewed in the United States on November 22, 2016
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A fresh look at some of Jesus teachings emphasizing the mystical and transcendent character of the teachings. This is an interesting counter to those writers who tend to take the Bible literally, in that it borders on taking the teachings literally, but interpreting them in a less material way.
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Stephen Bentley
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 27, 2016
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good and efficient
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DDD
5.0 out of 5 stars I was ready for this book after going through what ...
Reviewed in Canada on March 20, 2015
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I was ready for this book after going through what i call a detox, by withdrawing from organized religion three years ago and still counting,Before I would roll my eyes if i heard Deepaks name mentioned But the depth of this book is at times breathtaking It has become a companion to reread a section at a time before meditating
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Leslie
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on February 26, 2018
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Love this book it answered many questions for me and put others into perspective.
Highly recommend!!👍👍
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LB
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recomended
Reviewed in Canada on September 22, 2018
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Well written and highly recommended for those of you exploring the moral compass of Jesus Christ a practical application of the spiritual principles
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Margie
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in Canada on January 16, 2016
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Not my favorite version of life of Jesus
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The Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
by Deepak Chopra (Goodreads Author)
3.87 · Rating details · 2,145 ratings · 193 reviews
Who is Jesus Christ?
In The Third Jesus, bestselling author and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra provides an answer to this question that is both a challenge to current systems of belief and a fresh perspective on what Jesus can teach us all, regardless of our religious background. There is not one Jesus, Chopra writes, but three.
First, there is the historical Jesus, the man who lived more than two thousand years ago and whose teachings are the foundation of Christian theology and thought. Next there is Jesus the Son of God, who has come to embody an institutional religion with specific dogma, a priesthood, and devout believers. And finally, there is the third Jesus, the cosmic Christ, the spiritual guide whose teaching embraces all humanity, not just the church built in his name. He speaks to the individual who wants to find God as a personal experience, to attain what some might call grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment.
When we take Jesus literally, we are faced with the impossible. How can we truly “love thy neighbor as thyself”? But when we see the exhortations of Jesus as invitations to join him on a higher spiritual plane, his words suddenly make sense.
Ultimately, Chopra argues, Christianity needs to overcome its tendency to be exclusionary and refocus on being a religion of personal insight and spiritual growth. In this way Jesus can be seen for the universal teacher he truly is–someone whose teachings of compassion, tolerance, and understanding can embrace and be embraced by all of us. (less)
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Published February 19th 2008 by Harmony (first published January 1st 2008)
Original TitleThe Third Jesus: The Christ We Cannot Ignore
ISBN0307338312 (ISBN13: 9780307338310)
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MattA
Apr 22, 2008MattA rated it liked it
Shelves: religion-philosophy, own
First, a recommendation about who should NOT read this book. Do NOT read this book if you are a Christian fundamentalist who cannot abide interpretations of Jesus different than the traditional one you receive at church. A non-traditional view of Jesus is what this book is all about. I've read many extremely negative reviews of this book from Christian fundamentalists. Most of those negative reviews were likely inspired by the last chapter of the book which directly criticizes the Christian right (as I describe later) and would not satisfy readers of that political or religious persuasion. Be warned.
However, if you can handle different ideas about Jesus, even if you don't fully embrace them spiritually, the this book might be for you. Especially if you've never been exposed to the gnostic view of Jesus.
From the jacket flap:
There is not one Jesus, [Deepak] Chopra writes, but three.
First, there is the historical Jesus, the man who lived
more than two thousand years ago and whose teachings are
the foundation of Christian theology and thought. Next
there is Jesus the Son of God, who has come to embody an
institutional religion with specific dogma, a priesthood,
and devout believers. And finally, there is the third
Jesus, the cosmic Christ, the spiritual guide whose
teaching embraces all humanity, not just the church built
in his name. He speaks to the individual who wants to
find God as a personal experience, to attain what some
might call grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment.
The book is split into three parts. Part 1 is an introduction section, and sets up the premise quoted above.
Part 2 is entitled "The Gospel of Enlightenment" and consists of quotations from the Bible as well as gnostic texts, with the author's commentary following each quote. This section was the main reason I decided to read the book. This is the "meat" of the book. True, these quotes could be found in any Bible or Gospel of Thomas, but having them collected in this manner, along with the commentary, I found particularly thought-provoking.
Part 3 is entitled "Taking Jesus As Your Teacher: A Guide For Seekers." This last section might be viewed as a "how-to" guide to implementing the lessons of Part 2. There were a few interesting passages, but overall I found this third section mediocre.
And then there's the last chapter of the book, entitled "What Would Jesus Do?", where the author takes direct aim on the Christian right and explicitly criticizes their stances on abortion, gay rights, women's rights, war, etc. It leaves little question as to why a fundamentalist would give this book a negative review. I happen to agree with most of what the author says, but the entire chapter seems out of place. Even if you accept that a liberal interpretation is the inevitable conclusion of a "Third Jesus" reading of Christ, calling it out so explicitly feels like a stumble and weakens the argument. If you're on the left, politically, the chapter is just preaching to the choir. If you're on the right, the chapter will just piss you off. Readers might as well skip it.
In the end, I would give Parts 1 and 2 four, maybe 4.5 stars, and Part 3 two stars. Splitting the difference I give the whole book three stars. (less)
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Liz
Aug 15, 2009Liz rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2009
I was never a fan of Deepak Chopra, sometimes I think he talks out of his ear, but I was intrigued by the title of this book, I skimmed through it in the library and it looked interesting enough for me to at least give it a shot. At first, I had a huge chip on my shoulder, I thought "This guy is a flake", "He doesn't know Jesus from Joe". But I kept reading, because the more I read the better the book seemed. I didn't agree with some stuff he said, but some of what he wrote was enlightening. And by the end of the book, though still not of fan of Chopra's, I had to appreciate the effort that went into this book. He does admit he is not a commited Christian, which is why I initially thought this book would be full of bull, but maybe it takes someone who approaches the religion from the outside to see how it works (or doesn't). The chip is no longer on my shoulder, and I am thinking a little differently about Jesus. I cannot say this is the best inspirational book I've ever read, but it was worth the read.
Deepak talks about Jesus and religion today. How today's Christian doesn't know the real Jesus, how the church hides and misuses doctrine. He takes passages from the Bible and attempts to explain them for the average person to understand. This is where the chip on the shoulder comes in, how can someone who is not Christian explain the Bible to me? However, he does a pretty good job, I think he's explained it better than people who have been Christian all of their life. (less)
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Carol
Mar 06, 2008Carol rated it really liked it
Shelves: faith-spirituality, non-fiction
Picked this book up because of the back-cover comments from Bishop Spong: "As a Christian, I welcome his (Chopra's) insights into my Jesus and his provocative call to me to enter the 'Christ consciousness'"
Chopra's "Third Jesus", the Jesus of the spiritual path, is the radical loving Jesus that I long to find more often in conversations within the Christian Church. Reminding us that we don't have to wait on the church and its doctrine to walk a spiritual path, Chopra provides practical ways to apply Biblical teachings to every day life. I particularly appreciate his commentary on Jesus' teachings and his East-West linkages. Whether it's called 'Enlightenment' or 'The Kingdom of God', it's still all about love as a radical path to transformation and renewal. (less)
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Tim
May 06, 2008Tim added it
I'm not going through it very quickly because the class I'm taking is kicking my butt, but what I have read has given me much to think about. And that's a good thing. Deepak Chopra makes it an easy read but gives you a lot to contemplate.
Favorite quote so far:
"You must find the place inside yourself where nothing is impossible."
I looked and looked and for the life of me I could never find that place. So I decided to build it from scratch.
Second favorite quote:
"'In everything do to others as you would have them do to you.' (Matthew 7:9-12)
If you contemplate the Golden Rule, it turns out to be an injunction to live by grace rather than by what you think other people deserve."
Usually, when we think of the Golden Rule, we think in terms of a proactive situation; we treat someone nice so they'll be nice to us in return. But Deepak Chopra is looking at it from a reactive situation; someone has just been thoughtless/rude/mean to us and in our anger we want to give them what they deserve, or at the very least turn away, but Grace requires us to be nice, as if they'd been nice. This goes back to treating people as they ought to be, rather than as they are.
I apologize to my non-Christian friends for quoting scripture at you. I'm trying to be more spiritual than religious. Despite the fact that many have used Scripture to beat us up and leave us to die tied to a fence, there is some spiritual wisdom in scripture. And that's Deepak Chopra's intent in writing this book; to look beyond Jesus "the man" whose factual history has been all but lost and to bypass Jesus "the arbitrator of rules" who has been kidnapped by the conservative false prophets, and look at the spriritual, mystical leader he was trying to be all along. (less)
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Lauren Smith
Mar 11, 2008Lauren Smith rated it it was amazing
Jesus taught God-consciousness. If you are open to reading this masterpiece, you will awake.
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Davis Aujourd'hui
Sep 29, 2009Davis Aujourd'hui rated it it was amazing
As the author of a series of spiritually-themed novels, I am always on the outlook for spiritual books that broaden my perspective. This book not only accomplished that, but it helped me develop an even more intimate relationship with Jesus.
This is a book that could totally transform the spiritual understanding of Christians along with opening them up to a relationship with the Holy Spirit. It will also speak to people of other faiths since it releases so much of the dogma that can exist within traditional Christian churches. It not only personalizes Jesus, the man, but it makes his messages more clear.
I love the way Deepak Chopra uses meditative techniques in order to allow the teachings of Jesus as presented in the scriptures to come alive. Through my own use of these techniques, the underlying messages of the scriptures spoke to me as they never have before.
The beauty of this book is that it freed me from the mental aspects of theology as it allowed me to develop a more personal relationship with the man who came to teach us the way to love. This book will especially appeal to individuals who are seeking a mystical experience within their own faith.
The book may be offensive to some closed-minded individuals. Deepak Chopra opens the door to all in order for them to develop their own Christ potential as equals with Jesus as other children of God. Personally I believe that the humble man, Jesus, would approve. He was here to help us all develop our highest potential. After all, he stated that it would be possible for us to perform even greater works than he. By taking individual and collective responsibility for our own spiritual development, perhaps we could indeed realize peace on earth and good will toward all "men."
Davis Aujourd'hui, author of "The Misadventures of Sister Mary Olga Fortitude" (less)
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Kimberly Cain
Apr 21, 2010Kimberly Cain rated it it was amazing
Shelves: spirituality, non-fiction, religion, new-thought, christian-mysticism
For those who appreciate Jesus' teachings, but do not appreciate much of what has happened to them at the hands of the Church. Christ-consciousness is something most people, even those not spiritually minded, can buy into when they understand that it is linked to knowing, understanding & embracing our own highest, most excellent selves.
Dr. Chopra does a good job expressing the teachings of the highly aware man, Jesus. (less)
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Jeremy
May 19, 2009Jeremy rated it did not like it
Shelves: spirituality
Well, this officially closes the door on my reading of Chopra. His "novel" on Jesus' life was bad, but this book is just brutal in every regard. I actually quit it three times but ended up with nothing else to read on a road trip so finished.
First, dude can't write. The novel was a pathetic stab, but I thought, "Maybe it's not his genre. I'll give him one more shot..." So I found "The Third Jesus" in our school bookstore for $1 and thought I'd give him another shot.
Even worse (and over-priced).
At his best he's repetitive, at his most common he's stealing ideas, at his worst he's incredibly insensitive and judgmental.
Let's start with repetitive: the book has chapters full of Bible verses which Deepak then "reveals" to us. They're just translations and they go one for pages and pages as he hammers home his messages of 1.) Jesus is just a model of God-conciousness, 2.) Fundamentalists/Catholics/Conservatives are out of line, 3.) Religion is a scam.
As for his most common trait, NOTHING he says is new. Read Joseph Cambpell, Native American legends, Aquinas, Thomas Merton, Ekhart or even his buddy Wayne Dyer. Nothing here is new, it's just rehashed in a new cover (which is both Dyer and Chopra's M.O. as they put out a book a month and probably rake in. Speaking of which, with all his judgments of society not once does he mention giving to those in need...).
As for his worst he drops lines like "Jesus is not reachable as a personality." and "The beautiful moods Christianity arouses are powerful but temporary." and "Christian women often find themselves between Eve and Mary, either vilified or idealized" (horrible sentence, by the way, as "being between" is not an "either" situation). It goes on and on like this, as Chopra even goes so far as to write a chapter that is almost 100% political to wrap up the book (in case you wondered, Jesus would support abortion rights, gays and liberals). In the process he takes down Christians, Catholics, conservatives and fundamentalists under the pre-qualifier of "We shouldn't judge these people, but..."
It's like he's saying, "Don't take this personal, but you're ugly and you smell."
In the end my beef with Chopra is this: where are the credentials? He happened to be born in India with a Christian school upbringing, has written some books, but so what? Hell, even this book offers no bibliography, no basis for fact; just a set of opinions he's presented as the truth. It's disingenuous, almost plagiarism when one considers that ALL of this has been said before.
I read a lot of spiritual literature, listen to a lot of speeches/presentations, and spend hours in study to see where my soul fits in to this world. I don't claim to be an authority, but I do know Deepak is a hack. (less)
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Dana
Mar 07, 2008Dana rated it it was amazing
I just started reading this one. I picked it up on the weekend, and had been waiting for it to come out.
Deepak Chopra elegantly unwraps the reconciliation of Jesus Christ with Eastern thought and raising consciousness. He differentiates the historical Jesus, the one that would be revealed on the likes of Discovery Channel documentaries, from the Christian church Jesus, the one who various denominations have created to provide an example of "Christian" living...forgiveness, love, etc, from the "third Jesus" as he has coined it, the one who was an example, just like Buddha and many other spiritual leaders, of raising our consciousness to be in alignment with God and the Universe. The idea is that Jesus was really trying to tell us that each of us had the same powers he had. (I know...sounds like blasphemy, right? But it's not...trust me...read on.) We all live eternal lives, we all have the power to use our talents and gifts for good or for bad and it's our choice, we all can use the energy of God, etc. I'm not even halfway through the book yet, but I love reading it and look forward to finishing it in the next two weekends.
I've always believed that there was more to Jesus than what I've been taught, and I always believed that I could reconcile Him with all spiritual thought and energy. This book is gutsy and pushes Christians and non-Christians alike to examine our beliefs, prejudices and assumptions about spirituality and what it can do for us. (less)
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Chuck Engelhardt
Jun 16, 2010Chuck Engelhardt rated it did not like it
Warning!!! This is not a book about the Jesus of the Bible even though it claims to be. Chopra's take is that Jesus "attained God-consciousness." As you would expect he does selective quotations from the Bible, but explains away what he doesn't want to use as information that was obviously biased because of the views of the writer. It doesn't seem to strike him that his selections are exactly that, selections made specifically to fit the bias of the writer.
I am saddened by the impression of Christianity that Chopra has developed. He occasionally mentions his experience with the "church" and quotes church leaders he knows, but his understanding of orthodox chritianity is so far from what the truth is that his arguments become pathetic. The Church does have its problems and Chopra points those out, but he also treats fringe and extreme ideas as if they are mainstream.
The book is an easy read, a credit to Chopra's writing skill, but his reasoning and arguments fall flat to anyone who has basic Biblical understanding. Chopra often makes an argument from a single verse taken out of context to which someone familiar with the broader scriptures would understand that the verse is in reference to something else entirely and the reasoning depends on completely ignoring other passages. Of course, Chopra has no problem with that because those other verses were obviously distorted by the author's bias.
I was almost amused as I read the last pages of the book and found the author lifting up Jesus as courageous because he understood that anytime you stand up against evil that you draw closer to God, and just paragraphs later accused fundamentalist Christians of being bigoted, self-righteous, and fearful for doing the exact same thing.
Deepak Chopra is no fan of Christians, intentionally ignorant of the Bible, and sadly has a distorted view of the Church which leaves this book with no true redeeming quality. (less)
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Lori
Nov 21, 2009Lori rated it it was amazing
I found this book to be very thought provoking and it touched me deeply. I have waited a long time for someone to write a book like this about Jesus. The author himself states that Christian fundamentalists would not likely be the readers of this book, and quite frankly, even if they did read the book they would discount it immediately as it is different than the talking points they are spoon fed from their institution. To appreciate a book like this you must be willing to open your mind completely. Lastly, I felt the last chapter on how Jesus might have dealt with modern day social issues totally necessary. (less)
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Frank
Mar 23, 2015Frank rated it did not like it
After reading this book twice I was left with the impression that Mr. Chopra is trying to construct a Jesus of his own from his preconceived notions. His research, or lack thereof, is appalling. His knowledge of the Bible extends only to the point of his using very selective passages to try and reinforce his point. When his book is subjected to any level of scrutiny it reveals that he simply fails not only to prove his point but that he is in fact wrong. One embarrassing example is as follows. On p. 11 Mr. Chopra wrote, "But Jesus doesn't mention sin." Anyone with a biblical concordance can and will easily refute this assertion. Some references to where He does can be found in Matthew 12:31; John 8:7, 34; 16: 8, 9 and many more. There are many more such examples but for fear of being tedious I’ll leave it at that. The Jesus of the Bible and the Jesus of Mr. Chopra’s imagination have absolutely nothing in common whatsoever. What Mr. Chopra is attempting to do is fit a square peg inside a round hole and he fails miserably.
My Amazon.com review of the book can be found here (http://www.amazon.com/gp/cdp/member-r...) and my somewhat longer and more in depth review can be found here (http://www.godandscience.org/apologet...).
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Aaron
Feb 27, 2009Aaron rated it really liked it
I found Deepak's interpretation of the bible and Christianity interesting coming from his outside perspective. An outside interpretation is wildly needed to be heard for the devout Christian. Unfortunately, many Christians wouldn't read this book or at least not read it completely through.
It is the last chapter where Deepak addresses the controversial issues that face Christian's today; homosexuality, war, abortion, etc... This is where the book becomes most intriguing however, the proceeding chapters are necessary in order understand Deepak's thoughts on the issues. For the most part he addresses the issues with an honest clear perspective. He creates an opportunity for Christians to view their opinions from a different perspective.
If a Christian is interested in increasing their faith or converting others to their understanding of God; I highly recommend reading this. This will increase their understanding of where non-Christians may be coming from. I personally think that it is the criticisms that drive forward contemplation of ones faith or rather increases someone’s faith or understanding of who God is to them individually.
Overall Deepak offers an honest subjective opinion of Christianity today without attacking the religion.
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Joyce
Nov 29, 2009Joyce rated it liked it · review of another edition
Not much in this book is new if you've read the Bible for yourself. However, Deepak Chopra dilutes much of the Scriptures and says that all that is in the Bible is not "true." Already, believers are closing Chopra's book and running for the hills. I found some mental and spiritual challenges in this book that made me think....that's not a bad thing. Thinking and then, believing, are certainly two entirely different action verbs regarding this book. It would be a great book to take on a trip with four or five other "debaters of Scripture and philosophy" and just talk and talk.
Chopra says, "Jesus is a Spritual Revolutionary and he is inviting Christianity to perform yet another miracle -- that of transforming the world once again."
That certainly provokes questions within me. And you? Do you like to read a book that cause you to reaffirm you own faith and beliefs? Or, had you rather not venture into a "foreign land with foreign teachings?"
I would like to know your feeling if you choose to read "The Third Jesus."
Joyce Norman
ja329@bellsouth.net
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Queen
Apr 02, 2008Queen rated it really liked it
Shelves: tangible-library
This book deserves time and contemplation. Because of the complex nature of the subject, I have to re-read certain sections to make sure I really understand the message. On the whole, however, the writing flows smoothly and simply with moments of insight that seem to exude the PEACE that Deepak Chopra promotes via Jesus's teachings. I was magnetized to the book specifically because of the easy blend of western and eastern ideas, but I'm still skeptical of the "band wagon appeal" in which everyone thinks it's a popular concept and it seems like you've heard it all already. How many ways can you analyze the same person or story? Yet, The Third Jesus offers just such a fresh perspective!
I'm more interested in reading an autobiography of Chopra's life experiences because you can naturally "hear" the heart of his writing / voice in those parts of the book in contrast to the passages intended to teach ideas. (less)
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Ana
Aug 18, 2011Ana rated it really liked it
Shelves: read-in-2011, spirituality, books-i-own
I really enjoyed this book. Being a christian, there were some parts which were hard to digest, but overall - this was a great read with few extremely powerful thoughts (which I hope will accept as a part of my attitude toward life and faith). So..whatever I write in this review will surely not spoil the beauty or enjoyment of reading it. It's not a fiction with some characters you will love or hate...there is only one person here involved..YOU and your thoughts about the Third Jesus. Long time ago, people were scared of even mentioning the term GOD...Today there are many books and surely many doubts of who Jesus was, was He the Son of God, was He a man of flesh and blood?
Well, I must admit this book did clear some foggy thoughts of mine considering some parts of the Bible (for which I thank you Mr Chopra) and I am glad I read this book.
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Lianne
Mar 24, 2009Lianne rated it really liked it
I chose this as a completely different Lenten book. Deepak Chopra went to a Catholic school in India even while he was raised at home in a Hindu family so he has his own understanding and relationship with Christianity. He does a convincing job describing Jesus's path from an enlightenment point of view beyond the 'first Jesus' who is historical, and the "second Jesus" who is the one based on fundamentalist literal belief. (less)
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Shavar Ross
Jul 07, 2008Shavar Ross rated it liked it
I would not recommend this book to someone who is new to the Christian faith. In fact, the book is so heavy, I wouldn't really recommend this book to anyone who claims they are a "Christian". You have to already be at a certain place with God to really understand this book. (less)
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Musep
Feb 19, 2008Musep rated it it was ok
OVERCOMING SEPARATION is the goal
Much of the book encourages sort of Buddhist ideas -
nonattachment for example. Fine, but not really new insight
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