Gospel Notes and More for the Twenty-first Century examines the contents of the Synoptic Gospels, the Gospel of John, the Acts of the Apostles, the Letters of Paul, and other apostles, from the perspective of someone born in the scientific, technological, and multi-cultural world of the twenty-first century.

 

It is an unfinished work, in the sense that the notes could have been extended easily to twice their volumes. They are there to permit the reader to develop their own ideas and help others to write articles on biblical themes.

 

Gospel Notes and More will enable anyone with a genuine interest in Christianity to review and assess, in a few hours of stimulating and entertaining reading, many of the major doctrinal issues identified in the principal books of the New Testament. (Few other books can achieve this aim.) Moreover, all these issues are linked in the book to specific biblical references. The book can read in a few sessions or be used handy companion and frequent reference text.

 

The Notes identify many key questions that are asked by people with an independent mindset: people who are disinclined to accept explanations that are none-scientific in character.

 

The Notes focus on the real Jesus: the teacher, healer, and charismatic philosopher who lived in Palestine, 2000 years ago, and identify his core teaching: about existence, personal values, and how one should live with others, including people with other faiths.

 

Crucially, Gospel Notes and More identifies many questions and issues that are rarely mentioned in sermons in churches. The book is a gift to members of the clergy who struggle to think outside the box imposed by the Nicene Creed.

 

Gospel Notes and More highlights ‘where many ordinary people are at’ when it comes to thinking about God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the Church. It promotes wider debate about the relevance of the teachings of Jesus here and now, and addresses questions such as, ‘What is life all about?’ ‘What is sin?’ ‘How can I help to promote peace and social harmony?’ ‘Can we stop humans destroying life on earth as we know it?’ ‘Did Jesus believe in hierarchy?’ ‘Did Jesus anticipate a new worldwide religion developing from his teaching?’  ‘Is the Bible all God-breathed?’ In all cases, the Notes are there to stimulate thoughts and permit the reader to decide what they think the answer is.

 

All the Notes are linked to specific passages in the New Testament and will permit the development of radically different approaches to those of the author of Gospel Notes and More by persons who have followed a different spiritual path to the author. There is often no one provable answer. The Notes also permit someone with little knowledge of Christianity to quickly develop a better understanding of many of the complex issues associated with Christian doctrines.

 

Critically, each section in this book is designed as an invitation to think about what the Bible teaches and to develop wider debate. No preaching is intended.

 

It is a work that, hopefully, can be enjoyed people of many faiths and persuasions.

 

Gospel Notes and More acknowledges the sincerity of many Christians who still hold very orthodox opinions about the Holy Bible, and it aims to demonstrate why orthodox Christians should engage in wider discussion with people of other faiths, and even see this wider debate as a necessary first step in getting people interested in Jesus and making them want to come to church to learn more about the Church and Christianity.

 

The following exta comments are close linked to the aims of Gospel Notes and More,  and are also to be found in the book.

 

The author believes that most Christian churches are underselling the importance of the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth, as we live our life, here and now. That is my main conclusion.

 

I attend a local church enthusiastically, because I enjoy the fellowship of Christians and the positive mindset that is induced by praising ‘God,’ singing hymns, and by many aspects of traditional worship.

 

I am drawn to the Christian church because I was educated to be a Christian. Had I been born a Buddhist or a Hindu, I would have developed different inclinations. Christianity is my culture. I am proud of it, as anyone should be proud of their own heritage, regardless of their race or history.

 

Christianity is no different than any other religion, in that poetry, metaphor, and ancient legends, are used to explain many things that we cannot understand about existence. To a non-Christian, God is an ‘imagined reality’ – like a pound, a dollar, a euro, or any other currency. Only, unlike the pound, the value of the idea of God is not determined mainly by the beliefs of others. The idea of God inspires each person as an individual, and the benefits are directly related to the degree of one’s own individual belief.

 

Christians see God in Jesus, and Jesus has the advantage of being an historical reality, a real person, whose teaching is explored in the Bible. His focus was on the importance of unselfish love and the need for humans to reject the ‘Survival of the Fittest’ mentality believed in by Julius Caesar, Genghis Khan, and Adolf Hitler – a mentality which has the potential to destroy us all.

 

The Holy Spirit can be defined as the influence on our minds of thoughts of God and the teaching of Jesus and as ‘God’ acting here and now. Maybe, the ‘Holy Spirit’ comes with our DNA? What matters is that with real, positive faith, one gets a sense of fulfillment, even in dire circumstances, and life becomes worthwhile.

 

Of course, what is myth or metaphor, and what is fact and reality, is open to serious debate. So, when you go to church, keep your own counsel – because your opinion is sacred to you. The only thing to remember is that we all are on individual spiritual journeys, and other persons sincerely held views need to be respected.

 

Email the me at houldken@gmail.com for further information and free sample chapters, or order the book through Amazon.

 

Buy Gospel Notes and More and Jesus'Story and you will save on postage and packing.

 

TO ORDER ON AMAZON UK:

KIndle edition - £3.00  (Amazon reference - ASIN: BOF3DGCQH4)

Paperback edition - £7.80  (Amazon reference - ASIN: BOC5KNKS6B)

For direct sales from author, email Harry at houldken@gmail.com.