The Radical Teaching of Jesus

The Radical Teaching of Jesus carefully and thoughtfully invites the reader into an understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus. Both his life and teachings are radical in that Jesus intended those who observed his life and heard his teachings to make a major change in their lives by fully receiving the power and presence of God. The implications of this transformation would result in a life of loving God with heart and mind and one's neighbor without condition. This volume underlines that to have a full understanding of the implications of the radical teaching of Jesus requires a careful reading of the history--of the Gospel records, of the circumstances in which Jesus lived, and of Jesus' sense of vocation. This understanding makes possible a more credible and nuanced grasp of the style and content of the life and teaching of Jesus and its extraordinary relevance for our rapidly changing and troubled global context. The book speaks poignantly both to those within the Christian family who find traditional categories regarding Jesus increasingly difficult to affirm, and to those of other faith traditions or religious unaffiliated who seek an authentic spiritual way. ""This book is a powerful address to those 'nones' or doubters, along with thoughtful believers, who yearn for deep patterns of meaning, yet do not find a home in traditional religious communities."" --Mark Valeri, John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics, Washington University in St. Louis ""In this significant volume readers will discover a gentle and wise guide who has laid out a path of exploration for those who remain certain about traditional faith, but even more for those on the margins and beyond, those for whom traditional ways of expressing faith no longer work."" --V. Bruce Rigdon, President Emeritus, Ecumenical Theological Seminary ""The universal teachings of Jesus, peace be upon him, in this unique book, splash in my heart. Ferguson is a masterful teacher. This book inspires me profoundly to want to become a more developed human being and to be of genuine service in the cause of social justice and earth care."" --Imam Jamal Rahman, teacher; author ""By assaying the historical and cultural context, the role and identity of the teacher, instructional methods, curricular content, and overarching aims, Ferguson sheds considerable light on the greatest teacher in the history of humankind."" --Gordon S. Mikoski, Associate Professor of Christian Education; Director of PhD Studies; Editor, Theology Today; Princeton Theological Seminary ""Ferguson offers an invaluable resource. . . . Through careful historical and literary study of early Christian traditions, Ferguson exposes core elements of Jesus' career as healer, teacher, and prophet that, in turn, anchor the biblical mandate to ""go and do likewise."" --Suzanne Watts Henderson, Associate Professor of Religion, Queens University of Charlotte Duncan S. Ferguson has served in the church and higher education as a chaplain, professor, and senior administrator. He received his PhD from the University of Edinburgh and has had an interest in writing across his career. His recent books are Exploring the Spirituality of the World Religions (2010) and Lovescapes: Mapping the Geography of the World Religions (2012). He is currently engaged in several programs related to international peace and justice.