Eyes That See Not: The Pope Looks at Jesus Book

'The Pope asked for this' says Arthur J. Dewey of Xavier University. 'Taking up the papal invitation (of Pope Benedict XVI) to respond critically to his book Jesus of Nazareth, Gerd Luedemann offers a meticulous and devastating critique.' In Eyes That See Not, Luedemann begins by first establishing the foundation of objective-critical analysis of history. 'The historian' he writes, 'is obliged to present objective evidence for his or her assertions. The rules of the game do not permit one to rely on uncorroborated testimony or claims of authority.' The chronicler who fails to challenge eyewitness testimony and to submit documentary sources to critical examination, Ludemann points out, is not an historian. The so-called historical method used by the Pope, continues Ludemann, 'has the sole aim of proving the reliability of the gospels.' In fact, he says, the Pope never examines their historical trustworthiness. Furthermore, his argument that Jesus was divinely inspired and that his teachings were not derived from human learning is absurd, says Ludemann. 'We do not live in antiquity, or even in the Middle Ages.' 'In our world, metaphysical or meta-historical statements do not go without saying.' Science and the arts have long been autonomous and radically independent of doctrinal belief. That epitomizes the nature of today's revolution in theology. In Eyes That See Not Luedemann offers readers an irresistible invitation: Rather than be a passive inheritor of an ancient and jealously mediated tradition, join with him and thousands of other independent seekers of knowledge and become a thinker in your own right.Read More