Craft Brewed Jesus: How History We Never Knew Taps a Spirituality We Really Need

What if the modern American church has its Christian history wrong? According to ex-evangelical Michael Camp, most American believers fail Christian History 101. Drawing on his own historical research and missionary experience, he discovers that most popular Christian views of the Bible, church, sin, salvation, judgment, the kingdom of God, the end times, and the afterlife--pretty much all religious sacred cows--don't align with the beliefs of the original Jesus movement. Some of them not even close. Camp's Craft Brewed Jesus paves a fascinating journey of a group of disillusioned evangelicals and Catholics. When they decide to meet regularly over craft beers to study the historic foundations of their faith, their findings both rock their world and resolve ancient mysteries. They examine well-documented narratives of the early Jesus saga, Eastern streams of a lost Christianity, and the roots of our modern religious assumptions, all while striving to steer clear of either a conservative or liberal bias. What they uncover is a vital, refreshing spiritual paradigm no longer at odds with reality. Grab your brew of choice and trace this transformational journey based on a true story that will encourage you in your walk of life and faith. FOR BACK COVER: A truly fascinating account, written by a self-identified former evangelical Christian, of a study group on a profound spiritual quest. Often meeting in local micro-brew pubs in Seattle, the group sought to understand authentic Christian discipleship in light of the latest historical and biblical scholarship. Even those who disagree with some of the conclusions reached will benefit greatly from the wealth of historical information and from the spiritual insights contained herein. Highly recommended. --Thomas Talbott, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Willamette University; Author Never yet has a book about the life and times of first-century Jerusalem and the world of the Jesus saga been written that even comes close to the work Camp has] assembled here. --Ken Dahl, author, What is God, and How Does It Work? Craft Brewed Jesus is instructional, poignant, and often insightful. It is a beautiful study for anyone who seeks to understand or follow Jesus seriously. An exceptionally craft brewed book --Michael Hardin, Author; Executive Director of Preaching Peace; Co-editor of Compassionate Eschatology Craft Brewed Jesus rebuilds a framework for seeing God as love, not just in theory, but in actual practice--with historical reasons why it's not just wishful thinking. . . . I won't tell you it's comfortable, because no such journey ever is. But . . . just when you start to squirm, Michael raises a glass and shares how far back in Christian history beer and this refreshing paradigm goes. --Wendy Francisco, Singer; Songwriter; Editor In a conversational style . . . Craft Brewed Jesus invites the reader to wrestle with sorting out living spiritual truth from stagnant theological tradition. And all this while over a pint or two My kind of book. --Bryan Berghoef, author, Pub Theology FOR INSIDE PAGES: A truly fascinating account, written by a self-identified former evangelical Christian, of a study group on a profound spiritual quest. Often meeting in local micro-brew pubs in Seattle, the group sought to understand authentic Christian discipleship in light of the latest historical and biblical scholarship. Even those who disagree with some of the conclusions reached will benefit greatly from the wealth of historical information and from the spiritual insights contained herein. Highly recommended. --Thomas Talbott, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy, Willamette University; Author, The Inescapable Love of God Never yet has a book about the life and times of first-century Jerusalem and the world of the Jesus saga been written that even comes close to the work you have assembled here. I am completely blown away by this information. --Ken Dahl, Author, Fie.…