'The thought that Gospel stories are not historical biographies but statements of belief will be new for some.' Photo: Book cover from The Jesus Myth: A psychologist’s viewpoint, by Chris Scott
The Jesus Myth: A psychologist’s viewpoint, by Chris Scott
Author: Chris Scott. Review by Andy Stoller
This short book is an accessible, non-scholarly exploration of who Jesus was, and what his life and death can mean for us. It challenges what it regards as the Anglican Church’s interpretations or misinterpretations, offering a fresh look at Jesus and the myths that surround him. It looks at ‘Humanity’s quest for meaning in an uncertain and dangerous universe’, taking the theologian Marcus Borg’s explanation of myth as a story about something that never was but always is, arguing that we need to understand our own myths before we address Jesus.
Chris Scott has had a varied career as a priest, psychologist, psychotherapist and more. Despite dyslexia, he has written several other books. He now self-identifies as a ‘theist humanist’ and is a recent attender at Meeting for Worship. In this book he has delved into Jesus’ life as a Jew, healer, storyteller and rabbi.
The nine chapters tackle subjects which range from myth; the virgin birth; miracles; resurrection; Christ as an archetype; our relationship to God; and ‘the twenty-first-century Christian’. These difficult subjects are covered in a straightforward and comprehensive way. At the end of some of the chapters are exercises for group discussion, making this book a useful tool which can be used collectively as well as individually. The first exercise, looking at ‘Truth’, is dear to Quaker hearts, and the book as a whole offers a Quakerly concept of Jesus.
I feel Quakers are in accordance with a great deal of this book, but it will challenge some traditional Christians. The thought that Gospel stories are not historical biographies but statements of belief will be new for some. Many of the established notions of the virgin birth, the resurrection and miracles are given new insight and explanation here although the subject has been well explored by other priests and authors such as Richard Holloway, Gerard Hughes and Richard Rohr. Chris Scott brings his refreshing insight to the subject.
He argues that Jesus’ life and teachings can be used as examples of how we should be leading our lives today. ‘We can believe that Christianity is a way of living, rather than a way of believing.’ He feels strongly that the Anglican Church will have to become wholly inclusive and alter its language if it hopes to survive. He asserts that the church has caused great harm throughout history and acted with too little humanity. He has had personal experience of this. He takes the example of the Good Samaritan as demonstrating that this is how we should live and act out of love, compassion and humanity.
We can learn from the wisdom of all religions and understand that God is an ‘utter mystery’. But the baby is not thrown out with the bathwater. Scott still believes that the church can be a community of support, so long as its belief system can be updated from the Bronze Age.
This book would be an asset for our libraries, and for Quakers wanting to explore their relationship with Jesus.
