Now that we've finished reading Crossan's book and gone over it a little, I think I can make an accurate review of how I feel about it.
Growing up, the Catholic church taught me to love God and be good to others. I always found the stories a bit unnerving, though, and my skepticism grew. The Crossan book really helped me to understand that things aren't always literal, and that the stories are just that: stories. I love that Jesus was just a poor peasant who was condemned simply because he was different. He did nothing wrong, he was just changing things for the better, differently than how people wanted him to. This book helped me to actually think about religion again as something to believe in, and more than just something to rub in peoples faces.
I also had a tough time with the stories when I was younger. THey seemed crazy and I never understood how they related to the true meaning of the religion. THis book helped a lot. I truly thought that everyone who practiced christianity thought everything that happened in the bible was fact, but obviously that's not true. I feel I have an infinitely greater understanding of the religion because of the book.
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