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Jesus Christs
Book by Langguth, A. J.
227 pages, Paperback
First published December 31, 1968
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47 people want to read
About the author
A.J. Langguth
14 books28 followersA.J. "Jack" Langguth was a Professor at the School of Journalism at the University of Southern California and an American author and journalist. In addition to his non-fiction work, he is the author of several dark, satirical novels. A graduate of Harvard College, Langguth was South East Asian correspondent and Saigon bureau chief for "The New York Times" during the Vietnam war. He was awarded a John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship in 1975, and received the The Freedom Forum Award, honoring the nation's top journalism educators, in 2001.
A nonfiction study of the Reconstruction Era, is scheduled to be published in 2013.
A nonfiction study of the Reconstruction Era, is scheduled to be published in 2013.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 18, 2015
I first read this when it came out, in 1968, and liked it a lot. It was daring, unique and hit a resonant nerve with my lost (and in no way lamented) Catholicism. Going back to it a few weeks ago, I was disappointed. But that's as likely my problem as the author's. Society has changed, I've changed ... what the hell.
Langguth places Jesus in various unlikely situations, as often as not '60s contemporary. None of them, in behavior or description, portray a personality that we would think of as the "historical" Jesus. The episodes are not linked and range from a paragraph to a final 40-page ramble (in which Jesus remains offstage).
The settings and the contradictory portrayals of the apostles, Mary and other biblical characters form nothing cohesive. This is deliberate. Langguth has picked apart every aspect of the man-god, invented others and reassembled them in ways that lurch and jag against each other. There's an astonishing amount of ... I was about to say "thought" behind this, but it's more like gut instinct, inspired output.
Two problems, for me: First, there's remarkably little humor, and it's needed to relieve the palling sense of angst. Second, what does it all amount to? The biblical Jesus is endlessly contradictory himself. But – if this makes sense – his contradictions are consistent. Langguth's are not. Do they need to be? I think so. You might not. Either way, the work is engrossing even where it now leaves me unsatisfied.
Langguth places Jesus in various unlikely situations, as often as not '60s contemporary. None of them, in behavior or description, portray a personality that we would think of as the "historical" Jesus. The episodes are not linked and range from a paragraph to a final 40-page ramble (in which Jesus remains offstage).
The settings and the contradictory portrayals of the apostles, Mary and other biblical characters form nothing cohesive. This is deliberate. Langguth has picked apart every aspect of the man-god, invented others and reassembled them in ways that lurch and jag against each other. There's an astonishing amount of ... I was about to say "thought" behind this, but it's more like gut instinct, inspired output.
Two problems, for me: First, there's remarkably little humor, and it's needed to relieve the palling sense of angst. Second, what does it all amount to? The biblical Jesus is endlessly contradictory himself. But – if this makes sense – his contradictions are consistent. Langguth's are not. Do they need to be? I think so. You might not. Either way, the work is engrossing even where it now leaves me unsatisfied.
January 15, 2024
A novel-length collection of short pieces riffing on the idea of Jesus in a bunch of scenarios, perhaps alternate realities. Jesus as manager, insurgent, cult leader. Some of the bits are satirical, some complex, and some are jokes. The best are imaginative and very well done. The final scenario is a sort of horror story about the disciples living in an urban commune while Judas learns to raise the dead in the basement. Some readers might find the whole thing blasphemous but the overall tone is not especially disapproving of Christianity or its guiding principles, similar to the attitudes of works like Monty Python's THE LIFE OF BRIAN or Foolbert Sturgeon's Jesus comix.
December 31, 2014
One of my very very favorite books of all time. A must-read for anyone who enjoyed Behold The Man or The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ, or anyone of a theological/philosophical bent.
May 23, 2010
Christ returning over and over again under different contemporary circumstances.
"I have come to die for your sins," Jesus told a stooped figure passing him on the road.
"Then what I am to die for?" the old man asked.
Jesus took a small notebook from his pocket and copied the question.
"If I may have your name and address," he said, "an answer will be sent to you."
"I have come to die for your sins," Jesus told a stooped figure passing him on the road.
"Then what I am to die for?" the old man asked.
Jesus took a small notebook from his pocket and copied the question.
"If I may have your name and address," he said, "an answer will be sent to you."
November 8, 2012
An interesting read... a series of narrative sketches portraying a number of different ideas of Jesus, historically and in a more contemporary light. Not quite biblical midrash, but close. Potential fodder for sermons, I thing. This would certainly find itself on the syllabus for the class I would love to teach some day on fictional representations of Jesus... Probably not for everyone...
August 3, 2016
Great Read... one of my favorite quotes from the book:
"I have come to die for your sins," Jesus told a stooped figure passing him on the road.
"Then what I am to die for?" the old man asked.
Jesus took a small notebook from his pocket and copied the question.
"If I may have your name and address," he said, "an answer will be sent to you."
"I have come to die for your sins," Jesus told a stooped figure passing him on the road.
"Then what I am to die for?" the old man asked.
Jesus took a small notebook from his pocket and copied the question.
"If I may have your name and address," he said, "an answer will be sent to you."
March 25, 2008
Weeeeeird. But very good. I think a review I read of this book called it 'schizophrenic'...and it totally applies to the Langguth's portrayal of Jesus, Christ, and all of his gang.
Want to read
October 4, 2011Read this years ago - loved it - and made the mistake of lending it out. Never got it back. I just found a copy online and ordered it. Definite impending reread coming up.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews