The First Paul: Reclaiming the Radical Visionary Behind the Church's Conservative Icon Audiobook

" We are discussing this book at church. Again, Marcus Borg gives a new, enlightening perspective on some very old (and sometimes damaging) ideas. He focuses his attention on several misrepresentations of the apostle Paul. "

" I never much liked Paul's letters- pretty reactionary. Crossan and Borg make the case that the real Paul was strongly anti-Rome where the later letters (likely not Paul) tamed him and made him a supporter of the dominant culture (women keep silent and obey your husbands, etc) "

" Excellent, well-presented and thought-provoking. Borg and Crossan wear me out, it takes me a while to read and digest. "

" This was a fairly interesting book about Paul and his writings. I liked the section about his conversion and the observation that he was indeed a Jewish/Christian mystic. However, I don't think Paul's mysticism was recalled when looking at his writings which was a disappointment. "

" This was the first Borg/Crossan book I've read that wasn't a nice reminder of my seminary studies. I never really explored Paul then. This was a nice way to dig in -- though it leaves me wanting more in some places and less in others. "

" Thoughtful study of St. Paul's theology. Here Borg manages to write to a popular audience while retaining a scholarly approach and thus appeals to the academic as well. "

" Insightful attempt to rescue St Paul (and thus Christianity) from the miserable clutch of the fundamentalists and the dead-hand of orthodoxy. "

" Getting ready for our trip!! "

" Changed the way I see and read Paul for the better. Sets up the political, social, and aesthetic context in which Paul wrote and in which others co-opt Paul and perform "Paul" in order to change the face of early Christianity. "

" I thought it was a little light at first but as I read through it I began to really see things differently and to ponder on some new ideas. Really enjoyed it. "

" There were many good take-a-ways in this book. It was somewhat repetitive, probably to get the authors' point across. "

" Empire = Religion --> War --> Victory --> Peacevs. Christianity = Religion --> Nonviolence --> Justice --> Peace "

" The end was stunning. There were wonderful quotes. I was very glad to learn more about Paul. As always I love Marcus Borg's revolutionary message. He recalls the ideas of the martyr Oscar Romero so very strongly. "

" Everything written by these gentlemen needs to be read --- learning lots "

" Insightful attempt to rescue St Paul (and thus Christianity) from the miserable clutch of the fundamentalists and the dead-hand of orthodoxy. "

" This short book has one message: that Paul's faith centered on a nonviolent God and required distributive justice. "

" This was the first Borg/Crossan book I've read that wasn't a nice reminder of my seminary studies. I never really explored Paul then. This was a nice way to dig in -- though it leaves me wanting more in some places and less in others. "

" We are discussing this book at church. Again, Marcus Borg gives a new, enlightening perspective on some very old (and sometimes damaging) ideas. He focuses his attention on several misrepresentations of the apostle Paul. "