{"product_id":"jesus-and-magic-paperback","title":"Jesus and Magic: Freeing the Gospel Stories from Modern Misconceptions - Paperback","description":"\u003cp\u003eby \u003cb\u003eRichard A. Horsley\u003c\/b\u003e (Author)\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt has become standard in modern interpretation to say that Jesus performed miracles, and even mainline scholarly interpreters classify Jesus's healings and exorcisms as miracles. Some highly regarded scholars have argued, more provocatively, that the healings and exorcisms were magic, and that Jesus was a magician. As Richard Horsley points out, if we make a critical comparison between modern interpretation of Jesus's healing and exorcism, on the one hand, and the Gospel stories and other ancient texts, on the other hand, it becomes clear that the miracle and magic are modern concepts, products of Enlightenment thinking. Jesus and Magic asserts that Gospel stories do not have the concepts of miracle and magic. What scholars constructed as magic turns out to have been ritual practices such as songs (incantations), medicines (potions), and appeals to higher powers for protection. Horsley offers a critical reading of the healing and exorcism episodes in the Gospel stories. This reading reveals a dynamic relationship between Jesus the healer, the trust of those coming for healing, and their support networks in local communities. Horsley's reading of the Gospel stories gives little or no indication of divine intervention. Rather, the healing and exorcism stories portray healings and exorcisms.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAuthor Biography\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRichard Horsley, Professor Emeritus at University of Massachusetts Boston, is author of numerous books on Paul, on the Gospels, and on the historical Jesus, including \u003ci\u003eJesus and Empire\u003c\/i\u003e (2003) \u003ci\u003eJesus and the Powers\u003c\/i\u003e (2011) and, more recently, \u003ci\u003eText and Tradition in Performance and Writing\u003c\/i\u003e (Cascade Books, 2013).\u003c\/p\u003e\n        \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNumber of Pages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 192\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDimensions:\u003c\/strong\u003e 0.45 x 9 x 6 IN\u003c\/div\u003e\n            \u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublication Date:\u003c\/strong\u003e October 27, 2014\u003c\/div\u003e\n            ","brand":"Books by splitShops","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":42117195595911,"sku":"9781498201728","price":28.08,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0601\/2623\/2711\/files\/4cc15c834fb705e0eb8bd07f3d8f9c91.webp?v=1732522292","url":"https:\/\/booksby.splitshops.com\/products\/jesus-and-magic-paperback","provider":"Books by splitShops","version":"1.0","type":"link"}