The Hidden Teachings of Jesus

The Political Meaning of the Kingdom of God

Lance deHaven-Smith

• Publisher: Phanes Press
• Year: 2001
• ISBN:
  9781609256760
• Topic: Theologie & Religion
• Subtopic: Religionsphilosophie

The author of Conspiracy Theory in America presents a radical new view of the person of Jesus and the message of social reform underlying his teachings. Based on the premise that Jesus could not speak his thoughts openly without running afoul of the authorities, political philosopher Lance deHaven-Smith demonstrates how Jesus sought to dismantle worldly systems of command and status and replace them with a society governed by a spirit of holiness. The Hidden Teachings of Jesus also explores how Jesus' prophecies are being fulfilled in the modern era. Huge systems of power, privilege, and acquisition have arisen, but so too has a global public opinion which bristles at oppression and demands love and respect for every living thing. In this work, Lance deHaven-Smith points to a spirit of holiness emerging worldwide to dismantle power and status in abusive families, autocratic corporations, tyrannical governments, and many other areas of life. This spirit, he suggests, can bring about the real kingdom of God, the divine order Jesus urged his followers to establish here on earth.

Index

Aaron, 175

Abel, God learning about death of 99; and original sin 91–92

Abraham 19, 25; with Lazarus 113

Acts of the Apostles, as an account of Christianity's subversion 38–39, 180–181; differences between the gospels and 46, 50. See also Hands, laying on of; Simon the magician; Stephen, trial of

Adam 28, 56; ejection of, from Eden 90–91, 154, 199; and the inclination to worship nature 98; meaning of, for Western civilization 122; replacement of God's commandments with human laws by 90–91, 106. See also Sin, of the world

Afterlife, the, Abraham in 113; faith in 13, 51; Jesus’ teachings about 26, 113–114; Lazarus in 113. See also Hades; Hell

Aggaraeia, 20, 28. See also Roman Empire, type of oppression under

AIDS, 17

Alexander the Great, empire of, 31

Amos, 19

Angel, as a spirit of holiness, 101

Apocalypse, 59. See also Armageddon

Apostles, 15

Aristophanes, 105

Aristotle, political theory of, 172; unleashing of political power by, 31. See also Government, Greek philosophers’ theory of; Greek philosophy; Modern era, nature worship in; Modern era, politics in; Science, compared to Greco-Roman philosophy

Arius, excommunication of, 47; and the Nicene Council, 48

Armageddon, John's revelations about, 195; and organized Christianity, 39

Atheism, concentration of, in the upper classes, 95; and hedonism, 96; and the idea of “nature,” 95; in modern universities, 211; presence of, in all social orders, 94; and the search for justice, 162. See also Faith, deconstruction of, by science; Science, atheism of

Baal, and derivation of “Beelzebub,” 36; worship of, at Tophet, 113

Babel, Tower of, 122

Barabas, 93

Barth, Karl, 15

Beatitudes, as prophecies, 200, 202–204

Bible, the, and belief that God is outside of nature, 96; codification of, 10; interpreting, 9; translation of, during the Reformation, 123, 187–188; science's mirroring of, 125–126. See also Gospel of; Gospels; New Testament; Old Testament

Book of Job. See Job, Book of

Book of Thomas the Cmtender, 10, 111–112. See also Gospels, gnostic

Cain, God learning about murder by, 99; and original sin, 91–92

Canaanites, religious subversion of, 35–36

Capitalism, as a cause of mass democracy, 189; spirit of, 62

Christianity, 9, 10, 13; accounts by, of the kingdom of God, 15–16; corruption of, 16, 42, 123, 208; early form of society in, 40; misunderstanding of “hell” by, 111–112; misunderstanding about poverty, 157–158; and the Nicene Creed, 48; Peter's role in establishing, 65–69, 71, 180–181, 187; political theories of, 17; questions about the role of, in Western civilization, 203; reacti...