The Jesus Papers

Exposing the Greatest Cover-up in History

By: Michael Baigent

Narrated by: Michael Baigent

What if everything you think you know about Jesus is wrong? In The Jesus Papers, Michael Baigent reveals the truth about Jesus's life and crucifixion. Despite, or rather because of, all the celebration and veneration that have surrounded the figure of Jesus for centuries, Baigent asserts that Jesus and the circumstances leading to his death have been heavily mythologized.

As a religious historian and a leading expert in the field of arcane knowledge, Baigent has unequaled access to hidden archives, secret societies, Masonic records, and the private collections of antiquities traders and their moneyed clients. Using that access to full advantage, Baigent explores the religious and political climate in which Jesus was born and raised, examining not only the conflicts between the Romans and the Jews, but the strife within the different factions of the Jewish Zealot movement. He chronicles the migrations of Jesus' family, his subsequent exposure to other cultures, and the events, teachings, and influences that were most likely to have shaped his early years. Baigent also uncovers the inconsistencies and biases in the accounts of the major historians of Jesus' time, including Josephus, Pliny, and Tacitus. The enduring influence of these accounts in forming our most common conceptions of Jesus reveals that spin is not a new phenomenon.

Taking us back to sites that over the last 20 years he has meticulously explored, studied, and in some instances excavated for the first time, Baigent provides a detailed account of his groundbreaking discoveries. The evidence he has uncovered has lead him to make shocking new assertions that threaten the conventional account of Jesus' life and death and shake the very foundation of Western thought, based as it is upon the assumption of Jesus's divinity. Ultimately, his investigation raises the hope that we may gain a new understanding of Jesus.

©2006 Michael Baigent (P)2006 HarperCollins Publishers, Inc.

Outstanding

I have listened to this book three times.I love it.It has so much information I never before.The author tell's you when he is not sure of certain information.This is a great book for that reason.

you should lesson to it, it's great

If you could sum up The Jesus Papers in three words, what would they be?

very very good book,

What was one of the most memorable moments of The Jesus Papers?

everything once you start to read it you can't put it down

Which character – as performed by Michael Baigent – was your favorite?

everything as the wirter of this book told the truth

Any additional comments?

buy it ..... its worth it

Intriguing hypothesis

Baigent speculates on some wild theories about the life of Jesus, including the notion that he did not die on the cross but was spirited away to Egypt to quietly teach and grow old. As farfetched as this might seem, when Baigent pieces together relevant historical data the idea seems no less grounded in fact than the widely held beliefs of the faithful. I suspect time will prove at least a few of his theories to some degree, though probably not exactly as the picture he paints. Though most of Baigent's conclusions require quite a big leap of (ironically) faith, the ideas are fascinating and his telling of it captivating -- enough to inspire multiple listenings.

Cruci-Fiction?

Outstanding presentation of the facts and events that led up to the alleged crucifixion.
To fully comprehend one needs to examine the definition of the word "crucify" or to be "crucified" meaning to die on the cross and not be placed on it.
The information in this book is presented well and the evidence is overwhelming.
I was initially intrigued by this subject matter after reading a paper written by Ahmed Deedat on the subject of Jesus' alleged crucifixion where he uses text from the Bible to substantiate the evidence. A must read crucifixion or cruci-fiction?

drstringqis

This is another fascinating piece in the big puzzle that the Da Vinci Code just scratched. The author considers the historical setting and how it does and doesn't jibe with what we know of the bible. Lots of great history and a really interesting insight in the mystical nature of Christianity.

For Those Who Love History

This book gives new insights to the world in which Jesus lived. I think it takes at least 3 "different" sources to understand any period in history. Between the Jesus Papers and the Bible, I have found 2 of those 3 sources. This book helped me to understand a period of time that ushered in a new age in our world.

Excellent book!

Excellent work! I hope there will be further evidence forthcoming. I hope the Catholic church does you no harm.

Interesting

Wish it had gone on further with its examination of the evidence. Very interesting read. Recommend it

Loved it!

What did you love best about The Jesus Papers?

I love the way Michael gives the details on his research!

Who was your favorite character and why?

It was non fiction so that doesn't apply

Have you listened to any of Michael Baigent???s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't but this was wonderful.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

What the church doesn't want you to know!

Any additional comments?

If you're interested in the history of the church and religion you will love this book!

More for History, Less for facts

I have been a Baigent fan since Holy Blood, Holy Grail. However this book has little to offer in new revelations. It does a great job of researching the history of Christianity but as usual he makes a pretty wild claim. Baigent says that he has seen a document, written by Jesus to the the Sanhedrin, that says he is not divine. The only problem is that Baigent couldn't read the document he was holding. Can anyone say Mormons? Once again, tantalizing but improbable. Still a great read for more history on Christianity.