• by Tod Lindberg
• ISBN: 0060898631
• Buy at Amazon.com

Book Description ( from Amazon.com )

Since the beginning of the Christian era, people have used the words and ideas of Jesus to justify all manner of political action. Despite these repeated attempts, few have been able to move past the rhetoric and understand the true nature of Jesus's political views.

Now, in The Political Teachings of Jesus, longtime political analyst and commentator Tod Lindberg goes beyond political punditry to address how Jesus's words and teachings — once a radical set of ideas — have come to define our concept of government and our vision for society. With nuanced prose, Lindberg draws a crucial distinction between Christ's religious and political teachings, presenting a detailed discussion of the world transformation that Jesus sought through his words, stories, and sayings.

Guiding readers through the social and political dialogue of the Gospels, Lindberg expertly analyzes how Jesus's principles of universal freedom and equality have combined in our social order to become the unacknowledged bedrock of the modern world. In addition, he offers a provocative look at the role that Jesus's words have played in the formation of the modern democratic ideal, demonstrating how the basic principles of both liberal and conservative thought find common roots in the Christian messiah's words.

Through close reading of the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus's parables, Lindberg offers a sophisticated portrait of Jesus as a teacher of unique insight and perception, one whose political views have transcended time and become essential to the way everyone lives in our society. In an era when people on both sides of the aisle are prone to using Jesus's beliefs for their own ends, The Political Teachings of Jesus is a refreshingly clear-eyed take on our shared concepts of government and society — and their common roots between the covers of the New Testament.

About the Author

Tod Lindberg is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and editor of the award-winning journal Policy Review. A contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and editor of the book Beyond Paradise and Power, Lindberg is a frequent analyst on National Public Radio. He lives in Washington, D.C., with his family.

Review by Caslon (Alexandria, VA) August 26, 2007

Before I write this review, I want to say that I am not christian...I am not religious....I do not believe in god, divinity, heaven, life after death...doing good on earth and getting rewarded in heaven. My car is plastered with anti-religious stickers.

I found this book a truly amazing examination of the teachings of Jesus as recorded in the Bible. This book examines what Jesus says minus all the divinity stuff. Just focusing on and examining what guide lines he gave for living on earth ...and motivated only by rewards that could be gotten here on earth.

The basis of the message is "Treat others as you would have them treat you." But this book examines what he was saying in the Beatitudes (totally new understanding for me..I have never heard this is Sunday School), how far do you have to go in turning the other cheek, etc.

I highly recommend this book, especially for non-christian, non-religious people like me.