The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra (2008, Hardcover)

In The Third Jesus, bestselling author and spiritual leader Deepak Chopra provides an answer to this question that is both a challenge to current systems of belief and a fresh perspective on what Jesus can teach us all, regardless of our religious background. There is not one Jesus, Chopra writes, but three.

First, there is the historical Jesus, the man who lived more than two thousand years ago and whose teachings are the foundation of Christian theology and thought. Next there is Jesus the Son of God, who has come to embody an institutional religion with specific dogma, a priesthood, and devout believers. And finally, there is the third Jesus, the cosmic Christ, the spiritual guide whose teaching embraces all humanity, not just the church built in his name. He speaks to the individual who wants to find God as a personal experience, to attain what some might call grace, or God-consciousness, or enlightenment.

When we take Jesus literally, we are faced with the impossible. How can we truly “love thy neighbor as thyself”? But when we see the exhortations of Jesus as invitations to join him on a higher spiritual plane, his words suddenly make sense.

Ultimately, Chopra argues, Christianity needs to overcome its tendency to be exclusionary and refocus on being a religion of personal insight and spiritual growth. In this way Jesus can be seen for the universal teacher he truly is–someone whose teachings of compassion, tolerance, and understanding can embrace and be embraced by all of us.

I'm enjoying this book because it is very well written. Chopra uses his Eastern background to help us develop a truer, richer relationship with Jesus. I left the Catholic Church when I was in my early 20's and have been spending most of my adult life working to build a healthier relationship with Jesus. I found the section on "Contemplation" utterly transforming and moved me to tears. This book is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a 'Christian' and everyone who values a life of faith.

I am studying the book with an online workshop at Unityfm. I recommend this book for spiritual seekers who do not have a set idea of who Jesus was.

I DID NOT RECEIVE BOOK ORDERED 7-08 AND CHARGED TO MY CREDIT CARD 9-08. WHEN I CHECKED MY ACCOUNT, IT NOTED THAT THE BOOK HAD "SHIPPED"...NO DATE WHEN SHIPPED.
WHAT A RIP-OFF. I WILL THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE I ORDER A BOOK FROM HALF.COM AGAIN. SISTER-ROSE

Plain and simple. Logical and clear. Many clear points of view that have stuck with me since reading.

This was an excellent book, especially for those who have had spiritual education only in the christian church. This rids the dogma and portrays a truer, purer message by the radical Jesus Christ. I wish he'd have written it sooner--its a relief and also a calling to a higher/integrated way of being.