Book Tip: "Jesus of Nazareth", by Ratzinger/Benedict

[Skybird]

I have finished reading Benedict's/Ratzinger's (the author is mentioned with both names on the cover) "Jesus of Nazareth", the German version. As I understand it, the English release is imminent. It was a very impressive read, and I have read it in one slurping.

I give you some reasons and impression. For certain reasons I intentionally do not go into the content of the book, I only try to put it into a frame, somehow, and refer to some of the foreword. Because I think the book deals with a subject that cannot be summed up for you by somebody else. You need to form your own opinion on it. Or you are free not do so.

In a time when Benedict has rejected the marching movement of the creationists repeatedly at various occasions, and confronted Islam more directly again than any pope before since the last 40-50 years, and started to insist on reciprocity as the non-negotiable basis of mutual cultural exchange and relation between the West and Islam, this book I found to be of agreeable calm, clearness of thought, and being personal to a degree that it accepts to be fragile for the wilfully destructive reactions it may cause from some. But the author is in a strong position, and the image of vulnarbaility may be an illusive one: because his personality and personal qualities nevertheless are in congruence with a very sharp and reasonable thinking which produces thoughts and arguments that need at least an equal ammount of insight and precision in order to keep up with them - not to mention to challenge them.

Now, most people probably know that I describe myself as religious and atheistic, and that I oppose religious institutions in general and the church and the papacy in special. I got some flak from people for making my point that I strictly differ between the church(es), and Chrsitianity in the meaning of exclusively referring to the example of Jesus' teachings. Some may remember that I referred to Jesus at times - but with the same ease quoted Buddha, Nietzsche, and others as well, who are suspicious of being incompatioble with the church's interpretation of Jesus. I also expressed my dissatisfaction with "faith and believing. - So why the heck is Skybird reading a book written by an archenemy: the pope, and about this insititutional representative's understanding of Jesus as the son of God - and even very much enjoyed to do so?

The book is the first of planned two. It was started when Benedict still was Jospeh Ratzinger, and he explains in the foreword that he does not know how much time and energy he has left, so he decided to publish the material that was finished, and that are the chapter about the adult Jesus - the childhood of Jesus will be subject of the second volume. I understand it as that this division int wo volumes is for pragmatic reasons only, and that Ratzinger started to work on all stuff simultaneously.

So why did i enjoye to read it?

1. I simply like the man, and I respect his lasersharp mental abilities and use of logic thinking (!), I also realize that he has an ammount of background knowledge and general and special education only few can rival.

2. He does not missionize. He does not try to convert the reader, or prosyletize him. I even would call this book "culture-free" in a way, which is remarkable, because at the same time you never have the smallest doubt that nevertheless in man is talking in that book who is deeply anchored and convinced of the faith he confesses to. you could read this book if you are a chcurch-member, or a mystic Christian. You can be Buddhist, atheist, Muhammedan, Hindu - you nevertheless will never feel lectured, confronted, offended, taught or excluded - promised! this book is a very, very personal book, less written by a pope, and more by a private man. ratzinger asks and demands the reader in the forword to feel free not to agree, and to form his differing opinion. He makes it clear that he is talking abiout his own, private path to understand the meaning of Jesus. He says explciitly that he does not want his book to be understood as a work of official lecturing.

3. Ratzinger tries very hard to reconcile "belief" with "reason". Other reviewers at amazon, for example, complained about him just giving that impression, but in the end demanding reason to accept that reason only can lead so far, but not beyond, and that believing therefore must be given the privilege to be base and fundament even to reason itself. I think such people haven't understood him correctly, and are struggling to escape the borders of their own polarized thinking. I slowly realize, that this pope maybe will be remembered by history as a real revolutionary pope of extremely high importance and influence. Of course he propagates the community of the "church people", as he calls it, and the act of believing. But he also stresses the importance and need to accept the conclusions that are to be gained by using the tools of logic and reason. He wants BOTH, and if you only read careful enough, you realize that this demand may be formulated in diplomatic language, but that he is nevertheless adamant about that. And that is remarkable.

4. He complains about the tendency of the last decades to have produced many different reinterpretations of how and what Jesus really was, but by that distancing oneself more and more from the descriptions of Jesus in the gospels. He complains about that instead the Jesus of the gosepls was replaced with a image of an historical Jesus, that is not backed by the gospels at all. By that, so saysRatzinger, the historical Jesus and the Christ to be belived in more and more became two very different things. My translation: "But what meaning can the faith in Christ, the son of the living God, have, if the human being that Jesus was was so very different than what the gosepls describe him has?" Ratzinger asks if the increasing complexity and refined diversity in different "versions" of Jesus being created in this way really increased the attractiveness of the Christian religion, and the trustworthiness of the images of Jesus we gained. He indicates that all that probably added more to the general confusion, and weakening. At the same time, ignoring the historical reality of details and contexts alike can only lead to word-believing superstition. So, he also insists on seeing the Gosples - with a reasonable mind.

5. What I very much liked is - the language. As a German, I necessarily can appreciate it more than people who will read the later translations into their native languages. Ratzinger's way of talking/writing is very gentle, fluid, with great virtuosity of style and expression, and great knowledge - but always with uncompromised precision at the same time. It enables him to pack a lot of complexity into a paragraph or a sentence, and embed it in nevertheless easy a form. His style of writing is no end in itself, but expression of his educated personality, and a tool to transport his sometimes complex thoughts. I must say that the book is a difficult and an easy reading at the same time, and I plan to read it again in a couple of months. The advantage is, that the fluid style keeps you turning pages without ever being interrupted. But sometimes the "hidden" complexity will escape you and will not come to your mind until some time later - then you will go back and read it again and realize that there was so much more in his words than you initially understood.

Ratzinger is able to virtuoso juggle with words, but he does not abuse this ability to show off or to get drunk by his own talking, but to be able to choose that expression to deliver a message wich is the best choice of all available to transport the message with the smallest loss. - It all means this: read slowly and carefully, very small nuances can make a very big difference here sometimes. Ratzinger says the bible for him is a living text that constantly chnages and emerges and developes, in a way. I had the same feeling while reading Ratzingers book. Talking of a thought-inspiring reading! If you think I write amok in the forums at times, you should have had a look into my head while reading this book!

Will I become Catholic now? You're kidding. Would I bend my knee in his presence? Ha, never. Will I become a fan of papacy? Hell, no. It's just that this single man has my deepest respect - even where we disagree. Because in the end I am fully aware of his immense capacities that simply outclass my own, and of the fact that both me and him are searching for the same answers, and are heading in very much the same general direction. This is a pope who looks far beyond the immediate political power interests of the institution he represents, and beyond the expections of the masses as well. He serves both superficial demands - and sticks to the deeper substance the same time, in a seemingly effortless way of doing things. Reminds me of Aikido!

One must not agree on all and everything he says. One can actively disagree, and object to his arguments. Nevertheless, I always find it most worthwhile to listen with greatest care to what he says, no matter what. You may agree with Benedict's view of Jesus or not, but the clear path of thoughts that led him to where he now stands deserves respect, as well as his ability does to express it in language of such stunning precision, and still: beauty.

Highly++ recommended, no matter where your religious roots are. I found it very impressive, and satisfying.