I am almost halfway through "Jesus and his world: the archaeological evidence" by Craig Evans. It's a very recent (2012) book by a well-known Canadian scholar. I find it both readable and informative. It also has appendices, notes and indices as you would expect from a scholar.

However it's historical rather than theological, so it's a bit different from what you asked for.

RAN - could you tell me a bit more about your book as you delve into it.  I love history as well as theology, and I am interested in the historic Jesus (but I found Crossan's book 'In Search of the Historic Jesus' a bit heavy for me). 

I am presently attending a discussion group on Crossan's "The Power of Parable".

I received two books for Christmas.  One history - "Imaginary Line, Life on an unfinished border" about the history of the peoples living on both sides of the Maine/New Brunswick border.   The other is theology - "Christianity After Religion" by Diana Butler Bass.  I'm eager to get into them both.  Probably the history first (it seems to be a series of essays); then Diana Bass.  I've never read her writings but I've heard enough recommending her to be curious. 

A quickie...

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/bur ied-christian-empire-in-yemen-casts-new-light -on-early-islam-a-874048.html#ref=rss

I received a gift certificate for a Christian Store for Christmas so I've been looking into which book to buy.

Considering:

The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is by N.T. Wright

Help, Thanks, Wow. The Three Essential Prayers by Anne Lamot

The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey

I'll consider any other suggestions that anyone suggests for Mandella also.

I have to admit that I haven't read any of these books Waterfall but of your list I would probably pick Anne Lamot for myself.  I've heard of this theory, that all prayer can be boiled down to these three elements - a cry for help, a deepfel thankfulness, and a sense of wonder and awe.  I based my message on it one time I was doing pulpit supply.

The one N. T. Wright book I read was quite conservative in its viewpoint but well written and reasonable. 

I believe that Philip Yancey would be an easy read.

Have you considered "Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time" by Marcus Borg?

Oh that's one I forgot, I'll definitely consider it. I'll probably walk out with more books than I planned.

Wright is conservative but in a good way, at least in my experience of him. I haven't read his books, but heard him on the Homebrewed Christianity podcast. He's not a fire-breathing evangelical, but rather a conservative in the sense of having a more traditional outlook and is very thoughtful about it. He's debated Borg and there's a book, The Meaning of Jesus : Two Visions, that apparently presents that debate in written form. Which might, in fact, be something I'm interested in reading now that I think about it.

Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time is certainly another one that I'm considering since I've like the Borg that I've read. I have Reading the Bible Again for the First Time and it's been quite helpful over the years. I even used some of the ideas when I re-wrote my sermon on scripture and the UU sources. I do wonder, though, whether he's done anything more recent on the subject (it dates back to the nineties according to Amazon). Has his Christology changed in recent years (Harpur's certainly has if Pagan Christ is any indication) and, if so, what would be a more recent book from his perspective?

Mendalla

Few  books I read more than once--

Very much worth doing:

Hans Kung "On Being A Christian"

A former colleague of the Pope, he really

takes him on (among many other things)

"The Nag Hammadi Library"

50 'books' written during the time the Bible was being formed...

NT Wright's "Simply Jesus: a new vision of who he was, what he did, and why he matters" (2011) is well worth reading. It's written for a general audience rather than scholarly.

In general I find Wright willing to question positions held by liberals and conservatives alike, and able to give solid arguments for his own perspective. Whether or not I share his conclusions, I also find fresh insight in what he has to say. He is very much a biblical scholar and firmly rooted in history and historical research, but with a keen eye for the needs of church and society - as one would hope to find in an eminent scholar and former bishop.

Hi Mendalla, Old Buddy,

You may wish to pick up a copy of "The Laughing Jesus" by Timothy Freke and Peter Gandy.

Your Buddy on the Path - Poguru

I suggest reading Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom. Once understood you'll never be bored again. Endless amusement and wonder applying it to the world and even Christianity. Seeing how the blind continually lead the blind in the traditional ways of the world, even those professing to follow Jesus and the Kingdom.

Hi Medella Old Buddy,

Deepak Chopra's book titled "Jesus" is an interesting read.  Along those same lines, his book "Why is God Laughing - The Path to Joy and Spritual Optimism"

Your Buddy on the path - Poguru

I can recommend: 'Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary' by Marcus J Borg.