A Taste of Joy and Liberty: A Philosopher Encounters the Gospel of Jesus,
Dear friends and colleagues:
My author and friend, Dr. Jeff Wattles, is a professional philosopher of a rare sort.
“The magnum opus of one of today’s most important Christian philosophers.”
—Stephen Post, PhD, author, Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People
“A rare work of grace and love that embodies the virtues it seeks to communicate.”
—Matthew T. Lee, PhD, Professor of the Social Sciences and Humanities, Baylor University
“Seekers of all backgrounds will find Jesus living on these pages as we’ve never seen him before.”
—Angie Thurston, Ministry Innovation Fellow, Harvard Divinity School
Dear friends and colleagues:
My author and friend, Dr. Jeff Wattles, is a professional philosopher of a rare sort.
He has spent most of his lifetime studying and trying to live the gospel of Jesus. Wattles is also a highly trained ethicist and a passionate evangelist. His previous book entitled The Golden Rule, published by Oxford University Press several decades ago, is still considered definitive by many.
He also can be an electrifying teacher, as you can see in this very short video here (scroll down).
His newest book, A Taste of Joy and Liberty: A Philosopher Encounters the Gospel of Jesus, is the capstone of a distinguished career.
I am proud to announce that it is out TODAY from my company, Origin Press.
Available at Amazon (ships September 15)
Paperback: $18.00 / eBook: $9.99 • Origin Press • 270 pages
JoyAndLiberty.org • Available at Amazon (ships on September 15)
Jeffrey Wattles, PhD, a retired professor of philosophy at Kent State University, has focused
Part I: The Human Jesus Grows to Full Maturity and Launches His Public Ministry
Part II: The Son of Man Teaches His Original Message
Part III: The Son of God Reveals His Divinity
Part IV: The Resurrected Jesus Continues His Work Through Us
“This compelling exploration will help readers grow closer to Jesus.”
—Stephen Finlan, PhD, UCC pastor; noted biblical scholar
“This masterful book lets us more fully understand the life of Jesus.”
—Rev. Hoyte L. Wilhelm, elder of the United Methodist Church
“This book is saturated with hope. Jesus's promise of joy, love, and freedom is palpable on every page."
—Rev. Paul McKenna, creator of the interfaith Golden Rule Poster; interfaith pioneer
ALL ENDORSEMENTS:
“This work is the magnum opus of one of today’s most important Christian philosophers. For two decades I have followed the work of the author, who is among the most devoted Christian and spiritual teachers alive today. Jeffrey Wattles presents a highly developed perspective on Christian living that will be a guide for the perplexed.”
—Stephen G. Post, PhD, Founding Director, Center for Medical Humanities, Stony Brook University; author, Dignity for Deeply Forgetful People and Pure, Unlimited Love
“Written with great imagination and care, this creative book shows how an attentive relationship with Jesus is able to inspire people—from committed Christians to seekers from other religious traditions—to live a more joyful and flourishing life. But while many books merely inform or inspire, this one delivers on its promise to help readers actively cultivate a faithful practice. It is a rare work of grace and love that embodies the virtues it seeks to communicate.”
—Matthew T. Lee, PhD, Professor of the Social Sciences and Humanities, Baylor University
“This book shows us Jesus with the mind of a scientist, the heart of a philosopher, and the spirit of a peacemaker. Seekers of all backgrounds—and especially independent thinkers—will find Jesus living on these pages as we’ve never seen him before, inviting us to bring our whole selves to a life of love and the liberating quest for truth.”
—Angie Thurston, Harvard Fellow in Spirituality and Leadership; Executive Director, Sacred Design Lab
“I needed to read this book. Jeff Wattles’s passion for Jesus is infectious. And it has infected me. I do not need another intellectual treatise about Jesus, but rather a way to deepen my relationship with Jesus, and this book has done just that for me. If you are serious about spiritual growth, this book is for you. If you are keen to experience the love, freedom, and joy promised by Jesus, read this hope-filled book cover-to-cover.”
—Paul McKenna, MDiv, creator of the interfaith Golden Rule Poster; 50-year interfaith veteran
“This is a compelling exploration of the teachings and the faith of Jesus. Wattles brings out the elements of joy and spiritual growth that are central to the gospel. This book will help people grow closer to Jesus by understanding his choices, his priorities, and his inner peace.”
—Stephen Finlan, PhD, UCC Pastor; biblical studies scholar, author of Salvation Not Purchased, The Family Metaphor in Jesus’ Teaching, and The Drama of Job
“Dr. Wattles’s work offers readers a masterful and beautifully written book integrating heart, mind, and soul that allows us to more fully understand the life of Jesus. [It reveals] the great potential for people to live lives of love, goodness, and joy with others through the risen Christ—in a world that so desperately yearns for us to do so.”
—Rev. Hoyte L. Wilhelm, retired elder of the United Methodist Church
“As an engineer and inventor with 33 patents, I appreciate Jeff Wattles’ logical extrapolations from the biblical narrative. These include his fascinating inferences about the missing years of Jesus’s life, Jesus’s scientific attitude toward nature and society, and the philosophical depths of the gospel. Wattles, in contrast with other philosophers of religion, utilizes these extrapolations to suggest new ways for human cooperation with the divine, and he even unveils to the reader their own inner potential for emulating Jesus’s curiosity and willingness to explore things scientific. In addition, the author explains to the reader how to explore truth in its fullness. First, we must distinguish his more adventuresome philosophic approach from the dangers of extreme dogmatism and skepticism. And then we must set out with a spiritual core and a scientific periphery, and then build a philosophical bridge between them.” —Geoff Taylor
“Jeffrey Wattles masterfully bridges history, philosophy, and spirituality, inviting readers to discover Jesus in a whole new light.”
—Brad Jagger, senior pastor and adjunct professor
“The book is organized as if we were learning along with Jesus—about daily life, spirituality, personal relationships, and one’s relationship with the Creator. The author even invites us to contemplate the nature of truth, beauty, and goodness as an avenue within prayer, aiding us in discerning God’s love and guidance as we seek to do his will in our daily life. What I find most attractive is the author’s agenda of getting the movement for the gospel of Jesus back on track, emboldened by his advocacy for spiritual unity, interreligious dialogue, spirit-filled values, and especially hope and faith in Jesus’ spirit guidance.”
—Pamela Chaddock, interdisciplinary activist and lay theologian
“What a refreshing voice for reason and compassion in an age of sound bites and clickbait! Dr. Wattles’s imparts fresh interpretations to the wealth of familiar facts about Jesus’s life and teaching. Interestingly, he includes a chapter on ‘Jesus’s Scientific Knowledge’ and endorses reason and science as compatible with faith. Wattles writes from years of both scholarly research and practical classroom teaching experience. The book is very accessible with short, clearly written chapters and questions that allow the reader to engage more deeply. Here is a sincere and fresh voice from a philosopher who is also a spiritual believer.”
—Bettina Gray, interfaith leader and co-founder of the North American Interfaith Network
“Jeff Wattles offers us a deeper appreciation of the gospel of Jesus! Living according to that gospel requires that we first experience the power of God’s unconditional love. Jeff also shows that Jesus brought a richer, deeper perspective in our understanding of the nature of God. For all of that I am grateful!”
—Gard Jameson, PhD, Professor of Asian Philosophy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas
“This work helps deepens our relationship with God by illuminating the way of Jesus, which leads us to experience deeper spiritual unity with our fellows, especially those very different from us. Professor Wattles reveals how to live according to the greatest law of all: love God and love your neighbor as yourself.”
—Pastor Mary Blessing, Episcopal Priest in the Diocese of El Camino Real
