Maher, Zacharias, and Prabhupada in New Free Think University Course: ‘Who Do You Say Christ Is?’
Industry: Education
Experts and Advocates Discuss Jesus as a Guru, Myth, Rebel, Lunatic or Lord
Washington D.C. (PRUnderground) March 25th, 2014
Who is Jesus? C.S. Lewis famously answered that Jesus is either Liar, Lunatic, or Lord. There has been a current resurgence in conversation and debate about the person and work of Jesus of Nazareth at leading universities. Free Think University’s new course, “Who Do You Say Christ Is?” explores various views of who people say Jesus really was.
The course presents the various views that Jesus was a guru, a myth, a rebel, a lunatic, or the Son of God and Lord of all.
The course experience presents the view of Jesus as a guru through an article by Srila Prabhupada, a Gaudiya Vaishnava spiritual teacher and the founder of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, commonly known as the “Hare Krishna Movement.” Srila Prabhupada recognizes Lord Jesus Christ as “the son of God, the representative of God… our guru… our spiritual master,” yet he disagrees with many views of those who currently claim to be Christ’s followers.
The course experience explains the views of those who see the story of Jesus as a myth in a video by Christopher Hitchens. He explains, “I am willing to grant the immaculate conception first, then the virgin birth, then the resurrection, and the annunciation and the assumption. I am willing to grant all of it. It doesn’t prove the truth of the proposition that you should take no thought for the morrow, the central doctrine of Jesus of Nazareth…. No investment… no care for your children… Just follow me. Ridiculous.”
It is hard to deny that modern man generally loves the rebel hero. Many have interpreted Jesus of Nazareth from this vantage point. The song “The Rebel Jesus” by Jackson Brown and the Broadway musical “Jesus Christ Superstar” both make the case in the course for this argument.
Another view holds that Jesus just misunderstood himself and was indeed a lunatic. Stand-up comedian and entertainer Bill Maher agrees with this and the course presents his views in a video of him promoting his 2008 film, “Religulous.”
Free Think University’s course experience also presents the views of those who believe Jesus is Lord. The course features a video of Indian-born, Canadian-American Christian apologist and award-winning author Ravi Zacharias laying out why he thinks Jesus is the Lord he claimed to be. “If we really want the truth, the Bible says when you abide in his word you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free,” says Zacharias, “If somebody is truly pursuing the truth, the least they ought to do is give Jesus a hearing on what it is He says about life, its essence, and its destiny.”
“The world claims many things about Jesus,” notes Free Think University co-founder Jim Van Eerden, “We want to challenge students to be intellectually honest and consider the alternative views of who Jesus Christ really is.”
To access the full course, click here. For additional media information, please contact media@freethinku.com.
About Free Think University
Free Think University is where more than 30,000 free-thinking students have joined what Mortimer Adler called “The Great Conversation” – the dialogue of the ages about The Big Questions of our day, and where they participate in one of the fastest-growing independent scholarship funds in America. Submit questions for future courses to ideas@freethinku.com. For more information go to www.freethinku.com or follow @freethinku.
