Westar's popular magazine The Fourth R brings readers the latest thinking from religion scholars and writers — in non-technical language aimed at a
literate general audience. Back issues of volume 3 through 15 of The Fourth R are available at a cost of $4.50 each. Back issues of volumes 16 and later are available at a cost of $6.00 each.
Volume 3 (1990)
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Christ the Man Update (Marcus Borg)
Paul Verhoeven: Film Maker (Donnell Stoneman)
The Art of Translation (Loren Mack-Fisher & Edward Beutner)
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Making Enemies (Ron Large)
Fundamentalism Within and Without (Kathleen Norris)
The Art of Translation (Loren Mack-Fisher & Daryl Schmidt)
More on the Canon Question (Robert J. Miller)
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Albert Schweitzer's View on Jesus and the End of the World (Marcus Borg)
Outside the Bible: Can It Be Jesus? (Stephen Patterson)
Understanding the Diverse Dimension of Life and Culture Called Religion (Barnes Tatum)
Early Christian Feminism: The Untold Story (John Dominic Crossan)
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In the Heart of America: Redeemer Figures & Mythic Spaces (Robert Funk)
The Treasure in Earthen Vessels (Marcus Borg)
Jesus' Parables and the Fiction of the Kingdom (Lane McGaughy)
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Special Issue: The Gospel of Mark
Contributions by Arthur Dewey, Dennis Duling, Robert Funk, John Kloppenborg, Lane McGaughy, Daryl Schmidt, and Philip Sellew
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Gnosticism: The Religion of the Alien God (Charles Hedrick)
Criteria for Determining the Authentic Sayings of Jesus (Robert Funk)
Rudolf Bultmann and Jesus as the Word (Mahlon Smith)
Bookshelf: The Unknown Gospels (Perry Kea)
Volume 4 (1991)
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Elusive Bethsaida Recovered (Rami Arav & John Rousseau)
Update: Christ the Man (Paul Verhoeven)
Bookshelf: The Dead Sea Scrolls (Christian Wilson)
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The Creed: A Pledge of Allegiance (Julian Hills)
Jesus' Divinity (Culver Nelson)
Jesus as a Mediterranean Jewish Peasant (John Dominic Crossan)
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What Is Gnosticism? (Karen King)
Four Shibboleths of Southern Baptist Orthodoxy (Charles Hedrick)
David Friedrich Strauss: Miracle and Myth (Marcus Borg)
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Did That Really Happen? (Mahlon Smith)
The Southern Baptist Controversy (Walter Shurden)
Who Are the Gnostics? (Karen King)
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American Apocalyptic (Ron Large)
The Egerton Gospel (Jon Daniels)
Bookshelf: Books for Christmas (Barnes Tatum)
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Reimarus and the Beginning of the Quest (Marcus Borg)
How Jesus Became God (Robert Funk)
Biblical Illiteracy and Faith (Jeanette Johnson)
Volume 5 (1992)
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How the Canon Was Determined (Roy Hoover)
Letter from a Former Outsider (Robert Rock)
JFK : A Moving Picture (Edward Beutner)
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Jesus and the Apocalypse (Robert Funk)
Arnold Schwarzenegger Meets John Calvin (Leonard Cassuto)
Book Review: Authority in the Roman Catholic Church: The Corporate Rejection of Jesus (John White)
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By Whose Authority? (Mahlon Smith)
Demons: Identity and Worldview (Robert Funk)
In the Beginning Was Talk (Stephen Patterson)
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The Significance of the Work of the Jesus Seminar for Judaism (Sanford Lowe)
Bookshelf : Basic Books for Religious Literacy (Barnes Tatum)
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Infancy Narratives in the Ancient World (Lane McGaughy)
Hansel & Gretel, The Lone Ranger, and The Lord of the Rings (Robert Funk)
Bookshelf : Basic Books for Religious Literacy Part II (Barnes Tatum)
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The Jesus That Was (Robert Funk)
Wine and Humor at Cana (Doug Adams)
Bookshelf: Basic Books for Religious Literacy Part III (Barnes Tatum)
Volume 6 (1993)
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Jesus, M.D.? (Mahlon Smith)
Jesus and Family Values (Stephen Harris)
Which Was the First Gospel? (Arland Jacobson)
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Whom Jesus Healed and How (Stevan Davies)
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The Riddle of Jesus (Paul Scott)
The Gospel of Thomas and Jesus (Stephen Patterson)
God and the Emperor in Waco (Robert Funk)
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Odyssey: The Journey Home (Marcus Borg)
New Testament Literary Genres (Perry Kea)
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Odyssey: Almost the Whole Truth (John Dominic Crossan)
The Second Coming of the Dead Sea Scrolls (Barnes Tatum)
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The Gospel of Jesus and the Jesus of the Gospels (Robert Funk)
Paul: A New Perspective (John White)
Volume 7 (1994)
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The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus (Roy Hoover)
Who Was John the Baptizer? (Barnes Tatum)
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Did Christians Invent Judas? (John Shelby Spong)
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Odyssey: Write What You See (Walter Wink)
Jesus: A Sketch (Marcus Borg)
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Special Issue
The Resurrection of Jesus: Reports and Stories (Robert Funk)
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The Jesus Seminar at Work: The Making of The Five Gospels (Marcus Borg)
Odyssey: Finding a Way (Bruce Chilton)
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The Jesus Seminar at Work: Making the Bible an Open Book (Marcus Borg)
Volume 8 (1995)
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Bookshelf: The Resurrection of Jesus (Robert Funk)
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The Resurrection (Thomas Sheehan)
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The Jesus Intervention (Ruth Schweitzer-Mordecai)
Odyssey: Fundamentally Pluralistic (Daryl Schmidt)
Bookshelf: The Christian Origins of Anti-Semitism (Barnes Tatum)
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Finding a Voice for the Black Sayings (Perry Kea)
What Jesus Had to Say (James Robinson)
The Gospel of John and the Historical Jesus (Robert Fortna)
Answering the Critics: A Scholar Responds to Jesus Under Fire (Roy Hoover)
Volume 9 (1996)
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The Witness of Gospel Fragments (Daryl Schmidt)
Jesus, Mary Magdalene and Salome (Kathleen Corley)
Jesus of Nazareth: A Glimpse (Robert Funk)
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Odyssey: Being There (Robert Bater)
The Jesus of History: A Profile in Courage (Roy Hoover)
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The Passion Narrative (John Dominic Crossan)
The Work of the Jesus Seminar (Roy Hoover)
The Search for the Historical Jesus: Why Start with the Sayings? (Lane McGaughy)
Volume 10 (1997)
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Profiles of Jesus: The Reappearance of Parables (Brandon Scott)
The Jesus Seminar and Its Critics: What Is Really at Stake? (Robert J. Miller)
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Mary of Magdala (Karen King)
The Incredible Creed (Robert Funk)
Book Review: The Gospel According to the Son by Norman Mailer (Robert Price)
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Who Put the Hell in Hellenism? (Russell Shorto)
Listening for Luke's Voice (Perry Kea)
Opinion: Fiction or Nonfiction? (Bob Schwartz)
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A Gift of Christmas Clarity (Roy Hoover)
Jesus and the Buddha (Marcus Borg)
Volume 11 (1998)
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Jesus at the Movies (Barnes Tatum)
Unitarian Universalists and the Jesus Seminar (Will Moredock)
Tales of the End (David Barr)
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The First Storytellers (Robert Funk and the Jesus Seminar)
Defending Nicea: The Historical Jesus of N. T. Wright (James Veitch)
Letter from Kentucky (Anonymous)
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Behind and Before the Lord's Prayer (Hal Taussig)
Looking for Jesus in the Holy Land (Dennis Polkow)
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The Coming Radical Reformation (Robert W. Funk)
Twelve Theses & a Call for a New Reformation (John Shelby Spong)
Twenty-One Theses & Notes (Robert W. Funk)
On the New Reformation (James Veitch)
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The Geering Story (James Veitch)
How Did Jesus Become God-and Why? (Lloyd Geering)
Jesus Seminar on the Road in New Zealand (Robert W. Funk)
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What Do You Make of This? Jesus as a Peasant Artisan (Arthur Dewey)
Back to Basics: A Primer on Historical Method (Robert J. Miller)
Volume 12 (1999)
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What Did Paul Know About Jesus (Gregory C. Jenks)
The Not-So-Great Debate (Alison Cotes)
Christianity Faces the New Millennium (Lloyd Geering)
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Spotlight on Saint Paul (James Veitch)
The Rediscovery of New Ancient Gospel (Charles W. Hedrick)
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How Jesus Took the gist from Liturgist (Edward Beutner)
Tabloid Testament (Robert M. Price)
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The Genesis of Easter (Thomas Sheehan)
Scholars' Privileges
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The Second Founder of Christianity (John L. White)
A Mercy Unextended — Parable of the Unmerciful Servant (Edward F. Beutner)
Once & Future Jesus Voting Results
Volume 13 (2000)
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Re-describing Christian Origins — On Burton Mack (Hal Taussig)
The Continued Importance of Jesus (Andries van Aarde)
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Martin Luther King: A Profile of Jesus (Ron Large)
A Jewish Jesus in a New Age (Sanford Lowe)
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Jesus Seminar Voting on the Apocalyptic Jesus, Life after Death, and Acts
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Jesus — the mini-series (W. Barnes Tatum)
Odyssey: A Bishop's Struggle (John Shelby Spong)
Book Review of Wedderburn, Beyond Resurrection (Robert J. Miller)
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Special Issue
Secret Mark: New Photographs, New Witnesses (Charles W. Hedrick)
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Christianity after the Church (Don Cupitt)
Charge to the Edinburgh Synod (Richard Holloway)
Volume 14 (2001)
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Beyond Story in Search of History (John S. Kloppenborg Verbin)
The Wandering Philosopher (Don Cupitt)
Book Review: The Jewish Jesus (W. Barnes Tatum)
Ask the Scholars: Impose your imperial rule (Mahlon Smith)
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Christianity Minus Theism (Lloyd Geering)
The Codex of the Gospel of Jesus (Janice Frey with Robert Funk)
Book Review: Paula Fredriksen, Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews
Ask the Scholars: Jesus as Itinerant Sage: True or False (Robert W. Funk)
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The Christian Gene (Anne Primavesi)
Jesus in Tibet: A Modern Myth (Robert M. Price)
Once & Future Faith Conference Voting Results
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How Did Easter Originally Happen (Thomas Sheehan)
Milestones in the Quest for the Historical Jesus (Robert W. Funk)
Ask the Scholars: Scholarly Presuppositions (Robert J. Miller)
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Nonviolence for the Violent (Walter Wink)
Essays on Terror
A War of Worlds (Robert W. Funk)
The Clash of Civilizations (Roy W. Hoover)
The Dark Side of Religion (Robert J. Miller)
The Bombing of America (Walter Wink)
Living in a Re-Imagined World (Bernard Brandon Scott)
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Thinking Straight about the Virgin Birth (Robert J. Miller)
Terrorism in Perspective (James Veitch)
Volume 15 (2002)
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Who Owns the Holy Land, Part 1: The Jewish Claim (Lloyd Geering)
Paul - An Obituary (Gerd Luedemann)
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Who Owns the Holy Land, Part 2: The Palestinian Claim (Lloyd Geering)
Making Sense of Paul (Daryl D. Schmidt)
Rewards Are Instrinsic (Robert W. Funk)
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Who Owns the Holy Land, Part 3: The British Responsibility (Lloyd Geering)
Historical Jesus and the New Nicaea (David Galston)
The New Physics (Walter McClure)
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Who Owns the Holy Land, Part 4: Who Resolves the Conflict (Lloyd Geering)
In Quest of Insight (Mahlon Smith)
Book Review - Richard Holloway, Godless Morality
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Was Jesus Green (Jack Hill)
J.A.T.Robinson, The Mentor Who Shaped My Ministry (John Shelby Spong)
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The Search for Historical Israel (David McCreery)
Did Jesus Speak Greek? (Bernard Brandon Scott)
Volume 16 (2003)
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The Future of Religion (Robert M. Price)
Jesus after Hamlet (Edward F. Beutner)
Statement in anticipation of Spring 2004 meeting (Don Cupitt)
Book Review: Gerd Lüdemann, Paul the Founder of Christianity
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Did Jesus Fulfill Prophecy? Probing Matthew's Gospel (Robert J. Miller)
On the Road Again (Bernard Brandon Scott)
Comedy with a Tragic Turn: The Dishonest Manager (Edward F. Beutner)
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The First Will Be First (Paul Verhoeven)
The Inspiration and Authority of the Bible (Robert M. Price)
Where is Fundamentalism Leading Us? (David Galston)
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Holy Communion (Lloyd Geering)
The Truth That Is in Jesus (Arthur J. Dewey)
Seeking the Wisdom of Jesus (John Beverley Butcher)
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The Gospel of Mary of Magdala (Karen L. King)
The Life of Jesus: A Brief Assessment (Gerd Lüdemann)
The Stole of the Jesus Seminar Order of Merit (James Kasper)
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Father Knows Best: Fundamentalism and our Apocalyptic Future (Bernard Brandon Scott)
Suspension of Disbelief (Robert M. Price)
The Sunday Morning Experience: A Codicil to Robert Price (Robert W Funk)
Volume 17 (2004)
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Tradition and Faith in a New Era (Roy W. Hoover)
The Da Vinci Fraud (Robert M. Price)
Choosing Hymns (Glenna S. Jackson)
Reviews: The Passion of the Christ: Bad History and Bad Theology (Kathleen E. Corley)
Guilt Trip: Robert Funk weighs in on ugly "Passion (David Templeton)
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Braveheart Does the Stations of the Cross: Mel Gibson's 12-Step Program (Davyl D. Schmidt)
Is Christianity Going Anywhere? Part 1. Christianity at the Crossroads (Lloyd Geering)
Do the Gospels Contain Eyewitness Reports? (Robert W. Funk)
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Is Christianity Going Anywhere? Part 2. Excavating Jesus (Lloyd Geering)
Literal Incarnation or Universal Love? Virgin Birth, Incarnation and Atonement (Robert J. Miller)
E=MC2 (Mike Short)
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Is Christianity Going Anywhere? Part 3. The Recovery of Jesus' Teaching (Lloyd Geering)
Wrestling with the Cross: A Sermon (Susan [Elli] Elliott)
Iron John the Baptist (Robert M. Price)
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Is Christianity Going Anywhere? Part 4. The Diverse Futures of Christianity (Lloyd Geering)
Advent Meditations (Mike Short)
In the Volume of the Book (Robert M. Price)
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Lost in Translation: What Happened to the Eunuchs in Matthew 19:12? (Halvor Moxnes)
Evolution, Monotheism, and Violence (Don Braxton)
The Burglar Who Makes Appointsments (Edward F. Beutner)
Volume 18 (2005)
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The Evolution of Good and Evil (Patricia Williams)
The Road to the Jesus Seminar (Perry V. Kea)
Translating Paul's Jargon (Roy W. Hoover)
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Why Dates Matter (Joseph B. Tyson)
The Once and Future Christ of Faith (Paul Alan Laughlin)
Reminting Paul (Arthur J. Dewey)
Review of John J. Collins, Does the Bible Justify Violence (Donald M. Braxton)
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The Didache (Aaron Milavec)
The God Problem (Nigel Leaves)
Translating Paul (Daryl D. Schmidt)
Review of Richard A. Horsley and Neil Asher Silberman, The Message and the Kingdom (Perry V. Kea)
Review of Howard Schwartz, Tree of Souls (Dennis E. Smith)
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The Paradox of Liberal Religion (Jarmo Tarkki)
Communal Care and the Growth of Early Christianity (David Batson)
Making Oxen Out of Unicorns (Charles W. Hedrick)
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Obituary of Robert W. Funk
The Ebionites (Sakari Hakkinen)
Postmodernism, the Historical Jesus, and the Church (David Galston)
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The Pearl, the Treasure, the Fool and the Cross (Robert J. Miller)
Religion: Mend It, Don't End It —A Review of Sam Harris, The End of Faith (Joe Bessler-Northcutt)
Testimonials to Robert W. Funk
Volume 19 (2006)
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Illuminating Black Boxes: The Beglinning and Ends of Intelligent Design (Patricia Williams)
Putting the Historical Jesus in His Place: Part 1, A New Thought Christian Perspective (Paul Alan Laughlin)
From Paralyzing Trauma to New Identity; The Development of Second-Century Christianity (Jahn Van Hagen)
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The Life and Legacy of Robert W. Funk
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Grassroots Progressive Christianity: A Quiet Revolution (Hal Taussig)
Putting the Historical Jesus in His Place: Part 2, A Spiral Dynamics Perspective (Paul Alan Laughlin)
The Pearl, the Treasure, the Fool and the Cross: A Response (William M. Linden)
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What is Christian? Competing Visions in the First Century (Charles W. Hedrick)
The Significance of the Gospel of Judas (Hal Taussig)
Retrospective on the Spring Westar Meeting (Roy W. Hoover)
Eulogy for Daryl Dean Schmidt
Book Review: What Jesus Meant by Garry Wills (Robert M. Price)
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How Did We Get Here: Looking Back at Twenty Years of the Jesus Seminar (Bernard Brandon Scott)
The Purloined Kingdom (Robert M. Price)
Certainty and Self-Deception in Fundamentalists (Donald M. Braxton)
The Parable of the Assassin, Then and Now (Gene Lovette)
Book Review: Misquoting Jesus by Bart Ehrman (Glenna Jackson)
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The Theology Behind Left Behind
Spiral Dynamics, Evolution, and History (Patricia A. Williams)
Spiral Dynamics from the Underside (Elin Whitney-Smith)
A Reply to Patricia Williams and Elin Whitney-Smith (Paul Alan Laughlin)
Raised on the Third Day (Kris Komarnitsky)
Volume 20 (2007)
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The Symbolic Jesus: Why It Matters that Jesus Was Jewish: An interview with William Arnal, Part One
Another Inconvenient Truth: Violence within the "Sacred" Texts (Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer
Fall Meeting 2006: Report on the Jesus Seminar on Christian Origins (Stephen J. Patterson)
Fall Meeting 2006: Report on the Acts Seminar (Dennis E. Smith)
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The Sympolic Jesus: Why It Matters that Jesus Was Jewish: An interview with William Arnal, Part Two
The Inevitable Jesus Quest: Two Responses to William Arnal (Mahlon H. Smith, Bernard Brandon Scott)
The Futile Quest: A Reply to Mahlon Smith and Brandon Scott
Captive Church, Subservise Jesus: Where Do We Go from Here? (Peter Lawson)
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