Killing Jesus

For the TV miniseries, see Killing Jesus (miniseries).
Killing Jesus
Author Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard
Subject Crucifixion of Jesus
Publisher Henry Holt and Co.
Publication date
 September 24, 2013
Media type Hardcover
Pages 304
ISBN 978-0805098549

Killing Jesus: A History is a 2013 book by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard about the life and crucifixion of Jesus, referred to in the book as Jesus of Nazareth. It is the follow-up to Killing Kennedy and Killing Lincoln. Killing Jesus was released September 24, 2013[1] through Henry Holt and Company.

Upon its publication, Killing Jesus debuted at #1 on the New York Times bestseller list,[2] and was on the list for 52 weeks.[3] In its fall books preview, USA Today called it “a suspenseful thriller.”[4] Of its sales success, The Washington Post wrote, “The most popular titles in the Washington area have a distinctly biblical glow: for the second week in a row, Killing Jesus by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard is No. 1. This is the third in their spectacularly successful assassination series.”[5]

Killing Jesus also depicts Mary Magdalene as the sinful woman whose sins the Lord forgave (Luke 7:36–50).[6][7] However, the common identification of Mary Magdalene with other New Testament figures was rejected in the 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar, with the comment regarding her liturgical celebration on 22 July: "No change has been made in the title of today's memorial, but it concerns only Saint Mary Magdalene, to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection. It is not about the sister of Saint Martha, nor about the sinful woman whose sins the Lord forgave (Luke 7:36–50)."[8] Elsewhere it said of the Roman liturgy of 22 July that "it will make mention neither of Mary of Bethany nor of the sinful woman of Luke 7:36–50, but only of Mary Magdalene, the first person to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection".[9] Mary of Bethany's feast day and that of her brother Lazarus is now on 29 July, the memorial of their sister Martha.[10][11]

Reception

A review in The Guardian by Selina O'Grady (author of "And Man Created God: Kings, Cults, and Conquests at the Time of Jesus") called it "a breathy retelling of the gospel stories by two conservative Catholics, one of whom, O'Reilly, believes that he was inspired to write the book by the Holy Ghost." The reviewer also stated that, "Everyone creates God in their own image, so it's not surprising that Fox television's aggressively conservative down-home-let's-hear-it-for-the-ordinary-guy talk show host should have created a Tea Party son of God. Jesus, the little guy, is an enemy of the big corrupt tax-oppressing Roman empire, which is itself just a version of Washington, only even more venal and sexually depraved. This Jesus is a tax-liberating rebel who incurs the wrath of the Jewish and Roman powers by threatening their joint fleecing of the people. As a member of the populist right, he is not, of course, in favour of redistribution: Bill O'Reilly's Jesus does not tell the rich to give away their money to the poor."[12]

Television adaptation

Like Killing Lincoln and Killing Kennedy, a television adaptation of the book is in production by National Geographic.[13] On June 18, 2014, on his weekday night show, Bill O'Reilly said the television version of the book will be shown on Palm Sunday, 2015.

References

  1. ↑ Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O'Reilly | 9780805098549 | Hardcover | Barnes & Noble
  2. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2013-10-13/hardcover-nonfiction/list.html
  3. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/
  4. ↑ http://www.usatoday.com/interactive/2764697/
  5. ↑ http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/style-blog/wp/2013/10/13/an-answer-to-publishers-prayers/
  6. ↑ Killing Jesus: A History - Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard - Google Books
  7. ↑ Killing Jesus: A History - Bill O'Reilly, Martin Dugard - Google Books
  8. ↑ Calendarium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1969), p. 131
  9. ↑ Calendarium Romanum (1969), p. 98
  10. ↑ Martyrologium Romanum (Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2001, ISBN 978-88-209-7210-3), p. 398
  11. ↑ Filteau, Jerry "Scholars seek to correct Christian tradition on Mary Magdalene," Catholic News Service May 1, 2006.
  12. ↑ O'Grady, Selina (18 December 2013). "Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard – review". Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
  13. ↑ O'Connell, Michael (March 25, 2014). "Nat Geo Adapting Bill O’Reilly’s 'Killing Jesus'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved March 25, 2014.

External links