From Jesus to Christianity

This book keeps coming in my study and I have not seen much about it. The people that cite him just put a page number never no quote or actual analysis of the source in question. Does anyone in Logos have it and can tell me if it is academic and scholarly? I know it is published by Harper and they are not known to be five star academic press. If this is not ok for the forums please delete it.

White, L. Michael. From Jesus to Christianity: How Four Generations of Visionaries & Storytellers Created the New Testament and Christian Faith. San Francisco: Harper, 2004.

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DMB

It's easy enough to see the preview. Or download a sample. Did you?

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1305645#Comment_1305645

Did you?

I did but it was not enough only a few 12 pages.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1305647#Comment_1305647

I'd think few footnotes, broad generalizations, and basic charts might suggest a freshman intro course.

Paul Caneparo

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1305647#Comment_1305647

Did you?

I did but it was not enough only a few 12 pages.

More here

https://books.google.co.uk/books/about/From_Jesus_to_Christianity.html?id=_nOSCwAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover&source=kp_read_button&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&gboemv=1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q&f=false

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1305647#Comment_1305647

I did but it was not enough only a few 12 pages.

That is about the typical sample size across many storefronts. The question is why do you need more sample pages than the typical user? I'm serious. Make yourself a list of the information you need to get from the sample, add a column for what answers you found in the preview, then review the unanswered questions asking yourself why you need that piece of information and what the preview would have to do in order to provide it.

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1305670#Comment_1305670

I was taught a book preview would give 14-18% of a book on Amazon, Google Books or via library preview. This book was 530 pages. That would mean a sample would be approximately 73 pages on the low end. I do not expect to get more than a typical user. I did get a friend to rent it in school and I agree with DMB on the scope of the book.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306017#Comment_1306017

I was taught a book preview would give 14-18% of a book on Amazon

That does not match my experience ...but I wasn't taught anything about Amazon, Google, etc. in school.[:D]

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306057#Comment_1306057

I was just under wrong assumptions but the book was no good

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306064#Comment_1306064

but the book was no good

Actually, the publisher should have told you that this was aimed at the general public not academics - the kind of book that might show up on best-seller lists. Some of these are very good to know but they are rarely a source for details.

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306068#Comment_1306068

Actually, the publisher should have told you that this was aimed at the general public not academics

How is this the case? Are certain publishers not generalized academic. I was always taught Harper was a solid academic resource in general nature.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306070#Comment_1306070

You answered you own question:

solid academic resource in general nature

the difference is "general" vs. "detail". And, yes, I have a personal horror story.

DMB

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306070#Comment_1306070

I almost never look at the publisher, except for good judgement (eg Brill, or Liturgical Press), and those are few and far between.

I looked at the book again. From the blurb, it looks scholarly ... even Wayne Meeks. And his other similar book, Scripted Jesus, seems like would be 'a la Fredricksen'. Instead, the samples are clearly intro's at best (barely that).

He also seems to have 2 books (a set) on historic church architecture. I've always wanted a book(s) in Logos on that (from looking at old SW church ruins). But I'd be reluctant to suggest him ... the blurbs are too distant from the content.

Christian Alexander

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306078#Comment_1306078

Me either DMB. My goal when reading is to find, assimilate and analyze. I was told in seminary classes when you start looking at a publisher every time you read a book you will become biased as to wheather a book is "good" for your project. I know many publishers are strict about what they take on because every book they publish costs them money. The blurb showed credibility but the main section of the book did not. I have not seen that much in my years of research and writing, from what I remember.

MJ. Smith

https://community.logos.com/discussion/comment/1306130#Comment_1306130

I was told in seminary classes when you start looking at a publisher every time you read a book you will become biased as to wheather a book is "good" for your project.

While I was taught it was a good way to find publishers who might have other material of interest. I'd hate to think how much Orthodox/Eastern rite material I would have missed had I not paid attention to the publisher to see what else they had available.

The blurb showed credibility but the main section of the book did not.

That is quite different from my evaluation.