Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #287165 in Books
• Published on: 2007-03-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 328 pages

Synopsis
Jesus did not die on the cross. He survived and went to southern France with his wife, Mary. This possibility is proposed by Graham Simmans, who spent many years on a quest to find the real beginnings of Christianity. Simmans believes that the spread of Christianity beyond Jerusalem was tied to Jesus' survival of the crucifixion and his subsequent emigration to Europe. Using Coptic and Jewish sources, including the Talmud, that allow a glimpse of the Christian philosophy espoused by Jesus, he contends that true Christianity was brought into France, Britain and Spain from first century Egypt and Judea, not fourth and fifth-century Rome. His investigation shows that after a time in Egypt, Jesus settled in Rennes-le-Chateau, a sophisticated and cosmopolitan centre of spiritual diversity. It was a natural move for Jesus to settle in the Narbonne area of France - an area already heavily settled by Jewish and Gnostic groups. Here, safely outside the reach of the cultural dictatorship of the Roman Church, the Gnostic secrets he taught survived the centuries.

Later, the Knights Templar centred their activity in the Languedoc region around Rennes-le-Chateau, where, within the Jewish communities, a well-connected and influential opposition to Rome already existed. This resistance to Rome gave rise to a religious culture that included elements of Gnostic, Pythagorean and Kabbalistic teachings. Until the Crusades against the Cathar heretics reasserted the dominion of Rome, the culture that flourished around Rennes-le-Chateau embodied the true essence of Christ's message.

Customer Reviews

Good But Flawed.
After reading so many different books on RLC (Rennes Le Chateau). I decided to give this one a go. The book itself is a nice and easy read, its written from an experienced mind which is very evident, The language he uses is none technical and he tries qualify his theories, however, it is the authors theories where the books lets itself down. He tries to tie together Jesus the Essene's and the Coptic Christians of Egypt. Although Simmons's knowledge of Egypt stands out clearly, I just take issue of the notion that Mary and Joseph where part of the Essene sect of Jews, overlooking the obvious flaw in the fact the Essene's were a celibate sect of Jews , so marriage wouldn't be allowed for any member. Mr Simmons claims that it was the Essene's who healed Jesus back to life but offers little credible evidence of this.

The Author then goes to claim that the Essenes are also Gnostic, and that the Dead Sea scrolls are of the same like of the Nag Hammaddi scriptures. Grahams love for Egypt is very evident also, and much of his writing and biases reflect his opinions, but I feel his writing displays more hope than expectation and tries to tie much of Jesus's ministry to the Egypt mystery schools, but little evidence is put forward to support his claims. The author does however take the reader on a very good quest across the Mediterranean, written in a style that make you feel you are with the Author and he does focus the mystery of the RLC on different perspectives that others haven't. All in all a very enjoyable read, well written and interesting but seriously flawed and very opinionated.

The missing link
In response to the previous review, there are a number of other books which put forth exactly the same view of Jesus, Joseph and Mary's association with the Essenes, and it is for perhaps this reason that the author didn't labour that point.

Specifically regarding the celibacy issue; as descendents of the royal line of David, they would be expected to procreate in order to produce the next heir. Read Laurence Gardner, "Bloodline of the Holy Grail" for a full description of the various rules they were subject to.

Other than that one issue, I fully agree with everything the previous reviewer said. This is a well written and accessible book, and clearly shows Simman's execellent knowledge of the subject. It's also fascinating to learn a bit more about Jesus' activities post-crucifixion, which I feel is something as yet missing from Laurence Gardner's series.