Jeffrey J. Bütz - The Brother of Jesus and the Lost Teachings of Christianity

A CKNOWLEDGMENTS

I wish to thank all of my professors at Moravian Theological Seminary, where I earned my M.Div., for shaping my theology in an ecumenical fashion and rescuing me from fundamentalism. A special debt of gratitude to Dr. Glenn Asquith and the Rev. Otto Dreydoppel, Jr., for early encouragement of my writing. You were the first to make me realize I could write.

I also thank all of my professors at the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia, where I earned my S.T.M., for refining my scholarship. I especially thank Dr. Erik Heen for initially sparking my interest in the historical Jesus (which led to my interest in James) and for all his patience and wise advice as my thesis advisor. I also thank my reader, Dr. John Reumann, for drilling into me the need for rigorous testing of evidence and caution in coming to conclusions when doing historical research. Thanks also to Dr. Walter Wagner of Moravian Theological Seminary and Dr. Peter Pettit, director of the Institute for Jewish Christian Understanding, for their generous gift of time and advice when the results of my research made me fear I was lapsing into heresy.

A special debt of gratitude to fellow Inner Traditions author Steve Sora for his generous advice and, especially, for encouraging my writing and enabling me to believe that I could turn my research into a popular book. Thanks also to the staff at Inner Traditions International for their hard work on my behalf, especially Jon Graham for his enthusiastic support from the beginning, to Jeanie Levitan and Vickie Trihy for their guidance of this project, and to my copy editor, who prefers to remain anonymous, for her astute analysis of my writing and meticulous attention to detail.

I also need to express my gratitude to those scholars and writers who have opened my eyes to astounding new vistas while bravely bucking the tides of scholarly consensus: Michael Baigent, Richard Leigh, and Henry Lincoln (whose work changed my life), Margaret Starbird, Robert Eisenman, Hyam Maccoby, Hugh Schonfield, John Painter, and Richard Bauckham. And to those whose writing and art molded me and inspired me from an early age: Arthur C. Clarke, Stanley Kubrick, Roger Barrett, David Gilmour, Nick Mason, Roger Waters, and Richard Wright.

Finally, a personal note of thanks to Rick Cardona, Dave Cardona, and Randy Overly whose friendship inspired me in ways they cannot imagine. To Deborah Buskirk for her unfailing interest in my work, engaging conversation, and gentle debate throughout our many theological changes over the years. To the Rev. Laura Klick for her personal and pastoral guidance. And, most especially, to my eternal soul matemy wife, Katherine, and our truly wonderful children, Rachel and David, for their unfailing love and for doing without my time and attention (yet again!) while this book was being researched and written.

And, of course, thanksgiving ad majorem Dei gloriamto Messiah Jesus and his brother.