For Book Clubs—of All Ages and Spiritual Backgrounds

 

The author of YESHU would be happy to have a live chat with a book club…or answer questions in “unreal” time, by email. Contact: ckleymeyer (at) yahoo.com

 

In the meantime, here are some points to ponder:

 

From a historical point of view, who was Yeshu? Where did he come from?

 

Did people in Yeshu’s life anticipate what he would become? Did they consciously try to form or shape him, to guide him toward a goal? What role did women play?

 

Why is it that the women surrounding Yeshu seem to be the ones who most understood his message?

 

Was Yeshu a Christian?

 

Muslims consider Jesus a prophet—should Jews do the same? They have even more claim to him. What would the Buddha have thought about Jesus?

 

Does Daavi ever cease to be a child? What about Shoshana? How did Yeshu allow children to lead him?

 

Was Maria Magdalena a disciple…or a partner…of Yeshu?

 

Does Mama Maria happen to Yeshu…or does Yeshu happen to her? What about Mama Ana? Yosef? Who is the protagonist in this family?

 

Was the manner in which Yeshu died a lesson to the world?

 

The Christian world often focuses on the death of Jesus and the meaning of that death for Christians. What might Yeshu have thought about this if he were writing his own obituary? How would he have wished to be remembered?

 

Think about the bird images in the novel. What role do they play?

 

Consider the many images of water, especially living water. Don’t forget the various forms water takes, whether fog, clouds, storms and rain showers, sweat, ice…

 

Are the Torah and the Bible rooted deeply in the natural world and devoted to its salvation and care? Or is nature merely a backdrop (or backyard) for the drama of the human heart and soul?

 

The thoughts and actions of many people on earth seem grounded in an implicit belief that there is a dichotomy between the human soul and the environment in which humanity lives and dies. What about you? Where does your world and the world outside begin and end?

 

Did God/a Higher Power give humans dominion over nature? Or responsibility for being nature’s stewards? Or something entirely different…

 

How are good stewards like servants? How are bad masters like prisoners?

 

Lots of folks describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. Thoughts?

 

How and why do religions rule people out or invite them in?

 

Of what use are "clowns of God?"

 

How is humor used in YESHU? By YESHU himself?

 

How can God reside in the mouth of the wolf?

 

If you see the face of God, will you be afraid?