Rating: 
Summary: A Synthesis of Mysticism
Review: Andrew Harvey has been able to synthesize all that I have been researching for the past year. My journey has taken me to the writings of Merton, M. Basil Pennington, Theophan, Keating, Thomas a' Kempis and books about Francis of Assisi. Suddenly, in one rich tome, Harvey brings together an entire years worth of information between the covers of a single book! Those who dismiss this book out right are either uncomfortable with the author's life-style or too terrible rigid in their dogma. For those interested in the mystical aspect of Christianity, this book is a must read. Going into any reading experience thinking you will agree with everything the author says will always lead to disappointment. Go into it, instead, for what you can glean out of it.
Rating:
Summary: Mystical Christ
Review: Andrew Harvey is an excellent writer who has covered everything from outposts of Buddhism in Ladakh to transalations of the Sufi genius Rumi. In this book,which arches at being a modern version of The imitation of Christ,he puts forth of image of Jesus as THE mystic,the Alpha and Omega of existence.It succeeds much of the time.The historical Jesus presented is lacking somewhat, though the book picks up in part 2, the mystical Christ. Some people,especially those of a literal bent, wuould be slightly put off in the section Christ and the sacred feminine.The final section of the book, The Direct Path to Christ is a series of meditations and "exercises",which are worth the price of the book alone.Mr. Harvey believes that we need no intermediaries between us and God, and that Jesus shows us this way. The traditional harrangue against Christianity is softened by Mr. Harvey's genuine passionate love of Christ. There are lovely phtographs by Eryk Hanut throughout, which actually enchance the pleasure of this book. Not an easy read,{Mr. Harvey rarely is}, this is a book menat to be read and taken slowly, to draw deeply from this source. This book is quite beautiful, and is and important addition to any spiritual library. This is an important and wonder-filled book, and is hugely recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Son of Man
Review: Andrew Harveys new book Son of Man is a masterpiece, for years I have been reading books on Christ, but this book tells us all how we can live as Christ did. Written so all can understand, Harvery doesnt waste our time with words and ideas that are to far off to understand. His thoughts and ideas are very close to the Unity Church. A must read for all who know that Christ lives within all of us.
Rating: 
Summary: love
Review: Christ is represented in Son of Man as an anarchist, a revolutionary, and the human embodiment of unconditional love. No dogma, no church heirarchy, no fanatical fundamentalism. But radical self honesty and spiritual evolution that requires conviction, commitment, and work. This book presents a nice mix of Orthodox and Gnostic wisdom and frames it in the context of universal love.
Rating:
Summary: Christ Consciousness IS possible!
Review: Harvey has produced a wonderful book that shows Jesus HAS a relevance to today's society. Like Patton's "THE Autobiography", we are presented with a figure that is without all the religious hyperbole that followed and still mires the Church's presentation of this Ascended Master. Thank you Harvey and Patton. I now know spirit is a real element in my daily life. May many other authors follow your example.
Rating: 
Summary: A contradictory Son of Man, as divine as the Son of God
Review: Harvey's purpose in this book is to offer a model for "the authentic full-grown Christ-consciousness" which he believes has been obscured for two millennia by a Christianity "full of weakness and mistakes and not a full-grown Christianity springing from the spirit of Jesus". The first part -"The Historical Christ"- is an historical introduction to this essentially mystical book, to which Harvey brings his well-known passion, enthusiasm, ecstatic vision and exalted language. Unfortunately, these qualities that serve him so well in his mystical writings can hardly replace a rigorous historical methodology which is lacking in his analysis of the Historical Christ. Harvey is essentially a mystic, not an historian, and he allows himself a large margin of liberty to manipulate the historical evidence to fit his mystical purposes. "The Historical Christ" reads more like a mystical exaltation than an historical account. On the first reading one may be overwhelmed by Harvey's ecstatic language, but a second careful reading reveals a sea of contradictions, distortions and misrepresentations. Although he recognizes that "many comforting myths have to be surrendered, along with the belief in the total veracity of the Gospels themselves", Harvey is not willing to let go of those central myths of traditional Christianity that he finds comforting to his own speculations. His human Son of Man turns out to be as infallible as the divine Son of God, and his interpretation of Jesus' sacrifice is hardly reconcilable with his own interpretation of Jesus' original teachings. As a result, Harvey's new model suffers from the same flaws and contradictions that have afflicted two millennia of Christianity and cannot possibly fulfill the promise of "a full-grown Christianity springing from the spirit of Jesus". This book may well be a source of inspiration for those who are mainly interested in the mystical aspects of Christ and can be commended for some inspiring interpretations of Jesus' original teachings. However, because of Harvey's mystical bias and the negligent manner in which he refers to historical evidence as well as his apparent indifference to the logical implications of his exalted statements, it cannot be considered a serious study of the historical Jesus. For a detailed review with concrete examples of Harvey's errors and contradictions, link to members.aol.com/adarec/sonofman.htm or email adarec@yahoo.com.
Rating:
Summary: A contradictory Son of Man, as divine as the Son of God
Review: Harvey's purpose in this book is to offer a model for "the authentic full-grown Christ-consciousness" which he believes has been obscured for two millennia by a Christianity "full of weakness and mistakes and not a full-grown Christianity springing from the spirit of Jesus". The first part -"The Historical Christ"- is an historical introduction to this essentially mystical book, to which Harvey brings his well-known passion, enthusiasm, ecstatic vision and exalted language. Unfortunately, these qualities that serve him so well in his mystical writings can hardly replace a rigorous historical methodology which is lacking in his analysis of the Historical Christ. Harvey is essentially a mystic, not an historian, and he allows himself a large margin of liberty to manipulate the historical evidence to fit his mystical purposes. "The Historical Christ" reads more like a mystical exaltation than an historical account. On the first reading one may be overwhelmed by Harvey's ecstatic language, but a second careful reading reveals a sea of contradictions, distortions and misrepresentations. Although he recognizes that "many comforting myths have to be surrendered, along with the belief in the total veracity of the Gospels themselves", Harvey is not willing to let go of those central myths of traditional Christianity that he finds comforting to his own speculations. His human Son of Man turns out to be as infallible as the divine Son of God, and his interpretation of Jesus' sacrifice is hardly reconcilable with his own interpretation of Jesus' original teachings. As a result, Harvey's new model suffers from the same flaws and contradictions that have afflicted two millennia of Christianity and cannot possibly fulfill the promise of "a full-grown Christianity springing from the spirit of Jesus". This book may well be a source of inspiration for those who are mainly interested in the mystical aspects of Christ and can be commended for some inspiring interpretations of Jesus' original teachings. However, because of Harvey's mystical bias and the negligent manner in which he refers to historical evidence as well as his apparent indifference to the logical implications of his exalted statements, it cannot be considered a serious study of the historical Jesus. For a detailed review with concrete examples of Harvey's errors and contradictions, link to members.aol.com/adarec/sonofman.htm or email adarec@yahoo.com.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing
Review: I found A.Harvey presentation refreshing and presented some areas for reflection. I do not believe he moves beyond the modern scholarship nor radical as some might first interpret.His interpretation of the parables are not radical, but more clearer in modern thinking, at least for some to accept. He certainly inspires a person to relect or challenge their participation in THE KINGDOM of GOD in relation to the world as we find it today and it's needs.
Rating:
Summary: in all fairness
Review: I have not read this book, but I have read his others, and they are wonderful. I also had the chance to hear him speak in Nebraska at a church, and he was amazing. The Jesus I know stirred people up so much that he was crucified. Anyone who doesn't do the same with those who are complacent, is selling a Hallmark card Jesus. Harvey calls us to know that the Jesus of the beatitudes was not saying what new age egos want to hear. It is a hard message, and there is no better message than how radically the heart of Jesus is calling us to love. Read anything he writes!
Rating: 
Summary: Interesting but bias
Review: I listened to the audio version of this book and so had the opportunity to hear the author read his own work. Andrew Harvey is an extremely passionate and learned man. His insights into the subject of Jesus, both Historical and biblical are fascinating. I would definately recommend this book if you are interested in a different viewpoint on Jesus. Having said that that though, I did find, (as some of the other reviewers did as well) that Andrew Harvey's view of the story was simply another form of fundamentalism; albeit fundamentalism from a mystical stand point. Harvey continually points out that the feminine aspect of the Christ consciousness are completely dismissed by the traditional view of the Church. I agree. However, Harvey completely dismisses the Masculine aspect of the Divine and in fact Harvey goes as far as suggesting that all evil and darkness are in fact masculine. He makes the claim that without bonding to the feminine, that the masculine is just chaos and darkness. Again, I agree with him on this point, however if that in fact is true then the converse of that must also be true. The feminine would be incomplete and chaotic without it's polar opposite. Andrew Harvey may agree with me on that topic but there is no evidence within his writings to suggest that he does. He tirades against patriarchal society and the suppression of women as a divine force. I think he's right. Conventional religion has long denied that the feminine energy of the Divine was equally important as the masculine. Harvey seems to suggest that a matriarchy would be flawless and without the same problems as a patriarchy. The book is really worth reading for it's refreshing and interesting view of the traditional story of Christ. But Harvey is as intolerant of the masculine as the traditionalists are of the feminine. This is just another vew of the story. It should be read with an open mind and with the understanding that it is as bias as the traditional version.
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