Rating: 
Summary: Throwing Christ to the Christians
Review: "Louis N. Gruber, MD," we are told about its author on the back cover of this book, "is a psychiatrist practicing in a state mental health system." We're also told he's "a communicant of the Episcopal Church." So the author is a psychiatrist working in a state mental health system who believes in Jesus. That convergence is enough to explain the story line of Jay: A Spiritual Fantasy. Suppose a man comes to you and tells you that he's Jesus Christ, returned to earth. How would you know that he's not a mental patient ... or should be? That's the thought experiment that Dr. Gruber sets before us. If the man's teachings appear at variance with the orthodox interpretations of the gospels, do we then regard him as a demon meant to draw Christians away from the real, historical Christ? Is the man's refusal to endorse any religion, or condemn any, to be taken as heretical to Christian theology and undermining preaching the gospel? What if he includes a homosexual in his circle of close followers? Does loving all mankind mean that you actually have to tolerate them? What if Jesus came back and you didn't recognize him or, worse, that you didn't like him or agree with him? Is Jesus only Jesus if he's safely in Heaven and not in your face, if he shows up in slacks and an open shirt on your favorite TV talk show? Do you turn ice cream into the stuff of communion because it's pretty much all he eats? How would you choose if he could cure the sick and walk on water, but your church condemned him as a fraud because he told his followers not to pray in words but in silent meditation? This delightful short novel is full of provocative questions for Christians who aren't afraid that provocative questioning is damaging to their faith. reviewed by J. Neil Schulman,
author, Escape from Heaven
Rating: 
Summary: QUESTIONS
Review: About ten days ago I started to read a new book I just received in the mail. It was a gift from Dr. Gruber and it was autographed by him as well. It was a book called "Jay: A Spiritual Fantasy" by Dr. Louis Gruber. This is his second book as far as know. I have not read the first one yet. Well, give time and I will. I slowly opened it up and three pages later I knew it was not a book just for reading. It was a thinking book. Any regular book works as a monologue. The author talks to you through the book. He tells you what he thinks about and you don't get to respond. You cannot agree or disagree. This book was different. This book was a dialogue. Questions were asked and answers were given. My questions were answered even before I asked them and I was at peace. I believe that I recognized the good doctor there. I think this book is a result of a debate in Dr. Gruber's mind. He was one of the characters. Which one? You read it and find it for yourselves.
Rating:
Summary: QUESTIONS
Review: About ten days ago I started to read a new book I just received in the mail. It was a gift from Dr. Gruber and it was autographed by him as well. It was a book called "Jay: A Spiritual Fantasy" by Dr. Louis Gruber. This is his second book as far as know. I have not read the first one yet. Well, give time and I will. I slowly opened it up and three pages later I knew it was not a book just for reading. It was a thinking book. Any regular book works as a monologue. The author talks to you through the book. He tells you what he thinks about and you don't get to respond. You cannot agree or disagree. This book was different. This book was a dialogue. Questions were asked and answers were given. My questions were answered even before I asked them and I was at peace. I believe that I recognized the good doctor there. I think this book is a result of a debate in Dr. Gruber's mind. He was one of the characters. Which one? You read it and find it for yourselves.
Rating:
Summary: Be Prepared To Think
Review: Christianity is predicated upon the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is the hallmark of several faiths, the subject of countless sermons. But what would happen if Christ returned to our hopelessly divided society as a quiet, softspoken man? Louis N. Gruber provides an intriguing answer to this question in his novel, JAY: A SPIRITUAL FANTASY. Suffice it to say that today's theological world is as intolerant and inflexible as the scowling Pharises of 2,000 years ago. Gruber explores this intolerance in his book. When Jay Sonneman calls together a diverse group of clergy to preach love and inclusion--of all faiths, lifestyles, viewpoints--the religious "establishment" is shook to its very foundation. How could this man be tolerant of any faith other than Christianity? How dare he reach out to gays? To not condemn sin strongly enough? How dare he minimalize the many denominations that worship in his name? And the stage is set, history is repeated. Persecution: of Jay, and his followers. This book is unique; it reads more like a dialogue between Jay and his followers, less like a conventional novel. That, I think, was the author's intent. There is little character development, and Gruber should work on weaving more detail into his writing. That said, JAY: A SPIRITUAL FANTASY is recommended for its ability to move the reader to think. I give five stars for the story, three for the writing.
Rating:
Summary: Be Prepared To Think
Review: Christianity is predicated upon the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. It is the hallmark of several faiths, the subject of countless sermons. But what would happen if Christ returned to our hopelessly divided society as a quiet, softspoken man? Louis N. Gruber provides an intriguing answer to this question in his novel, JAY: A SPIRITUAL FANTASY. Suffice it to say that today's theological world is as intolerant and inflexible as the scowling Pharises of 2,000 years ago. Gruber explores this intolerance in his book. When Jay Sonneman calls together a diverse group of clergy to preach love and inclusion--of all faiths, lifestyles, viewpoints--the religious "establishment" is shook to its very foundation. How could this man be tolerant of any faith other than Christianity? How dare he reach out to gays? To not condemn sin strongly enough? How dare he minimalize the many denominations that worship in his name? And the stage is set, history is repeated. Persecution: of Jay, and his followers. This book is unique; it reads more like a dialogue between Jay and his followers, less like a conventional novel. That, I think, was the author's intent. There is little character development, and Gruber should work on weaving more detail into his writing. That said, JAY: A SPIRITUAL FANTASY is recommended for its ability to move the reader to think. I give five stars for the story, three for the writing.
Rating:
Summary: would the 'real' Jesus please stand up?
Review: If Jesus came back in the flesh today, do you think you would be able to recognize him? Would you be surprised to see him wearing contemporary clothes, eating ice cream and cracking jokes with his friends, who call him Jay? Would you devise a list of questions to test his validity, then become thoroughly frustrated when he dismisses your questions as unimportant? Would you risk losing your credibility, career, friends, and maybe even your life, to follow this enigmatic "savior"? Louis Gruber has masterfully painted a picture of a world so obsessed with denominations, rules, regulations and theology that they have somehow forgotten the humanity of Jesus. (Funny, I thought this was supposed to be fiction...) With a large cast of characters, Gruber focuses more on dialogue than individual character development. While our knowledge of the characters within the story is somewhat superficial, you will be amazed at how often you will find yourself and the people you know in the crowd of Jay's followers and critics. Get ready to think, and maybe shed some scales along the way. Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory
Rating:
Summary: would the 'real' Jesus please stand up?
Review: If Jesus came back in the flesh today, do you think you would be able to recognize him? Would you be surprised to see him wearing contemporary clothes, eating ice cream and cracking jokes with his friends, who call him Jay? Would you devise a list of questions to test his validity, then become thoroughly frustrated when he dismisses your questions as unimportant? Would you risk losing your credibility, career, friends, and maybe even your life, to follow this enigmatic "savior"? Louis Gruber has masterfully painted a picture of a world so obsessed with denominations, rules, regulations and theology that they have somehow forgotten the humanity of Jesus. (Funny, I thought this was supposed to be fiction...) With a large cast of characters, Gruber focuses more on dialogue than individual character development. While our knowledge of the characters within the story is somewhat superficial, you will be amazed at how often you will find yourself and the people you know in the crowd of Jay's followers and critics. Get ready to think, and maybe shed some scales along the way. Larry Hehn, author of Get the Prize: Nine Keys for a Life of Victory
Rating:
Summary: Compels one's attention and won't let go
Review: Jay: A Spiritual Fantasy by educator and psychiatrist Louis Gruber is an intriguing novel founded upon the personality of Jesus and the nature of his teachings. A master storyteller raised in the Jewish faith who converted to Christianity upon adulthood, Jay: Gruber's A Spiritual Fantasy draws upon a wide range of sources to present a an intriguing work of fiction that compels one's attention and won't let go. A fascinating literary fiction showcasing the human nature of Jesus Christ.
Rating: 
Summary: An easy but thought-provoking story
Review: Louis N. Gruber's novel asks one important question: If Jesus came back, would you believe? What makes this question so difficult to answer is the fact that Gruber's version of Jesus wears a suit and eats ice cream -- no robes and sandals for this guy! So is this modern-day Jesus for real or just another crazy guy claiming he is? Read along to find out! Jay: A Spiritual Fantasy is a very quick read and displays Jesus, his personality, and his teachings as the author perceives them. A very imaginative work that poses thought-provoking questions about religion, prayer, sin, healing, miracles and faith. Short and to the point, this novel is mostly made up of dialogue -- description-lovers, beware! However, if you like to read stories that are quick, light and different, I would suggest this one with confidence. I would be interested in reading a second book by this author.
Rating:
Summary: An easy but thought-provoking story
Review: Louis N. Gruber's novel asks one important question: If Jesus came back, would you believe? What makes this question so difficult to answer is the fact that Gruber's version of Jesus wears a suit and eats ice cream -- no robes and sandals for this guy! So is this modern-day Jesus for real or just another crazy guy claiming he is? Read along to find out! Jay: A Spiritual Fantasy is a very quick read and displays Jesus, his personality, and his teachings as the author perceives them. A very imaginative work that poses thought-provoking questions about religion, prayer, sin, healing, miracles and faith. Short and to the point, this novel is mostly made up of dialogue -- description-lovers, beware! However, if you like to read stories that are quick, light and different, I would suggest this one with confidence. I would be interested in reading a second book by this author.
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