When Jesus Came to Harvard: Making Moral Choices Today

In the Boston area at least, many people are reading Harvey Cox's WHEN JESUS CAME TO HARVARD. Cox is a familiar name in the religious circles in the area, and his book is a great read. With this book we get the level of scholarship one should expect from a professor at Harvard, the insights of a gifted teacher who engages students and shares some of their reflections and insights, and a very readable book that proves what so many already know, the message of Jesus Christ is always relevant and has something to say for our world today. Cox did not intend to ever write such a book. He was asked to teach an undergraduate course at Harvard a number of years ago on the moral teachings of Jesus Christ. The university was concerned that while it was preparing the world's future leaders, it did little to shape moral education and began requiring at least one semester in ethics. The university in its wisdom decided that Jesus should be included as well, which caught many at this bastion of secularity by surprise. It also asked Harvey Cox to be the instructor. Cox was reluctant, but agreed and it has since become one of the university's most popular classes. This work is basically a summary of the course and the story of the class itself. Cox's basic stand in the book is that the moral teachings of Jesus Christ are similar in many ways to other moral teachings and one can find common ground in the teachings of Jesus Christ without being a believer. He also stresses Jesus' Jewishness and how he was similar to a rabbi of his day which is not original to Cox, but he is able to stress his being a rabbi in a manner that is respectful to Judaism while at the same time acknowledges Jesus' unique role. The book does not give easy answers to the most pressing moral issues of our day, but can help us try to imagine a response that would be the response of Jesus if he lived today. We also see how the course challenged Cox's faith. At first he had decided he would avoid potentially controversial situations such as the resurrection, believing that this is a matter of faith and not objective study. He also believed that in doing so he was being respectful of those who are not Christians. He discovered that one cannot disconnect the faith aspect of Jesus Christ and his teachings. While he did not set out to "convert" any of his non-Christian students, his looking at the faith aspect seems to have strengthened his own faith. I do know some of Professor Cox's former students. One jokingly complained at the time that THE SECULAR CITY was published that the book contained insights derived from Cox's classes including one he enrolled in, but he was not getting any royalties from the book. After reading WHEN JESUS CAME TO HARVARD, he made the same claim again. He also purchased a number of copies of the book and gave them as gifts to friends. For people of faith this book offers the challenge to live Jesus' moral teachings, and for people who are not Christian, the book d

I approached this book with some suspicion, since I'm not a traditional Christian and not quite open to unfounded beliefs. However, Cox uses his experience as a professor to write a script that anyone can play out. It doesn't force Cox's or Christianity's view of life upon you, but rather opens the door for Christians to start using their minds and non-Christians to look for some non-scientific guidance. It isn't a fundamentalist Christian novel, and you might be offended if you are a literalist (whom he openly refutes). Also, Cox tends to get off-topic quite sometimes (I'm not sure why I read the chapter on alternative medicine). Those looking for a spiritual guide, a devotional, or a refutation of modern or traditional Christianity will not find it. However, this book provides a useful look at a way of looking upon religion and ethics that fuses humanism with deism, that allows us to be free but grounded morally. It's not the end-all, but it certainly is an interesting way to look at things.

Based upon his Harvard course called "Jesus and the Moral Life," Harvey Cox allows the reader into his struggles with making Jesus' teachings applicable in the here and now, a world much different than that of Jesus a couple thousand years ago. This book is intended for anyone dissatisfied with moralistic fundamentalism as well as "do your own thing" relativism. There is no sense of elitism in Cox; rather, he admittedly struggles over what many passages mean, illustrates an open minded give-and-take with his students, and offers alternative interpretations to many of the Gospels. His most important conclusion is to understand that Jesus was a Rabbi, and was a master of the respected rabbinic practice of "midrash"--of imagining what is not explicit. This method of imaginitive exposition frequently relies on analogies, and it's purpose is to be an instrument for imparting contemporary relevance to biblical events. Cox tackles a breadth of tough issues, from the embarrassment or resentment people have about money, to what it means to love one's enemy. In the end, Cox calls for new spirituality to link the spirit to action, prompted by his perception that students today are lacking the "fire in the belly." Referencing great Christian leaders of the recent past like Martin Luther King, Cox states there was a "tone" in religion then, "an idealism in Christianity that linked Jesus' concerns for the poor and the outcasts of society to social action." This is a thought-provoking work that is highly recommended. While Cox does not force his views upon anyone, he will make everyone think about what the Gospels mean today.

This is both the most provocative and most powerful book I have read about Jesus in a long time. It's both a great relief and a joy to immerse oneself in this story - in the midst of a culture that makes the following of Jesus seem either really stupid or far too facile. Cox's fine writing, stellar knowledge of Judaism, good humor, and personal honesty are the gifts here.

I consider Harvey Cox to be one of my mentors. In this book, he picks up a theme from his earlier work: "Imagination" (Feast of Fools) and leads the reader along with his students and others in a welcome encounter with Jesus the Rabbi. I actually felt as if I were in the classroom or on the campus with Professor Cox and his students, joining in the ongoing response to the "parable" of Jesus' life. Jesus now "belongs to the world," Cox writes, and this book goes a long way toward helping us all sort through contemporary stories about Jesus, whether "toxic" or "salutary." Jesus lives!