Outline for Upcoming Ep: Jesus - A Life in Class Conflict

(Lmk what you think about this as a patreon offering in the comments please. Is seeing the outline of an upcoming episode interesting / worthwhile to you?)

Context and Methodology:

- This is a work of Marxist historical materialism, as you say in the introduction of the text. Our audience will certainly be familiar with historical and dialectical materialism, but for those who are still learning: Can you remind us what historical materialism is, why you applied it to the life and story of Jesus Christ, and why its important to reject the Great Man Theory of history as Historical Materialists?

- Given this is a work of historical materialism, it is obviously important to try and grasp Jesus as an actually existing historical figure, which in itself can be difficult and even controversial. So, did he even exist (some atheists claim he didn’t), and how do we know?

o The gospels play an essential part in trying to understand the life of jesus, but they themselves have inconsistencies, were written by different people at different times, rely on different sources, etc. So how should we understand and relate to the gospels as sources of historical events, and what important differences exist between the gospels and their authors (especially Mark vs. Luke and Matthew vs. John / Synoptics v. John)?

Jesus, His Movement, and First Century Palestine:

- What mode of production existed in Jesus’ time, what were the major classes, the dominate political structures, and how was class conflict manifesting at this time?

- Can you talk about Jesus’ childhood and the context into which he was born and raised and how that shaped him?

- In chapter three you focus on John the Baptist as a famous millenarian figure and sort of ideological mentor. Who was John the Baptist, and what role did he play in the life of Jesus?

- In the book you argue: “for a first century non-elite Jew like Jesus, there were two obvious and related options available for framing or interpreting social, economic, and political discontent and antagonism is rural Galilee: Jewish Millenarianism and Banditry”. Can you tell us what those terms mean, how they related to one another, and then tell us how Jesus was a “revolutionary millenarian”?

- Can you talk about the Jesus Movement (which you refer to as vanguard party of sorts in your book), its revolutionary as well as its reactionary aspects, and what its aims and tactics were?

- In chapter 9, “Passover in Jerusalem”, you talk about entering Jerusalem, the temple, the Last Supper, and the “defection of a comrade” referring to Judas. Can you talk about these events and summarize this part of the story?

- All of this inevitably resulted in a brutal crackdown on the Jesus Movement and the eventual crucifixion of Jesus. Can you talk about Jesus’ crucifixion and martyrdom, what happened after, and how the movement evolved after Jesus’ death?

- What is the ultimate legacy of Jesus and the Jesus Movement and how has it shaped the world that we live in today?