The Holy Conspiracy
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Erased and forgotten—the remarkable story about how Jesus's brother Yakov led the disciples in a bitter battle of faith against the Apostle Paul, and how it changed Christianity forever.
Haunted by the brutal execution of Jesus, his brother Yakov is desperately trying to piece together the fragments of his broken life. Dwelling in constant fear of persecution, he cowers in lakeside Galilee where the Romans rule with bloodstained hands. When the other disciples elect him as their new leader, Yakov refuses at first. He has no desire to put his life at further risk. Until Mary Magdalen suggests that they form a secret society in the shadows of the Jerusalem Temple, and Yakov reluctantly agrees.
Shortly after their move to Judea, an affluent tentmaker from Tarsus named Saul approaches Yakov with a wild tale that Jesus has risen from the dead as the long-awaited Messiah. The disciples protest: their beloved teacher Jesus was a humble man, not a god. And they witnessed his execution, they even entombed his body. But Saul just scoffs at their objections and insists that only his version of Jesus as the Savior is true. Now Yakov, Mary Magdalen, and the others must fight to keep Jesus's credo of oneness with God alive. But how can these poor, uneducated disciples stand victorious in an arena of treachery and deceit, where the rich and powerful always prevail?
Spanning three decades, against a backdrop of increasingly violent Roman rule, THE HOLY CONSPIRACY is a tour de force of love and faith, arrogance and humility from one of our most inspirational new authors.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
This gratifying tale from Duarte (The Transmigrant) explores what life was like for Jesus' disciples after his crucifixion. Six months after Yeshua's death, his brother, Yakov, has been selected as the next leader of the burgeoning spiritual movement started by Yeshua. While Mariamne, Yeshua's wife, claims to have been visited by Yeshua after death, the rest of the disciples believe him to be dead. As it becomes harder for the disciples to remain in Galilee undetected by the Romans, most move to Judea, hoping to blend in there. Over years, they begin secretly meeting and sharing Yeshua's message with others, but they become split upon arrival of Saul, who claims to have met Yeshua on the road to Damascus. As Saul continues to give sermons and gain followers, his interpretation of Yakov's message (which focuses on a savior figure) diverges from and becomes more popular than the message Yakov's disciples are trying to spread. In the end, Yakov realizes Yeshua's idea that "we'll all be released from the bitterness of this world and unite with God" when he faces the same fate at the hands of the Romans. This intriguing reinterpretation of the New Testament makes for an enjoyable unraveling of the traditional narrative of the Gospels and ancient Judean spiritual politics. Mesu Andrews fans will want to take a look. (Self-published)
