A Teacher of Strange Things

Who Jesus Was, What He Taught, and Why People Still Follow Him

By: Cy Kellett

Narrated by: Cy Kellett

Length: 4 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

We’ve grown way too comfortable with the story of Jesus.

Nice man, right? Taught us to love one another. Said not to judge people. Tragically killed by his enemies. We celebrate his birthday every year. It’s time to put away this small, safe version of Jesus, says Cy Kellett, host of Catholic Answers Live. Nobody that bland could have transformed the world as he did.

In A Teacher of Strange Things, Cy presents Jesus Christ undiluted by sentiment or familiarity, with all his radical words and deeds uncensored. Who was Jesus? What did he claim to be? Why did he captivate his followers and foes alike? Should we separate the “Jesus of history” from the “Jesus of faith”? What did Jesus teach? Did he really say he’s the only way? When he commanded us to love and not to sin, what did that mean? Which doctrines did he take for granted and which did he turn upside down? Why do people still follow him? Where does Jesus still live and teach today? How does Jesus fit in a modern world moving away from God? Is it really possible to be friends with someone who died 2,000 years ago?

Cy takes you on a journey of discovery through these questions and many more, helping you see with fresh eyes the once-familiar Jesus Christ. If you are a seeker, you will rethink everything you took for granted about him. If you are his follower, you will come to love him with new and greater zeal.

©2021 Catholic Answers, Inc. (P)2022 Catholic Answers, Inc.

Wonderful

Cy keys in on several hard Truths taught by Jesus and insists they are taken literally. Jesus wants us to open our hearts to him and only then can we be true disciples. this book is heavily rooted in Scripture and I appreciated many of the insights Cy was able to provide and unique connections he was able to make.

Worthy of your time!

I’ve long been a fan of Catholic Answers, the radio/podcast show, and had heard through it that Cy Kellett had written a book. On the show he’s sort of your affable Everyman, as he interviews famous authors, professors, priests, and apologists. (This is not to disrespect Cy, I think he’s a great host).

Perhaps it was within that context that I was surprised that this book is as insightful and engaging and entertaining as many of the apologists frequently on the show (such as Scott Hahn)!

The book really shines when it breaks down some of the frequent Biblical scenes, and makes you meditate on the context and realize new insights you probably had never considered. It is also, as the title suggests, in highlighting the utter strangeness and uniqueness of Jesus’s teachings that the book serves great service.

While many books are great at giving answers to a set of specific objections to Catholic belief, whether from atheists or Protestants, few books do as well to address the more common problem of the domestication of Jesus, with Jesus just being a “good guy” or a thing to believe in on the level of American pie, the flag, and socio-political traditions.

So, overall, the book is highly recommended and the audio version is well done too!

God bless

Please at least read the first 4 chapters. Christ is Lord! I bought this book for my family as well.

Great!

This short teaching of Christ is perfect! It has helped my understanding and lack of.

Thanks be to God.