Jesus > Religion Why He Is So Much Better Than Trying Harder, Doing More, and Being Good Enough

Jefferson Bethke

eBook - 2013

Abandon dead, dry, religious rule-keeping and embrace the promise of being truly known and deeply loved.Jefferson Bethke burst into the cultural conversation with a passionate, provocative poem titled "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus." The 4-minute video became an overnight sensation, with 7 million YouTube views in its first 48 hours (and 23+ million in a year).Bethke's message clearly struck a chord with believers and nonbelievers alike, triggering an avalanche of responses running the gamut from encouraged to enraged.In his New York Times bestseller Jesus > Religion, Bethke unpacks similar contrasts that he drew in the poem—highlighting the difference between teeth gritting and grace, law and love, performance and... peace, despair, and hope.With refreshing candor, he delves into the motivation behind his message, beginning with the unvarnished tale of his own plunge from the pinnacle of a works-based, fake-smile... more