A fictional religious history of the relationship between Jesus of Nazareth, Caiaphas of Jerusalem, and Mary Magdalene Synopsis of Jesus: A Would Be King In the first century of the common era, two families, inextricably entwined, would shape the course of history. Their quest for power set them on a collision path that shook an empire to its core, altered a thousand year old religious tradition culminating in the destruction of its Temple and ending the sacrificial system, and initiating a redefined expectation that conquered western civilization and dominates religious understanding to this day. Caiaphas instigated and complied with the process that climaxed in the death of Jesus of Nazareth for sedition. His brother-in-law ordered the stoning death of James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus. Jews and Romans continued to harass Jesus' family members, leaders of the nascent "Christian" movement in Jerusalem, into the early second century. Probable casualties included a wife institutional Christianity maligned, a son second century followers of Jesus refused to acknowledge, brothers whose important roles were greatly diminished and marginalized, a mother whose reputation was reclaimed with mythological make over, and a Jewish interpretation of Jesus and his ministry distorted and demonized by secondary, Hellenistic interpreters. Galilee and Jerusalem. Prophetic call to social justice and entrenched religious institutional self-preservation. The reign of Yahweh and the reign of Caesar. The son of Yahweh and the filius deus. Moschiach and High Priest. Life and death.
About the Author: Harold E. Littleton, Jr. (b. May 4, 1941) grew up in Hartsville, South Carolina. Older of two children (sister Penny), his parents imbued in him a commitment to public service and social responsibility through their careers of education and health care. An eager involvement in Scouting, becoming an Eagle Scout at age 14 and serving on summer camp staffs for ten years, he developed a deep love and appreciation for the natural environment and the value of its preservation. Encouraged by his grandfather and mother, he began a lifetime passion for baseball and fanatic support of the Brooklyn Dodgers until they moved to the west coast. High school baseball was his sport, first base his position. After graduating from Clemson College in 1963 with a major in English, he married his high school sweetheart, Stella Price, and entered Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary when it was still a good school--fostered academic freedom and intellectual integrity. Building on the social inconsistencies and racial discrimination he witnessed growing up in a small southern town, he participated in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, befriended Harvey Gantt in the desegregation of Clemson, and marched in Memphis. While earning a MA and PhD from Vanderbilt University, he studied with Leander Keck, now retired Dean of Divinity School at Yale and Robert Funk, founder of Weststar and the Jesus Seminar. Littleton's teaching career includes time at Meredith College in Raleigh, NC, UNC-Charlotte, Mars Hill College, UNC-Asheville, and Western Carolina University. He is currently Adjunct Professor in the Department of Religious Studies at Gardner Webb University in NC. Volunteering in a variety of community non-profit organizations, interfaith discussion and study, reading, hiking, camping, occasional flyfishing, and time with grandchildren are some of the ways he spends his time. Two daughters (and two sons-in-law) and four grandchildren (Zachary, Aidan, Isabel, and Samuel) are deeply prized treasures! Jesus: A Would Be King is Littleton's first novel (religious, historical fiction) in a proposed trilogy that will focus on New Testament characters using recent archaeological discoveries and scholarship.