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Derek Murphy

Derek Murphy

About

Derek Murphy is a writer and artist from Portland,Oregon, whose interest in Christian history began as a theology studenton the Mediterranean island of Malta. His passion for religious historyand existential realization has led him to the ancient megaliths ofEurope, the pyramids of Egypt, the glaciers of the southern tip ofArgentina, the catacombs of Rome, and the ruins Jordan, Cambodia andThailand. He’s now in Taiwan finishing his PhD in Comparative Literature and working on his second book.

A King Under Siege: Book One of The Plantagenet Legacy

A King Under Siege: Book One of The Plantagenet Legacy

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<p>Richard II found himself under siege not once, but twice in his minority. Crowned king at age ten, he was only fourteen when the Peasants' Revolt terrorized London. But he proved himself every bit the Plantagenet successor, facing Wat Tyler and the rebels when all seemed lost. Alas, his triumph was short-lived, and for the next ten years he struggled to assert himself against his uncles and increasingly hostile nobles. Just like in the days of his great-grandfather Edward II, vengeful magnates strove to separate him from his friends and advisors, and even threatened to depose him if he refused to do their bidding. The Lords Appellant, as they came to be known, purged the royal household with the help of the Merciless Parliament. They murdered his closest allies, leaving the King alone and defenseless. He would never forget his humiliation at the hands of his subjects. Richard's inability to protect his adherents would haunt him for the rest of his life, and he vowed that next time, retribution would be his.</p>

Story Behind The Book

The ground-breaking new book Jesus Potter Harry Christ explores the roots of the religious controversy surrounding the Harry Potter series, traces the intriguing similarities between Jesus and Harry, and reveals astonishing secrets of Christian history. How and why Jesus Christ, who is traditionally considered a historical figure, shares anything in common with the modern re-telling of ancient folklore that emerges in the character of Harry Potter, is the basis for this innovative investigation. Jesus Potter Harry Christ is a well-reasoned and meticulously referenced (but not overly academic) treatise on religious history, comparative mythology, astrological symbolism, and contemporary culture that establishes the critical relevancy and importance of the literary Jesus. Rather than another unsupported “Christ-myth” rehash of Zeitgeist material, Jesus Potter Harry Christ traces the roots of the controversy surrounding the historical Jesus and elaborates both sides of the argument, gives clear examples from original sources, refrains from sweeping generalities and conclusions, and focuses on simple, demonstrable truths. Moreover, Jesus Potter Harry Christ provides answers that no other book on the subject has been able to provide: exactly how this transformation from myth to history occurred, why anyone would want to combine Judaism and pagan mythology, how followers of Jesus could believe so fervently in his existence to become martyrs, and how a movement as powerful and long-lasting as Christianity could have begun around a myth.

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Reviews

<strong>“Particularly absorbing and highly topical:</strong> namely, the idea that nothing substantially separates Jesus of Nazareth from Harry Potter except that most human beings believe in the historical reality of the former. Instead, both figures entertain astonishingly parallel personality traits that derive from universal myths. In many ways, the real heart (of the book) seems to be the analysis of early Christianity as being a mystery religion, and, interestingly, one designed to include the Jewish religion within the surrounding Greco-Roman cults. Importantly, the author locates St. Paul’s Letter to the Galatians as the site of “communicative decay that lead to the literalist misinterpretation of the Jesus myth.” As part of the continuing debate over the nature of Christ, not only among Christians but between them and today’s wave of atheist thinkers, Jesus Potter, Harry Christ is timely. Linking this analysis, moreover, to J. K. Rowling’s globally popular character further heightens its relevancy.”<strong> Jeff Crouse, Ph.D – Parmenides publishing</strong> <br /><br /><strong>“Absolutely loved it! </strong>With so much misinformation being disseminated about Jesus Christ, this book was refreshing. Derek pulls from notable and reliable sources to frame his arguments in a way that is both intriguing and satisfying. His insights into the phenomena that captivate the fans of literary characters like Harry Potter and Jesus Christ are extraordinary. To anyone who enjoys a mystery being unraveled, <em>Harry Potter Jesus Christ</em> is a must read.” <strong> Andrea Giffith, The Social I.Q. Lady</strong>