Saving our Lord from the religious God

Die Botschaft vom Reiche Gottes is the representative work of Leonhard Ragaz, one of the most important Swiss modem theologians. Taking the traditional form of Katechismus, this book discusses three questions: First, what is Christianity? Second, what is the original central meaning of the Bible? Third, what kind of messages had Jesus taught in his life and what is the purpose of his teachings? Ragaz's retreatment of those questions composes the framework of this book. In a summary, his conclusive opinion is "das Reich Gottes and God's righteousness not of but for the world", which is the Botschaft of Jesus' teachings and the hidden meaning of the Bible. Ragaz argues that the Bible itself provides supports for this revolutionary conclusion. Besides the emphasis on Botschaft vom Reiche Gottes, this work expresses a critique of Christianity. Ragaz's fundamental theological viewpoint, which embodies profoundly in his book, develops from the distinction of our Lord from the religious God and that of Jesus Christ from the Christian faith.