Overview

""For anyone healing from fundamentalism, this book feels like freedom."" -Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward A story for those done with church, but not spirituality. Raised in a world of rules and shame, Jesus has always questioned what others accept. He's sharp, restless, and tired of being told who he's allowed to be. When his defiance finally erupts in a clash with the rabbi who trained him, he is forced to leave his home behind. Angry and unmoored, he wanders the ancient world in search of a new beginning-stumbling instead into a journey that will overturn everything he was taught to believe. His path leads him east, into a remote Buddhist monastery tucked in the mountains. There, as he faces the voices of shame and fear within him, he begins to unlearn the stories that once held him captive and to imagine a freer, more compassionate way of being. Metta Valley Gospel is a work of literary, philosophical, and historical fiction about Jesus-an engaging, imaginative retelling for anyone healing from fundamentalism or reconstructing their spirituality. Perfect for fans of The Book of Longings, The Alchemist, Lamb, and other character-driven, historical and spiritual fiction. More early praise: ""Helton's engaging adaptation of Jesus's story... opens the imagination to the depths of our shared histories."" -Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life ""Not since Christopher Moore's Lamb has there been a fictionalized retelling of the Jesus story that had this much imagination, style, and punch."" -Rev. Dr. John R. Mabry, author of The Worship of Mystery If you're ready for the Jesus story they never taught in Sunday School, this is a good place to start.

Full Product Details

9798992864946

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Reviews

""Helton's engaging adaptation of Jesus's story, 'The Metta Valley Gospel, ' opens the imagination to the depths of our shared histories, emphasizing the interconnected and universal nature of wisdom and compassion."" -Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life ""Zachary has given us a story that dares to imagine Jesus-not as a distant, dogmatic figure-but as a wounded and curious human. Metta Valley Gospel goes beyond narratives of control and fear, instead offering a compassionate vision wide enough to hold all our doubts and longings. For anyone healing from fundamentalism, this book feels like freedom."" -Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward: How to Raise Children with Justice, Mercy, and Kindness ""Not since Christopher Moore's Lamb has there been a fictionalized retelling of the Jesus story that had this much imagination, style, and punch. Metta Valley Gospel asks profound questions (""What if Jesus' genius was the result of spiritual abuse?"") while at the same time telling a rip-roaring story about a young Jesus trying to find himself...and his calling. Metta Valley Gospel is the most fun you can have with Jesus outside the monastery. Don't miss it."" -Rev. Dr. John R. Mabry, author of the award-winning novel The Worship of Mystery, and Growing Into God: A Beginner's Guide to Christian Mysticism.

Author Information

Zachary Helton is an author and board-certified spiritual care counselor whose work speaks to exvangelicals, mystics, and seekers reimagining their relationship to the sacred. A former pastor raised in evangelicalism, he now writes stories and reflections that blend emotional depth, spiritual insight, and narrative craft. His debut novel, Metta Valley Gospel, reimagines the Jesus story through the lens of healing, liberation, and interspiritual wisdom. His work has appeared in Braided Way, Flash Fiction Magazine, Baptist News Global, and Nurturing Faith. He lives with his partner, two kids, and the world's cutest Cavapoo-and when he's not writing, he's probably getting way too into a new series or re-reading something by Thich Nhat Hanh.

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