The Searchers : A Quest for Faith in the Valley of Doubt

Never before had they known such hope. In a world drenched in violence and oppression, here was a man armed with a message of peace and freedom. Into lives nearly overwhelmed by grief and sorrow, he brought compassion and healing and the deepest joy. To people who felt like outcasts and aliens, he showed the way home. And then, in one devastating night, all their hopes collapsed. This is where our story begins -- in the valley of despair. It is a tale of two friends, a stranger, and a search for truth in a world gone mad with doubt. Historian Joseph Loconte unlocks the meaning of their exchange, set in the chaotic days following the execution of Jesus of Nazareth. Drawing from literature, film, philosophy, history, and politics, Loconte shows how this biblical drama is an integral part of our own story. Sooner or later, we will find ourselves among the searchers. - Publisher. Historian and journalist Joseph Loconte examines the role of religion in contemporary society against the ancient dialogue overheard on the road to Emmaus in Luke's gospel. Every human heart has a natural longing for "home," and these witnesses to the life and death of Jesus of Nazareth serve as a rich example of that universal yearning. Along the way, Loconte scrutinizes not only the challenges posed by popular skeptics, but also those created by counterfeit religion. Whether Christian or Muslim, priestly sex scandals or Islamic "honor killings," Loconte takes a sober look at the failings of those who claim God is on their side. The author never loses sight, however, of the profound influence that an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ can have on individuals and society. Ultimately, readers will see how the human desire for meaning, purpose, and love can lead us to our true home. There are still reasons to believe, reasons embedded in a remarkable conversation on the road to Emmaus. Examines One Of The Passages Of Scripture, An Exchange In The Gospel Of Luke Between Two Disciples Of Jesus Of Nazareth--uttered Just Days After His Execution--about The Longings Of The Human Heart And The Mysterious Purposes Of God. Things Seen And Unseen -- A Grief Observed -- The Poison Of Religion -- The End Of Illusions -- Rumors Of Angels -- A Divine Conspiracy -- Our Inconsolable Secret -- Myth Becomes Fact -- The Road Home. Joseph Loconte. Includes Bibliographical References. Scholar Joseph Loconte examines one of the most remarkable passages of Scripture, an exchange in the gospel of Luke between two disciples of Jesus of Nazareth---uttered just days after his execution---about the longings of the human heart and the mysterious purposes of God.