Juan R Cespedes Ph D

Conversations with a Centurion Juan R Cespedes Ph D

We struggle with work and overcoming the challenges of daily life, only to experience the same end...death. Rich or poor, educated or not, death is the great equalizer for all of humanity. One measure of adulthood is the realization that "bad" things happen to "good" people. Why am I here? Is there a God, what is the meaning of life, is there an afterlife? If there is a God...why does God let these things happen? These questions are answered in a meeting with a Roman Centurion that appears magically, mystically, inexplicably, in a museum in modern Rome. The Centurion turns out to be a Roman army officer who was assigned to Capernaum, a fishing village in Judea, where he met Jesus. Most people in our time, devout Christians and Jews included, understand little about the world of first-century Palestine, and think that the Jews were an undifferentiated and united people in their disgruntlement and opposition to the rule of Rome. This is a gross oversimplification of the historical, political, and cultural reality of the time. The Centurion helps the reader understand the life of Romans, Jews, their leaders, and others; as well as the geographical, cultural, and political divisions which existed at the time. The book examines many aspects of Jesus' world that are unknown to many. Dr. Céspedes also delves into mathematical and scientific explanations for the existence of God, near death experiences, the crucifixion, the resurrection of Jesus, the early Christian church, and the great personal sacrifices made by the apostles. This fascinating and carefully researched book concludes with suggestions for living a more meaningful life, and how to battle sadness and loneliness.