“Anthropological rabbits” and “positivistic ducks”: An experiential reflection on Pieter Craffert’s “shamanic Jesus”
HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies August 18, 2010 Andries van Aarde
This article engages with Pieter Craffert's book that portrays Jesus as a Galilean shaman, using the "shamanic complex" to explain how traditions about Jesus were layered and reconfigured within the same cultural area. Jesus' healings and encounters with spirits are interpreted through alternate states of consciousness as polyphased consciousness. The article offers both appraisal and critique, arguing for a different judgment rather than a paradigm shift. It evaluates scholars who focus on stratifying the Jesus tradition as complementary to a culturally sensitive reading scenario, rather than opposing approaches.