Inspired by the success of its cinematic counterpart, Portrait of a Radical reveals the often-overlooked radical nature of Jesus’ mission — showing how a message that remains a beacon of hope for many has always been a threat to the powerful.
The documentary aired on Hallmark and the Discovery Channel. The book carries every uncut interview the film could not hold, building on the narrative and imagery that captured viewers and going considerably further.
Three distinguished thinkers work the same material from three vantage points. Father Richard Rohr, a Franciscan friar, is renowned for teachings that integrate contemplative traditions while insisting on mysticism and social justice together. The late Huston Smith, the celebrated religious studies scholar, brings his comparative reading of the world’s major religions. Allen Dwight Callahan, a biblical scholar and theologian, brings a New Testament analysis attentive to the intersections of religion, culture, and African American history.
Each chapter takes one aspect of Jesus’ life and teachings and lets the three perspectives run alongside each other — alternative yet complementary, and richer for the friction. From the spiritual significance of the desert journey to the pivotal role of women in his ministry, the book keeps arriving at elements some readers will find uncomfortable, which is rather the point.
Echoing the film’s style, artworks carry the story: masterpieces by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Vincent van Gogh, and Rembrandt set the vibrant world of Jesus’ time alongside the text. Each work is footnoted to a biography at the back of the book, where you can read about the artist, their inspiration, and their own relationship with religion and the Church.
“Portrait of a Radical offers an incredible journey into Jesus’s life, guided by the perspectives of three great thinkers. Each brings a unique angle, revealing powerful insights into Jesus’s journey, his time in the desert, and the pivotal roles of women in his ministry.”
— Verified reader review, Amazon
“This book shares with us a unique perspective on spirituality and insights into our being that is life changing, thought provoking, and fun. The author has extracted the wisdom of these great minds and presented it in an accessible and comprehensible way.”
— Verified reader review, Amazon
A Franciscan friar renowned for his teachings on spirituality, integrating religious traditions while emphasizing mysticism, contemplation, and social justice.
The celebrated religious studies scholar, known for his comparative work on the world’s major religions and his gift for clarifying complex spiritual concepts.
A respected biblical scholar and theologian, acclaimed for his analysis of the New Testament and his exploration of the intersections between religion, culture, and African American history.
