Recovering Jesus explores Jesus traditions outside Christian orthodoxy

Rogier Fentener van Vlissingen’s new book, Recovering Jesus: Help is Here Now, entered worldwide distribution on Sept. 3, 2026 and probes historical Jesus scholarship, early Christian thought and nondual spirituality. The launch is paired with a weekly Substack podcast and aims to reopen debate over how Jesus is understood beyond institutional doctrine.

Why it matters: - Recovering Jesus: Help is Here Now targets readers interested in the historical Jesus, early Christian development and spiritual interpretations outside mainstream Christianity. - The book frames Jesus’ teachings as a possible path to spiritual awakening, not only as the basis for institutional religion. - The launch adds to ongoing debates over how theology, history and mysticism shape modern understandings of Jesus.

What happened: - Recovering Jesus: Help is Here Now entered worldwide distribution on Sept. 3, 2026. - Rogier Fentener van Vlissingen wrote the book after more than 60 years of research and personal study. - The book draws together A Course in Miracles, the Gospel of Thomas, Gnosticism, Sufism, historical scholarship and broader literature. - Van Vlissingen also launched a weekly Substack podcast, “Omo & Rogier Study the Course,” with Nigerian reader Omoyemhe Salami. - The first podcast session aired on Sept. 6, 2026. - New sessions are planned for Sunday mornings in New York and Sunday afternoons in Lagos.

The details: - The book examines connections between A Course in Miracles and the Gospel of Thomas, especially ideas tied to nondual awakening. - Van Vlissingen also looks at the historical development of Christian doctrine. - The book distinguishes between early Jesus traditions and the teachings associated with the apostle Paul. - The author draws on 19th-century Dutch Radikalkritik scholarship, including Allard Pierson, Samuel Naber and J. W. Kaiser. - The book also considers Gnostic traditions, Sufi mysticism and Ken Wapnick’s teachings on A Course in Miracles. - Recovering Jesus is intended for readers of A Course in Miracles, students of the Gospel of Thomas and Gnostic traditions, and people interested in historical Jesus scholarship. - The book includes a foreword by Gary Renard, author of The Disappearance of the Universe. - The podcast is available to paid subscribers through Rogier Fentener van Vlissingen’s Substack and Omoyemhe Salami’s Substack. - More information is available at the book’s website.

Between the lines: - The project pushes back against settled religious frameworks and invites readers to test competing interpretations for themselves. - The combination of historical criticism and mystical spirituality signals an effort to bridge academic inquiry and personal belief. - Early technical difficulties with the podcast were addressed by adding a Starlink connection and backup battery.

What’s next: - The weekly podcast will continue with new sessions on Sunday mornings in New York and Sunday afternoons in Lagos. - The book’s broader audience will likely form around readers seeking alternative perspectives on Jesus, Christian history and nondual spirituality. - Van Vlissingen’s ongoing Substack presence gives the project a continuing platform beyond the book launch.

The bottom line: - Recovering Jesus is positioned as a challenge to conventional Christian interpretation, blending historical research with mystical and nondual ideas.