Large numbers of atheists, humanists, and conspiracy theorists are raising one of the most pressing questions in the history of religion: "Did Jesus exist at all?" Was he invented out of whole cloth for nefarious purposes by those seeking to control the masses? Or was Jesus such a shadowy figure—far removed from any credible historical evidence—that he bears no meaningful resemblance to the person described in the Bible? Ehrman vigorously defends the historical Jesus, identifies the most historically reliable sources for best understanding Jesus’ mission and message, and offers a compelling portrait of the person at the heart of the Christian tradition.Known as a master explainer with deep knowledge of the field, Bart Ehrman methodically demolishes both the scholarly and popular “mythicist” arguments against the existence of Jesus. Marshalling evidence from within the Bible and the wider historical record of the ancient world, Ehrman tackles the key issues that surround the mythologies associated with Jesus and the early Christian movement     Kerikeri Mission and Kororipo Pa: An Entwined History. Angela Middleton. Otago University Press. $29.95A concise guide to the Kerikeri mission from its inception in 1819 until 1845, when it became a secular settlement and the Stone Store was sold to private owners. It includes a discussion of missionaries and Māori who were involved with the mission, including people such as Hongi Hika, Rewa and Moka.The book is richly illustrated with photographs from the Kemp House and Stone Store collections of artefacts and objects, once in daily use. It contains a discussion and illustrations of the store accounts, revealing details of daily life at the mission – what food, clothing, tools and other goods were available, where they came from and who they were distributed