Jerusalem Diary by Joanna Kujawa
If you are not a church-goer and the traditional, devotional stories do not make sense to you but you are looking for an authentic spiritual experience or plan to travel to Jerusalem – this book is for you. Based on a true story, Jerusalem Diary: Searching for the Tomb and House of Jesus is an…
If you are not a church-goer and the traditional, devotional stories do not make sense to you but you are looking for an authentic spiritual experience or plan to travel to Jerusalem – this book is for you. Based on a true story, Jerusalem Diary: Searching for the Tomb and House of Jesus is an adventurous journey of self-discovery in the Holy Land. After going through a professional and personal crises, Joanna joins two Australian men who claim to discover new sites that could be Jesus’ home in Nazareth and his tomb in Jerusalem. As they visit different pilgrimage sites associated with Jesus, Joanna begins to challenge conventional ideas about the life of Jesus. Relying on the Gospel of Mary Magdalene, the Gospel of Thomas and parts of the Urantia Book, she creates an alternative picture of Yeshua (Jesus). She begins to see him as a young, rebellious and inspiring teacher who can offer inner healing and peace to a modern person. Recent Reviews: “This engaging book has everything the passionate-thinking person desires: intensity, intrigue, controversy. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking. A book for all seekers”. -Mark Manolopoulos, adjunct research associate, Monash University Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, and author of If Creation Is a Gift. ”
Recent Reviews:
“This engaging book has everything the passionate-thinking person desires: intensity, intrigue, controversy. Thoroughly enjoyable and thought-provoking. A book for all seekers.”
–Mark Manolopoulos, adjunct research associate, Monash University Centre for Studies in Religion and Theology, and author of If Creation Is a Gift.
“In Jerusalem Diary, Joanna affectionately traces the life of the human side of Jesus. She beautifully weaves her own spiritual quest for truth in this well-researched, deeply passionate journey, accounting for typical historical gaps in the life and teachings of the Great Soul. The outcome is a refreshing and unusual tale in which Joanna elegantly contrasts and reconciles the Christ on the Cross of the Church with Yeshua, the revered realised Master of the East. A must-read for every sincere seeker of the Self.”
–Karthyeni Purushothaman, lecturer in business management, Monash University
“A great read”
Five Star Review on Amazon By Jens
A great read, a part travel memoir, a part a historical adventure. There are some amazing moments in this adventure of digging into the past of Jesus’s life as a young man different from what I have heard before. Kujawa relies mostly on the Gnostic Gospels and refers to the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and the Urantia Book. I am less inclined to believe the Urantia Book which is a more recent source but Kujawa does not completely rely on it either and raises some interesting points for and against different sources. Although I believe it is a very personal book (a memoir) it is entertaining and informed. I learned a lot as the author effortlessly passes interesting facts, raises objections to established ‘truths’ without trying to convince anyone of any particular point of view. You have a feeling that she is on a journey of discovery and invites to you to go along with her. Apart from the historical parts I liked the insights offered on travel, life and choices we make. As for the weaknesses, I think I would have liked to see more descriptions of the present day Jerusalem and Israel and less reflection on its past and personal feelings which I think were sometimes overdone. Having said that, I seriously considered going to Jerusalem after reading the ‘Jerusalem Diary’ and enjoyed its effortless style.
About the Author
Joanna is an author, traveller, and scholar. Fascinated by the Gospel of Mary Magdalene and the Gospel of Philip, she left for Jerusalem with two Australian men who had made important archaeological discoveries there. ‘Jerusalem Diary: Searching for the Tomb and House of Jesus’, is a spiritual travel adventure based on their trip. It was a finalist in the Hay House Non-fiction Contest in 2012.
Recently, she completed the final draft of her next book, ‘The House of the Beloved’, in which she explores the themes of sexual desire, romantic love and Tantra. She also gives talks on Mary Magdalene, Gnostic Jung and spirituality and sexuality. Her short stories and essays can be found in Best Australian Stories, The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Griffith Review, Journeys and Destinations, Etchings, Space and more. She has postgraduate degrees in Medieval Studies (University of Toronto) and PhD from Monash University (Melbourne). Currently, she lives by a beach in Australia, with her partner Shamir and their dog Humphrey. For more information, please check www.joannakujawa.com or find her on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/joanna.kujawa.author. You can view her on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DwESV8oskrU or listen to an interview on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVSufBwel4k