The Empire/Servility Syndrome

This is a draft of the first chapter of the book A Moral Creed for All Christians by Daniel C. Maguire, online at The Religious Consultation on population, reproductive health & ethics.
(via Marquette Warrior)

Maquire's thesis is that

Jesus ... was not killed so that his suffering would expiate for our sins... . No, Jesus was crucified as a rebel against empire.

There's a similar sentiment in the USCCB pamphlet on dramatizations of the Passion. [PDF].

Accept this, and the Life of Jesus becomes The Life of Brian.