Spirituality & Practice: Living Spiritual Teachers Project: Marcus J. Borg

Marcus J. Borg grew up in North Dakota and was educated at Concordia College in Minnesota, Union Theological Seminary in New York, Oxford University in England, and the University of Tubingen in Germany. He is the Hundere Distinguished Professor of Religion and Culture in the Philosophy Department at Oregon State University in Corvallis, Oregon. He has also held positions at Concordia College, South Dakota State University, and Carleton College. He has received three major awards for outstanding teaching.

Borg is a Fellow of the Jesus Seminar, a group of scholars examining the historical accuracy of the words and deeds attributed to Jesus, and also the New Testament columnist for Bible Review. He has been national chairperson of the Historical Jesus Section of the Society of Biblical Literature, the oldest and largest association of biblical scholars in the United States, co-chair of the New Testament Program Committee of the International Society of Biblical Literature, and president of the Anglican Association of Biblical Scholars. Deeply involved in the life of the Episcopal Church, he has taught both clergy and lay people for over 30 years. The New York Times has described him as "a leading figure among a new generation of Jesus scholars."

Borg has also collaborated with other religious scholars for books on Jesus, God, and the teachings of other world religions. In The Meaning of Jesus: Two Visions (2000) he discussed his understanding of Jesus with N. T. Wright. He edited two collections of essays, Jesus at 2000 (1997) and God at 2000, and he co-edited The Lost Gospel of Q (1996) and Jesus and Buddha: The Parallel Sayings (1997)

Marcus Borg is a breath of fresh air in the musty halls of Christian scholarship and biblical studies. In most of his books, you will find illustrations from his spiritual autobiography that keep his insights and overviews grounded in real life. He has a knack for clarifying difficult theological issues and writing in a pensive style that is accessible to clergy, liaty, and seekers of all stripes. Almost single-handedly among progressives, Borg has opened up new avenues of experience and thought for lapsed Christians or nonbelievers interested in re-visioning the Christianity of their childhood. He writes clearly and concisely about the meaning of wisdom, compassion, justice, the kingdom of God, and life as a journey of transformation. His books boldly take us into fresh fields of wonder, mystery, and passion in regard to Jesus, God, the Bible, and the Christian way.