By mapping the positions Christian writers have taken on the historical Jesus. L'Abbé shows that fundamentalist position moves full circle into the anti-theis position, where both attempt to recreate Jesus in their own image. L'Abbé takes an in-depth look at the notion of belief and surveys major critical works and Canadian and international treatments of the subject.

 Only the picture of the human being found in the world's major religious literatures. L'abbé argues, gives a realistic image of human nature. Here human nature is flawed, and consequently, the closest human society will ever come to achieving a true international justice by pursuing the religious principles of compassion.