Joan E. Taylor is Professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism at King's College London, UK.

Editor Joan Taylor’s coterie of merry scholars does justice to the serendipitous meeting of Jesus and Brian … Several essays sparkle with almost divine panache.

• List of Authors List of Abbreviations List of Illustrations Preface: Terry Jones Foreword: Paul Joyce Introduction: Jesus and Brian: the Conference and the BookJoan E. Taylor, King's College London, UK Part One: The Film in its Cinematic Context, its Reception and its Challenges1. Monty Python's Life of Brian and the Jesus Film William Telford, University of Durham, UK 2. The Church of England’s Life of Python – or what the Bishop saw Richard Burridge, King's College London, UK 3. When Brian met Moses: Life of Brian (1979), Wholly Moses (1980) and the ‘Failure’ of Biblical ParodyDavid Shepherd, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland4.‘Blasphemy!’ On Free Speech Then and Now David Tollerton, University of Exeter, UK5.The Meaning of Monty Python’s Jesus James Crossley, University of Sheffield, UK6. The Gospel of Brian Philip R. Davies, University of Sheffield, UKPart Two: History and Interpretation via Monty Python’s Life of Brian7.The Historical Brian: Reception Exegesis in PracticeJoan E. Taylor, Kings College London, UK8. Romani Ite Domum – Expressions of Identity and Resistance in JudaeaGuy D. Stiebel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel 9. ‘You'll probably get away with Crucifixion’: Laughing at the Cross in Brian and the Ancient World Helen Bond, University of Edinburgh, UK10. Brian as a Teacher of Righteousness George Brooke, University of Manchester, UK11. Brian and the Apocalyptic Jesus: Parody as a Historical Method Bart Ehrman, University of North Carolina, USA12. ‘Are You a Virgin?’: Biblical Exegesis and the Invention of Tradition Paula Fredriksen, Boston University, USA 13. Beards for Sale: The Uncut Version of Brian, Gender and SexualityAmy-Jill Levine, Vanderbilt University, USA 14. ‘What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?’ Brian and Josephus on Anti-Roman SentimentSteve Mason, University of Aberdeen, UK15. Hook-Nosed Heebies: Brian, Jesus and Jewish IdentityAdele Reinhartz, University of Ottawa, Canada 16. ‘The Shoe is the Sign!’ Costuming ‘Brian’ and Dressing the 1st CenturyKatie Turner, King's College London, UKAbstracts of Chapters Bibliography Index

Joan E. Taylor is Professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism at King's College London, UK.

Editor Joan Taylor’s coterie of merry scholars does justice to the serendipitous meeting of Jesus and Brian … Several essays sparkle with almost divine panache.

• List of Authors List of Abbreviations List of Illustrations Preface: Terry Jones Foreword: Paul Joyce Introduction: Jesus and Brian: the Conference and the BookJoan E. Taylor, King's College London, UK Part One: The Film in its Cinematic Context, its Reception and its Challenges1. Monty Python's Life of Brian and the Jesus Film William Telford, University of Durham, UK 2. The Church of England’s Life of Python – or what the Bishop saw Richard Burridge, King's College London, UK 3. When Brian met Moses: Life of Brian (1979), Wholly Moses (1980) and the ‘Failure’ of Biblical ParodyDavid Shepherd, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland4.‘Blasphemy!’ On Free Speech Then and Now David Tollerton, University of Exeter, UK5.The Meaning of Monty Python’s Jesus James Crossley, University of Sheffield, UK6. The Gospel of Brian Philip R. Davies, University of Sheffield, UKPart Two: History and Interpretation via Monty Python’s Life of Brian7.The Historical Brian: Reception Exegesis in PracticeJoan E. Taylor, Kings College London, UK8. Romani Ite Domum – Expressions of Identity and Resistance in JudaeaGuy D. Stiebel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel 9. ‘You'll probably get away with Crucifixion’: Laughing at the Cross in Brian and the Ancient World Helen Bond, University of Edinburgh, UK10. Brian as a Teacher of Righteousness George Brooke, University of Manchester, UK11. Brian and the Apocalyptic Jesus: Parody as a Historical Method Bart Ehrman, University of North Carolina, USA12. ‘Are You a Virgin?’: Biblical Exegesis and the Invention of Tradition Paula Fredriksen, Boston University, USA 13. Beards for Sale: The Uncut Version of Brian, Gender and SexualityAmy-Jill Levine, Vanderbilt University, USA 14. ‘What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?’ Brian and Josephus on Anti-Roman SentimentSteve Mason, University of Aberdeen, UK15. Hook-Nosed Heebies: Brian, Jesus and Jewish IdentityAdele Reinhartz, University of Ottawa, Canada 16. ‘The Shoe is the Sign!’ Costuming ‘Brian’ and Dressing the 1st CenturyKatie Turner, King's College London, UKAbstracts of Chapters Bibliography Index

Joan E. Taylor is Professor of Christian Origins and Second Temple Judaism at King's College London, UK.

Editor Joan Taylor’s coterie of merry scholars does justice to the serendipitous meeting of Jesus and Brian … Several essays sparkle with almost divine panache.

• List of Authors List of Abbreviations List of Illustrations Preface: Terry Jones Foreword: Paul Joyce Introduction: Jesus and Brian: the Conference and the BookJoan E. Taylor, King's College London, UK Part One: The Film in its Cinematic Context, its Reception and its Challenges1. Monty Python's Life of Brian and the Jesus Film William Telford, University of Durham, UK 2. The Church of England’s Life of Python – or what the Bishop saw Richard Burridge, King's College London, UK 3. When Brian met Moses: Life of Brian (1979), Wholly Moses (1980) and the ‘Failure’ of Biblical ParodyDavid Shepherd, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland4.‘Blasphemy!’ On Free Speech Then and Now David Tollerton, University of Exeter, UK5.The Meaning of Monty Python’s Jesus James Crossley, University of Sheffield, UK6. The Gospel of Brian Philip R. Davies, University of Sheffield, UKPart Two: History and Interpretation via Monty Python’s Life of Brian7.The Historical Brian: Reception Exegesis in PracticeJoan E. Taylor, Kings College London, UK8. Romani Ite Domum – Expressions of Identity and Resistance in JudaeaGuy D. Stiebel, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel 9. ‘You'll probably get away with Crucifixion’: Laughing at the Cross in Brian and the Ancient World Helen Bond, University of Edinburgh, UK10. Brian as a Teacher of Righteousness George Brooke, University of Manchester, UK11. Brian and the Apocalyptic Jesus: Parody as a Historical Method Bart Ehrman, University of North Carolina, USA12. ‘Are You a Virgin?’: Biblical Exegesis and the Invention of Tradition Paula Fredriksen, Boston University, USA 13. Beards for Sale: The Uncut Version of Brian, Gender and SexualityAmy-Jill Levine, Vanderbilt University, USA 14. ‘What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?’ Brian and Josephus on Anti-Roman SentimentSteve Mason, University of Aberdeen, UK15. Hook-Nosed Heebies: Brian, Jesus and Jewish IdentityAdele Reinhartz, University of Ottawa, Canada 16. ‘The Shoe is the Sign!’ Costuming ‘Brian’ and Dressing the 1st CenturyKatie Turner, King's College London, UKAbstracts of Chapters Bibliography Index