Author's questions leads to book about how the historical Jesus Lived
by Mike Morell
Nelson County Times

Thursday April 21, 2005

Who was the historical Jesus? How large a family was he raised in? What was his life really like? These are all questions Frank Applin has asked himself since his late teens. His search for answers to these questions has finally led Applin to write a book on the subject. The result was, "How Far Have We Strayed? Interpretation, Christianity, and the Historical Jesus."

"I love to discuss Christianity," said Applin. "What has surprised me over the years is how little people I have talked to over the years actually know about the Christian faith."

As an example, Applin said a question was raised by a fellow student in a religious course he was taking in Dallas at Southern Methodist University.

"This man was a Sunday school teacher," said Applin. "He asked the question, 'were Jesus and the apostles Jews?' He then said he had always thought they were Christian."

Born in Minnesota, Applin was raised Roman Catholic. His mother was very active in the church and encouraged her son to also become active. He went to Catholic grade school and through his teenage years, read scripture at his church on Sundays.

"I guess my real interest in the historical Jesus came when I was about 19," he said. "My younger sister gave me the book, 'Holy Blood, Holy Grail' to read."

That book led Applin to read other authors and eventually resulted in the accumulation of a personal library of more than 300 books and scholarly works on the subject.

"I have read everything I can get my hands on," he said. "I had talked for years about writing this book but had never gotten around to it."

Once the manuscript was written and edited, the next phase was finding a publisher. Applin found that while mainstream publishers had found his work well written and worthy of publication, he was hampered by a lack of an advanced degree.

"I was told several times that no one would publish the book due to the fact that I did not have the 'Ph.D.' after my name," he said.

Undeterred, Applin published the book himself through a publisher called Authorhouse.

"Actually this allowed me much greater control over the book," he said. "This allowed me to select the typefaces, the art work and the appearance of the cover."

The book is available online from many of the mainstream bookstores and can also be purchased directly through the Authorhouse Web site.

"My next book, which I am already working on, is a complete departure from this one," said Applin. "It is a work of fiction and explores the paranormal."

Applin and his wife, Janet, a native of Nelson County, moved back to Virginia approximately four years ago and setlled in the Gladstone area.