I did not grow up in a particularly religious family. I remember a short stint in Sunday School, but I was never baptised. One of my earliest memories of church is that of being at an Easter Sunday service with my mother, where she explained to me -- in a low voice -- that she did not believe what they were saying, but that she wanted her children to experience it for themselves.

Despite my mother's disbelief, I was really drawn to the story of Christ. Specifically, that Jesus seemed to be a gentle, loving character. Unlike most men, he cared about people who were powerless and suffering. Of course my reaction to him was not unique, and certainly manifested according to the churches plan.

As I got older and began to question the pliable nature of "history", particularly religious history, I was surprised that such a portrayal of The Lord, as a loving, compassionate deity, could even exist, considering the punishing and judgemental nature of the church. Ideas like 'loving your neighbor', and 'forgiving the sinner', or 'helping the poor' did not square with the hellfire and damnation that often spewed from the pulpit.

By young adulthood I had concluded that there was no God, no Jesus or Mary, and that their story was a complete fabrication which somehow continued to be believed passionately, by a majority of people in The West and beyond. I was both relieved by my conclusion, and terribly saddened by the loss of such a hopeful and loving spiritual being.

In my personal spiritual quest I went on to study Buddhism, Wicca, Kabbalah and Yoga, applying the same clear-eyed view of their scriptures with mixed results. At this point in my life I can say that I am a believer in many things, and a questioner of many more.

Let me be honest with you at the outset. I am not Christian, nor a scholar, nor until recently even a writer. The story that you are about to read comes straight from my creative mind. I have absolutely no authority to claim that this story -- or any -- ever happened as presented, or even could have taken place during the era depicted.

But given my view of the made up nature of a lot of history, I present this version to consider as an alternative, which may still manage to endear you to the characters involved, and may even inspire you to believe in something. Hopefully, your own story.

I offer a specific warning to those who are devout: There is a lot of blasphemous, offensive, material here. There is sex, and drugs, and lots of deviation. Despite the passages that may offend you about this version of The Story, I believe that there are many reasons to like these characters and to love them -- particularly for their humaness.

Some logistics. This novel is being published free online in serial. It will appear in three parts. Part One: "Zack", is being published now, with Part Two: "Mary", available in June 2017, and Part Three: "Jesus" available in January 2018.

For reference, here's a diagram of what I like to call "The First Family of Christianity":

Finally, I need to offer many, many thanks, and deep gratitude to some very special people:

To my husband Burt Tanoue, for his real world support and encouragement. To my editor Craig Bryars, who made the story readable, and for his insightful contributions to the characters. To Michael Wiles, who by example and by encouragement opened the doorway for me to begin writing at age 53. To my pals Mark Nomadiou, Jim Davis-Rosenthal, Kerwyn Kaye, Chris and Jerry Baral, and Maria Sample, for their encouragement. To the Borderlands Books "Shut Up & Write!" MeetUp groups, for providing me with a wonderful place (and community) to do focused writing. And to everyone else I know or have engaged with, that encouraged this first-time writer. Many thanks to Rick Binger for a day job that kept me in the black, creating a real opening for me to play at writing a novel. And to my Guardian Angel, for helping me to connect with -- and be a scribe for -- intelligences within me that already knew this story.

©2017 Christopher DeWinter. All Rights Reserved.