John Dominic Crossan is Professor Emeritus of Biblical Studies at DePaul University in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of many best-selling books, including The Historical Jesus, The Essential Jesus, and , which was chosen by Publisher's Weekly as one of the ten best religious books of 1998.
Richard G. Watts is a former pastor of New Covenant Community in Normal, Illinois, a union congregation of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), The Prebyterian Church (U.S.A.), and the United Methodist Church.