A brown bag lunch and discussion after church Nov.14th and Dec 5th and an ongoing discussion on-line.
RevBoiv
Launch of our Book Discussion
Posted on: 11/04/2010 22:29
Greetings!
I hope you have enjoyed the often comical introduction to Levine's book. It was generous of her to share what she felt drawn to in Christianity as a Jewish child growing up in a largely Roman Catholic neighbourhood. I wonder if any of you haveexperiences you would be willing to share about living where members of your religion or denomination were in the minority. How did that feel? What did you come to appreciate about the other faith? The closest I have come is to marry into a big faithful Roman Catholic family being a United Church member. I have come to appreciate the deep reverence given to the sacramental aspects of worship and life. It appears that my husbands faith is almost imbedded in his bones, having been taught to him not only at church and home but throughout the school week. Service and sacrifice are second nature.
Levine's parents did not react negatively to her interest in another faith. Is there something we can learn from their reactions that would be helpful in fostering good ecumenical dialogue. In your reading so far, how do you find Levine's ability to engage in this discussion of both Judaism and Christianity.
Looking forward to your comments.
Karen
Comments
daylily
Posted on: 11/15/2010 20:43
A major theme of the book is that the circumstances that surrounded the creation of the Christian church fomented a deep and pervasive anti-Semitism that persists to today. The subtitle of the book names the scandal that the Jesus we follow is a member of a group of people who generations of church leaders have taught us to hate.
Well, I can see the position that the author is staking out, and I acknowledge that there is plenty of historical evidence to support it in general terms, but at this point (approximately page 120 out of 228) I have difficulty seeing how the argument applies to me. Trouble is I’ve only known Jewish people as individual friends and colleagues. They include some of the smartest and most talented people I know. They were never enough of them in my younger years to form an identifiable group of anonymous “others”. So I cannot see myself a secret Jew hater, whether by virtue of my Christian up-bringing or otherwise. My opinion of Italians is no more influenced by Pilate being Roman, than does what the writers of the gospels say about Annas and Caiaphas influence how I treat people of the Jewish faith.
Still, it is thought provoking to consider how the words used in the gospels and our worship services sound to Jewish ears. Could I repeat everything that I say or sing on Sunday to my Jewish friends at work on Monday without the slightest feeling of embarrassment? Seems to me that the answer is no, not without gracious forbearance on their part or a lot of explaining on mine. It gives me something to think about as I read further.
Carla (a.k.a. daylily)