We welcome all to our discussions which are always lively and open to many different opinions. 

The group meets usually on the first Sunday of the month in the ESSE room at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wheaton, Illinois.

For more information contact Barb Deli at 630-668-6572 or badeli1417@comcast.net

                                           2007-2008 Season

January --- We continued to have a lively discussion in December on "What Paul Meant" by Garry Wills. We actually did not get to discuss chapter 7, "Paul and the Jews." So we will start with that chapter and finish the book. Participants are asked to come with suggestions for the groups next book. It was agreed that we had read enough about Paul and needed to move on to a different topic. The January meeting will be held on the second Sunday, the 13th from 7:00PM-9:00PM.

February --- The new book chosen for this group to discuss is "The Misunderstood Jew--The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus" by Amy-Jill Levine.

Mixing Rigorous Scholarship with helpings of both wit and pastoral care, Levine shows how Christians often misunderstand Judaism in general and the New Testament in particular, and thus take Jesus out of his Jewish context. This tends to result in intolerance of Jews. But she doesn't let Jews of the hook either, accusing them of willful ignorance of Jesus and his message. Levine is a Orthodox Jew teaching New Testament in the religious department of Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. She offers an unique, deeper understanding of who Jesus was and what he taught. 

Theological Discussion will meet on the first Sunday, February 3.

March --- February saw a small turnout due to bad weather. There was some discussion of the the first two chapters but the group will take another look at them for the March meeting and also chapter 3 of Amy-Jill Levine's book, "The Misunderstood Jew--The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus." So far it looks like this will be a book for interesting discussions.

Theological Discussion will meet on March 3, the first Sunday.



April --- The meeting in March was well attended with two new visitors. Discussion was lively and participants found that they were gaining a lot in terms of knowledge and understanding. While we did not really finish with chapters 1-3 we decided to read through chapter four for the April meeting. This will allow us to finish the book before we end our meetings for the summer months. 

Theological Discussion will meet on April 6th, the first Sunday, at 7:00 PM in the ESSE room at St. Paul. 



May --- Theological Discussion will meet on May 4 in the ESSE room at 7:00 PM at St. Paul. 

It is time to finish reading and discussing "The Misunderstood Jew," by AJ Levine and thus bring to a close the best year this group has ever had or so it was decided in April. Everyone felt we learned so much from Levine’s book. One of the most fascinating was to find that some very familiar stories and parables have a new meaning when we understand the Jewish setting of them. Expanding our knowledge of Judaism and the misunderstandings that have developed over the years was another plus for the group. We do not meet during the summer but will resume in September. So please bring any ideas for another book to the May meeting.

September – This month we are beginning a new book–"The First Christmas: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Birth" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan. The authors explore Matthew and Luke’s Christmas narratives in this provocative book. It places the stories in their historical context and then thoughtfully looks at the rich symbolism and meaning of the Gospel accounts of the events surrounding the birth of Jesus. The results are new and powerful meanings to the Christmas stories for the modern ear. It also juxtaposes two thoughtful but fairly different perspectives, and permits the reader to make a more informed judgment. The plan is to finish this book before the Christmas season.

October--In September we looked at Part One of "The First Christmas" by Borg and Crossan which set the agenda for the book by introducing the stories of the first Christmas, their meaning as parables and the context of the stories.

In October the group will move on to discuss Part Two which includes some new ideas for us on the meaning of the two different genealogies of Jesus, and the two different versions of the annunciation. One thing that both gospels agree about is the importance of Bethlehem as the birthplace of Jesus. This Chapter includes some new ways of looking at the stories of the slaughter of the Innocents and the coming of the Magi.

Please join us on the second Sunday in October at 7:00PM in the ESSE room for stimulating conversation and dialogue as we lead up to the Christmas season. For more info contact Barb Deli, 630-668-6572 or badeli1417@comcast.net