Per Anderson of Concordia will talk about the Earth Charter, an interfaith alliance that is trying to move beyond the barriers now obstructing global efforts to help the environment. The preamble of the charter is inserted in this newsletter and you can see more information, including the principles, at www.earthcharter.org
Laurie will share readings and reflections on love—divine, romantic, unconditional, or selfless, it may all distill to this: "The love we give away is the only love we keep."
Remember the Bible story of the Pharisee and the publican? Writer Merry Helm will reflect on the trend of certain Christian groups toward exclusion and judgment of others in the name of Moral Values and in the context of this Bible story. "… for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." Luke 18: 14
Did Jesus think the end was near? A cursory reading of the gospels would certainly suggest so, and the notion has been a cornerstone of New Testament scholarship since the late 19th century. In the last twenty years or so, new evidence and arguments have arisen to the contrary. We will discuss the arguments supporting both possibilities, and indicate why this question is so uniquely pivotal for those of us interested in knowing what the historical Jesus believed and preached.
Check out the Jesus Seminars at www.westarinstitute.org/Jesus_Seminar/jesus_seminar.html