I appreciate your thoughtful post. Growing up I always knew I wanted to work in a helping profession. Being that my experience was limited, I decided at some point that I wanted to be a doctor. In high school; however, I had the opportunity to attend church camp and while there I was introduced to female pastors for the first time in my life. I remember my “ah ha” moment clearly when I realized that I was made to be a minister…………I had just never had it modeled for me, so I did not know it was a possibility. Thanks again for taking time to write on this subject. I hope your words cause people to think more deeply about this, so they are equipped to both listen to and support both the male and female prophets among them.

Susan Barton

I’m not sure I would do much differently, except that it is much easier to tweet from a full keyboard. I don’t have an iPad, but even if I did I have heard they are better for consuming media than producing content. If you have an tips on this process or recommendations, I’d welcome them.

In response to your second: A responsibility, yes. That is very different than equating the sins of ancestors as sins of the descendants. That too seems obvious.

To your third point: I was referring to the Biblical text used within my book, since only that is the relevant material here. And within that text, there is no negative depiction of Jews who are non-leaders.

To your fourth point. I disagree. I do not hold the general public responsible for leaders who abuse their position, power and privilege. In the US, the case could be argued, but we are talking about Israel, 2000 years ago and there was no democracy. Even in the US, the people can make a huge fuss in protest, and nothing changes. Occupy Wall Street is case and point.

To your final point: I embrace the New Testament and am not anti-Jewish. So don’t tell me I am implicit in anti-Judaism.

I believe that I tried hard to receive your words assuming your good intention and with an open mind. However, with these your most recent arguments, I no longer can continue assuming you are writing from goodwill and a search for honesty and truth. I say this because your arguments are attempt to justify your views, while failing to make sense. If another person wrongly unites two distinct cultures divided by 2000 years, that doesn’t mean I am doing the same. If my ancestors commit atrocity, which some of them have, that doesn’t mean I am guilty of their crime. Think of what you are saying: we are guilty for the sins of our ancestors simply because they preceded us; we are guilty for the racism of other Christians only because we are Christians; we are guilty for the excesses and indiscretions of our leaders because they preside over us. To truly believe such things would be to live under a terrible and unending burden. Again, in my mind, these arguments don’t make sense. So I feel that this has perhaps become a defense of your original point, and not a search for understanding, goodness and truth.