On several recent trips to Israel an old friend Sara has come along.  She has studied the Bible for forty years and has led many studies herself.  She was schooled in supersessionism and has a difficult time breaking out of it.  Even after hearing most of the material I have presented orally or in writing, she still struggles with New Testament passages that seem, to her, to support supersessionism. For example, she asks about the book of Hebrews. It states... Read more

It has been long believed by many, perhaps most, Christians that after 33 AD God transferred his covenant from Israel to the Church.  This is called supersessionism–the idea that the Church supersedes Israel. As a corollary, it has been believed that the Church is the New Israel.  Many think the New Testament authors teach this . . . especially Paul. Is that true? (more…) Read more

I mean well-known evangelicals who have declared their political allegiance  to Donald Trump. Such as Jerry Falwell, Jr., provost of Liberty University. And Sarah Palin. (more…) Read more

Last week I was invited by NPR (national) to participate in an on-air discussion of whether Muslims and Christians worship the same God. First, they said, I needed to have a pre-interview. (more…) Read more

Today in the Wall Street Journal Boston University professor of religion Stephen Prothero has a helpful op-ed on the Wheaton College poli sci prof who says Muslims and Christians worship the same God. Prothero says the true God hears the prayers of both Muslims and Christians, but Muslims and Christians envision God very differently. I think he gets it right. Much turns of course on what we mean when we say that the true God hears the prayers of Muslims.  When I say... Read more

I mourn the death of Michael Wyschogrod on December 17.  He was one of the great Jewish philosophers and theologians of the 20th century.  He was also one of the only ones to affirm the concept of incarnation, while denying that Jesus was the actual incarnation of God. I count it as one of the joys of my life that I got to know Dr. Wyschogrod a bit, and to work with him a little.  He was one of the participants... Read more

Last month 28 Orthodox rabbis released a statement that God has willed the birth of Christianity.  It “is neither an accident nor an error” but “a gift to the nations.”  Since its release 30 more rabbis have signed on to “To Do the Will of Our Father in Heaven: Toward a Partnership between Jews and Christians.” This is not a statement of theological liberalism that denies significant differences. “In separating Judaism and Christianity, G-d willed a separation between partners with... Read more

If there is one article that sheds more light–in a short space–on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than any other, this might be it. It is written by a Palestinian who lives in Israel. Here are a few excerpts: (more…) Read more

“How can I feel the feeling of God when I don’t? “I feel like a hypocrite praying when it is just words coming out of my mouth.  Or when I go to church and sing the songs or do what I am supposed to do on the liturgy. “Isn’t it hypocritical to do the actions and mouth the words when I don’t have any feeling to accompany the actions?” That’s the gist of a question someone asked C.S. Lewis. (more…) Read more

“Pollyannish” is a word for people who don’t want to hear the ugly facts of a bad situation. Since President Obama opened the political doors to Cuba a year ago, few want to hear that it has not helped the Cubans very much.  Or that it has actually hurt those Cubans brave enough to protest the oppressive government. Here is a reality check from Jeff Jacoby at the Boston Globe. By the way, I have been to Cuba three times to work... Read more