"Is Jesus God?"
Summer 2003 Bible Study

Chapter 2

"St. Joan of Arc Bible Study is an open and growing group that meets for fellowship and to discuss the Bible and other faith-centered literature. Our informal study group draws from biblical scholarship, historical perspectives, current events and personal reflections. We welcome honor and respect the personal ideas and spiritual journeys of all who join us."

Greetings

What a gorgeous summer evening both outside and inside the old country church. We could barely contain our excitement upon learning that two persons had prepared for "opening prayer." The thinking is; just as you can never really have too many half-time treats, you can really never have too many opening prayers. After our extremely rich beginning the nutty-professor decided that we should start the overview with a short exercise in imagination. With this exercise we were able to "see the light."

We had a two-page overview that we were told had been ruthlessly edited down from three. The facilitator felt there would be plenty to talk about and indeed there was.

SJA Scripture Study - Summer of 2003
Is Jesus God? - Michael Morwood

Chapter 3 - Re-forming Our Imagination

Morwood begins the chapter by asserting that traditional Christian faith has provided us with ways for understanding many religious topics. He would now like to see a movement from that framework to what he has termed the "New Story" - to re-imagine our faith in light of our contemporary experience and current knowledge about the universe and our place in it. Why? Because modern adult faith can neither ignore the new knowledge nor the many questions this knowledge raises.

He argues that modern day understandings of the universe "provides us with the opportunity to appreciate that God is way beyond our imagining..." and that the early Hebrew and Christian view of the universe was "very, very limited, and in a real sense, their God was smaller than ours." They thought in terms of a closed cosmos; three-tiered universe. Morwood points out that early Christian thinkers had to understand the life and death of Jesus within that limited world view and mentions several relevant factors in the way the story of Jesus was told.

• The understanding of the physical universe - Heaven above, earth in the middle (center of universe) and literally the "underworld" below us.
• The Hebrew story of creation. It was not supposed to be a factual scientific explanation. Morwood argues that it was a story that arose in response to a particular peoples' questions and challenges about humankinds existence on earth and the nature of God and their relationship with God. God is all good and almighty and could not have created anything bad and yet their experience of natural disasters and human cruelties were perceived as "bad" and so they reasoned that something had to have gone wrong. So the Adam and Eve story was told and we err when the story becomes accepted as factual.
• Religious and philosophical dualism prevalent in Greek culture. That which separates; mind from matter, body from soul, heaven and earth, etc. Not surprisingly people became very interested in how this separate heavenly realm could be accessed. There was a school of thought that asserted access could be gained by special knowledge - Gnosticism.

Consider concepts such as "everywhere" and "all times". He goes on to discuss our contemporary views of the cosmos.

In light of current scientific data, what does it mean to say, "God is everywhere" and a favorite of Morwood's, "What does it mean to say that God's creative Spirit has been active in all places at all times in this universe?"

Page 48 he discusses the idea that we live in God now and in death we will be living on in God.

He asks us how these traditional images were formed in us and which ones are most powerful. How do we view death now? What do we imagine heaven to be? Is it locked?

He then illustrates how these images were formed. Paul at the bottom of Page 49. Read Romans.

Augustine was also a prime conductor of these images. According to him Adam, through his sin of pride became like an animal with senses out of control. Through Adam's sin humans lost the state of paradise and became subject to death. This was passed on through the very act of procreation.

Brilliant thinking! Let's read the Catechism Page 51. That is in part how we got there and now where do we go?

Through all the creations of new life forms and their extinction, by whatever process, all the decay, disaster and upheavals, two points deserve consideration;

1. Human beings were not responsible for any of this.
2. God was present in and through all.

Morwood states at near the bottom of Page 55 that there is no evidence to support the Catechism of the Catholic Church's claim that "because of man, creation is now subject 'to its bondage to decay'" (no. 400). Morwood states this should in no way undermine Christian faith and concludes that we humans sin not because something went wrong long ago with God but by the fact that the human condition is not perfect and we are free within that imperfection to make choices that do not serve us.

Small group discussion points from the book

1. What images and thoughts about heaven did you acquire as a young person? In what way if any, are they different now?
2. What do you think will happen to you at death?
3. What was your understanding of original sin? What is your understanding now?
4. What do you think is the source of sin and evil?

So we did much discussing about certain passages in the catechism and what they mean with regard to the creation stories and the fact that at least one of us recalls Father George, in at least two homilies, saying that 'Original Sin' is not part of official Catholic Doctrine. However, after reading no. 416, 417, 418 and 419 of the Catechism, it sure sounds like it is.

We wondered why the Catechism isn't taught to the faithful. Even in Catholic schools there was no experience of their study. One of our group made and interesting observation. We are not to read the bible or the catechism until we start "asking questions!" When we begin to ask relevant questions or start having doubts about some of our early faith images, we are told to go read the catechism or that we have not read enough of the bible! Ironically, as we start reading the catechism or the bible, it only leads to more questions!

Another person added that even moderate Catholic theologians are a bit embarrassed by the above passages. Maybe that's why it isn't taught.

We talked about what the creation story has meant to us and if we understand it differently now and in what way? We discussed what we thought the "fall" and "original sin" symbolized or represented. It was a really fun and somewhat charged sharing of views. What a fascinating process to be a part of.

Suddenly, someone exclaims, "Riko, it's 8:05!" (Translates as, 5 minutes past treat time.) And so we broke.

As I slowly made my way to the snack hut I couldn't help but wonder what was up. What was all the ooh-gah-ling about and yet more troubling, why were there several members who appeared to have actually passed out? As we got closer we saw the cause. It was primal. It was lush. It was dizzying. Wouldn't you know on the same evening we had two opening prayers, we also had two treat bearers. Talk about divine intervention!

The "official" bearers unveiled a beautiful dish they called, "Summer Berry Trifle"

Are you kidding me?

It was homemade custard with whipped cream beaten in along with freshly picked deep-woods raspberries and blackberries, sweet July strawberries and delicate Ladyfingers that mysteriously lined the "edges" of the curved bowl. This summer dream was dished into bowls and garnished with yet more multi-berry topping with their luscious juices and hand-churned whipped cream! It was spectacular and I remember one bite that must have contained a bit of ladyfinger, thoroughly soaked with berry juice, along with a perfect amount of custard and whipped cream. It literally staggered me. Cousins Margaret and Cindy saved me from serious "fall."

As if that wasn't enough fun for one night, we also enjoyed a veritable smorgasbord of cookies and a Banana-nut-bread - dark in color with a densely moist texture. And I'm not saying who took the rest of that home! It just doesn't get any better than this! Mmmwaaah.

We finally headed back to our three small groups to discuss several relevant questions;

• What images and thoughts about heaven did you acquire as a young person? In what way if any, are they different now?
• What do you think will happen to you at death?
• What was your understanding of original sin? What is your understanding now?
• What do you think is the source of sin and evil?

We shared until 9:05 when someone informed us it was time to go. Reluctantly but quite abruptly we gathered back in large group for our closing meditation by Joan Chittister.

Please tune in next week when Ron will facilitate Chapter 4 - Revelation! You don't want to miss it.

Privileges

• Facilitator Ron
• O. Prayer Nancy
• C. Prayer Marge
• Treats Arlette
• Clean-up Crew
• Bookstore
  • After 9
  • After 11 Rik