"Is Jesus God?"
Summer 2003 Bible Study

Chapter 6

"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."

If you desire spectacular fellowship, time for reflection and lively discussion about faith issues that matter, you could have hardly been disappointed tonight.

We began with a few reflections about sports, we who play them and the thanking of God for victory. We then shared a hand-woven prayer about discerning what God may want for us. We also received a couple handouts: A piece about Dorothy Day going from "...Cutting Religion out of her life to making it the core." And a piece that lists the "Golden Rule" for twelve different religious traditions. They are almost identical.

Then our first-time facilitator took us through Chapter Six stopping periodically for questions and conversation. We even got to read John 10-7 - 10-17. Discuss.

Here follows the overview.

Chapter 6: God Raised Jesus

In this chapter, Morwood summarizes his interpretation of Jesus' resurrection through the lens of his understanding of physicality, the galaxies, the working of the Spirit, and what we know of God through Jesus.

(Page 82) Morwood discusses the prevailing images of Jesus resurrection as we were taught to believe and which may have been a comfort to us in facing the unknown, especially with regard to our deceased loved ones.

(Page 83) Is death a "journey" or a door into another mode of existence? Morwood doesn't care for the idea of death being a "journey." I'm open to it being both. Also, he wonders if are we already participating in eternal life?

At the bottom of page 83, he says that according to "traditional Christian thinking, every human being who lived a good life went at death to "hell," not the hell of eternal damnation, but the "hell" of the Creed. This hell was limbo . . . ." If traditional Christian thinking means Catholic thinking, then it's probably correct. Otherwise, it is an incorrect statement.

Despite our Christian backgrounds, most of now believe that we go almost immediately into God's presence, and that it happens in a dimension differing from the one we are familiar with in the physical dimension.

I believe Jesus' descent into hell is an assumption. As far as I know, it is not mentioned in the bible that Jesus descended into hell.

(Page 84) Here Morwood speaks about the idea of Jesus being the only way to God and heaven. "Only the one who 'came from the Father' can return to the Father." Read John 3:13, and John 10:7-17. Looking at Jesus as the Savior and "key" to everlasting life is a long held belief.

(Page 85) Can we live with the belief that "only through Jesus is access to God's 'life and happiness' possible? Did Jesus "win" back something that we had lost?

Morwood states, "Let us instead consider the resurrection of Jesus in the belief that all human persons who lived before Jesus and who died with an orientation to love in their hearts died in God, and died into the mystery of life beyond human existence. As Christians we are guided by the insights of Jesus, who firmly believed that in death we meet a God, loving, compassionate, and generous beyond our imagining."

(Page 86) Taking in other religions and other religious leaders, Morwood asserts, "That Spirit, at work in all places at all times, offered to people in all places at all times the possibility of eternal life with God. Jesus did not regain it, for it was never lost."

From God is Red, page 180 -181 . . . .

Jesus linked human love with divine love. He urged people to trust rather than fear God. Indeed, by his life and by his relationship to God, he "painted" a new picture of God.

(Page 87) "People saw in Jesus God made visible." His life "freed them from fear, superstition, and dependence on ritual legalism, and motivated them to spread this 'good news.'"

(Page 88) Is it important to know if Jesus resurrection was physical? Any thoughts about the Shroud of Turin?

Morwood talks about how Paul never mentions the physical resurrection. He says that Paul was not concerned about that. I found it interesting, that as pragmatic as Morwood is, he didn't bring up how Paul went into the ministry - hearing Jesus' voice and being struck blind.

(Page 89) The author says, "Christians' belief in the resurrection of Jesus should not be dependent on a literal acceptance of the empty tomb and physical appearances stories." He feels that it will always be a mystery.

(Page 90) Here he has a message for Christian educators. Be open.

Questions to ponder: What were you taught, if anything, about the afterlife of those who lived before Jesus time, or about those who practiced another religion?

What are your views and ideas regarding the resurrection of Jesus? Just as cultures have their collective histories of their experience of God, so do individuals. Maybe yours is similar to Morwood's. Maybe your view is slightly different, or completely different.

Discuss your view or one of the discussion points at the end of the chapter.

Thank you Denise - and discuss we did. Why do we believe in heaven as an afterlife type deal? Why is it important? If we take the words attributed to Jesus that the Kingdom is here, now, of and among human beings, do our images of "Heaven." change? What about our images of death?

Things were going really well when we decided we better break for....Root beer floats! Are you kidding me! The perfect summer treat to please anyone. We used a double-secret-ingredient ice cream along with Mug Root Beer. Well, you know what that looks like, feels like and tastes like. thanks cousin.

We went back for small group discussion and had interesting and enjoyable discussion. Energy leaving the body through the "crown" - the very top of the head, upon death. Our ideas about love vs. God's love. Fear. Are we eternal? Does God live in "bad people"? Age-old questions about good and evil, judgment and punishment, etc. Prayer, the ascension and many other challenging topics.

Regretfully, we did have to finally call it a night and closed with a reflection from the little blue book of Reflections

Now, you don't want to miss next week when we will finally get the answer to "Is Jesus God?" you may want to come early as seats will be filling up fast.

Privileges

Namaste'
Rik Murray
(612) 872-8694
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