Overview of the Journey

As you read this chapter, note the following transitions:

• Childhood and adolescent beliefs
• Disbelief about the Apostles' Creed’s depiction of Jesus.
• Mark’s invention of passion narrative events.
• Three important things about Jesus.
• Jesus’ vision
• God of childhood and adolescence.
•  A Different view of God.
• From Death Tradition to Life Tradition.

Discussion Questions — printout

1. How do you react to Weeden, a pastor, rejecting historic creedal beliefs about Jesus? 
2. What childhood and adolescent beliefs are no longer credible to you?
3. Explain the things about the historical Jesus which have enduring importance for Weeden.
4. What acts attributed to Jesus do you question being historically true?
5. What is metaphorical truth?  How does Weeden differentiate between historical truth and metaphorical truth about Jesus?   How does metaphorical truth help to elucidate the significance of Jesus?
6. What experiences have helped you to overcome racism, sexism and other prejudices that deny inclusive love?
7. Why is it so difficult to live Jesus’ vision of the kingdom of God and its ethic?
8. How do you image God and how does your view of God make a difference in your life and worship?
9. Are there ways you question the Apostle Paul's perspective of Jesus' death as a sacrifice for sins? 
10. What is the difference between the "Death Tradition" and the "Life Tradition"?
11. Which tradition is for you more representative of the meaning of Jesus’ life and death, and why?

Class Exercises

• Have class members discuss the Apostles' Creed and have each member write his or her own creed, stating beliefs about Jesus and God. — handout
• Invite class members describe moments when they have experienced God in nature.
• Have class members describe ways in which they find religious authorities today exerting “belief-control” over people, marginalizing and rejecting those who dissent.
• Have class members list the elements of Jesus’ vision of the kingdom of God and its ethic, as Weeden describes it.  Then have the class discuss whether they believe in Jesus’ vision and its ethic and what difference it would make in the world if the ethic of Jesus’ vision were lived in the Church and in the world.

Theological/Literary Terms for Consideration — handout

• Apostles' Creed
• canon
• Sayings Gospel Q
• kingdom of God
• metaphorical truth
• death tradition
• life tradition

Religious Thinkers for Consideration — handout

• John B. Cobb, Jr. (1925–)
• John Dominic Crossan (1934–)
• James M. Robinson (1924–)

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