Next Sunday's Heart of Christianity's Class at San Diego First United Methodist Church - Sunday, 2 March 2014

Next Sunday's Heart of Christianity's Class at San Diego First United Methodist Church - Sunday, 2 March 2014
We'll discuss two chapters, 12 and 13.  Here are some issues and questions to ponder for the discussion.
Chap. 12: The Crippled Man
1. P. 118.  Spong interprets the crippled man as one who gets close to entering a new consciousness, but then fails to realize it completely.  In this connection, the last four lines of p. 119 explains the possible reason why the crippled man fails in his attempt to reach a new reality.  Your thoughts?
2. P. 120.  So, the crippled man is healed and walks away physically, but spiritually he remains shackled to his religious traditions and tattles to the religious authorities that Jesus healed him on the Sabbath -- a no-no according to Jewish law. (See also 2nd Parag, p. 121 and p. 123, 1st full Parag, and p. 124, top of page).  What do you think of Spong's analysis?
3. P. 123, the 2 full Parags.  Spong compares the crippled man to the synagogue community who refused to join the Johannine community (the excommunicated community).  Is Spong's comparison (i.e., interpretation) solidly valid?  Explain (See the last 9 lines of this page).
4. P. 124, 2nd Parag.  In your speculative opinion, if the early church fathers had Spong's interpretation of the Fourth Gospel to look at, would they have included it in the canon that forms the New Testament?  That is, if the early church fathers understood John's gospel to have been written by a Jewish mystic, would they have used it as the 4th gospel?  Your thoughts?
Chap. 13: Andrew and Philip and two signs: the bread (manna) and the water (the Red Sea) pointing to Moses, who pointed to Jesus
5. P. 126, top of page.  Spong writes that "To understand these two signs we must be able to see how they are connected."  As you read, please take notes of key ideas on how these two signs are connected.  Then, we'll discuss them in class. 
6. Pp. 126-129.  Do you think that Spong is right that the author of the Fourth Gospel merely uses Andrew and Philip as literary characters, that is props, to facilitate this portion of the Jesus story?  Comments?
6. P. 130, last Parag and top of p. 131.  What do you think of Spong's analysis of John's intention in this piece of text?  Personally, I find it insightful.
7. P. 131.  Jesus is the bread of life.  "Eating his flesh and drinking his blood" is a metaphor.  How do you substantiate that this is a metaphor?  Explain.
8. P. 132.  Comment on Spong's analysis of the entire page, especially the bottom half.  Does the text clarify the metaphor or does it obfuscate it?
9. P. 133.  In which direction do you desire to go for the rest of your life: in light or in darkness; in self-consciousness or in universal consciousness?  We are readers of the Fourth Gospel, just as the followers of Jesus were two thousand years ago. Maybe they understood John's gospel as the writings of a Jewish mystic, maybe not.  Do you?  Explain.
We'll be in the classroom below the sanctuary again.  I look forward to seeing you and to be engaged, again, in a robust discussion.  Meanwhile, take good care of yourselves and your neighbor.  Best wishes and hasta domingo, Ben
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