"This is an invaluable aid in helping readers become better acquainted with key issues involved in the relationship between Judaism and Christianity. It brings together significant discussions of major theological and religious topics that are an integral part of the faith dialogue between Jews and Christians." "Each topic is treated in two separate essays: one by a Christian scholar; the other by a Jewish scholar, and points of agreement and decisive differences stand out clearly."--BOOK JACKET.Title Summary field provided by Blackwell North America, Inc. All Rights Reserved

"Constructively addresses the hard challenges of Christian-Jewish cooperation in a global post-Holocaust world"--Provided by publisher.

Many studies written about the Jewish-Christian relationship are primarily historical overviews that focus on the Jewish background of Christianity, the separation of Christianity from Judaism, or the medieval disputations between the two faiths. This book is one of the first studies to examine the relationship from a philosophical and theological viewpoint. Carefully drawing on Jewish classical sources, Novak argues that there is actual justification for the new relationship between Judaism and Christianity from within Jewish religious tradition. He demonstrates that this new relationship is possible between religiously committed Jews and Christians without the two major impediments to dialogue: triumphalism and relativism. One of the very few books on this topic written by a Jewish theologian who speaks specifically to modern Christian concerns, it will provide the groundwork for a more serious development of Jewish-Christian dialogue in our day.

Relations between Christians and Jews over the past two thousand years have been characterised to a great extent by mutual distrust and by Christian discrimination and violence against Jews. In recent decades, however, a new spirit of dialogue has been emerging, beginning with an awakening among Christians of the Jewish origins of Christianity, and encouraging scholars of both traditions to work together. An Introduction to Jewish-Christian Relations sheds fresh light on this ongoing interfaith encounter, exploring key writings and themes in Jewish-Christian history, from the Jewish context of the New Testament to major events of modern times, including the rise of ecumenism, the horrors of the Holocaust, and the creation of the state of Israel. This accessible theological and historical study also touches on numerous related areas such as Jewish and interfaith studies, philosophy, sociology, cultural studies, international relations and the political sciences.

Jacob Neusner makes the astonishing claim that Judeo-Christian dialogue is nonexistent. . . . This book is substantive. It suggests what both parties [Christians and Jews] might do and say as first works and words when they undertake dialogue. If they are realistic, frank, aware of their own stories, they can further such dialogue. If they keep making up 'soft versions' of their own tradition, they will produce mush or hypocrisy (from the Foreword). Instead of having dialogue, Christians and Jews have been exchanging monologues--parallel lines that never meet, says Jacob Neusner. This is because neither Christians nor Jews have viewed each other according to each other's terms. Neusner proposes a new way of beginning dialogue by suggesting that Jews and Christians exchange stories. This, he says, will help Christians and Jews understand each other and ultimately provide a way of making sense of the other party's "nonsense."

Breaking new ground in Christian – Jewish dialogue Deep Calls to Deep uses a new paradigm, one which is marked by “experiential theology”: a theology that addresses and emerges out of day to day lived experience of practising Christians and Jews. The product of a unique four year dialogue process - designed, orchestrated and led by Rabbi Tony Bayfield - the book brings together a diverse array of important Christian and Jewish scholars to engage in conversation. Themes discussed include Modern Western culture; how Christians and Jews should live in a modern Western democracy; how Christians and Jews cope with their past; the legacy of our shared Scriptures; the question of religious absolutism; the meaning of respect; Christian particularism; and the land of Israel. A Dialogical Roadmap Tony Bayfield 1 The Third Dialogue Partner: How Do We Experience Modern Western Culture? 19 Liberating Individuals and Challenging Communities 21 Elli Tikvah Sarah Time, Space and the Possibility of God 36 Stephen Roberts Further Reflections 51 Tony Bayfield 2 How Should Christians and Jews Live in a Modern Western Democracy? 57 Inside Out or Outside In 59 Steve Williams Democracy and Its (My) Jewish Discontents 72 Jeremy Gordon Further Reflections 85 Tony Bayfield 3 How Do We Cope with Our Past? 91 Coming to Terms with the Past: Introduction 93 David Gillett and Michael Hilton ‘The Jews’ in John’s Gospel 95 Michael Hilton William of Norwich and Echoes through the Ages 103 David Gillett Holocaust Memorial Day 119 Michael Hilton and David Gillett Coming to Terms with the Past: Conclusion 128 David Gillett and Michael Hilton Further Reflections 129 Tony Bayfield 4 The Legacy of Our Scriptures 135 Beyond the Wilderness: Transforming Our Readings of Jewish and Christian Scriptures 137 Alexandra Wright Reading Together: Receiving the Legacies of Our Scriptures Today 153 David F. Ford Further Reflections 167 Tony Bayfield 5 Religious Absolutism 173 Rethinking Revelation, Exclusivity, Dialogue and Mission 175 Alan Race A Jewish Theology Embracing Difference 189 Debbie Young-Somers Further Reflections 202 Tony Bayfield 6 What Does Respect between People of Faith Mean? 207 The Heart of How Things Ought to Be 209 Wendy Fidler Negotiating the Complexities of You and Me 222 Joy Barrow Further Reflections 237 Tony Bayfield 7 Christian Particularity 241 Incarnation and Trinity 243 Patrick Morrow Friendship and Respect in the Face of Impenetrable Doctrine 264 Vivian Silverman Morrow, Maimonides and Torah in Translation 270 Natan Levy Response to Patrick Morrow: We Are the Louse in Your Fur 276 Michael Hilton and Victor Seedman Further Reflections 286 Tony Bayfield 8 Jewish Particularism 291 Spying on Israel: Morality of a Promised Land 293 Natan Levy Christians, Jews and the Land 308 Teresa Brittain Further Reflections 320 Tony Bayfield Concluding Thoughts David F. Ford