The idea that “Jesus died for everyone, whether they like it or accept it or not,” is a very, very old idea, as old as the New Testament, and one that I was raised with in one of the most conservative Christian denominations in America. That idea has absolutely nothing to do with being “progressive.”

Judy -

I was raised with the idea of the Jews being God’s chosen people. (And yes, I still think that they are.) At no time did I ever think of it in terms of eternal exclusivity or preference because the Bible so clearly states that God is universal and Jesus came for everyone. Rather, I think of the fact that the Jews are God’s chosen people as a symbol of God’s love affair with ALL of His people. Way back during Biblical times, God needed to demonstrate His love and his lessons for all humankind and it simply made sense to have a one-on-one relationship with one people to focus his efforts and demonstrate what He wanted.

I still believe that the Jews are very near to God’s heart. They are the people to whom he entrusted his Son. But the overriding message of the New Testament is that God dearly loves all people. And you simply cannot read the Bible and come away feeling “shorted” or denied the full measure of God’s love, regardless of who you are!

In the end, it is just one of the mysteries of life. I look forward to “understanding it all” some day.

Deana

1. Only Christians go to heaven
2. Jews are God’s only “chosen” people

On the basis that all religious and secular beliefs are fundamentally the same, there is no difference in logic between someone defending the existence and perpetuation of institutional racism and someone believing in heaven and the chosen ones.

That, of course, has nothing to do with whether someone should go on talking about white people and the system of racism they were supposed to have created and are now upholding.

Episcopalians and many Roman Catholics take the view that Christ’s forgiveness is universal and the gates were open to all, including non-Christians. However, not everyone wants or chooses to go through (re. C.S. Lewis’ “The Great Divorce”). Fundamentalist Baptists believe that there are some pretty tight criteria that have to be met first, including signing on to their particular brand of Christianity. From what I understand, Mormons believe that all will be revealed to us when we die and then we’ll choose (I may be wrong on this last one). It’s all so confusing.

As for the Jews, Marguerite and HelenL are both right about the Jews being “Chosen” because God chose the tribe of Abraham to begin his process of revelation and intervention in Mankind’s spiritual growth and reconciliation to Him (He had to start with somebody, after all, so why not pick the people at the crossroads of civilizations - just speculating, of course). Most Christian denominations with which I am familiar also believe that we hold a supreme obligation to protect the Tribe of Israel because of this.

Sorry if I bored you with the religious monologue - guess I am getting into the Easter spirit. Tomorrow is Good Friday, so Happy Easter, y’all - be ye Christians or not, it is a wonderful time of renewal for which we can extend our best wishes to our non-Christians friends all. I’ll raise a glass of the finest wine to all of you.

I don’t want to fight. I just want to discuss. And to learn. But frankly, there are some things I just don’t get.