From a Jewish-American woman …

A reader writes …

I am reading A Generous Orthodoxy for a religion class at Emory University, and I want to share with you how much your book has meant to me as a Jewish-American woman. Not only have you opened up the meaning of being a Christian, your acceptance of shortcomings and appreciation of your strengths is inspirational in my relationship to my own faith tradition. The parts of Jesus’ message that you focus on reveal your own loving heart and embracing mind and help me to appreciate the viewpoints of many Christians in my life. When [you describe a mother and daughter] interacting with their Muslim neighbor my eyes filled with tears, because it revealed the simplicity of teaching a child to love, but in a way that still feels so foreign to us. Continue your work and you will surely accumulate Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Atheist disciples of Jesus, for the Biblical lessons you share would only improve our world.

Thanks so much for writing. I’ll be in your neighborhood (at Mercer in Atlanta – http://theology.mercer.edu/programs-events/self-preaching-lectures/ – in February). I hope we’ll get to meet in person.
The story of the mother and daughter comes from my friend Diana Butler Bass, who (by the way) has a wonderful new book coming out soon … Christianity After Religion. Diana’s story beautifully depicts the kind of benevolent religious identity that I think so many of us are seeking.
Your last sentence is maybe the most encouraging comment I’ve received in 2011. Thanks again!