Wrestling with the Difficult Texts 

As we work to understand and live out God’s will, there are times when we wrestle with difficult Biblical texts. For example:

•  ►How should we go about considering and interpreting texts that are unsettling? For instance, in an affluent country such as Canada, how are we to understand and respond to the comment that it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to get into heaven?
• ►How should we go about considering and interpreting texts that seem to undermine our perception of God’s all-encompassing love? For instance, how are we to understand and respond to texts that are (or have traditionally been read as) anti-Semitic?  Or texts that appear to condemn same-sex relationships?

This six-week study group will provide an opportunity to inquire and discuss some of these challenges. – a time to explore, question, and even struggle. This is less about right and wrong answers and more about seeking greater understanding – of ourselves, of the texts, and of our experience of what God is calling us to do and be.

Some of the discussion topics will be set ahead of time, but there will also be room for participants to suggest texts that they have found particularly challenging.  If you are interested and have texts to suggest, please let Rev. David know, or bring your ideas to the introductory session on February 2.

Readings will be provided for each session, for those who find that helpful - but you are welcome to come and joint the discussion whether or not you have had a chance to do any readings.  Also, a different topic will be covered each session, so if you are interested, feel free to join in for as many sessions as you can, even if you can’t attend all of them. 

Thursday evenings, for 6 weeks, 7 – 8:30 p.m.
February 2 to March 8, 2012