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Welcome to the ICJS' interactive discussion

Here's how it works:
We commission leading thinkers in Jewish-Christian relations to write short essays which will set the discussion topic. You're invited to read the essays and then join in the conversation.

This is a monitored discussion.
Interfaith dialogue requires trust, nuance, and civility to succeed. When you post your comments, we will review them before they are posted to ensure that rude people and other Internet pirates do not hijack our conversation.
The current conversation begins with an essay by Paul van Buren, professor emeritus at Temple University and author of the three volume work, A Theology of the Jewish-Christian Reality (Harper & Row, 1980, 1983, and 1988). His provacative essay builds on a reading of The Death and Resurrection of the Beloved Son (Yale University Press, 1993), a book by Harvard Divinity School professor John Levenson. Professor Levenson has replied to Professor van Buren for this Internet conversation.

Both authors contend that the binding of Isaac, a story from Genesis 22, is a fundamental and somewhat uncomfortable source for Christian and Jewish identity. Can Jews and Christians share the same Bible stories without abandoning the core truth claims of their respective religions?

Paul van Buren's essay, Jon Levenson's response, R. Kendall Soulen's response

Miroslav Volf's response, Philip A. Cunningham's response

David P. Goldman response

Join the conversation yourself!