BROOKINGS The First United Methodist Church, 625 Fifth St., invites area residents to participate in a community-wide book study group featuring Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks insightful work, Not in Gods Name: Confronting Religious Violence. This study offers an opportunity to explore the profound implications of the book of Genesis through the lens of a distinguished Jewish rabbi.
The study sessions will be Sunday afternoons from Sept. 8 to Oct. 27 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the dining room of the church basement. The discussions will be led by the Revs. Larry Ort and Pete Grassow, who will guide participants through Rabbi Sacks thought-provoking arguments and interpretations.
In Not in Gods Name, Rabbi Sacks contends that religious violence often stems from misinterpretations of biblical texts, particularly those in Genesis. He argues that when religion becomes a zero-sum game where one path is seen as the only right one and others are dismissed violence between different faiths can become inevitable.
By re-examining the foundational stories of Genesis, including the tales of Cain and Abel, Isaac and Ishmael, Jacob and Esau, Joseph and his brothers, and Rachel and Leah, Rabbi Sacks offers a radical re-reading that speaks to the roots of religious conflict.
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