I just returned from a meeting of the Westar Institute--otherwise known as the JESUS SEMINAR

About 300 hundred academicians from seminaries and secular universities were present, as well as pastors and a whole bunch of interested layfolk. While basically a very liberal body, the Institute includes people of many other faiths as well as a significant slice of the those all the all the way from atheists to nons.

The purpose of the group is to explore whether religion can have anything meaningful to say in a post-post Christian age. I would doubt if any of those present or in the much larger international membership, would take the Bible literally, would be Republicans, or feel that those of other religions or no religion have little to add to the conversation.

I have been part of this group for a number of years. While discussions are vigorous and votes on multiple issues almost always reveal distinct differences of opinion, there is a spirit of listening to each other without any nasty vituperation and certainly no name-calling. It is the kind of discussion I have hope for in this new group. Vigorous debate, but a sense of mutual respect
If there are those interested in some of the things we discussed in this last meeting, I would be glad to initiate a conversation about a few or the major concerns.