Great Books Reading Group meets March 21

Great Books Reading Group meets March 21

St. Thomas' Great Books Reading Group will meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, March 21, in Room 388, Owens Science Hall.

This month's selection is Garry Wills' What Jesus Meant (Viking, 2006).

Publishers Weekly describes the book: "Christianity has been twisted and warped to such an extent that not even Jesus would recognize it now. This is Wills's thesis in his stimulating, fresh look into the life and message of Jesus of Nazareth. The now-ubiquitous phrase, 'What Would Jesus Do?' encouraged Wills, professor of history at Northwestern University and prolific writer on contemporary religion, to take a closer look at how the Christian message has been used and abused in recent times. Wills believes that most Christians don't understand Jesus' startlingly radical message, so they should not claim to have knowledge of how he would act today. People of all political persuasions have used Jesus' words to rationalize a domesticated, flaccid Christianity that upholds the status quo, or, worse yet, supports discrimination toward those who are on the margins. This attitude, according to Wills, completely misses the truth that Jesus 'walks through social barriers and taboos as if they were cobwebs.' Readers who are familiar with Wills's writing know that he is not shy about critiquing organized religion, and they will not be disappointed. Although his arguments lean toward hyperbole at times, at its core this book invites Christians toward more honest reflection on the life and message of the one they call 'Savior.' "

Everyone's invited to join the Great Books Reading Group. Refreshments are served. For more information, contact Dr. Thomas Tommet, (651) 962-5211.