Do ALL:
1. Explain Crossan’s understanding of “radical egalitarianism” and “open commensality” as manifestations of the Kingdom of God.
2. Explain Crossan’s distinction between healing and curing an illness / disease.
3. Do either A or B:
A. Look at Crossan’s discussion of the exorcism of the Gerasene demoniac (pp. 88-91). Tell me how you understand the implications for understanding how the text of the Bible is a written thing, that is, a way of representing experience rather than a “literal” account of what really happened. (There are a variety of ways of responding.)
B. Read “Back from the Dead” (Crossan pp. 93-95) and read chapter 11 of the Gospel of John. Is there a way of understanding the raising of Lazarus story as anything other than literal (that is, that Lazarus was brought back to life)? (We’ll deal with the issue of “resurrection” on Thursday.)