Many Religions, One Covenant: Israel, the Church, and the World

Rating:
Summary: The theological centrality of Jewish-Christian relations
Review: Cardinal Ratzinger presents a lucid summary of the central theological issues arising out of the covenant shared by Jews and Christians. Insisting (properly) that the Abrahamic and Chrisitian covenants represent a single movement of God in his work of reconciliation of human kind, Ratzinger shows how the work of Christ is a fulfillment of God's promise announced in the covenant with Abraham-- 'all the nations of the world shall be blessed through you'

Ratzinger recognizes that for this blessing to be realized, priority must be given to the relationship between Jews and Christians. Until Christians recognize their fundamental kinship with Judaism and Jews, and until that recognition leads to reconciliation between them, the proclamation of God's reconciling work in the world will be truncated and compromised. He recognizes that the often tragic misunderstandings in Chrisitian Jewish relationships raise very specific difficulties, especially for Jews, and Christians have a major responsibility to address those difficulties.

Ratzinger's presentation should be read by Christians, Jews and others for the clear and consise scriptural and theological perspective it offers. I am not a Roamn Catholic but one need not be Roman Catholic to appreciate the charity and discipline that inform this work.

Jim Woods

Rating:
Summary: The theological centrality of Jewish-Christian relations
Review: Cardinal Ratzinger presents a lucid summary of the central theological issues arising out of the covenant shared by Jews and Christians. Insisting (properly) that the Abrahamic and Chrisitian covenants represent a single movement of God in his work of reconciliation of human kind, Ratzinger shows how the work of Christ is a fulfillment of God's promise announced in the covenant with Abraham-- 'all the nations of the world shall be blessed through you'

Ratzinger recognizes that for this blessing to be realized, priority must be given to the relationship between Jews and Christians. Until Christians recognize their fundamental kinship with Judaism and Jews, and until that recognition leads to reconciliation between them, the proclamation of God's reconciling work in the world will be truncated and compromised. He recognizes that the often tragic misunderstandings in Chrisitian Jewish relationships raise very specific difficulties, especially for Jews, and Christians have a major responsibility to address those difficulties.

Ratzinger's presentation should be read by Christians, Jews and others for the clear and consise scriptural and theological perspective it offers. I am not a Roamn Catholic but one need not be Roman Catholic to appreciate the charity and discipline that inform this work.

Jim Woods

Rating:
Summary: Simple and profound
Review: Just when you think all's been said on a topic, Joseph Ratzinger throws yet more light from a different yet utterly orthodox angle. I bought this book thinking Scott Hahn was co-author, but he writes only the foreword. Ratzinger isn't afraid to raise difficult questions and tackle them head-on. O, the lucidity of the catholic mind.

Rating:
Summary: Simple and profound
Review: Just when you think all's been said on a topic, Joseph Ratzinger throws yet more light from a different yet utterly orthodox angle. I bought this book thinking Scott Hahn was co-author, but he writes only the foreword. Ratzinger isn't afraid to raise difficult questions and tackle them head-on. O, the lucidity of the catholic mind.