Variations on the Messianic Theme: A Case Study of Interfaith DialogueHardcover, 1 July 2009

Does dialogue between faiths work? In its meta-framework painful issues are raised with the hope of healing for both partners. This case study asserts that this is vital if we wish to prevent a future HaShoah. After fifty years, the Jewish-Christian dialogue has achieved respect and trust, but basic disagreement over the Christian designation of Jesus as the Jewish messiah stands. Is it possible to discuss this without annihilating one or the other faith community? Theologians have suggested varying approaches but none convince both partners, so this work employs William James' radical empirical method to show that the original Jewish messianic concept, the Christian shift, and the Jewish repudiation of the shift, can each be seen as valid faith variants.