John Dominic Crossan in Carson City

People of the Diocese of Nevada enjoyed the unusual opportunity to participate in 3 days of lectures and discussions with Jesus Seminar member and Professor JOHN DOMINIC CROSSAN, March 4-6 in Carson City. The opening lecture and discussion was hosted by St. Teresa's Roman Catholic Church and the balance of the sessions were at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, which organized the event.

Part of the now annual LENTEN LECTURES conceived and arranged by members Kim Morgan and Victoria Riley, the series was launched in 2004 hosting Dr. Marcus Borg. Dr. Crossan will be followed in 2006 by Walter Wink on March 24-26.

Dr. Crossan, who until his retirement taught Comparative Religion at DePaul University, centered his topic on The Historical Jesus and American Christianity, posing

Lunchtime during the Crossan Lenten Lectures

the questions: "Who is your God?""What is the content of your Faith?""What is the Purpose of your Prayer?" and "What is the Function of your Church?"

Crossan sees our world as addicted to violence and sees true Christianity as centered in non-violence; and the message of Jesus to be about changing our unjust world into a world of God’s radical inclusiveness and equality.

Dr. Crossan with DESERT SPIRIT editor, Barbara Wiess

n the final presentation, he contrasted the Pre-Enlightenment view of Jesus with Post-Enlightenment, commenting that the largest difference between the First and Twenty-first centuries is the exponential increase in the societal drug called violence.

"We are in need of withdrawal," he said. As Christians, he indicated that we need to do everything we can to lower the amount of violence rhetorically, physically and politically.

Dr. Crossan's comments on The Passion of Christ (Movie)

Almost the Whole Truth (An Autobiographical Oddesy)
from The Westar Institute

Biography and Publications

Interview November 24 on “Fresh Aire” (National Public Radio)