Controversial Jesus Seminar

The Times should be commended for its excellent Religion Section for March 30.

Several features reflect interrelationships among major faiths, a common search for peace and well-being for all humanity and a spirit of love and caring across institutionalized boundaries.

These values could also be shown by inclusion of selected items from other faiths, including themes from spiritual leaders of American Indians.

But, as a United Methodist by heritage and involvement, I was inspired to write to you about John Dart’s account of “the controversial Jesus Seminar.” I applaud the idea of biblical scholars engaging in careful research on the history of Jesus, his cultural and religious heritage and his life.

The process of voting to show whether a given proposition reflects agreement or disagreement with a seminar member’s historical research, raises in my mind the question as to how decisions were made in meetings of those who gave final form to our Bible, Old Testament as well as New Testament.

Some see the Bible, all of it, as “God’s word” and New Testament Christianity as the “only” authentic faith. Others, including myself, see the Bible as an inspiring spiritual guide and also see validity in the teachings of other great faiths.

J. WALTER COBB

Los Angeles