Jews and Christians Together
An Invitation to Mutual Respect
by Christian van Gorder and Gordon Fuller
Foreword by Jeff Levin
Imprint: Cascade Books
Rabbi Gordon Fuller and Dr. Christian van Gorder are committed to helping people of both faith traditions gain, as far as is possible, a participant's appreciation of those from the other community. This means addressing misconceptions and misrepresentations as well as challenging widely held assumptions. Jews and Christians Together delves into the strained relationship between these two faith communities and exposes why these communities need to come to a better understanding and appreciation of the other. Events such as the attack on the Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania demonstrate why society must address and foil anti-Semitism and anti-Judaism wherever and whenever such views appear. The efforts of Fuller and van Gorder to explore these issues with their own faith communities can provide a helpful starting-point to confront trends of increasing hate and bigotry towards Jews today. Fuller and van Gorder ask us to acknowledge the marred history of Christianity and anti-Semitism, so that we can explore healthy Jewish-Christian dialogue and gain a shared and constructive mutual respect.
A. Christian van Gorder is Associate Professor of Islamic Studies and World Religions at Baylor University and before that taught at Messiah College and the Yunnan University. Dr. van Gorder is the author of several books on Christian-Muslim relations.
Gordon Fuller was a rabbi in Waco, TX, for 11 years. He also served a congregation in Chevy Chase, Maryland, and is now an independent rabbi online, www.myfamilyrabbi.com.
“As someone who has been heavily engaged in interfaith discussions since the 1970s, I can attest that this book is just what the doctor ordered. The reactions of evangelical Christians that Rabbi Fuller records are the same ones I have often encountered from Christians of all sorts, and his descriptions of the Jewish tradition are not only accurate, but framed in precisely the kind of language that Christians who never met a Jew before are nevertheless likely to understand and appreciate. This is a really important book for any time, but especially for our own era of cultural isolation, misunderstanding, and even hatred.”
—Elliot N. Dorff, Rabbi, Rector and Distinguished Professor of Philosophy, American Jewish University
“A courageous challenge to the church and synagogue, Jews and Christians Together is a clarion call to abandon our preoccupation with preservation and to risk revolutionary friendships for justice and liberation.”
—Peter Goodwin Heltzel, Associate Professor of Theology, New York Theological Seminary