1. How does Jesus' use of parables of reversal challenge the understanding of the kingdom of God among his contemporaries (see chapter V of Christian Footings)?
The use of parables of reversal by Jesus was essentially meant to challenge the institutionalized notions of religion that his contemporaries had. His methods were meant to address the problems associated with there being a hierarchical system associated with the church, with those that were considered on the inside and others on the outside. His parables were meant to flip this idea on its head and generate a desires towards understanding in the way that his contemporaries viewed the church and its role within society (Imperato). This role was being fundamentally questioned by his use of parable.
2. Based on your reading of Albl and Imperato, do you think the Gospels offer an accurate view of Jesus? Why or why not?
The readings of Albl and Imperato seem to indicate that the Gospels did not necessarilly portray an accurate view of Jesus. Their conception of how he inspired faith in his followers seems to reflect this notion. Imperato's reading seems to indicate that the teachings of Jesus were for the fundamental purpose of demonstrating the opposition that the church's institutionalized actions to the needs of everyday people. The nature of the reading challenges the accuracy of the scriptures in his desire to go beyond them and establish an idea of the underlying conception of Jesus that he believed was present at the time. While the reading demonstrates a believe in the accuracy of the Gospels in regards to Jesus, his own conception seems to go beyond this to an idea of Jesus as an element of instigation in a world in need of challenging a hierarchical authority (Imperato).
The reading of Albl on the other hand presents the notion that the Gospel's teachings regarding Jesus were not meant to be historically accurate in the first place, but rather, a non-literal translation of his teachings. The importance of the Gospels in this sense is to provide the capacity for faith and fulfillment. In this sense, the Gospels do not need to be accurate in regards to how they depict Jesus, this was not their purpose. Rather, the depictions exist in order to challenge people to create a better religious institution that does not marginalize the sick or poor or under-classed. Certainty in this sense is not necessarily important in relation to the results that the stories bring to those that read them (Albl). The Gospels therefore do not provide an accurate view of Jesus according to Albl because they do not need to. Their purpose is instead to instigate questioning regarding the authoritative structures that religion is built upon in order to open it up to the common man.
Works Cited
Albl, Martin C. Reason, Faith, and Tradition: Explorations in Catholic Theology. Saint Mary's Press, 2009. Print.
Imperato, Robert. Christian Footings: Creation, World Religions, Personalism, Revelation, and Jesus, G - Reference, Information and Interdisciplinary Subjects Series, University Press of America, 2009. Print.
