Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   LOCAL FEATURES Friday, June 07, 2002 Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’ By Susan K. Virgalitte LIBERTY — Human beings made in the “image and likeness of God” must be careful what image of God they are conveying, Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky, a Jewish theologian, told an audience of Jews and Christians May 29 at Temple El Emeth here. “Anytime someone is diminished, the image of God is diminished. Whoever sheds blood cancels the image of God. … If we sin, it reflects badly on God. It changes the reputation of God in this world. When evil breaks out, [people] either think God brought it about or that God is absent.” Dr. Frymer-Kensky, a nationally known professor of Hebrew Bible and one of the leading Jewish theologians involved in Jewish-Christian relations, made her comments at the Eighth Annual Rabbi Samuel Meyer Memorial Lecture. The image of humanity begins in the Bible on page 1, Dr. Frymer-Kensky continued. In Genesis 1:27, God creates humankind “in his own image and likeness.” The word “likeness” refers to the physical. “Being made in someone’s likeness means looking like somebody,” she said. “Even though this is all metaphorical and anthropomorphic, referring to the hands, eyes and ears of God, we know that God does not look like a dinosaur or a horse or an insect, but like a human being.” The word “image,” Dr. Frymer-Kensky said, can also be translated as “statue.” In one sense, human beings are the “statues” of God, meaning they are the representation of God’s presence. “We need to pay attention in the Bible to the first chapter of Genesis in which God created humankind and commanded humans to increase, fill the world, and have dominion over the world,” she said. “We are the agents of God in running the world. We are the very living image, the avatars or channels of God.” It is difficult to grasp the implications of being made in the image of God, Dr. Frymer-Kensky continued. Humans attempt to determine what the perfect God’s behavior would be and then imitate that. We cannot claim to love God and then curse or hate other human beings, because God’s presence is within each human. “You have to behave toward others as though God were there, and as if you represent God to the world. God is called ‘righteous,’ so you be righteous. God is called ‘trustworthy,’ so you be trustworthy. There is some kind of mystical bridge created between God and humans. We talk about the good attributes of God to remind ourselves to act that way.” In Christianity, Dr. Frymer-Kensky said, some feel that God’s image in humankind has been destroyed by sin. She disagreed that such would be possible. “We don’t become the image of God and we cannot lose the image of God,” she said. “The Bible does not say, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and become the image of God.’ We are created as the image of God and we cannot escape that – not by sin, not by defiance, not by arrogance. Nothing escapes the fact that there is this enormous connection between us and God that determines our essence and ought to determine our behavior.” Dr. Frymer-Kensky was one of four Jewish theologians who recently wrote a landmark statement on Christianity from a Jewish perspective. The statement, entitled “Dabru Emet,” looked at ways in which the two faith traditions relate to one another. She also co-authored a book, Christianity in Jewish Terms, on the same topic. Dr. Frymer-Kensky told the audience that, although there was a positive response to the statement soon after it was printed in newspapers in New York City and Baltimore, there was also a great deal of opposition. Surprisingly, she said, opposition came not so much to the controversial parts of the statement, but to the first two parts of the statement, which the authors thought would be non-controversial. Those two statements were that Jews and Christians worship the same God and derive authority from the same book. “In the old days,” she said, “we were more threatened by differences. Now we are more threatened by sameness.” As someone who has been involved in Jewish-Christian relations for many years, Dr. Frymer-Kensky was philosophical about the opposition to “Dabru Emet.” “Sometimes it’s important to speak the truth, no matter what the reaction will be. The truth is that Judaism and Christianity have grown up together like intertwining branches of a tree. We have cross-fertilized each other. It is that which makes the Jewish Christian Dialogue so different from all other [inter-faith] dialogues. We are the faiths of each other. The annual Meyer Lecture honors the memory of the late Rabbi Samuel Meyer, spiritual leader of Temple El Emeth from 1973 to 1990. Rabbi Meyer was co-creator of the Youngstown Diocesan Jewish-Christian Dialogue with Father George Balasko, pastor of East Liverpool St. Ann Parish; and Rabbi Mitchell Kornspan, former rabbi of Ohev Tzedek Shareii Torah Congregation in Boardman.   Back to Exponent Menu Printer Friendly Page   Other Articles of 2002   Christmas letter from El Salvador missions thanks diocesan Catholics   Bishop shares views, discussion with Central students   ETC slates Christmas specials throughout the season   My Favorite Christmas Memories   Guidelines on religious ed homeschooling are issued   Local Catholic radio station targets Feb. 1 date   HMs end 98-years of service to Salem St. Paul Parish   Learn ‘language’ of young, youth meet speaker urges   Bishop Tobin: Meeting in D.C. on norms was ‘anxious, tense, difficult’   Priests must ask one another the tough questions, speaker says   Catholic death and funeral rites   Deacons mark 25th with Mass, dinner, memories   Diocesan Ministry Convocation Speaker: Global solidarity, not globalization, should be aim   Jusseaume inaugurated as sixth Walsh president   Diaconate marks 25th anniversary with Oct. 27 fete   New norms sent to priests, deacons on Communion under both kinds   Ashtabula parishes are ‘one Catholic community’   Jusseaume to become Walsh’s sixth president   Charismatic speaker: ‘Church being tested in faithfulness’   Lutheran/Catholic covenant event draws 140 to Walsh   Canton St. Joseph Parish observes centennial celebration   HMHP CEO Michael Rowan   Stewardship speaker: It’s about gratitude and thanking God first   Imagination is key to resolving crisis, priests told   War with Iraq? Expo readers opposed by 81-19%   Newspaper columns didn’t give complete story, official says   Diocesan Ministry Convocation set Oct. 26 at YSU’s Kilcawley   New year brings new faculty, changes at diocesan high schools   Mont St. Michel, Avignon’s papal palace are treasures   Preparing for the priesthood   Entering well-earned retirement, Sr. Marcella’s not slowing down   Warren St. Mary observes 100th year for church building   Lay Ministry Formation program attracting new audience   The cathedrals of France: Monuments of faith in stone   Executive summary of the ad hoc commission on athletics in diocesan high schools   ‘No widespread abuse’ found   Milburn leaving pro-life post to pursue grad studies   Return to France yields history, memories, surprises   Two new members appointed for Diocesan Finance Council   Former SS. C&M school razed, but memories remain   Pastor, 80, keeps busy with ‘lots of interests’   Ravenna IC boasts 5 high school valedictorians for ‘02   Humility Sister Sandy Pedone to profess perpetual vows July 21   NRLC convention filled with good news   ‘Capture the Romance’ is theme for NFP Week   Question of moral evil discussed at Walsh symposium   Notre Dame Sisters will celebrate jubilees July 14   ‘A great lady’ retires   Statement of Bishop Tobin on the meeting of the U. S. Conference   Haladej, Celuch ordained to priesthood, diaconate in Slovakia   Bishop plans implementation of norms on sexual abuse   Kevin McCaffrey, Robert Miller are newest priests   Theologian: ‘Behave toward others as though God were there’   Fr. Bonnot: Use good judgment for TV, movie viewing   MOMS: ‘A place to claim yourself’   Storm ‘changed lives forever’ for Jackson Twp. family   Bishop will ordain Miller, McCaffrey at May 25 ceremony   Update on child abuse   Vicar general addresses issue of not giving priest names to media   New Middletown St. Paul youth — called to be ‘witnesses’ for Christ   New Ursuline Sisters leadership team elected to 6-year term   Two receive first pastorates; two pastors change parishes   Abuse coverage   Walsh University dedicates new ‘David’ campus center   Sisters’ HIV/AIDS ministry critical, heartbreaking   Bishop visits St. Peter’s as rebuilding process begins   Chrism Mass theme: Priests can’t afford discouragement   Bishop’s Appeal stresses meeting needs, funding ministries   Diocese OKs closing Conneaut St. Frances Cabrini K-8; preschool stays   St. Stan’s marks 100th year   Canton St. Joseph choir enjoys ‘incredible trip’   New schools superintendent   Four journeys of faith among hundreds marked here   DPC considers direction, importance of youth ministry   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Pro-life dinner heralds new beginning in Stark County   Kids at church   Religious day studies resurrection amid culture of violence   Richard Jusseaume named as Walsh University’s sixth president   Keynoter: Eucharist should change us   Speaker: ‘Truth’ key concept in Gospel of John   Parishes offer Lenten missions for spiritual enrichment   Parishes offer Lenten missions, speakers series   Working in Medjugorje   TV anchorman finds faith not incompatible with journalism   Action alert on cloning set in diocese for Feb. 2-3   Austintown parishioner finds fulfillment in El Salvador   ‘Where Faith and Knowledge Meet’   Resisting TEMPTATION: It’s worth the effort, teens say   4th annual Diocesan Pro-life Mass set Jan. 26   Catholic/Lutheran dialogue, death of Walsh president top news   Diocese helping Afghanistan relief   Past Articles From 2001