Preaching without Contempt: Overcoming Unintended ...

Book Description:
Marilyn Salmon's persuasive and practical work helps preachers to identify the ways that Christian preachers perpetuate the long tradition of Christian anti-Judaism. She situates the Gospels precisely as Jewish literature then addresses specific thorny issues that arise in preaching: supersessionism; portrayals of the Law; the Pharisees; the relationship between the Testaments; preaching the Passion; and misrepresentations of Judaism. Using examples from many sermons, she shows how to avoid the pitfalls of misportraying the people of Jesus.

A Must for Christian Preachers:
Marilyn Salmon has done a great service for preachers in laying bare many of the unconscious sources of anti-semitism in Christian preaching. Many who wish to speak respectfully and accurately of the Jews of Jesus'time (and now, for that matter) will find her outline of the context in which the gospels and other New Testament material developed. The book will be particularly helpful for churches that follow the Western liturgical calendar using lectionaries such as the Revised Common Lectionary. Useful for any preacher; vital for beginning preachers.

An in-depth study of the general misrepresentation provided by so many Christian preachers:
Preaching Without Contempt: Overcoming Unintended Anti-Judaism by Marilyn J. Salmon (Associate Professor of New Testament Theology at United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities) is an in-depth study of the general misrepresentation provided by so many Christian preachers in the past concerning the Judaic religion. Providing contemporary Christian readers with a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the New Testament Gospels in their historical first-century Jewish context, Preaching Without Contempt insightfully and knowledgeably presents Jewish beliefs and offers helpful advice for avoiding the kind of stereotypes that lead to Christian driven discrimination, persecutions, pogroms and holocausts against the Jews of the past. Preaching Without Contempt is very highly recommended reading for all Christians, and most especially seminary students and the Protestant clergy.

A must-read for Christian preachers:
This is a must read for all Christian preachers. It should be required reading for every seminarian. Every Christian should remember that our religion began as a sect within judaism, and that as the apostle Paul wrote, we are "branches ingrafted into the tree." In other words, we are honorary Jews. This is an excellent book. Read the other two reviews for some more specifics.