Week 2- Response to Todd B.'s blog

I would like to challenge your statement that Jesus was on a "religious" mission. Too often we use this word "religion" to refer to everything that is inward, personal, subjective, and irrelevant to life in general. We must remember that in Jesus' time, everything was "religious." That is, taxes (i.e. the temple tax) was often a religious system of oppression, whether the sick and the poor were given refuge was a "religious" issue, and many more examples could be listed. I do agree with your point that Jesus was not some kind of alien or outsider to the culture that he ministered in. I believe the aspects of Jesus' ministry that can be considered "counter-cultural" are the statements and deeds that challenged common assumptions by using forms and speech that were within the broader worldview of first century Palestine. That is, Jesus challenged people on their own turf. Jesus spoke within the people's language and spoke so that he could be understood. In fact, he was understood so well, that everyone knew Jesus challenged the traditional power structures; and thus he was executed. So, you have a good point Todd, but I am hesitant to say that Jesus' mission was "religious" because I think Jesus' mission was directly political, economic and social (categories that do not usually fall under our definition of religion).