Week 1 - Introduction: What Must I Do To Love My Neighbor?

Thesis: Loving my neighbor means that I must let go of always being right.

…Love does not insist on its own way.  It is not irritable or resentful. - I Corinthians 13:5

Abolish all doubt and what’s left is not faith, but absolute heartless conviction. – Lesley Hazelton

A psychologist by training and Middle East reporter by experience, British-bornLesley Hazleton has spent the last ten years exploring the vast and often terrifying arena in which politics and religion, past and present, intersect. She's written about the history of the Sunni/Shi'a split, as well as books on two of the Bible's most compelling female figures: Mary and Jezebel.

Her latest book is The First Muslim, a new look at the life of Muhammad, the founder of Islam. In researching her book, she sat and read the full Koran again -- exploring the beauty and subtlety in this often-misquoted holy book. As she says: " I’m always asking questions — not to find “answers,” but to see where the questions lead. Dead ends sometimes? That’s fine. New directions? Interesting. Great insights? Over-ambitious. A glimpse here and there? Perfect." You can learn more about Lesley Hazleton by visiting her web page The Accidental Theologist.

Questions for further reflection:

How does embracing doubt allow us to more fully love others?

Does embracing doubt and releasing the certainty of our own faith weaken our faith?

Would there be fewer “nones” or atheists or anti-theists if we taught that it was OK to doubt?