Rabbi Stern’s recent comments on Pope Benedict and the direction in which he is taking the Catholic Church gives good cause for alarm. On the one hand, the Pope is certainly well within his rights (and role) to assert that Catholic doctrine is the sole truth and all those outside of the Church will suffer eternal damnation. On the other hand, this is almost surely not a helpful point to bring out when one also claims to be seeking greater interfaith understanding.
I certainly understand that in interfaith dialogue everyone is entitled to their theological convictions, as we discussed on this blog a few weeks ago, and no one should enter dialogue seeking to prove someone else is wrong. But I see real problems with the “fundamentalist relativism” Rabbi Stern describes. Fundamentalism is based on assuming your truth alone is complete and correct, without allowing the possibility for questioning and discovery. There is a great difference between saying, "I believe Jesus is the one and only path to salvation" and "Jesus is the one and only path to salvation." The former informs the listener while the latter seeks to make a claim upon him.
Relativism too poses grave difficulties. It’s attractive and easy to say: You can believe whatever you want and I can believe whatever I want, since who’s to say what’s right? But such an approach confers the "blessing" of religion on every practice from murdering infidels to honor killings to human sacrifice (if you imagine taking that approach with the ancient Mayans).
I would like an approach to interfaith dialogue that is neither fundamentalist nor relativistic–to have participants engage one another with an acknowledgment that each of us holds some piece of truth and, only by working together to see what core principles we share, can we really come to see what is true. Religion should uphold values of human dignity, of justice, of compassion, of love, of right action, and of finding holiness in the world. We may have different ways to get there but that’s not the same thing as taking a relativist position of saying, "Sure, but hatred, injustice, and violence are nice values too." Insist on the integrity of your own position but strive to see what truths one can learn from the other: this is the formula for dialogue that Pope Benedict seems to be missing.
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Author, radio and TV talk show host, and President of CLAL-The National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, Brad Hirschfield is the author of 
I want to thank Dave for his reply; and, also "linoscript" for his post, and Larry Lennhoff for reminding us all that, "the gates to teshuva are always open"...
It is always good to talk and share our thoughts. But we must always remember that the greatest gift to humanity is the knowledge that we are all G-d's children and all created in His image.
I am so thankful that I am able to read the Bible and the teachings of Jesus and not have to simply rely on reading or listening to what someone one else says the Bible tells us or what Jesus taught.
To the poster who wrote: > I have to pipe in here and say that this concept has been taken out of context by most non-Jews and probably some unaware Jews as well. It was according to tradition and interpretation a joint decision. God offered The Torah to other nations, and God was was refused. Only the Hebrews agreed to accept God's laws. So in effect, God and the Hebrews chose each other. Hence the Jews were the chosen people of God. It is amazing how things are strewn out of context over the years. There is not doubt that Jews have contributed many gifts to our civilization because of the history of a love of education and a love to make this a better world. Even a non-Jew realized this in his book, > But if Jews were chosen, it was mutual and perhaps designed to put some order and discipline into humans' lives during Biblical Times.
AS A PERSON BORN INTO THE JEWISH FAITH AND WAS BAR MITZVAHD AND WHO BECAME A BELIEVER IN 1986 MY QUESTION TO ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO ANSWER IS:HOW DOES A PERSON OF JEWISH FAITH AND WHO IS A SPIRITUAL JEW NOT JUST AN ETHNIC ONE RECONCILE HIMSELF TO GOD FOR THEIR SINS WHEN THERE IS NO TEMPLE AND ANIMAL SACRIFICES,THE BLOOD,IS NO LONGER AN AVAILABLE OPTION?
I ALSO DON'T BELIEVE ANYONE HAS THE RIGHT OR AUTHORITY TO DENOUNCE SOMEONE'S JEWISHNESS BECAUSE HE OR SHE BELIEVES IN YESHUA.IT WOULD BE AKIN TO THE POPE'S CLAIM THAT ANYONE OTHER THAN CATHOLICS WOULD HAVE SALVATION.
B"H
Jews write G-d without the "O" in fulfillment of the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the L-rd G-d in vain," any writing which will get destroyed or erased or defaced, is not permitted to spell out His name, according to Jewish law.
Prayer books and Bibles have the "O" in His name, since these are holy books that do not get discarded or defaced. Old Jewish holy books are buried in a cemetery, not thrown away...Joe
I must disagree with the author that we can all come together to see what is true.
I do not believe in G-d the way many others do and many do not believe as I do.
I think everyone comes to their own decision on what is the truth.
As a Jew and an individual I would find other religons interesting, but I base my truth on what I have come to believe thruout the years.
It may or may not agree with other Jewish thought as well as non-Jewish. It hurts nobody and feels good to me for what I have lived thru, what I will live thru, and the afterlife.
As far as religon goes I am content. If others were also things would be so much better for our world.
Laura