Here's a brief description:
I'd like to propose reading 2 shorter selections from the Books "Brothers Karamazov" by Dostoevsky and "Jesus of Nazareth" by Pope Benedict XVI Both books are definitely worth a read in their entirety and pulling these selections out is in no way trying to summarize them or give anyone "the main points". "Brothers Karamazov" would be an excellent stand alone book, but I almost think it would be difficult to really treat it fairly in one discussion. These chapters I am proposing were just particularly striking to me.
The chapters in Brothers Karamazov relate a meeting between the 2 brothers Ivan and Alyosha. Alyosha is a young monk and Ivan is his older, intellectual brother. You can probably find a character and plot synopsis online(or just read the whole thing) if you think it would be helpful. I don't find the plot to be critical here, it is more the writing and the ideas that are presented which caught my attention. Chapter 3 is sort of the intro to the conversation and sets the course of the dialogue. Chapter 4 presents a truly heart wrenching and thought provoking argument of the classic case against God, "if God is so good why is there so much suffering." Chapter 5 is in a sense a case against Christ focused around the 3 Temptations in the wilderness.
I thought the Chapter from Pope Benedict's book could be interesting to read side by side as he treats the 3 Temptations and also sees them as being central to understanding who Christ is and getting right what he really brings to the world.
Brothers Karamazov - Book II, Part V, Chapters 3-5. "The Brothers Make Friends", "Rebellion," "The Grand Inquisitor"
Jesus of Nazareth - Chapter 2 "The Temptations of Jesus"
A great discussion - lots of questions brought up. A discussion of the historicity of Jesus.
