Over the Christian centuries the teaching about the kingdom of God has followed a pretty narrow pattern. The kingdom was heaven where believers in Jesus as the son of God, if they had been true to the letter of the law, would go after they died. This belief has been used to keep congregations in line and in the church or denomination. It teaches that God is the Big Parent in the sky who is punitive and can't wait to punish those who stray. This belief bears little resemblance to Jesus' teachings on the kingdom. It has invited us to be rule-followers and asks nothing of us about being loving...