By Karen Vance
Enquirer contributor

MOUNT WASHINGTON - The Marzheuser Lecture on Jewish-Catholic Relations has been a part of the Athenaeum of Ohio's calendar for several years.

This year, Terrance D. Callan, dean of the Athenaeum, will speak on "Paul and Judaism" and the implications of the apostle's letters for relations between Jews and Christians today.

"This is a topic that many people spend their lives studying and debating, and periodically, something comes up to cause it to be revived," Callan said.

The early history of Jewish and Christian relationships is important to today, said Callan, who is the author of Forgetting the Root: The Emergence of Christianity from Judaism.

"Many people who read Paul today believe he had a negative view of Judaism, but there's a very different sense if you read it in the context of his time and with knowledge of his situation," Callan said.

"Paul was Jewish. When read in the proper context, he was very positive toward Judaism and was interested in the welfare of the people of Israel."

The lecture is named for the Rev. Richard Marzheuser, the former dean of Mount St. Mary's Seminary who worked diligently to foster a relationship between the seminary and Hebrew Union College.

It will take place at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Athenaeum, 6616 Beechmont Ave, Mount Washington.

A week later, a member of the faculty at Hebrew Union College, Michael J. Cook, will speak on "Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ - Will it Damage Jewish-Christian Relations?" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 at Congregation Beth Adam, 10001 Loveland-Madeira Road, Loveland.

Cook, one of seven international scholars invited by the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to evaluate the script of the film, will talk about how to approach the film and the ramifications it might have for Christian-Jewish relations.

"It's become a major event with lots of interest and lots of controversy, and we want folks to understand it in a greater context," said Rabbi Robert Barr of Beth Adam.

"My hope is that people of good will, Christians, Jews and of other religions, will decide this is a catalyst for people to get together and talk about these issues."

Both talks are free and open to the public.

For more information about the Athenaeum lecture, call 231-2223.

For more information about Cook's talk, call 985-0400 or visit www.bethadam.org.

CHRISTIAN CONCERT: The First Baptist Church of Greenhills will host Nedra Holman for a Christian concert at 7 p.m. Friday at the church, 11195 Winton Road. Holman, a soprano, is a professor of voice at Wright State University.

To submit religion news, e-mail kvance@fuse.net or send a fax to 755-4150.