Neil Douglas-Klotz: How did Jesus really pray in Aramaic?

Real Conversation

Everything you think you know about the “Our Father” or “Lord’s Prayer” goes up in smoke as Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz guides us into the sound and meaning of the prayer in Aramaic. From the get-go, it’s a shock. Our father? Maybe not! Whether you have loved this prayer or avoided it like a plague of patriarchy, you are in for a sweet surprise. As Neil extracts the prayer from 2,000 years of mistranslation, you just might find yourself falling in love.

Real Person

Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz is a world-renowned scholar in religious studies, spirituality, and psychology, specializing in the ancient Middle East. Over the past twenty years, he has written several books on an Aramaic approach to the Gospels including Prayers of the Cosmos and Blessings of the Cosmos, as well as books on Jewish and Sufi mysticism.

Real Prayer Action

When you listen to Dr Neil Douglas-Klotz, it feels like listening to Yeshua. Here are a few highlights:

Neil kicked off the conversation saying he was taught to pray TO, rather than WITH. How were you taught to pray? How do you pray now? To or With?
Neil said that historically prayer is NOT a function of religion. Prayer predates religion. Are you surprised by this? Do you pray in a way that predates religion?
He walked us line by line through The Aramaic Prayer. What words or concepts really cracked your heart open? (see the transcript for the Aramaic and English translation)
If he could update Prayers of the Cosmos, Neil said he’d translate “Abwoon” as “oh fathering, oh mothering.” And “kingdom” as “queendom.” Try those on for size and feel your way into the difference.
Neil sent several audio gifts. Enjoy! For the full "Around the World with the Aramaic Prayer of Jesus" click here.

Open your gift bags. One has the Aramaic Prayer in Aramaic and English. The other has a recording from Neil. Then, come to our Praying at the Speed of Love Facebook community and share your experiences with the Aramaic Prayer—and perhaps some of your personal translations. And be sure to subscribe to Janet’s Notes from the Field for first news on upcoming intensives, events, and podcasts.

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