Monotheism, Biblical Traditions, and Race Relations

Monotheism, Biblical Traditions, and Race Relations
Author: Yung Suk Kim
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 97
Release: 2022-03-03
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1108968805

In the Hebrew Bible, various aspects of theism exist though monotheistic faith stands out, and the New Testament largely continues with Jewish monotheism. This Element examines diverse aspects of monotheism in the Hebrew Bible and their implications to others or race relations. Also, it investigates monotheistic faith in the New Testament writings and its impact on race relations, including the work of Jesus and Paul's apostolic mission. While inclusive monotheism fosters race relations, exclusive monotheism harms race relations. This Element also engages contemporary biblical interpretations about the Bible, monotheistic faith, and race/ethnicity.

Monotheism and Narrative Development of the Divine Character in the Hebrew Bible

Monotheism and Narrative Development of the Divine Character in the Hebrew Bible
Author: Mark McEntire
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 108
Release: 2023-12-31
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1009238949

The preeminent example of monotheism, the God of the Hebrew Bible, is the end product of a long process. The world from which this literature emerged was polytheistic. The nature and arrangement of the literature diminishes polytheistic realities and enhances the effort to portray a single divine being. The development of this divine character through the course of a sustained narrative with a sequential plot aided the move toward monotheism by allowing for the placement of diverse, even conflicting, portrayals of the deity at distant points along the plot line. Through the sequence of events the divine character becomes more withdrawn from the sphere of human activity, more aged in appearance and behavior, and increasingly disembodied. All these characteristics lend themselves to the presentation of disparate narrative portrayals as a singular subject in this Element.

Monotheism in Christian Liturgy

Monotheism in Christian Liturgy
Author: Joris Geldhof
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 128
Release: 2023-01-31
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1009007041

In line with a profound theological understanding of liturgy as the Church at prayer (ecclesia orans), the focus of this Element is the variegated ways in which Christians address, turn to, and worship God in their central rituals and celebrations. Surveying a representative sample of official liturgical sources from different Christian Churches, the question is asked how 'pure' the monotheism expressed in them is. For one could argue that there is some ambiguity involved, especially with respect to (i) the peculiar position of Christ, the Son of God, and God the Father in liturgical prayers, and (ii) regarding the veneration of the saints. The essential key to unlock this complex and multi-layered reality is a meticulous study of the essential doxological nature of Christian liturgy, both from a phenomenological point of view and on the basis of fine textual analyses.

Monotheism and Social Justice

Monotheism and Social Justice
Author: Robert Karl Gnuse
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 130
Release: 2023-07-31
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1009223283

The rise of monotheistic religious faith in ancient Israel and post-exilic Judaism inspired the imperative for social justice on behalf of the poor and the oppressed. Though some authors have maintained that monotheism inspires tyranny, this author maintains that real monotheistic faith affirms justice and human equality. This can be evidenced by a consideration of the Old Testament prophets and Law. Especially with the law we may observe a progression in the attempt to provide increasing rights for the poor and the oppressed.

Handbook on Postconservative Theological Interpretation

Handbook on Postconservative Theological Interpretation
Author: Ronald T. Michener
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 801
Release: 2024-10-24
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1666744050

Postconservative theology may be said to parallel with “postliberal theology” at its best. Orthodox, biblical, but open to new insights about how to interpret Scripture. But the new insights must be faithful as well as fresh. Postconservative theology is not the same as "progressive theology,” which tends to lean toward indeterminant faith expressions, whereas “postconservative” allows for particular faith commitments and expressions but understands that the constructive task of theology is never finished. Authors emphasize various interpretive theological lenses used for doing theology among various postconservative theologians, rather than emphasizing the philosophical background to hermeneutical theory present in other works, such as past influential thinkers (including Gadamer, Grondin, Ricoeur, Heidegger, etc.). This resource could also function as a companion to Evangelical Theological Method: Five Views (2018). This emphasis of the chapters will not be on the nuts and bolts of “how to” interpret, but rather on the theological impulses that govern various lenses (Bible, cultural context, etc.) for doing theology and the way Scripture functions with respect to the practice of interpretation.

Freud's Monotheism

Freud's Monotheism
Author: William Parsons
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 148
Release: 2023-01-31
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 110890825X

This Element consists of three interrelated parts. 'What Freud Said' summarizes the salient details of Freud's psychology of religion: his views on the origins and development of western religions; on contemporary western monotheisms; on the 'unpsychological' proceedings of the religio-cultural super-ego; his qualified endorsement of religious forms of psychotherapy; and his cursory analysis of eastern religions.'What Freud got Wrong' surveys the history of the multidisciplinary critiques (anthropological, sociological, later psychoanalytic, theological/philosophical) that have been levelled at his interpretative strategies. 'Towards a Revised Psychoanalytic Theory of Religion' suggests that the best way forward is to employ a psychoanalytic theory of religion which, taking its cue from the history of its critique, houses reflective, inclusive and dialogical elements. It presents illustrations taken from a variety of contemporary religio-cultural phenomena (marvel movies; issues concerning religion, sexuality and gender; the Megachurch; QAnon) as portable lessons for such applications.

Necessary Existence and Monotheism

Necessary Existence and Monotheism
Author: Mohammad Saleh Zarepour
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 126
Release: 2022-06-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1108945376

Avicenna believes that God must be understood in the first place as the Necessary Existent (wâǧib al-wuǧûd). In his various works, he provides different versions of an ingenious argument for the existence of the Necessary Existent—the so-called Proof of the Sincere (burhân al-ṣiddîqîn)—and argues that all the properties that are usually attributed to God can be extracted merely from God's having necessary existence. Considering the centrality of tawḥîd to Islam, the first thing Avicenna tries to extract from God's necessary existence is God's oneness. The aim of the present Element is to provide a detailed discussion of Avicenna's arguments for the existence and unity of God. Through this project, the author hopes to clarify how, for Avicenna, the Islamic concept of monotheism is intertwined with the concept of essential existence.

Islam and Monotheism

Islam and Monotheism
Author: Celene Ibrahim
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 100
Release: 2022-09-15
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 110898357X

Monotheism (tawḥīd)-as attested to by the cosmos, known through reason, explicated in revelation, and exemplified by the lives of the righteous-forms the core of the Islamic worldview. A conviction in this unadulterated monotheism unifies Muslims across time and place; it is found in the core profession of faith (the shahāda) and is reinforced by thousands of Qur'anic verses and prophetic teachings. Drawing on the Qur'anic discourse, sayings of the Prophet Muḥammad, and select theological works, this Element provides a concise and accessible introduction to the most fundamental concept in Islamic thought. The work explains the nature and attributes of God and examines how tawḥīd informs conceptions of truth, morality, piety, and virtue.

God and Being

God and Being
Author: Nathan Lyons
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 145
Release: 2023-12-31
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1009027824

This Element examines how the Western philosophical-theological tradition between Plato and Aquinas understands the relation between God and being. It gives a historical survey of the two major positions in the period: a) that the divine first principle is 'beyond being' (Example Plato, Plotinus, Pseudo-Dionysius), and b) that the first principle is 'being itself' (Example Augustine, Avicenna, Aquinas). The Element argues that we can recognize in the two traditions, despite their apparent contradiction, complementary approaches to a shared project of inquiry into transcendence.

Paul’s Gospel, Empire, Race, and Ethnicity

Paul’s Gospel, Empire, Race, and Ethnicity
Author: Yung Suk Kim
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Total Pages: 123
Release: 2023-03-01
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1666724882

Contributors to this volume, who represent diverse cultures and perspectives of Asian descent, African American heritage, and Latin American culture, explore Paul's gospel in critical contexts and its implications for race/ethnicity. Key questions include: What is Paul's gospel? Is it for or against the Roman imperial order? Does Paul's message foster true diversity and race relations? Or does it implicate a racial hierarchy or racism? This volume engages readers in conversation with the politics of interpretation in Paul's gospel. How much is it political? Which Paul do we read? This collective volume is the clarion call that biblical interpretation is not an arcane genre in the ivory tower but engages current issues in the real world of America, where we must tackle racism, the Western imperial gospel, and the rigid body politic.