The Boundaries of Monotheism

The Boundaries of Monotheism
Author: Anne-Marie Korte
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 257
Release: 2009
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9004173161

What is the significance of monotheism in modern western culture, taking into account both its problematic and promising aspects? Biblical texts and the biblical faith traditions bear a continuous, polemical tension between exclusive and inclusive perceptions and interpretations of monotheism. Western monotheism proves itself to be multi-significant and heterogeneous, producing boundary-setting as well as boundary-crossing tendencies, is the common thesis of the authors of this book, who have been collectively debating this theme for two years in an interdisciplinary scholarly setting. Their contributions range from the fields of biblical and religious studies, history and philosophy of religion, systematic theology, to gender studies in theology and religion.The authors also explain the particular contribution of their own theological discipline to these debates.

The Boundaries of Monotheism

The Boundaries of Monotheism
Author: Maaike de Haardt
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 256
Release: 2009-01-31
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 9047426630

What is the significance of monotheism in modern western culture, taking into account both its problematic and promising aspects? Biblical texts and the biblical faith traditions bear a continuous, polemical tension between exclusive and inclusive perceptions and interpretations of monotheism. Western monotheism proves itself to be multi-significant and heterogeneous, producing boundary-setting as well as boundary-crossing tendencies, is the common thesis of the authors of this book, who have been collectively debating this theme for two years in an interdisciplinary scholarly setting. Their contributions range from the fields of biblical and religious studies, history and philosophy of religion, systematic theology, to gender studies in theology and religion.The authors also explain the particular contribution of their own theological discipline to these debates.

On the Boundaries of Talmudic Prayer

On the Boundaries of Talmudic Prayer
Author: Yehuda Septimus
Publisher: Mohr Siebeck
Total Pages: 388
Release: 2015-05-28
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9783161534218

The English term "prayer" is usually understood as communication with God or the gods. Scholars of Jewish ritual until now have accepted this characterization and applied it to Jewish tefillah. Does rabbinic prayer indeed necessarily entail second-person address to God, as many scholars of rabbinic prayer to this point have presumed? In this work, Yehuda Septimus investigates a boundary phenomenon of talmudic prayer - ritual speech with addressees other than God. The book represents a fresh look at the possible range of performances undertaken by talmudic ritual prayer. Moreover, it places that range of performances into the historical context of the rapid emergence of prayer as the centerpiece of Jewish worship in the first half of the first millennium CE.

International Review of Biblical Studies, Volume 55 (2008-2009)

International Review of Biblical Studies, Volume 55 (2008-2009)
Author: Bernhard Lang
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 544
Release: 2010-03-08
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9004181504

Formerly known by its subtitle “Internationale Zeitschriftenschau für Bibelwissenschaft und Grenzgebiete”, the International Review of Biblical Studies has served the scholarly community ever since its inception in the early 1950’s. Each annual volume includes approximately 2,000 abstracts and summaries of articles and books that deal with the Bible and related literature, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, Pseudepigrapha, Non-canonical gospels, and ancient Near Eastern writings. The abstracts – which may be in English, German, or French - are arranged thematically under headings such as e.g. “Genesis”, “Matthew”, “Greek language”, “text and textual criticism”, “exegetical methods and approaches”, “biblical theology”, “social and religious institutions”, “biblical personalities”, “history of Israel and early Judaism”, and so on. The articles and books that are abstracted and reviewed are collected annually by an international team of collaborators from over 300 of the most important periodicals and book series in the fields covered.

American Post-Judaism

American Post-Judaism
Author: Shaul Magid
Publisher: Indiana University Press
Total Pages: 769
Release: 2013-04-09
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0253008093

How do American Jews identify as both Jewish and American? American Post-Judaism argues that Zionism and the Holocaust, two anchors of contemporary American Jewish identity, will no longer be centers of identity formation for future generations of American Jews. Shaul Magid articulates a new, post-ethnic American Jewishness. He discusses pragmatism and spirituality, monotheism and post-monotheism, Jesus, Jewish law, sainthood and self-realization, and the meaning of the Holocaust for those who have never known survivors. Magid presents Jewish Renewal as a movement that takes this radical cultural transition seriously in its strivings for a new era in Jewish thought and practice.

Monotheism and Yahweh's Appropriation of Baal

Monotheism and Yahweh's Appropriation of Baal
Author: James S. Anderson
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Total Pages: 160
Release: 2015-08-27
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0567663965

Biblical scholarship today is divided between two mutually exclusive concepts of the emergence of monotheism: an early-monotheistic Yahwism paradigm and a native-pantheon paradigm. This study identifies five main stages on Israel's journey towards monotheism. Rather than deciding whether Yahweh was originally a god of the Baal-type or of the El-type, this work shuns origins and focuses instead on the first period for which there are abundant sources, the Omride era. Non-biblical sources depict a significantly different situation from the Baalism the Elijah cycle ascribes to King Achab. The novelty of the present study is to take this paradox seriously and identify the Omride dynasty as the first stage in the rise of Yahweh as the main god of Israel. Why Jerusalem later painted the Omrides as anti-Yahweh idolaters is then explained as the need to distance itself from the near-by sanctuary of Bethel by assuming the Omride heritage without admitting its northern Israelite origins. The contribution of the Priestly document and of Deutero-Isaiah during the Persian era comprise the next phase, before the strict Yahwism achieved in Daniel 7 completes the emergence of biblical Yahwism as a truly monotheistic religion.

The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ

The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ
Author: David K. Bernard
Publisher: BRILL
Total Pages: 275
Release: 2019-05-21
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 9004397213

There is now a substantial scholarly consensus for the emergence of a high or divine Christology very early and from a Jewish context, but the questions of "how" and "why" need further study. Within the framework of traditional Jewish monotheism, Paul and other early Christians used the language of deity to describe Jesus. To investigate their view of Jesus, the author examines Paul's discourse in 2 Cor 3:16–4:6, employing insights from rhetorical criticism and Oneness Pentecostal Christology. He explains how early Christians proclaimed the deity of Jesus within their monotheistic Jewish context. He then identifies socio-rhetorical reasons for and practical consequences of the monotheistic deification of Jesus.

The Qur'an and Its Message Versus the Three Major Monotheistic Religions

The Qur'an and Its Message Versus the Three Major Monotheistic Religions
Author: Joseph The Monotheist
Publisher: Joseph The Monotheist
Total Pages: 320
Release: 2024-09-22
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 3907677005

Both the curious and the believer alike find themselves pondering the same question: What is the Qur’an, and what is so special about the Qur’an that drives almost one-quarter of the world’s population to believe in it? The Qur’an is not what one would consider an easy read, whether talking about Arabic speaking peoples reading the Arabic Qur’an or non-Arabic speaking peoples reading translations of the text in other languages. Most people think that reading the Qur’an once or even several times readily enables them to understand what the Qur’an is saying. That surely would be true if one were a native Arabic speaker living in the space-time of the revelation fourteen hundred years ago. However, for us living in other space-time, the present author assures the reader that that is not the case. This book is part of a series. It is the first volume of “The Qur’anic Revelation: A Reformed Understanding”—published concurrently with the second and third volumes. In this book the author argues that the religion of Islam is an unacceptable representation of the Qur’anic revelation. Furthermore, that the religions based on God’s revealed scriptures, as we know them today, including but not limited to the religion of Islam, deviate from the essence of God’s revelations—mainly bringing Judaism and Christianity into the discussion. The author puts forward his own interpretation of the Qur’anic revelation and, in this volume, primarily addresses its inclusiveness aspect by exploring how the Qur’an understands both inclusiveness and religion. What Islam is the book talking about? Is it one Islam that around one-fourth of the world’s population follows? Are all of the commands in the Qur’an of eternal applicability? Did the Qur’an come with a new religion and how did the Qur’an define membership in the religion? What impact did the Qur’an have on the beliefs and practices of those who accepted the revelation from the peoples of previous scriptures in the space-time of the Prophet, yet as argued, who at the same time maintained their religious identities? This volume addresses these questions and a multitude of others. This book is self-contained. It does not require the reader to have previous knowledge in any of the topics discussed. The book discusses topics you do not find in your typical book about the Qur’an or Islam. It would interest those who want to learn about the Qur’an and its message. Among this group would be those searching for a reformed understanding of the Qur’an and how it applies today; those curious to learn how the Qur’anic message affects followers of the previous revealed scriptures; and those interested in monotheistic religions in general.

Monotheism, Intolerance, and the Path to Pluralistic Politics

Monotheism, Intolerance, and the Path to Pluralistic Politics
Author: Christopher A. Haw
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Total Pages: 287
Release: 2021-06-17
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 1108896340

Discussions of monotheism often consider its bigotry toward other gods as a source of conflict, or emphasize its universality as a source of peaceful tolerance. Both approaches, however, ignore the combined danger and liberation in monotheism's 'intolerance.' In this volume, Christopher Haw reframes this important argument. He demonstrates the value of rejecting paradigms of inclusivity in favor of an agonistic pluralism and intolerance of absolutism. Haw proposes a model that retains liberal, pluralistic principles while acknowledging their limitations, and he relates them to theologies latent in political ideas. His volume offers a nuanced, evolutionary, and historical understanding of the biblical tradition's emergence and its political consequences with respect to violence. It suggests how we can mediate impasses between liberal and conservative views in culture wars; between liberal inclusivity and conservative decisionism; and, on the religious front, between apologetics for exclusive monotheism and critiques of its intolerance.

The Idea of Semitic Monotheism

The Idea of Semitic Monotheism
Author: Guy G. Stroumsa
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 312
Release: 2021
Genre: History
ISBN: 019289868X

The Idea of Semitic Monotheism examines some major aspects of the scholarly study of religion in the long nineteenth century--from the Enlightenment to the First World War. It aims to understand the new status of Judaism and Islam in the formative period of the new discipline. Guy G. Stroumsa focuses on the concept of Semitic monotheism, a concept developed by Ernest Renan around the mid-nineteenth century on the basis of the postulated and highly problematic contradistinction between Aryan and Semitic families of peoples, cultures, and religions. This contradistinction grew from the Western discovery of Sanskrit and its relationship with European languages, at the time of the Enlightenment and Romanticism. Together with the rise of scholarly Orientalism, this discovery offered new perspectives on the East, as a consequence of which the Near East was demoted from its traditional status as the locus of the Biblical revelations. This innovative work studies a central issue in the modern study of religion. Doing so, however, it emphasizes the new dualistic taxonomy of religions had major consequences and sheds new light on the roots of European attitudes to Jews and Muslims in the twentieth century, up to the present day.