The Jewish God Question explores what a diverse array of Jewish thinkers have said about the interrelated questions of God, the Book, the Jewish people, and the Land of Israel. Exploring topics such as the existence of God, God's relationship to the world and to history, how to read the Bible, Jewish mysticism, the evolution of Judaism, and more, Andrew Pessin makes key insights from the Jewish philosophical tradition accessible and engaging. Short chapters share fascinating insights from ancient times to today, from Philo to Judith Plaskow. The book emphasizes the more unusual or intriguing ideas and arguments, as well as the most influential.The Jewish God Question is an exciting and useful book for readers wrestling with some very big questions.
Autorentext
Andrew Pessin is professor of philosophy at Connecticut College. In addition to his occasional appearances as The Genius on the Late Show with David Letterman , he is the author of a number of books, including The God Question: What Famous Thinkers from Plato to Dawkins Have Said about the Divine and The 60-Second Philosopher .
Samuel Lebens is a research fellow in philosophy at the University of Haifa. He is chairperson of the Association for the Philosophy of Judaism.
Inhalt
Acknowledgments
Introduction
PART I: PHILOIBN DAUD (c. 20 BCE1180 CE) Introduction to Part I
Philo (c. 20 BCEc. 50 CE)
1.On Beginning with The Beginning
On the Law, creation, and the cosmos
2.The People of the Book, and the Book of (All) the People
The Torah expresses a universal philosophy for everyone
Saadia Ben Joseph Gaon (882942)
3.What a Long, Strange Trip It Hasn't Been
The cosmos must have had a first moment of creation
4.Two Ways of Being One
There is just one god, who is one, all the way through
Isaac Israeli (c. 855955)
5.The Descent, and Ascent, of Man
Cosmology and psychology illuminate the way to eternal bliss
Solomon Ibn Gabirol (102158)
6.On the Matter of the Soul
All objects, physical or spiritual, are a combination of matter and form,and that is the secret to blessedness
Bachya Ibn Paquda (c. 10501120)
7.Do the Right Thingfor the Right Reasons
Duties of the limb are imperfect unless accompanied by duties of the heart
Abraham Bar Chiyya (10651136)
8.And God Did Not Say, Let There Be Man
Both scripture and philosophical reasoning demonstrate the immortality of the soul
Joseph Ibn Tzaddik (?1149)
9.In the Beginning Was the Beginningof Time
How to reconcile the eternal unchanging nature of God's will with His creating the cosmos
Judah Halevi (c. 10751141)
10.The Philosopher's God
The God who does not hear or care is not the God of the Hebrew Bible
11.The Spiritual Lighthouse
The children of Israel were chosen for the mission of spreading the divine light
12.Home Is Where the Heart Is
The children of Israel belong in the Land of Israel
Abraham Ibn Ezra (10891164)
13.The History over the Mystery
Why God prefaces the Ten Commandments with a history lesson
Abraham Ibn Daud (Rabad) (111080)
14.The Unmoved Mover
Philosophical principles prove the existence of the nonphysical God of Judaism
15.What God Does Not Know, Despite Knowing Everything
Although our free actions cannot be foreknown, there is no lack in God's knowledge