Radical Judaism: Rethinking God and Tradition

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Overview

How do we articulate a religious vision that embraces evolution? Is faith possible if we accept the human authorship of Scripture? In this highly unconventional theology, pathbreaking Jewish scholar Arthur Green, neither theist nor atheist, draws on the language of Kabbalah and Hasidism to argue that a neomystical perspective can help us to reframe these questions, so that our world may yet be viewed as a dwelling place of the sacred. In doing so, he rethinks what we mean by God, the origins and meaning of ...

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Radical Judaism: Rethinking God and Tradition

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More About This Book

Overview

How do we articulate a religious vision that embraces evolution? Is faith possible if we accept the human authorship of Scripture? In this highly unconventional theology, pathbreaking Jewish scholar Arthur Green, neither theist nor atheist, draws on the language of Kabbalah and Hasidism to argue that a neomystical perspective can help us to reframe these questions, so that our world may yet be viewed as a dwelling place of the sacred. In doing so, he rethinks what we mean by God, the origins and meaning of existence, human nature, and revelation to construct a new Judaism for the twenty-first century.

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Editorial Reviews

Jewish Journal

“Filled with interesting observations . . . deliberately provocative [and] accessibly written.”--Rabbi David Wolpe, Jewish Journal

— Rabbi David Wolpe

Jewish Book World
“A brilliant, complex work . . . deeply satisfying . . . a welcome pushing of the boundaries by a master thinker.”—Jewish Book World
The Forward

“Rabbi Arthur Green . . . makes his clearest and boldest case yet . . . a valuable contribution . . . Green has now produced some of the best Jewish theology of our time.”--Jay Michaelson, The Forward

— Jay Michaelson

Neil Gillman
"Green emerges as a decidedly non-traditionalist theologian through this illuminating and evocative discussion about such topics as classic metaphors for God, evolutionary theory, and Kabbalistic theories of creation. Radical Judaism is highly accessible, and the issues addressed are very much those of our contemporaries."—Neil Gillman, The Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Harvey Cox
“A credible spirituality for our tumultuous times. Green draws richly from the Jewish mystical tradition, but also writes from the heart of his own experience. This lucidly written and wise book will reach far beyond the Jewish community.”—Harvey Cox, author of The Future of Faith
Jewish Journal - Rabbi David Wolpe
“Filled with interesting observations . . . deliberately provocative [and] accessibly written.”--Rabbi David Wolpe, Jewish Journal

The Forward - Jay Michaelson
“Rabbi Arthur Green . . . makes his clearest and boldest case yet . . . a valuable contribution . . . Green has now produced some of the best Jewish theology of our time.”—Jay Michaelson, The Forward
Religious Studies Review - Zachary Braiterman
“An indispensable, reader-friendly introduction to the new immanence in contemporary theology read out of the sources of Judaism.”—Zachary Braiterman, Religious Studies Review
Journal of Religion - Samuel H. Brody
"[A] rich and thoughtful work . . . Radical Judaism ought to be read by anyone who wants to get a sense of one major position on the contemporary American Jewish theological landscape, as well as by those interested in the theoretical relationships between science and mysticism."—Samuel H. Brody, Journal of Religion
Publishers Weekly
On his first page, Green (Seek My Face, Speak My Name) states that this book is in large measure his response to a challenge to "write theology for theologians." Accordingly, what he has produced is largely incomprehensible to non-theologians. Using his expertise on Hasidism, Kabbalah, spirituality and Jewish mysticism, Green offers a perplexing interpretation of the concept of God, the existence of evil, and the purpose of human existence. From 1987 to 1993, Green, who describes himself as a "heterodox Jew," presided over the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College. He is now professor and rector of the non-denominational rabbinical program at Hebrew College in Newton, Mass. Although Green's achievements and publication list stamp him as a leading scholar, his new book largely fails to help general readers to comprehend the complicated ideas with which he wrestles. One exception to the generally unintelligible character of Green's presentation is his lucid discussion of the Ten Commandments, which, he asserts, should "stand as the basis of a reinvigorated Judaism." He also clearly advocates a two-state solution to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, although he fails to relate that stance to the emphasis of his book.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780300152326
  • Publisher: Yale University Press
  • Publication date: 3/23/2010
  • Series: The Franz Rosenzweig Lecture Series
  • Pages: 208
  • Sales rank: 342,495
  • Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.10 (h) x 0.60 (d)

Meet the Author

Rabbi Arthur Green is professor and rector of the Rabbinical School of Hebrew College in Newton, MA.
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Table of Contents

Preface ix

Introduction 1

1 Y-H-W-H: God and Being 16

2 Evolution Continues: A Jewish History of "God" 34

3 Torah: Word out of Silence 79

4 Israel: Being Human, Being Jewish 120

Notes 167

Glossary 191

Index 195

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