Same God, Other god: Judaism, Hinduism, and the Problem of Idolatry

by Alon Goshen-Gottstein

Overview

Jews often consider Hinduism to be Avoda Zara, idolatry, due to its worship of images and multiple gods. Closer study of Hinduism and of recent Jewish attitudes to it suggests the problem is far more complex. In the process of considering Hinduism's status as Avoda Zara, this book revisits the fundamental definitions of Avoda Zara and asks how we use the category. By appealing to the history of Judaism's view of Christianity, author Alon Goshen-Gottstein seeks to define what Avoda Zara is and how one might recognize the same God in different religions, despite legal definitions. Through a series of leading questions, the discussion moves from a blanket view of Hinduism as idolatry to a recognition that all religions have aspects that are idolatrous and non-idolatrous. Goshen-Gottstein explains how the category of idolatry itself must be viewed with more nuance. Introducing this nuance, he asserts, leads one away from a globalized view of an entire tradition in these terms.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781349571895
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan US
Publication date:	01/29/2017
Series:	Interreligious Studies in Theory and Practice
Edition description:	1st ed. 2016
Pages:	265
Sales rank:	523,707
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x 0.02(d)

About the Author

Alon Goshen-Gottstein is a noted scholar of rabbinic literature and former lecturer at Tel Aviv University, Israel. He is founder and director of the Elijah Interfaith Institute, a global organization bringing together high level religious leadership and scholars in ongoing collaboration surrounding interfaith theory and reflection. This present work grows out of these two interests and out of his own personal spiritual journey in dialogue with Hinduism.

Table of Contents

Preface
PART I: PRESENTATIONS
1. Book Presentation
2. Presentation Of Author
3. Model Case Presentation The Sheitel Crisis
PART II: INTRODUCING AVODA ZARA
4. Avoda Zara Introducing The Category
5. Avoda Zara: Mental Attitudes
PART III: THE OTHER GOD DEFINING AVODA ZARA
6. Understanding Avoda Zara The Maimonidean Model
7. Avoda Zara Between Jews And Gentiles: Nachmanides' Model
8. Shituf: Applying A Construct Of Christianity To Hinduism
9. Shituf: Critical And Constructive Reflections
10. Thinking Of Hinduism In Light Of Meiri
PART IV, THE SAME GOD RETHINKING HINDUISM
11. Do Jews And Hindus Worship The Same God?
12. From Hindu God To Hindu Gods: Confronting The Particularity Of Hindu Deities
13. Revisiting The Worship Of Images Glimpses Of A Future Dialogue
PART V: WHEN IS A RELIGION AVODA ZARA? BEYOND A GLOBAL APPROACH TO HINDUISM
14. When Is A Religion Avoda Zara? Beyond A Global Approach To Hinduism
Concluding Reflection

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

'Alon Goshen-Gottstein has provided us with a masterful exploration of the status of Hinduism as Avoda Zara (idolatry) and has opened up the category of Avoda Zara for deep interrogation. This is a much needed exercise in a global age and one that will be helpful to Jewish seekers, halachists, and theologians, as they reflect on world religions as a whole, and on Hinduism in particular. No future discussion can ignore the systematic analysis and the spiritual challenges it presents.' - Rabbi Daniel Sperber, Professor of Talmud, Bar Ilan University, Israel

"Hindus will welcome this much-needed analysis that interrogates simplistic characterizations of the tradition as idolatrous and that highlights the Hindu understanding of the divine as transcending all finite categories and forms." - Anant Rambachan, Professor of Religion, St. Olaf College, USA

Editorial Reviews

The book provides an outstanding treatment of medieval Jewish definitions of avodah zarah found in halakhic works, biblical and talmudic commentary, and philosophical writings. … Readers from many disciplines will find it both useful and accessible, as will many readers outside the academy.” (Benjamin D, Sommer, The Journal of Religion, Vol. 99 (3), 2019)

“G. has done a wonderful job in learning Hinduism by reading widely, and by the fruits of his many friendships and contacts. … For those of us unfamiliar with rabbinic ways of thinking, G.’s book is eye-opening, as new ways of engaging the religions of Asia suddenly emerge. Christian theologians of religions can be grateful too, relieved of the burden of thinking that all the intellectual work of understanding pluralism is ours to do.” (Francis X. Clooney, SJ, Theological Studies, Vol. 78 (2), June, 2017)

From the Publisher