The Jewish social contract : an essay in political theology / David Novak.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Novak, David, 1941-

Series:

New forum books.

New forum books

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Judaism and state.

Social contract--Religious aspects--Judaism.

Social contract.

Judaism and politics.

Democracy--Religious aspects--Judaism.

Democracy.

Covenants--Religious aspects--Judaism.

Covenants.

Secularism--Political aspects.

Secularism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (284 p.)

Edition:

Course Book

Place of Publication:

Princeton : Princeton University Press, c2005.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Jewish Social Contract begins by asking how a traditional Jew can participate politically and socially and in good faith in a modern democratic society, and ends by proposing a broad, inclusive notion of secularity. David Novak takes issue with the view--held by the late philosopher John Rawls and his followers--that citizens of a liberal state must, in effect, check their religion at the door when discussing politics in a public forum. Novak argues that in a "liberal democratic state, members of faith-based communities--such as tradition-minded Jews and Christians--ought to be able to adhere to the broad political framework wholly in terms of their own religious tradition and convictions, and without setting their religion aside in the public sphere. Novak shows how social contracts emerged, rooted in biblical notions of covenant, and how they developed in the rabbinic, medieval, and "modern periods. He offers suggestions as to how Jews today can best negotiate the modern social contract while calling upon non-Jewish allies to aid them in the process. The Jewish Social Contract will prove an enlightening and innovative contribution to the ongoing debate about the role of religion in liberal democracies.

Contents:

Formulating the Jewish social contract

The covenant

The covenant reaffirmed

The law of the state

Kingship and secularity

Modern secularity

The social contract and Jewish-Christian relations

The Jewish social contract in secular public policy.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. [239]-249) and index.

ISBN:

9786612157332

9781282157330

1282157337

9781400824397

1400824397

OCLC:

436942500