A plausible God : secular reflections on liberal Jewish theology / Mitchell Silver.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Silver, Mitchell.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Lerner, Michael, 1943-2024--Teachings.

Lerner, Michael.

Green, Arthur, 1941---Teachings.

Green, Arthur.

Kaplan, Mordecai Menahem, 1881-1983--Teachings.

Kaplan, Mordecai Menahem.

God (Judaism).

Judaism--Doctrines.

Judaism.

Liberalism (Religion).

Physical Description:

1 online resource (203 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

New York : Fordham University Press, 2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

At least since the seventeenth century, the traditional God of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam has been under pressure to conform to the scientific worldview. Across the monotheistic traditions there has emerged a “liberal” conception of God compatible with a thoroughgoing naturalism. For many, this liberal “new” God is the only credible God. But is it a useful God? Does belief in so malleable a deity come from, or lead to, different political, moral, psychological, or aesthetic phenomena from atheism? A Plausible God evaluates the new God by analyzing the theology of three recent Jewish thinkers —Mordechai Kaplan, Michael Lerner, and Arthur Green—and compares faith in the new God to disbelief in any gods. Mitchell Silver reveals what is at stake in the choice between naturalistic liberal theology and a nontheistic naturalism without gods. Silver poses the question: “If it is to be either the new God or no God, what does—what should—determine the choice?” Although Jewish thinkers are used as the primary exemplars of new God theology, Silver explores developments in contemporary Christian thought, Eastern religious traditions, and “New Age” religion. A Plausible God constitutes a significant contribution to current discussions of the relationship between science and religion, as well as to discussions regarding the meaning of the idea of God itself in modern life.

Contents:

Front matter

CONTENTS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

PREFACE

1. THE NEW GOD’S RELEVANCE

2. A FIRST PASSAT DEFINING ‘‘GOD’’: THE ALLAND THE ONE

3. A SECOND PASS: GOD AS THE POTENTIAL FOR GOODNESS

4. THE USES OF BELIEF IN GOD

5. THE USEFULNESS OF A PLAUSIBLE GOD

6. SOMEONE TO WATCH OVER ME

7. TALKING TO AND ABOUT GOD

8. AVOIDING IDOLATRY

9. A MATTER OF TASTE

10. TRUTH AND BEAUTY

APPENDIX A. THE INEFFABLE

APPENDIX B. THE UNTENABLE GOD

APPENDIX C. THEORIES OF TRUTH AND CREDIBILITY

NOTES

REFERENCES

Index

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9786612698446

9780823236565

0823236560

9780823247240

0823247244

9781282698444

1282698443

9780823238514

0823238512

9780823226832

0823226832

9781429479134

1429479132

OCLC:

213306147