Same God, Other god : Judaism, Hinduism, and the Problem of Idolatry / by Alon Goshen-Gottstein.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Goshen-Gottstein, Alon., Author.

Series:

Interreligious Studies in Theory and Practice, 2946-322X

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Religions.

Religion and sociology.

Judaism.

Hinduism.

Comparative Religion.

Sociology of Religion.

Local Subjects:

Comparative Religion.

Sociology of Religion.

Judaism.

Hinduism.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (X, 265 p.)

Edition:

1st ed. 2016.

Place of Publication:

New York : Palgrave Macmillan US : Imprint: Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.

Summary:

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.

Contents:

Book presentation

Presentation of author

Model case presentation: the sheitel crisis

Avoda zara: introducing the category

Avoda zara: mental attitudes

Understanding Avoda zara: the Maimonidean model

Avoda zara between Jews and Gentiles: Nachmanides' model

Shituf: applying a construct of Christianity to Hinduism

Shituf: critical and constructive reflections

Thinking of Hinduism in light of Meiri

Do Jews and Hindus worship the same God?

From Hindu God to Hindu Gods: confronting the particularity of Hindu deities

Revisiting the worship of images: glimpses of a future dialogue

When is a religion Avoda zara? Beyond a global approach to Hinduism.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Other Format:

Print version: Goshen-Gottstein, Alon. Same God, other god : Judaism, Hinduism, and the problem of idolatry.

ISBN:

9781137455284

1137455284