Judaism Theology

The Bible is the central book in Western culture, yet extraordinarily there is no proper history of it. This exceptional work, by one of the world's leading Biblical scholars, provides a full account of how the different parts of the Bible came to be written; how some writings which were regarded as holy became canonical and were included in the Bible, and others were not; what the relationship is of the different parts of the Bible to each other; and how, once it became a stable text, the Bible has been disseminated and interpreted around the world.

This critically acclaimed book explains the contents and meanings of the core Jewish prayers.

The central energizing question driving the present study is to arrive at some kind of reasonable conclusions about the extent to which Ecclesiastes constitutes an enigma or an unknowable mystery in terms of its overall meaning. A great deal of contemporary biblical scholarship posits that it is extremely difficult if not impossible to know what the writer of Ecclesiastes was really thinking or what were the central motives and, therefore, it is essentially impossible to understand with confidence to any degree of certitude. Given that Ecclesiastes is so summarily perplexing in such ...

The Book of Enoch is an ancient Hebrew apocalyptic religious text, ascribed by tradition to the patriarch Enoch who was the great-grandfather of Noah. The Book of Enoch contains unique material on the origins of demons and Nephilim, why some angels fell from heaven, an explanation of why the Genesis flood was morally necessary, and prophetic exposition of the thousand-year reign of the Messiah.

From the man who became Pope Francis: Jorge Mario Bergoglio shares his thoughts on religion, reason, and the challenges the world faces in the 21st century with Abraham Skorka, a rabbi and biophysicist. This book brings together a series of these conversations, in which both men talked about various theological and worldly issues, including God, fundamentalism, atheism, abortion, homosexuality, euthanasia, same-sex marriage, and globalization.

In this book, we will explore Gnosticism and the Divine Feminine through the lens of two great Gnostic texts. We will see the influence of Gnosticism and how their idea of the Divine Feminine effected orthodox or mainstream Christianity. The treatise of Eugnostos the Blessed (50-150 AD) and the gospel called The Sophia of Jesus Christ (50-200 AD) are presented together in a single volume, due to their close and undeniable connection.

An introduction to the science, history, and creative uses for prayer beads within Jewish life, suitable for any level of Jewish practice and belief (or not) in God. Contains ideas and templates for creating personal and group prayer bead practices within a Jewish context.

Though Christians affirm that the Old Testament bears witness to Christ, how the Old Testament writers did this is a matter of extensive debate. Furthermore, Christian biblical scholars also debate the degree to which contemporary interpreters of the Bible can follow the hermeneutics of the New Testament authors in using the Old Testament to point to the person and work of Jesus Christ. Five Views on Christ in the Old Testament is the first book to bring together in conversation the major views on how the Old Testament points to Christ.

A profoundly and unexpectedly intimate, deeply affecting summing up of his life so far, from one of the most cherished moral voices of our time. The world's tireless ambassador of tolerance and justice has given us this luminous account of hope and despair, an exploration of the love, regrets, and abiding faith of a remarkable man.

In the year 167 BCE, a small band of Judean priests sparked a conflict against the Seleucid Empire that would last a quarter of a century. The immediate trigger had been a sacrifice to idols about to be offered by a Jew at the order of Seleucid officials. The battle was not simply a violent reaction against foreign rule, however. The violence that erupted also revealed the profound disagreements between Jews over what Jewish identity entailed and how it should be lived out. While the military battles against the Seleucid Empire that followed were momentous, the heart of the clash was ...

The term "kashrut" refers to the Jewish religious dietary laws derived from the Torah. The term "kashrut" is derived from the Hebrew word "kasher" meaning "fit" or "acceptable". From the word "kasher", we derive the word "kosher" in its anglicized form. But before we discuss what kosher is, let’s discuss some ideas as to “why” kosher exists. Why, after all, would a religious faith be concerned about what people eat? This audiobook provides the student or curious individual with the basics of what kosher is and why it is observed by religious Jews around the world.

Ultimately, Hebrews? Africans? Or Does It Matter? offers a profound reflection on the spiritual importance of our history, our cultural identity, and the simply amazing power of embracing the richness of who we really are – not just as strong Black individuals, but collectively, as a strong Black people! If we only knew the power that we already have! The listener will see in this book why whether we are Hebrews or Africans really does matter! Now is the time…

Today, many Jewish Americans are embracing a dual religious identity, practicing Buddhism while also staying connected to their Jewish roots. This book tells the story of Judaism's encounter with Buddhism in the United States, showing how it has given rise to new contemplative forms within American Judaism - and shaped the way Americans understand and practice Buddhism. Taking listeners from the 19th century to today, Emily Sigalow traces the history of these two traditions in America and explains how they came together.

Look around, there’s not many here. This is a special place that looks like Jesus. A place of power, boldness, guidance in the Spirit; and holy obedience to His Truth. It’s the Kingdom on Earth. It fills, it satisfies, it sets free, and fills a hole within mainstream Christianity. It’s not the Truth without the Spirit or Spirit without the Truth, it’s the fullness of Messiah that drips with anointing. He is calling and enabling a radical bride, who for the first time in history will walk in the full measure of law and grace.

The Hiddenness of God addresses the problem of divine hiddenness which concerns the ambiguity of evidence for God's existence, the elusiveness of God's comforting presence, the palpable and devastating experience of divine absence and abandonment, and more; phenomena which are hard to reconcile with the idea, central to the Jewish and Christian scriptures, that there exists a God who is deeply and lovingly concerned with the lives of humans. Michael C. Rea argues that divine hiddenness is not a problem to be explained away but rather a consequence of the nature of God himself.

Discover the extraordinary world of Karaite Judaism with Karaite Judaism for Beginners: Insights into an Ancient Faith. This captivating guide opens the door to a unique branch of Judaism that has preserved its distinct identity and practices for centuries. Whether you are a curious reader, a student of religion, or someone seeking deeper understanding, this book is your gateway to a fascinating tradition. Unearth the Fundamentals: Begin your journey with a clear and engaging introduction to Karaite beliefs. Learn how Karaites follow the written Torah as their sole religious authority, ...

Despite significant improvement in interfaith dialogue in some quarters between Christians and Jews, many Christians still maintain theological positions that are inimical to fundamental Jewish beliefs, and consequently, to the Jewish people. The essential perspective that sets the tone for Christian attitudes toward Jews and Judaism is their theological view of the Torah.

Originally included in the King James Bible, **1st and 2nd Maccabees** offer a thrilling historical account of the guerrilla warfare in which, with God's help, the Maccabean brothers—Judas, Jonathan, and Simon—achieved extraordinary victories against vastly superior armies, ultimately restoring an independent Jewish kingdom and preserving their religious practices.

An Exegetical and Theological Exposition of the biblical text. The text is organized as twenty-five sequential but independent commentaries that are suitable for about thirty minutes of personal Bible study or about one hour of small-group study. The presentation makes use of the historical and literary context in an attempt to communicate the original author's intent. Each chapter contains applications to modern life. Table of Contents 1:18-25; 2:13-23 Joseph, a Model of Faithfulness 2:1-12. The Gifts of the Magi 3:1-17. The End of the Darkness 4:1-10. Putting Faith to the Test 5:1-12. The...

"The Disputation at Barcelona" was a pivotal event in 1263 where Rabbi Moses ben Nachman, a prominent Jewish scholar, engaged in a formal debate with Pablo Christiani, a Jewish convert to Christianity, in the court of King James I of Aragon.