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About this book
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.
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Table of contents (15 chapters)
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Front Matter
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Presentations
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Front Matter
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Introducing Avoda Zara
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Front Matter
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The Same God: Rethinking Hinduism
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Front Matter
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When Is a Religion Avoda Zara?
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Front Matter
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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)
“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)
'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
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.
Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Same God, Other god
Book Subtitle: Judaism, Hinduism, and the Problem of Idolatry
Authors: Alon Goshen-Gottstein
Series Title: Interreligious Studies in Theory and Practice
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-137-45528-4
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan New York
eBook Packages: Religion and Philosophy, Philosophy and Religion (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2016
Hardcover ISBN: 978-1-137-55820-6Published: 30 November 2015
Softcover ISBN: 978-1-349-57189-5Published: 29 January 2017
eBook ISBN: 978-1-137-45528-4Published: 30 August 2017
Series ISSN: 2946-3211
Series E-ISSN: 2946-322X
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: X, 265
Topics: Comparative Religion, Religion and Society, Judaism, Hinduism