Same God, Other god

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.

'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

• Preface PART I: PRESENTATIONS 1. Book Presentation 2. Presentation Of Author 3. Model Case Presentation The Sheitel Crisis PART II: INTRODUCING AVODA ZARA 4. Avoda Zara Introducing The Category 5. Avoda Zara: Mental Attitudes PART III: THE OTHER GOD DEFINING AVODA ZARA 6. Understanding Avoda Zara The Maimonidean Model 7. Avoda Zara Between Jews And Gentiles: Nachmanides' Model 8. Shituf: Applying A Construct Of Christianity To Hinduism 9. Shituf: Critical And Constructive Reflections 10. Thinking Of Hinduism In Light Of Meiri PART IV, THE SAME GOD RETHINKING HINDUISM 11. Do Jews And Hindus Worship The Same God? 12. From Hindu God To Hindu Gods: Confronting The Particularity Of Hindu Deities 13. Revisiting The Worship Of Images Glimpses Of A Future Dialogue PART V: WHEN IS A RELIGION AVODA ZARA? BEYOND A GLOBAL APPROACH TO HINDUISM 14. When Is A Religion Avoda Zara? Beyond A Global Approach To Hinduism Concluding Reflection