D. Cohn-Sherbok – Författare

This pioneering study is the first full-length exploration of the relationship between Judaism and the world's religions. After tracing the history of Jewish views of other religious traditions, the author formulates a new Jewish theology of religious pluralism. This is a vital source for all those who seek to understand Judaism among the universe of faiths.

This study is an exploration of the relationship between Judaism and the world's religions. Beginning with an examination of the biblical view of pagan worship, the book traces the history of Jewish attitudes towards other religious traditions in the rabbinic period, the Middle Ages, the early modern age and contemporary times. In the final part of this volume, Dan Cohn-Sherbok formulates a radically new Jewish theology of religious pluralism. In his view, what is now required is for Jews to free themselves from the absolutes of the past. No longer should they regard Judaism as embodying God's full and final revelation, instead the Divine should be placed at the centre of the universe of faiths. Given such a shift in perspective, the way would then be open for interfaith dialogue of the most profound kind. From its ancient origins, Judaism adopted a generally tolerant attitude to other traditions - what is possible today is for this spirit of tolerance to deepen, and serve as a foundation for a common quest with like-minded adherents of other faiths for spiritual insight and religious truth.This study should be a source for all those who seek to understand Judaism in relation to the major world's religions. Rabbi Dan Cohn-Sherbok is the author of "Issues in Contemporary Judaism", and the editor of "Islam in a World of Diverse Faiths" and "Religion and Public Life".

Since the post-Enlightenment, Jews have fragmented into a variety of sub-groups, each with their own religious ideology. This book provides a description as well as a critique of these various Jewish religious groups and offers an alternative model of Judaism based on an assessment of the nature of contemporary Jewish life. As will be seen, modern Jews are deeply divided on a wide variety of issues. Given this situation, no uniform pattern of Jewish existence can be imposed from above, nor is it likely to emerge from within the body of Israel. What is required instead is a philosophy of Jewish autonomy which legitimizes Jewish subjectivity and personal decision-making. This philosophy of Judaism - which is referred to in this study as 'Open Judaism' - provides a new foundation for Jewish life as Jews stand on the threshold of the third millennium.

Who are the Jews today? What do they believe? Is a different interpretation of Judaism needed for the next century? This work presents an overview and critical evaluation of the different religious sub-groups within the contemporary Jewish community. In the author's view, what is now required is an alternative vision of Judaism based on an acceptance of the plurality which currently exists within modern Jewry. Such a new philosophy of Judaism - referred to as Open Judaism - provides an overarching ideological framework for Jewish living in the next millennium. Designed for students and general readers, this volume provides an introduction to the various Jewish movements as well as a modernised conception of the Jewish religion more in tune with contemporary liberal values.