Jews and Christians: The Myth of a Common Tradition

Neusner, Jacob

ISBN 10: 1592441564 / ISBN 13: 9781592441563

Published by Wipf and Stock 2/19/2003, 2003

About this Item

Paperback. New book. Previously published by SCM Press, 1991. This item is at our location in Eugene, Oregon. 172 pp.

Seller Inventory # W9781592441563

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Jews and Christians: The Myth of a Common Tradition
• Publisher: Wipf and Stock 2/19/2003
• Publication Date: 2003
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1592441564
• ISBN 13: 9781592441563
• Binding: Soft cover

About this title

Synopsis

The author proposes that "there is not now, and there never has been, a dialogue between the religions of Judaism and Christianity." The first part of the book represents historical discourse through which Professor Neusner underscores that, from the very beginnings, the Judaic and Christian religious worlds scarcely intersected (with the exception of the fourth century). In the second part, Neusner spells out theological reasons underlying the "myth" of a Judeo-Christian tradition. He calls for an understanding of religions as systems so that each party can describe fully, honestly, and accurately the religion it proposes to bring into dialogue with the other. Only when both parties grasp what is meant in context can dialogue actually occur. Throughout this absorbing book, Professor Neusner summons readers to make an effort to treat as legitimate and authentic religions other than their own, and to value a religion's account of itself. Then genuine dialogue may be possible, and such dialogue is essential for world peace. Jacob Neusner is Graduate Research Professor of Humanities and Religious Studies at the University of South Florida, Tampa.

About the Author

Jacob Neusner is Research Professor of Religion and Theology at Bard College and Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard. He has published more than 900 books and unnumbered articles, both scholarly and academic and popular and journalistic, and is the most published humanities scholar in the world. He has been awarded nine honorary degrees, including seven US and European honorary doctorates. He received his AB from Harvard College in 1953, his PhD from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in 1961, and rabbinical ordination and the degree of Master of Hebrew Letters from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1960. Neusner is editor of the 'Encyclopedia of Judaism' (Brill, 1999. I-III) and its Supplements; Chair of the Editorial Board of 'The Review of Rabbinic Judaism, ' and Editor in Chief of 'The Brill Reference Library of Judaism', both published by E. J. Brill, Leiden, The Netherlands. He is editor of 'Studies in Judaism', University Press of America. Neusner resides with his wife in Rhinebeck, New York. They have a daughter, three sons and three daughters-in-law, six granddaughters and two grandsons.