Same God, other god : Judaism, Hinduism, and the problem of idolatry

Description

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. Read more... Abstract: Jews often consider Hinduism to be Avoda Zara, idolatry, due to its worship of images and multiple gods. 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. Read more... Front Matter ....Pages i-x Front Matter ....Pages 1-2 Book Presentation (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 3-10 Author Presentation (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 11-15 Model Case Presentation: The Sheitel Crisis (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 17-24 Front Matter ....Pages 25-26 Avoda Zara: Introducing the Category (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 27-31 Avoda Zara: Mental Attitudes (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 33-39 Front Matter ....Pages 41-46 Understanding Avoda Zara: The Maimonidean Model (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 47-57 Avoda Zara between Jews and Gentiles: Nachmanides’ Model (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 59-80 Shituf: Applying a Construct of Christianity to Hinduism (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 81-91 Shituf: Critical and Constructive Reflections (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 93-106 Thinking of Hinduism in Light of Meiri (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 107-126 Front Matter ....Pages 127-130 Do Jews and Hindus Worship the Same God? (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 131-145 From Hindu God to Hindu gods: Confronting the Particularity of Hindu Deities (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 147-171 Revisiting the Worship of Images: Glimpses of a Future Dialogue (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 173-181 Front Matter ....Pages 183-184 Beyond a Global Approach to Hinduism (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 185-203 Concluding Reflection (Alon Goshen-Gottstein)....Pages 205-206 Back Matter ....Pages 207-265