In this Book
- A Plausible God: Secular Reflections on Liberal Jewish Theology
- Book
- 2006
- Published by: Fordham University Press
summary
At least since the seventeenth century, the traditional God of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam has been under pressure to conform to the scientific worldview. Across the monotheistic traditions there has emerged a liberalconception of God compatible with a thoroughgoing naturalism. For many, this liberal newGod is the only credible God. But is it a useful God? Does belief in so malleable a deity come from, or lead to, different political, moral, psychological, or aesthetic phenomena from atheism?A Plausible God evaluates the new God by analyzing the theology of three recent Jewish thinkers -Mordechai Kaplan, Michael Lerner, and Arthur Green-and compares faith in the new God to disbelief in any gods. Mitchell Silver reveals what is at stake in the choice between naturalistic liberal theology and a nontheistic naturalism without gods. Silver poses the question: If it is to be either the new God or no God, what does-what should-determine the choice?Although Jewish thinkers are used as the primary exemplars of new God theology, Silver explores developments in contemporary Christian thought, Eastern religious traditions, and New Agereligion. A Plausible God constitutes a significant contribution to current discussions of the relationship between science and religion, as well as to discussions regarding the meaning of the idea of God itself in modern life.A wonderful piece of work. . . . Many wonderful passages, with very clear and original thoughts, excellently put.-Daniel C. Dennett, author of Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon
Table of Contents
Download Full Book
- Title Page, Copyright Page
- pp. ii-vii
- Acknowledgments
- pp. x-xi
- 1. The New God's Relevance
- pp. 3-13
- 4. The Uses of Belief in God
- pp. 31-39
- 5. The Usefulness of a Plausible God
- pp. 40-57
- 6. Someone to Watch Over Me
- pp. 58-71
- 7. Talking to and About God
- pp. 72-90
- 8. Avoiding Idolatry
- pp. 93-101
- 9. A Matter of Taste
- pp. 102-113
- 10. Truth and Beauty
- pp. 114-120
- Reference Matters
- pp. 121-122
- Appendix A
- pp. 123-130
- Appendix B
- pp. 131-140
- Appendix C
- pp. 141-148
- References
- pp. 175-178
Additional Information
ISBN
9780823226825
Related ISBN(s)
9780823226818, 9780823238514
MARC Record
OCLC
156257458
Pages
200
Launched on MUSE
2012-06-26
Language
English
Open Access
No