RT Book
T1 Reform Judaism and Darwin: How Engaging with Evolutionary Theory Shaped American Jewish Religion
T2 Studia Judaica
A1 Langton, Daniel
LA English
PP Berlin Boston
PB De Gruyter
YR 2019
UL https://ixtheo.de/Record/1756067198
AB Darwin provoked Jewish as well as Christian thinkers so that many felt obliged to establish oppositional, alternative, synthetic, or complimentary models relating Jewish religion to his theory of natural selection. This book examines a range of leading nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American progressive Jewish thinkers, with the primary focus being rabbis Kohler, Wise, Hirsch, Krauskopf, and Hahn, although many others are covered. Key themes include the widespread commitment to universal evolutionism, that is, the application of biological evolutionary theory to other realms (e.g. history, religion, cosmic), and the particular fascination with the evolution of ethical systems within human societies, bearing in mind mankind's bestial origins and the new challenges for understanding religious authority and revelation. It is argued that Reform Jewish discussions about the nature of God have been more profoundly shaped by engagement with evolutionary theory than has been recognized before, and that evolutionary thought provides the key framework for understanding Reform Judaism itself. The precise nature of Jewish Reform engagement with Christian proponents of theistic evolution are important, as are their interest in alternative evolutionists to Darwin, such as Spencer and Haeckel
AB Frontmatter --Contents --I. Introduction --II. Evolution 'in the air': Scientific, Philosophical and Christian Influences on Reform Jewish Engagement with Evolutionary Theory --III. Isaac Mayer Wise: The Cosmic God and an Evolving Cosmos --IV. Aaron Hahn: The Divine Design Principle of the Universe --V. Kaufmann Kohler: The Unfolding of Divine Life --VI. Emil G. Hirsch: The Divine Soul of an Evolving Universe --VII. Joseph Krauskopf: The Divine Natural Law of Evolution --VIII. Conclusion --Appendix: Evolution and Progressive Judaism in Britain --Bibliography --Index
OP 138
CN BM538.E8
SN 978-3-11-066411-9
K1 Evolution : Religious aspects : Judaism
K1 Reform Judaism : North America
K1 RELIGION ; Judaism ; Reform
K1 Evolution ; Religious aspects ; Judaism
K1 Reform Judaism
K1 North America