History of religion Books

Book SynopsisBy 1492 the Jewish people had become a small group of literate urbanites specializing in crafts, trade, moneylending, and medicine in hundreds of places across the Old World, from Seville to Mangalore. What caused this radical change? This book presents a new answer to this question.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2012 National Jewish Book Award in Scholarship One of Jewish Ideas Daily.com's 40 Best Jewish Books of 2012 "[A]mbitious ... systematically dismantle much of the conventional wisdom about medieval Jewish history."--Jonathan B. Krasner, Forward "[W]here so many have simply taken as a given universal literacy among Jews, [Botticini and Eckstein] find that a majority of Jews actually weren't willing to invest in Jewish education, with the shocking result that more than two-thirds of the Jewish community disappeared toward the end of the first millennium... The astonishing theory presented here has great implications for both the Jewish community and the broader world today."--Steven Weiss, Slate "[E]ventually, The Chosen Few will have changed the course of history in the Middle East ... as part of a broad reinterpretation of the history of the peopling of the world, underway for a century and a half, that has begun gathering force since the 1990s... This may be the first you have heard about The Chosen Few, but I pretty much guarantee you that it will not be the last."--David Warsh, Economic Principals "[P]rovocative."--Choice "Botticini and Eckstein's simple yet sophisticated human capital analysis provides new insights into Jewish history for the fourteen centuries covered in this book... [Their] methodology yields a very convincing Cliometric analysis that we can expect to inform all future economic histories of the Jews between 70 and 1492."--Carmel U. Chiswick, EH.net "I found The Chosen Few, a book on Jewish economic history by Maristella Botticini and Zvi Eckstein, enormously enlightening and relevant to the draft-the-Haredim debate."--Shlomo Maital, Jerusalem Report "If you've ever wondered how the Chosen People survived the vagaries of history, reading The Chosen Few will give you answers you cannot find anywhere else."--Huffington Post "This is a trailblazing, original, illuminating and horizon-broadening book."--Manuel Trajtenberg, HaaretzTable of ContentsList of Illustrations xi List of Tables xiii Preface xv Introduction 1 Chapter 1 70 CE-1492: How Many Jews Were There, and Where and How Did They Live? 11 From Jesus to Muhammad (1 CE-622): A World of Farmers 15 From Muhammad to Hulagu Khan (622-1258): Farmers to Merchants 31 From Hulagu Khan to Tomas de Torquemada (1258-1492): The End of the Golden Age 44 Jewish History, 70 CE-1492: Puzzles 51 Chapter 2 Were the Jews a Persecuted Minority? 52 Restrictions on Jewish Economic Activities 52 Taxation Discrimination 58 Physical versus Portable Human Capital 59 Self-Segregated Religious Minority 61 The Economics of Small Minorities 62 Summary 65 Chapter 3 The People of the Book, 200 BCE-200 CE 66 The Two Pillars of Judaism from Ezra to Hillel (500-50 BCE): The Temple and the Torah 66 The Lever of Judaism: Education as a Religious Norm 69 The Destruction of the Second Temple: From Ritual Sacrifices to Torah Reading and Study 73 The Legacy of Rabbinic Judaism: The Mishna and Universal Primary Education, 10 CE-200 74 Judaism and Education: The Unique Link in the World of the Mishna 78 Chapter 4 The Economics of Hebrew Literacy in a World of Farmers 80 Heterogeneity and the Choices Facing Jewish Farmers circa 200 82 The Economic Theory: Basic Setup 84 The Economic Theory: Predictions 87 Life in a Village in the Galilee circa 200 through the Lens of the Theory 88 Annex 4.A: Formal Model of Education and Conversion of Farmers 89 Chapter 5 Jews in the Talmud Era, 200-650: The Chosen Few 95 An Increasingly Literate Farming Society 96 Conversions of Jewish Farmers 111 Summary 122 Chapter 6 From Farmers to Merchants, 750-1150 124 The Economics of Hebrew Literacy in a World of Merchants 125 The Golden Age of Literate Jews in the Muslim Caliphates 130 Summary 150 Annex 6.A: Formal Model of Education and Conversion of Merchants 150 Chapter 7 Educated Wandering Jews, 800-1250 153 Wandering Jews before Marco Polo 154 Jewish Migration within the Muslim Caliphates 163 Migration of Byzantine Jewry 172 Jewish Migration to and within Christian Europe 173 Migration of the Jewish Religious Center 195 Summary 200 Chapter 8 Segregation or Choice? From Merchants to Moneylenders, 1000-1500 201 The Economics of Money and Credit in Medieval Europe 202 Jewish Prominence in Moneylending: Hypotheses 209 The Dynamics of Jewish Moneylending in Medieval Europe 212 Jewish Moneylending in Medieval Italy: A Detailed Analysis 219 Attitudes toward Moneylending 232 Facts and Competing Hypotheses 237 From Merchants to Moneylenders: Comparative Advantage in Complex Intermediation 241 Annex 8.A: The Charter to the Jews of Vienna 244 Chapter 9 The Mongol Shock: Can Judaism Survive When Trade and Urban Economies Collapse? 248 The Mongol Conquest of the Muslim Middle East 249 Socioeconomic Conditions in the Middle East under the Mongols 252 Jewish Demography under Mongol and Mamluk Rule: An Experiment 254 Why Judaism Cannot Survive When Trade and Urban Economies Collapse 258 Summary 259 Chapter 10 1492 to Today: Open Questions 261 Portrait of World Jewry circa 1492 261 Jewish History, 70 CE-1492: Epilogue 264 Trajectory of the Jewish People over the Past 500 Years 266 Persistence of Jewish Occupational Structure 268 Appendix 274 Bibliography 287 Index 317

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Book SynopsisWhy does Islam play a larger role in contemporary politics than other religions? Is there something about the Islamic heritage that makes Muslims more likely than adherents of other faiths to invoke it in their political life? This title answers these questions by examining the roles of Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity in modern political life.Trade ReviewMichael Cook, Winner of the 2014 Holberg Prize "Ancient Religions, Modern Politics ... addresses a vital present-day issue on which many have offered opinions, all unsupported by the historical scholarship that he has been able to apply ... impregnable scholarship ... towering work."--Jonathan Benthall, Times Literary Supplement "[Cook] presents a panoramic and nuanced overview of political Islam with regard to identity, social values and culture over time."--Sundeep Khanna, Mint "In many ways, this work is a culmination of a life dedicated to scholarly research and writing. Ancient Religions, Modern Politics has depth that is uncommon, is presented in a readable format that makes it accessible to non-experts and is recognised for its academic rigor by specialists... Cook presents a text that is accessible for the undergraduate level while at the same time challenging and a useful resource for the graduate level."--Taylor & Francis Online "A scholarly tour de force by one of the world's pre-eminent historians of Islam."--William McCants, WallStreetJournal.com "Certainly, rich in its use of sources and convincing in its arguments, this book should be widely read and would be very influential."--Maurice Borrmans, Islamochristiana "This is an impressive work that asks difficult questions and is not afraid to answer them. Cook's sources are extensive and delve deeply into each religious tradition... He skillfully weaves together thinkers from the earliest form of the faith to contemporary schools of though. Readers will be ... challenged to think critically about the important questions he raises."--Theodore A. Nitz, Fides et Historia "Enlightening."--Islamic Quarterly "Profoundly erudite, written with exceptional clarity, and laced with mordant wit."--Ellis Goldberg, Journal of Church and State "This impressive book offers a new approach to answering an old question: why did Islam develop a political profile which paved the way to a 'pull of Islamism,' even turning into militant sectarian conflicts? ... Cook's highly stimulating and knowledgeable reading of Muslims' use of tradition and his answer to the old question will certainly prompt a new discussion about the genealogy of political Islam."--Reinhard Schulze, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African StudiesTable of ContentsPreface xi Part One: Identity Introduction to Part One 1 1 Islam and Identity 3 1. Introduction 3 2. Pre-modern ethnic identity: Turks and Trojans 3 3. Pre-modern ethnic identity: the Islamic factor 8 4. Eighteenth-century Identity politics 18 5. Pre-modern Muslim identity: formation and decay 20 6. The residue of Muslim identity on the eve of modern times 23 7. Modern ethnic and Muslim identity: expectations 32 8. Modern ethnic and Muslim identity: realizations 35 9. Muslim identity and geopolitics 47 10. Conclusion 51 2 Hinduism and identity 53 1. Introduction 53 2. The weakness of pre-modern ethnic and Hindu identity 54 3. Aspects of Hindu coherence 61 4. Modern ethnic and Hindu identity 71 5. Rallying Hindus against Muslims 91 6. What are the Hindu nationalists? 103 7. Conclusion 120 3 Catholicism and identity in Latin America 123 1. Introduction 123 2. The Virgin of Guadalupe 123 3. High expectations 126 4. Low realizations 134 5. Explaining the gap 140 6. Conclusion 154 Conclusion to Part One 156 Part Two: Values Introduction to Part Two 159 4 Society 165 1. Introduction 165 2. Islam 167 3. Hinduism 191 4. Latin American Catholicism 199 5. Religious elites 211 6. Conclusion 213 5 Warfare 215 1. Introduction 215 2. Islam 218 3. Hinduism 234 4. Latin American Catholicism 241 5. Conclusion 246 6 Divine jealousy 249 1. Introduction 249 2. Islam 251 3. Hinduism 282 4. Latin American Catholicism 297 5. Conclusion 307 7 Polity 309 1. Introduction 309 2. Islam 309 3. Hinduism 336 4. Latin American Catholicism 344 5. Conclusion 357 Conclusion to Part Two 361 Part Three: Fundamentalism Introduction to Part Three 371 8 Islam and fundamentalism 377 1. Introduction 377 2. Form 377 3. Substance: identity 386 4. Substance: values 389 5. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 393 6. Conclusion 397 9 Hinduism and fundamentalism 399 1. Introduction 399 2. Form 400 3. Substance: identity 409 4. Substance: values 411 5. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 414 6. Conclusion 429 10 Latin American Catholicism and fundamentalism 431 1. Introduction 431 2. Form 431 3. Substance 434 4. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 438 5. Conclusion 439 Conclusion to Part Three 440 Afterword 443 1. Looking back 443 2. Looking ahead 456 Appendix: "Hindu fundamentalism" and the Fundamentalism Project 463 Bibliography 469 Index 517

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Book SynopsisIndonesian Islam is often portrayed as being intrinsically moderate by virtue of the role that mystical Sufism played in shaping its traditions. This title traces how the popular image of Indonesian Islam was shaped by encounters between colonial Dutch scholars and reformist Islamic thinkers.Trade Review"This well-written, deeply erudite history by Princeton historian Laffan, a prominent scholar of Islam in Southeast Asia, explores the development of Islamic learning in the islands of what is now Indonesia as well as how the faith came to be understood and explained by Dutch scholars during the colonial period. As such, the book offers a compelling parallel history of Indonesia, setting up an engaging new narrative separate from the one most commonly presented, wherein the imposition of colonial rule and later emergence of nationalist consciousness follows a more secular path... The analysis of this intellectual life, along with the thorough understanding of local religious authorities' deeply felt faith, offers a new vision of Indonesian lives under colonial rule."--Choice "With its meticulous scholarship and its wealth of insights into European and Indonesian Muslim understandings of Islam, however, there can be no doubt that this is a path-breaking study. It is a book that should be welcomed and read by all scholars of Islam and all specialists of Indonesia."--Robert W. Hefner, Indonesia "The Makings of Indonesian Islam is an impressive and important scholarly contribution that provides a wealth of information and critical perspectives to scholars and students alike. A glossary, index, and eleven figures (including maps and photographs) enrich the text and are helpful resources for the reader. As an ethnomusicologist with research interests in Javanese arts and culture, I very much look forward to using this book in my own research projects and rereading this book with students in advanced seminars."--Christina Sunardi, American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences "This book offers an original reflection on the factors that have contributed to the faces of Islam in Indonesia today. It is fascinating, and brilliant in the lines of argument and interplay of themes that it develops, and despite the liveliness, at times playfulness of style, is dense and closely argued in its texture... [T]his is a wonderful book."--Anthony H. Johns, Journal of Southeast Asian Studies "Lafffan's very rich account ... [is] an original and richly detailed contribution to writing the history of an Indonesian Islam."--Carool Kersten, Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences of Southeast Asia and Oceania "Laffan displays great erudition throughout the volume... The overriding impression left with the reader is that Laffan is right on top of all the relevant literature as well as diverse disciplines: history, theology, and mysticism in both Indonesia and the Arab world. This study will provide a benchmark for future scholarship for some time to come, and deservedly so."--Peter G. Riddell, Journal of Islamic Studies "Michael F. Laffan has written a dense, very informative and very inspiring book that should be required reading for anyone who wants to deal with Islam in Indonesia and the Netherlands Orientalism."--Stephan Conermann, Sehepunkte "This dense historical narrative, providing a wealth of examples, will be of interest to scholars of Islam, Southeastern Asia, and Sufism. While primarily directed at well seasoned scholars, the volume would be palatable to graduate students as well."--Lavinia Stan, European Legacy "This book should be mandatory reading for anyone committed to nuanced reconstruction of the social history of Islamic movements and Christianity in insular Southeast Asia."--Christopher M. Joll, Mission StudiesTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Preface xi Acknowledgments xv Abbreviations and Archival Referents xvii Part One: Inspiration, Rememoration, Reform 1 Chapter One: Remembering Islamization, 1300-1750 3 Chapter Two: Embracing a New Curriculum, 1750-1800 25 Chapter Three: Reform and the Widening Muslim Sphere, 1800-1890 40 Part Two: Power in Quest of Knowledge 65 Chapter Four: Foundational Visions of Indies Islam, 1600-1800 67 Chapter Five: New Regimes of Knowledge, 1800-1865 85 Chapter Six: Seeking the Counterweight Church, 1837-1889 101 Part Three: Orientalism Engaged 123 Chapter Seven: Distant Musings on a Crucial Colony, 1882-1888 125 Chapter Eight: Collaborative Encounters, 1889-1892 147 Chapter Nine: Shadow Muftis, Christian Modern, 1892-1906 162 Part Four: Sufi Pasts, Modern Futures 175 Chapter Ten: From Sufism to Salafism, 1905-1911 177 Chapter Eleven: Advisors to Indonesie, 1906-1919 190 Chapter Twelve: Hardenings and Partings, 1919-1942 209 Conclusion 233 Glossary 237 Notes 243 Index 287

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""This book is intended for the curious."---Brent Niedergall, Reading Religion"The Book of Revelation is a breathtaking book."---A.L. Kolp, Choice Reviews"As such, The Book of Revelation really is so much more than A Biography; it’s an engaging andprovocative account of a book that even the likes of Augustine and Martin Luther occasionally struggledto come to terms with."---David Marx, davidmarxbookreviews"This attractively produced book sits in Princeton University Press's Lives of Great Religious Books series, and offers an accessible, thoughtful and wide-ranging review of the afterlife of the book of Revelation."---Alison M. Jack, Journal for the Study of The New Testament"Beal’s Book of Revelation is an exciting read . . . . one gains a richer appreciation to the many ways in which Revelation is embedded within the apocalyptic imagination of culture today"---Rodolfo Galvan Estrada III, Nuncius

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Book SynopsisWho were the Christians in the Arabic-speaking milieu of Mohammed and the Qur'an? This title presents a discussion in English of the cultural and intellectual life of such Christians indigenous to the Islamic world.Trade ReviewWinner of the 2008 Albert C. Outler Prize, American Society of Church History "The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque makes a contribution to the understanding of relations between Christians and Muslims that is both necessary and enriching. Its author, Sidney Griffith, has almost unparalleled knowledge of his subject, and brings together here the fruit of decades of painstaking work in Syriac and Arabic to piece together a history that gives color to Christian-Muslim relations, and illuminates many of the points of controversy between the faiths by situating them in a historical context."--David Thomas, Middle East Journal "This splendid book provides a revelatory account of those Christians--and they were legion--who lived under Islamic rule between the time of Mohammed and the Mongol conquests in the Near East during the 13th century...Through a close reading of the texts they produced, Griffith explores the unique theological and ecclesiological visions fashioned by these often unsung Christians."--Jonathan Wright, Catholic Herald "This is a wonderfully written and important book--so much so that immediately after reading it, I started recommending it to students in two courses on 'Eastern Christianity and the Encounter with Islam' that I am teaching currently. From Griffith we should expect nothing less than such a masterful treatment for he has spent the last thirty years researching Muslim-Christian relations, research he displays here with elegance and cogency--and in a thirty-page bibliography, which is most useful."--Adam A. J. DeVille, LOGOS: A Journal of Eastern Christian Studies "Sidney Griffith's work is a milestone in the field of classical Christian-Arabic studies. It provides specialists in the field as well as the general reader with wide-ranging information, precious insights and judicious assessments."--Christian Troll, The Tablet "In [The Church in the Shadow of the Mosque], Griffith sets out to correct important facets of the history of Muslim/Christian interaction. One of the most fascinating aspects of this history is the way in which the Arabization of oriental Christians provided them with a new language and a new cultural medium in which to rearticulate doctrines that they considered central to their faith."--M. Swartz, CHOICE "In today's English-speaking world, Griffith's lucid reintroduction of these thinkers should be welcomed both by Christians seeking to honor non-European expressions of Christian faith and by Muslims interested in reconciling Islamic ways of knowing with the Western commitment to empirical knowledge and ideas of cause and effect."--Richard J. Jones, International Bulletin of Missionary Research "In a post-modern, pluralistic, global environment, core Christian beliefs will face new challenges. One of the most overt challenges will come from a close encounter with Islam. This book will be a vital, even necessary, resource in filling in a major historical gap in that encounter."--Everett W. Huffard, Book Reviews "After more than thirty years of specialized research focused on the literature of Arabic Christian theology, Sidney Griffith seeks to introduce this part of Eastern Christianity's intellectual and cultural heritage to a broader audience. This is a worthy undertaking, realized in a way that non-experts are likely to consider accessible and appealing."--Stanley H. Skreslet, Interpretation "Sidney Griffith's book elegantly enlarges conventional conceptions frequently found in histories of Christianity... The book provides access to a field of study that is usually not open to non-specialists. It also offers points of reflection and debate for scholars who themselves are interested in opening their respective areas of study to non-specialists across the disciplines."--Kirsten Ruther, Canadian Journal of History "This important book, more than twenty-five years in the making, represents a significant contribution to the history of Christian-Muslim dialogue by an acknowledged expert on the interaction between indigenous Christians, particularly those of the Eastern Church's, and their Muslim rulers, resulting from the meteoric expansion of the new religion. Of value to the specialist, not least for the extensive bibliography provided, the book is nevertheless written in such a way as to be accessible to the general reader."--John Flannery, Cambridge Journals "This will become a valuable resource for many years to come... In a post-modern, pluralistic, global environment, core Christian beliefs will face new challenges. One of the most overt challenges will come from a close encounter with Islam. This book will be a vital, even necessary, resource in filling in a major historical gap in that encounter."--Evertt W. Huffard, Missiology "The study offers engaging and accessible reading for the layman, as well as a helpful overview for the researcher--some thirty pages of reference literature will prove useful for anyone who embarks on the search of the earliest Christian-Muslim contacts."--Ljubica Miocevic, European Legacy "This book is a welcome synthesis of a lifetime of scholarship that lays out the little-known history of churches under Islam that whets the appetite to learn more."--Daniel Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Anglican and Episcopal History "This is an important and helpful volume. It reminds us that Christian-Muslim dialogue has a long history. It helps us understand the beginning of Christian-Muslim dialogue that predated thinkers like Peter Abelard and Thomas Aquinas... [Griffith's] volume might well help us think about how better to engage and encounter Muslims in interfaith conversation."--David C. Ratke, Dialog "[T]his book provides an excellent introduction of the pertinent material and literature. It is also useful for scholars who wish to pursue further the topics that Griffith raises because he includes a wealth of resources in the footnotes and bibliography. Thanks to Griffith's work, the history of Christianity in the East does not lie completely in the shadow."--J. Edward Walters, Restoration Quarterly "The volume is very nicely produced. A good index is provided, and over 30 pages of bibliography... It can indeed serve as an excellent guide."--Michael L. Fitzgerald, BibliographieTable of ContentsLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix PREFACE xi Introduction 1 CHAPTER I: "People of the Gospel," "People of the Book": C Hristians and Christianity in the World of Islam 6 CHAPTER II: Apocalypse and the Arabs: The First Christian Responses to the Challenge of Islam 23 CHAPTER III: Christian Theology in Arabic: A New Development in Church Life 45 CHAPTER IV: The Shape of Christian Theology in Arabic: The Genres and Strategies of Christian Discourse in the World of Islam 75 CHAPTER VP: Christian Philosophy in Baghdad and Beyond: A Major Partner in the Development of Classical Islamic Intellectual Culture 106 CHAPTER VI: What Has Baghdad to Do with Constantinople or Rome?: Oriental Christian Self-Definition in the World of Islam 129 CHAPTER VII: Between the Crescent and the Cross: Convivencia, the Clash of Theologies, and Interreligious Dialogue 156 BIBLIOGRAPHY 181 INDEX 213

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"[E]ssential reading for this moment."--David Brooks, New York Times "[A] sweeping and exhilarating review of the history of American political culture... More academics should follow [Gorski's] example of contributing to public debate in an accessible way."--Publishers Weekly, starred review "[American Covenant] charts one way to political reconciliation in these divisive times... [T]his is an important work, one that returns us to our national origins, examines the evidence about our founding--and our founders--concerning religion and its interactions with public policy."--Kirkus "A rich, detailed account of the history of efforts to define American religion."--Sarah Posner, American ProspectTable of ContentsPreface: Three Trips to Philadelphia vii Acknowledgments xiii Introduction Prophetic Republicanism as Vital Center 1 1 The Civil Religious Tradition and Its Rivals 13 2 The Hebraic Moment: The New England Puritans 37 3 Hebraic Republicanism: The American Revolution 60 4 Democratic Republicanism: The Civil War 83 5 The Progressive Era: Empire and the Republic 109 6 The Post-World War II Period: Jew, Protestant, Catholic 143 7 From Reagan to Obama: Tradition Corrupted and(Almost) Recovered 173 8 The Civil Religion: Critics and Allies 202 Conclusion The Righteous Republic 223 Notes 235 References 279 Index 307

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A Choice Outstanding Academic Title of the Year""Zaman’s excellent study will remain indispensable to any student who seeks to understand Islam in Pakistan, while the methodologies, themes, and archives to which it does not attend invite scholars to build on this insightful monograph."---Ali Altaf Mian, Reading Religion"Thematically organized, deeply detailed, urgently relevant history of leading figures, groups and movements. . . . No other book offers a guide to ways in which the meaning and significance of Islam have been understood by proponents in South Asia. Essential."---G.R. Thursby, Choice Reviews"This is a wonderfully balanced treatment of Islam in Pakistan, which throughout respects nuance and complexity."---Francis Robinson, Times Literary Supplement"Zaman’s extensive survey of the kaleidoscopic range of Islamic movements and groups discerns and dissects dominant trends in Islamic discourses over the last seven decades."---Ali Usman Qasmi, Herald"This book is not meant to be read. It is meant to be studied. Encyclopedic in scope, subtle in analysis, Islam in Pakistan attempts to define a unique strand of Islam that the author calls ‘modernism,’ tracing its genealogy and relation to the corridors of political power."---Mahan Mirza, Maydan"A wonderfully balanced treatment of Islam in Pakistan, which throughout respects nuance and complexity . . . rooted in a deep knowledge of the writings of modernists, ulama and Islamists."---Francis Robinson, Times Literary Supplement"A rich intellectual history. . . . This work will immediately be established as essential reading for all specialists."---Justin Jones, H-Net Reviews"A landmark publication in the fields of religious studies, modern Islam, South Asian Islam, and by far the most important and monumental contribution to date in the study of Islam in Pakistan."---Sherali Tareen, Islamic Studies

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Book SynopsisIn intellectual and political culture, the Enlightenment is routinely celebrated as the starting point of modernity and secular rationalism, or demonized as the source of a godless liberalism in conflict with religious faith. This book intends to alter our understanding by showing that the Enlightenment, at its heart, was religious in nature.Trade Review"Why can't religion and the Enlightenment be friends? What's that, you say? They were friends? Why didn't anyone tell us? Well, David Sorkin has. A professor of history and Jewish studies at the University of Wisconsin, he argues in a new study that religion and the Enlightenment were even more than friends... The French Revolution and its Napoleonic aftermath not only destroyed the religious Enlightenment in practice; it also created, as Dr. Sorkin notes, a 'religious-secular dichotomy' that condemned this side of the Enlightenment to historical obscurity. Rescuing it from that obscurity, he insists, is of much more than academic interest."--Peter Steinfels, New York Times "This is a book about religious ideas of the 18th century. Although scholars tend to see the Enlightenment as antireligious and secular, Sorkin persuasively argues that this was not the whole story. Instead, all of Europe's major religions produced movements of religious reform compatible with the Enlightenment... [S]orkin makes his case that there were individuals and groups within organized religion who welcomed the Enlightenment and tried to accommodate religion within it."--P. Grendler, Choice "Sorkin makes very interesting discoveries about the parallel developments within different religions in the eighteenth century."--Larry Wolff, American Historical Review "Sorkin has written a powerful, imaginative, and path-breaking study that fundamentally challenges reigning academic conceptions of the Enlightenment, the birth of modern Europe, and the path of modern European history... The author's argument for a more moderate view of the birth and path of modernity across the European continent--one that grew out of dialogue and toleration and not out of religious or ethnic conflict--is compelling and persuasive."--Scott Ury, Religious Studies Review "This dense, erudite and necessary book certainly establishes that religious reform was a central--and precarious--feature of the Enlightenment. It ... should effect a decisive shift in our understanding of that period."--Ritchie Robertson, German History "Sorkin's study presents a valuable contribution to the ongoing reassessment of the Enlightenment... The beautifully written essays display an uncommon fairness to each faith and are supported by an admirable historical erudition."--Louis Dupre, Catholic Historical Review "Theologians and historians will both find this book useful."--Erna Oliver, Studia Historiae Ecclesisticae "[O]ne hopes that this concise, erudite, and unprepossessing book succeeds in putting its moderate subjects where they should be: in the middle of our eighteenth-century map."--Suzanne Marchand, Cambridge Journals "[N]ot the least among this book's achievements is the revival of discussion on the religious Enlightenment in the multiconfessional and multinational Austrian monarchy."--Grete Klingenstein, Austrian History Yearbook "In brief, this is a deeply researched, well-written, and compelling account of the importance of religion in shaping European enlightenments."--James E. Bradley, Church HistoryTable of ContentsList of Illustrations xi List of Maps xii Preface xiii Introduction 1 Enlightenment or Enlightenments? 3 The Religious Enlightenment 5 Reasonableness 11 Toleration 14 The Public Sphere 16 State Nexus 18 The Enlightenment Spectrum 19 Chapter One: BRANT BROUGHTON, LONDON, GLOUCESTER William Warburton's "Heroic Moderation" 23 Natural Right and Toleration 31 History 39 Established Religion 53 Justifi cation, Philosophy, and Science 54 Secular Culture 61 Moderation in Decline 64 Conclusion 65 Chapter Two: GENEVA Jacob Vernet's "Middle Way" 67 Theology 76 Politics 85 The Enlightenment and the Philosophes 97 Geneva Transformed 109 Chapter Three: HALLE Siegmund Jacob Baumgarten's "Vital Knowledge" 113 "The Union with God" 128 Exegesis 136 History, Sacred and Secular 142 Natural Right and Toleration 152 Neology and the State 158 Chapter Four: BERLIN Moses Mendelssohn's "Vital Script" 165 Intellectual Renewal: Philosophy 176 Intellectual Renewal: Exegesis 180 "Civic Ac cep tance" and "Divine Legislation" 193 "The Socrates of Berlin" 206 Haskalah and Beyond 208 Conclusion 212 Chapter Five: VIENNA- LINZ Joseph Valentin Eybel's "Reasonable Doctrine" 215 Church Law 228 Linz and Joseph II 237 "True Devotion" 249 Revolution 254 Conclusion 258 Chapter Six: TOUL- PARIS- LYON Adrien Lamourette's "Luminous Side of Faith" 261 Where France Differed 263 Catholicism 266 The 1780s 269 Theology 274 Revolution, 1789-91 282 Revolution, 1791-94 296 Conclusion 307 Epilogue 311 Glossary 315 Index 319

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Book SynopsisTakes an unprecedented look at one of the great rivalries of the Middle Ages and offers it as a revealing lens through which to view the intertwined histories of medieval England and France. This book compares Westminster Abbey and the abbey of Saint-Denis - two of the most important ecclesiastical institutions of the thirteenth century.Trade Review"Jordan, a Princeton professor and a much-lauded medievalist, knows a good coincidence when he sees one. He has set about comparing and contrasting the tenures of the two abbots (which both lasted for a quarter of a century) and, along the way, he manages to provide some fascinating insights into the turbulent thirteenth-century relationship between France and England. This is a spectacularly accomplished book: learned, witty and very important. The shock is that no one has undertaken such a study before... I've said it once, and I'm told that repetition is a useful rhetorical device, so here we go again: this book is superb."--Jonathan Wright, The Tablet "[T]his is a work that could only be written by a scholar who has spent a career examining the intricacies of medieval government in the often turbulent years of the thirteenth century. As such, the reader is well served by Professor Jordan's excellent book."--Leonie Hicks, Church History "In this tidy comparative study of two of the most important ecclesiastical institutions of the Middle Ages, Jordan uses the monasteries and the men chosen to govern them in 1258 as an entry into relations between 13th-century England and France."--Choice "William Chester Jordan's ... meticulous research, lively mind, and unburdened prose... A Tale of Two Monasteries is a closely researched and energetic cameo."--Paul Binski, Catholic Historical Review "Jordan's comparative approach and expert insights make this book an important study for scholars in the field. Its lucid style, engaging narrative, compact synthesis, and clear explanations, however, open up the political and ecclesiastical world of the thirteenth century to a wider audience and it is likely to become a favourite textbook and a model for historical writing."--Marc B. Cels, Canadian Journal of History "Jordan enlists these two monasteries, their abbots, and especially their documents to trace a new and privileged path through the political history of later thirteenth-century England and France. Jordan has given us another of his own classics, a refreshing account of a well-known era."--David C. Mengel, Journal of World History "Meticulous in historical detail, A Tale of Two Monasteries tells a remarkable and rather captivating narrative... Jordan's research is based on a thorough reading of a huge array of documents... The bibliography is impressive, and the citations and discursive footnotes are immensely valuable to medieval scholarship. But Jordan is also a storyteller; he captures something of the spirit of daily life... The reader has a sense of being there and is guided through the poignancies, the portent, and the bearing these royal successions will have for the abbeys and their abbots."--Rosemary Drage Hale, Journal of British StudiesTable of ContentsLIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS ix PREFACE xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xv TECHNICAL MATTERS: CURRENCIES, CALENDARS, NOMENCLATURE xvii CHAPTER I: England and France in the Early Thirteenth Century 1 CHAPTER II: Two Great Monasteries and Two Young Men 25 CHAPTER III: The Treaty of Paris 49 CHAPTER IV: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times 66 CHAPTER V: A Monumental Rivalry 100 CHAPTER VI: Two Royal Successions 130 CHAPTER VII: The Abbeys in the New Regimes 159 CHAPTER VIII: Diplomacy and Governance 182 CHAPTER IX: Epilogue 216 BIBLIOGRAPHY 223 INDEX 243

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Book SynopsisThe Lotus Sutra is arguably the most famous of all Buddhist scriptures. Composed in India in the first centuries of the Common Era, it is renowned for its inspiring message that all beings are destined for supreme enlightenment. Here, Donald Lopez provides an engaging and accessible biography of this enduring classic. Lopez traces the many roles tTrade Review"In the raft of entertaining characters found in the [Lotus Sutra] itself ... Lopez's book adds a cast of historical figures across two millennia united only by their passion for the book... Lopez's book shows us that translators are the unsung heroes of religious, as much as literary, history."--Chandrahas Choudhury, Wall Street Journal "With scholarly acumen, contextual nuance, and adaptive storytelling, he deftly traces the historical trajectory of the Lotus Sutra by examining various people, places, and political contexts that influenced the transmission of the text... A great pedagogical tool, Lopez's book is also an enjoyable read for anyone interested in Buddhism and Eastern religion, or the global reach of a single sacred text."--Publishers Weekly "In The Lotus Sutra: A Biography, Donald Lopez promises to trace the various roles of the Lotus Sutra as it has traversed the globe - and he delivers."--Paul Swanson, BuddhadharmaTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 1 Plot Summary 12 2 The Lotus Sutra in India 21 3 The Lotus Sutra in China 43 4 The Lotus Sutra in Japan 65 5 Across the Atlantic 116 6 The Lotus Sutra in the Twentieth Century 179 7 Across the Pacific 208 Notes 223 Index 243

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Book SynopsisWhile the great medieval philosopher, theologian, and physician Maimonides is acknowledged as a leading Jewish thinker, his intellectual contacts with his surrounding world are often described as related primarily to Islamic philosophy. This title demonstrates that he was deeply influenced not only by Islamic philosophy but by Islamic culture.Trade Review"Stroumsa considerably broadens our understanding of Maimonides's Graeco-Arabic sources... Stroumsa does a fine job in bringing to life the Mediterranean setting in which Maimonides encountered this ideal, and tried to direct it towards the heart of Judaism. She challenges scholars of Jewish and Muslim thought to look beyond the artificial confines of their disciplines, and raises intriguing questions about the fluid intellectual boundaries of Jewish identity."--Carlos Fraenkel, Times Literary Supplement "Fascinating."--David Nirenberg, London Review of Books "The book is well written, presenting its dense material in an accessible way. Though there are many quotations in Arabic, nothing essential is left untranslated or unexplained. Stroumsa makes her points forcefully and persuasively, positioning Maimonides as a thinker of great importance to Muslims as well as to Jews."--Pinchas Roth, AJL Newsletter "Sarah Stroumsa's erudite and accessible Maimonidies in His World ... is an exceptional work of critical scholarship that remains readable and relevant beyond the ivory tower. Indeed, its true significance might be found among a more general readership... In the future conversations that are sure to ensue about Maimonides' place in contemporary Jewish life, Stroumsa's portrait will be a most welcome, indispensible guide."--Shai Secunda, Talmud Blog "Stroumsa is an intellectual historian whose mastery of her material is impressive on many levels... Maimonides in His World ... is a book that will be considered required reading for anyone who works on Maimonides' life and thought. Stroumsa's scholarship is much too good for anyone in the field to ignore."--Kenneth Seeskin, Shofar "The book delves into even more detail to discover many of Maimonides' innovations and the way in which they were enabled. Critical to Stroumsa's reading of Maimonides is her insistence that it is impossible to understand any of his texts without taking into account the scholarship of the Arabo-Islamic thinkers of his day."--David Shasha, Huffington Post "[T]he methodological underpinnings of Stroumsa's approach are rock-solid and eminently worthwhile. Stroumsa is never strident or lacking in critical self-reflection. For every bold position she stakes out, she raises the contra-indications and gives them their due. In trying to understand the personal biography, the intellectual, the theologian, the scientist, and the halakhic authority, Stroumsa has conceived the richest portrait yet of 'The Great Eagle.'"--Ronald C. Kiener, Journal of the American Oriental Society "Stroumsa brings her strengths as a scholar of Arabic thought to bear on Maimonides' biography and life's work."--Marc Herman, Sephardic HorizonsTable of ContentsPreface xi Acknowledgments xvii Abbreviations xix Chapter One: Maimonides and Mediterranean Culture 1 Mediterranean Cultures 3 Maimonides as a Mediterranean Thinker 6 Horizons 13 Transformations in the Jewish World 18 Maimonides and Saadia 22 Chapter Two: The Theological Context of Maimonides' Thought 24 Islamic Theology 24 Heresies, Jewish and Muslim 38 Chapter Three: An Almohad "Fundamentalist"? 53 Almohads 53 Maimonides and the Almohads 59 Legal Aspects 61 Theology 70 Exegesis and Political Philosophy 73 Philosophy and Astronomy 80 Conclusion 82 Chapter Four: La Longue Duree: Maimonides as a Phenomenologist of Religion 84 Sabians 84 Maimonides as an Historian of Religion 106 "A Wise and Understanding People?": The Religion of the People 111 Chapter Five: A Critical Mind: Maimonides as Scientist 125 Medicine and Science 125 "Ravings": Maimonides' Concept of Pseudo-Science 138 Chapter Six: "From Moses to Moses": Maimonides' Vision of Perfection 153 "True Felicity": The Hereafter in Maimonides' Thought 153 Issues of Life and Death: The Controversy Regarding Resurrection 165 "Gates for the Righteous Nation": The Philosopher as Leader 183 Conclusion 189 Bibliography 193 Index 219

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The most ambitious attempt since William Chomsky's groundbreaking 1957 study, Hebrew: The Eternal Language, Mr. Glinert's biography of Hebrew succeeds in representing the language not just as a vehicle of communication but as a crucible of national cohesion. To read [this book] is to appreciate Hebrew as the grammar of a dynamic dialogue between the claims of the ever-changing present and the imperatives of the past."--Benjamin Balint, Wall Street Journal "An insightful, entertaining, and essential guide to the origins and evolution of the Hebrew language... This is a must-read for students of language and Jewish history."--Publishers Weekly "Glinert brings the Hebrew story to life with such a wealth of intriguing cultural detail in so astonishingly few pages of lively, engaging exposition that his account is must reading for all who revel in the history and elasticity of languages."--Ray Olson, Booklist (starred review) "Elegant... The Story of Hebrew covers a great deal of ground in a readable style, studded with stories and quotations that make clear how astonishing it is that out of the fossil DNA of this sacred language, a new creation has arisen."--David Wolpe, Weekly Standard "The Story of Hebrew ... is enormously rewarding for those wishing to familiarize themselves with the evolution both of the Hebrew language and attitudes toward it... Glinert is an excellent tour guide. Many of the book's most compelling stories are those that help explain how, during the nearly two millennia during which it had generally ceased to be a spoken language, Hebrew continued to be central to the lives of Jews."--Howard Freedman, J Weekly "Valuable... Glinert has written a scholarly book designed for and accessible to the layman. In a brief 250 pages he succinctly and convincingly demonstrates that through the centuries Hebrew was more living than dead."--David Isaac, Washington Free Beacon "The Story of Hebrew is a scholarly, engaging history of the language... Richly detailed and wholly fascinating. Glinert is an engaging storyteller, always lucid, wry and accessible."--Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal "A major work of scholarship, The Story of Hebrew is an unforgettable account of what one language has meant to those possessing it."--Israel News Online "Witty and learned... I thought that I was well versed in the history of Hebrew, but there was hardly a page in this book on which I didn't learn something new. And Glinert is a pleasure to spend time with; his authorial voice in The Story of Hebrew reminds me of those famous BBC radio talks given by enormously erudite Oxbridge dons: authoritative, amusing, and crystal clear."--Alan Mintz, Jewish Review of Books "In this meticulously researched but highly readable work of scholarship by Glinert, the Dartmouth professor tells not just a history of the Jewish language but, indeed, its story. From the opening lines of Genesis to its modern Israeli incarnation, Hebrew has packed more symbolic power than almost any other tongue... An entertaining account that should also serve as a fundamental text for any student of language or Jewish history."--Victor Wishna, Jewish Telegraphic Agency "This book is a gem... The Story of Hebrew is a superb book, meticulously researched and beautifully written... Read this marvelous study."--Curt Leviant, Jewish Independent "Glinert tells a lively story that informs the reader about uses and misuses of the language, along with a social and cultural history of the Jewish people."--John C. Endres, America "Notwithstanding its academic credibility and that of its author, The Story of Hebrew ... makes thrilling reading for the non-specialist. The felicitous narrative of Lewis Glinert, with its clarity and lack of abstruse language or jargon, ensures that a lay reader with an interest in Hebrew will find much to gain from this fascinating study."--Gila Wertheimer, Chicago Jewish StarTable of ContentsList of Figures ix Introduction 1 1 "Let There Be Hebrew" 8 2 Jerusalem, Athens, and Rome 22 3 Saving the Bible and Its Hebrew 59 4 The Sephardic Classical Age 74 5 Medieval Ashkenaz and Italy: Sciences, Sonnets, and the Sacred 102 6 Hebrew in the Christian Imagination, I: Medieval Designs 124 7 Hebrew in the Christian Imagination, II: From Kabbalists to Colonials 139 8 Can These Bones Live? Hebrew at the Dawn of Modernity 168 9 The Hebrew State 212 Epilogue 246 Acknowledgments 251 Notes 253 Further Reading 261 Index 265

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Comprehensive... Lawrence has done pathbreaking work for English-speaking students of the Qur'an."--Publishers WeeklyTable of ContentsIllustrations ix Preface xi 1 Muhammad and Revelation 1 2 The Orientalist Koran 29 3 The South Asian Koran 50 4 The Virtual Koran and Beyond 81 5 The Koran Up Close 104 6 The Politics of Koran Translation 122 7 The Graphic Koran 135 Conclusion 165 Acknowledgments 173 Appendix: The Koran in English by Author and Date 177 Notes 191 Index 233

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Book SynopsisScientology is one of the wealthiest and most powerful new religions to emerge in the past century. To its detractors, L. Ron Hubbard's space-age mysticism is a moneymaking scam and sinister brainwashing cult. But to its adherents, it is humanity's brightest hope. Few religious movements have been subject to public scrutiny like Scientology, yet muTrade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2012 "In The Church of Scientology, one of only a handful of academic treatments of the subject, Hugh Urban is less interested in the experiences of Scientologists than in the legal processes and semantic twists through which a set of beliefs becomes a religion. A professor of religious studies at Ohio State, Urban is interested in secrecy in religion, and in this book he chronicles the way Hubbard reacted to legal and political challenges to his authority by attempting (largely successfully) to conceal his theories from the public."--Rachel Aviv, London Review of Books "[A] slim, thoughtful investigation of Scientology as a uniquely American religious phenomenon, one whose history has a great deal to teach us... He is more interested in how the church has reflected and influenced currents in American history... Most fascinating is Urban's argument that Scientology has been instrumental in shaping how the US government defines religion."--Mark Oppenheimer, The Nation "The most scholarly treatment of the organization to date."--Michael Shermer, Scientific American "The Church of Scientology is a fascinating book... [A] deep and often brilliant anthropological dissection... Where more populist authors might find it difficult, for instance, to take seriously a religion that makes its most devoted followers sign a 'billion-year contract', Urban is po-faced throughout. As a result, he is granted exceptional access to Scientologists and their detractors, and builds from the often barmy material a compelling picture of the birth of a new religion. For this is the book's central thesis: that by analysing how new religions emerge and flourish, we may better understand those whose origins are lost in the haze of time... Urban's portrayal of the birth and boom of Scientology is absorbing and impressive."--Alex Preston, The Guardian "Judiciously balanced, with a myriad of footnotes ... mercifully free of the jargon to be found within both Scientology and all too many academic volumes."--Eileen Barker, Times Higher Education "Urban's book is valuable for how well he organizes a massive amount of information in a well-paced, enjoyable read... [A] fascinating book."--Tony Ortega, Village Voice "A fascinating and oftentimes mind-bending account of how penny-a-word sci-fi writer L. Ron Hubbard doggedly pursued the 'religion angle' in his quest to create the worldwide Church of Scientology. Urban makes it clear from the outset that he could have written a lot more about Scientology than he has here--perhaps even a few volumes more. Settling on a narrower scope, however, hasn't precluded the author from presenting a thoroughly absorbing chronicle of Scientology's 60-year history in America... An intriguing introduction into the labyrinthine world of Scientology and its meaning in American society."--Kirkus Reviews "Urban describes concisely the development of the Church of Scientology from a pseudopsychological self-help business venture to a self-proclaimed 'religion' fighting vigorously for government recognition... Highly recommended, this is a valuable, evenhanded, academic but engaging introduction to the controversial church, both for those interested in the topic of religious studies and for general readers."--Library Journal "A fascinating account of how a healing practice called Dianetics came to define itself--and become officially recognized--as a religion in the United States. Urban strains to strike a balance between what he calls 'a hermeneutics of respect and a hermeneutics of suspicion,' grounded in a firm belief in freedom of worship and an obligation to ask tough questions about alleged misbehavior by Scientologists."--Glen Altschuler, Boston Globe "Essential... Urban [has] brought the study of Scientology to a crucial, long-delayed point--[his] work will allow for more critical reflection on an important part of 20th-century American religion. With this history available as a resource, scholarship on Scientology will be able to move away from obsession with the checkered history of a single institution and encompass the variety of ways in which individual Scientologists have lived their faith both within that institution and outside of it."--Seth Perry, Chronicle Review "[A] refreshingly even-handed treatment."--Joe Humphreys, Irish Times "Provide[s] valuable and balanced accounts of Scientology. [E]minently readable."--Newark Star Ledger "Urban addresses his subject as a historian of religion and objectively traces the complex history of a movement that is now recognized as a religion in the U.S... With his fair, scholarly approach, Urban has written what is probably the best history available of this terribly tangled story."--Choice "Although Scientology is perhaps the 'case study' in Urban's book, the questions he raises and his broader analysis apply to all religions and offer insight into the complex and tangled issue of guaranteeing freedom of religion within a society such as the United States... It is clear that Urban is a strong supporter of religious freedom and a great enthusiast of the world's diverse religions. In the midst of many conversations about religion today that sometimes are superficial or narrow-minded, Urban's scholarly respect for religion and the book's delicately balanced examination of Scientology are refreshing."--Leigh E. Rich, Bioethical Inquiry "This is a book not only for studying Scientology, but also for wrestling with questions about the definition of religion, First Amendment and church/state issues, and religious freedom post 9/11."--Armand J. Boehme, Reviews in Religion & Theology "This book offers fresh perspectives on Scientology and Urban's balanced approach makes it a must-read for scholars of new religious movements and also motivated general readers."--Marion Goldman, International Journal for the Study of New Religions "[Readers] will be most interested in Urban's thoughts on who gets to decide what qualifies as religion... [A] readable book that provides a model of how to discuss a religious group while addressing theoretical questions of substance."--Mark D. Chapman, Review of Religious Research "I highly recommend the book to not only scholars of new religious movements and American religions, but to all scholars of religion... This book is a must read for anyone interested in the Scientology or the construction of the category of religion in public life."--Kelly J. Baker, Journal of Alternative and Emergent Religions "Urban's book is a unique addition to the scholarly literature on the CoS, both for its historical contributions and for his examination of the CoS as a heuristic case for understanding the struggles NRMs endure toward gaining legitimate recognition as religions."--Sean E. Currie, Review of Religious Research "Urban has succeeded admirably in The Church of Scientology: A History of a New Religion. This is thus a book that is of interest not only to specialists in New Religious Movements, but to all readers with an interest in the study of contemporary religion."--Henrik Bogdan, Numen "Urban's history is clear, concise, and evenhanded--no small achievement given the complexity of the story, the secrecy surrounding Scientology, and the wealth of sensational materials from apologists and opponents."--Erin A. Smith, Journal of American HistoryTable of ContentsList of Illustrations vii Acknowledgments ix Introduction: The World's Most Controversial New Religion and Why No One Writes About It 1 Chapter One: L. Ron Hubbard: American Entrepreneur, Spiritual Bricoleur 26 Chapter To: Scientology, Inc.: Becoming a "Religion" in the 1950s 57 Chapter Tree: Cold War Religion: Scientology, Secrecy, and Security n the 1950s and 60s 89 Chapter Four: Thee "Cult of All Cults"? Scientology and the Cult Wars of the 1970s and 80s 118 Chapter Five: "The War" and the Triumph of Scientology: Becoming a Tax-Exempt Religion in the 1990s 155 Chapter Six: Secrets, Security, and Cyberspace: Scientology's New Wars of Information on the Internet 178 Conclusion: New Religions, Freedom, and Privacy in the Post-9/11 World 201 Appendix: A Timeline of Major Events in Scientology's Complex Journey to Becoming a "Religion" 217 Notes 221 Selected Bibliography 257 Index 265

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Book SynopsisIs Judaism a religion, a culture, a nationality - or a mixture of all of these? This title tells the story of how Judaism came to be defined as a religion in the modern period - and why Jewish thinkers have fought as well as championed this idea.Trade ReviewHonorable Mention for the 2011 PROSE Award in Theology & Religious Studies, Association of American Publishers "As Batnitzky points out, Judaism doesn't fit any modern mold especially well. Her book adds both shrewdness and humility to the search for modern Jewish identity and the claims often made about the purity of these identities."--Edward Ruehle, Jewish Voice and Herald "Superb and thought-provoking."--Adam Kirsch, Tablet Magazine "An excellent introduction to the key philosophers and writers who influenced modern Jewish thought."--Wallace Greene, Jewish Book World "It has been decades since a broad, synthetic volume addressing the major issues and thinkers in modern Jewish thought has been published. How Judaism Became a Religion fills a lacuna in the field, and this book will no doubt serve as the authoritative secondary source on the topic for some time. Leora Batnitzky offers an eminently readable overview of a large number of complicated, even esoteric thinkers in terms that are manageable, indeed inviting, for nonspecialists and lay readers alike. (Helpfully, she also offers such readers a well-chosen list of suggested readings at the end of each chapter.) In doing so, she renders an invaluable service to the field."--Mara Benjamin, H-Net Reviews "Leora Batnitzky's How Judaism Became a Religion is a bold new interpretation of modern Jewish thought by one of the leading scholars in the field."--Micah Gottlieb, Jewish Review of Books "Batnitzky devotes her book to differentiating the array of responses to the modern notion of Judaism as a sheer religion. She presents meticulously the disparate positions of figures as varied as Moses Mendelssohn, Abraham Geigel, Hermann Cohen, Franz Rosenzweig, Martin Buber, Abraham Kook and his son, Theodor Herzl, Ahad Ha'am, Emil Fackenheim and Mordecai Kaplan. She also presents the altogether 'premodern' views of Eastern European Jews such as the Hasidim. She shows that even resolute Reform Jews such as Geiger failed to work out a clean separation between politics and religion. With the Holocaust and with the founding of Israel, any divide seemed refuted by history."--Robert A. Segal, Times Higher Education Supplement "This book is lucidly written and can be read by the scholar and general interested reader alike."--David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews "In [How Judaism Became a Religion], Batnitzky provides a useful introductory map of this diverse, centuries-long story. In nine brief chapters, she explains the different responses Jews have made to the challenges of modernity and where each choice leads vis-a-vis both the people of Israel and the individual Jew. The simple design of the book provides an overview of the whole complex issue that will help beginners grasp the essential details. Libraries serving Judaica and religion collections will want to purchase this volume."--Choice "The book uses the combined rubric of religion, nation, and culture as the key to understanding the past two centuries of Jewish thought. This sweeping construct illuminates scholars and their debates, revealing ironies that have heretofore gone largely unnoticed."--Lawrence Grossman, Jewish Ideas Daily "What historical analysis cannot tell us, however, is whether the truth about the Jews is found in the more or the less traditional versions of Judaism, in the more communal or the more individualistic thinking, or in the religious or in the secular understandings of Jewishness. To answer that question, one must step outside the constraints of historical description and venture into the world of constructive thought. For anyone who wishes to understand the history of the question and the answers that have already been proposed, Leora Batnitzky's stimulating book is an excellent place to start."--Jon D. Levenson, Commonweal "Leora Batnitzky's How Judaism became a Religion is an enlightening text, orderly, insightful and quite cogent... Batnitzky's main thesis is deceptively simple and is presented with enviable lucidity and transparency."--S. Parvez Manzoor, Muslim World Book Review "More than an introduction, How Judaism Became a Religion presents a compelling new perspective on the history of modern Jewish thought."--World Book Industry "The book does a good job in bringing the subject closer to beginners in this field... Future research ... will take its starting point from this book, and further engagement on the ideas expounded here will certainly sharpen our assessment of each of these thinkers."--Sebastian Musch, Journal of Religion in Europe "[H]er book is an undoubted success: in a manner both fascinating and potentially controversial, it broadens the scope of what is defined as 'thought' by including literary and political figures, rabbis, and academic scholars in the conversation."--Hanoch Ben-Pazi, Studies in Contemporary Jewry "Batnitzky deserves our thanks for undertaking this project--a comprehensive philosophical examination that is guided as well by historical and biographical thinking. A careful reading of How Judaism Became a Religion invites the reader into the world of Jewish thought in the modern world, in which the spirit of creativity and activism are manifestly evident."--Hanoch Ben-Pazi, Studies in Contemporary JewryTable of ContentsAcknowledgments ix Introduction 1 Part I: Judaism as Religion 11 Chapter 1: Modern Judaism and the Invention of Jewish Religion 13 Chapter 2: Religion as History: Religious Reform and the Invention of Modern Orthodoxy 32 Chapter 3: Religion as Reason and the Separation of Religion from Politics 52 Chapter 4: Religion as Experience: The German Jewish Renaissance 73 Chapter 5: Jewish Religion after the Holocaust 91 Part II: Detaching Judaism from Religion 109 Chapter 6: The Irrelevance of Religion and the Emergence of the Jewish Individual 111 Chapter 7: The Transformation of Tradition and the Invention of Jewish Culture 130 Chapter 8: The Rejection of Jewish Religion and the Birth of Jewish Nationalism 147 Chapter 9: Jewish Religion in the United States 166 Conclusion 183 Notes 193 Index 203

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Book SynopsisJews, Christians, and Muslims supposedly share a common religious heritage in the patriarch Abraham, and the idea that he should serve only as a source of unity among the three traditions has become widespread in both scholarly and popular circles. But in Inheriting Abraham, Jon Levenson reveals how the increasingly conventional notion of the threeTrade ReviewBest Nonfiction Jewish Book of 2012, Jewish Ideas Daily.com One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2013 "[T]he figure of Abraham has more often been a battleground than a meeting place. This is the brilliantly elaborated theme of Levenson's book, which retells the Abraham story while examining the use made of Abraham in later Jewish, Christian, and (to a lesser extent) Muslim thought."--Adam Kirsch, New York Review of Books "Levenson, a well-known biblical studies scholar and professor of Jewish studies at Harvard, makes a contrarian argument against those who would oversimplify the differences between the three religions that claim Abraham as a seminal figure... Educated general readers interested in biblical studies may be awed by how closely Levenson reads the text."--Publishers Weekly "Levenson's book will be acutely sobering for those who favor easy accommodation between traditions... And no one has been more effective than Levenson in calling Christian interpreters to a more honest self-awareness."--Christian Century "[A] learned, lucid and luminous examination of the distinctive character of Abraham."--Glenn C. Altschuler, Jerusalem Post "Written very well, argued delightfully, with deep insights, ... Inheriting Abraham makes a superb contribution to our understanding and perception, opinion and insight, of the figure of Prophet Abraham."--Tauseef Ahmad Parray, Islam and Muslim Societies "Levenson's literary skill and encyclopedic grasp of the exegetical traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam makes this volume a valuable exercise in comparison. But the book also makes a strong and controversial argument about what that comparison actually reveals about the role of Abraham in the relationship between the three 'Abrahamic' religions... [Levenson's] study encourages us to look unflinchingly at the limits of difference and commonality within and across religious traditions."--Martin S. Jaffee, Jewish Review of Books "The best Jewish book in each category this past year? Inheriting Abraham is the most impressive work of Jewish scholarship published during 2012. For more than three decades, Jon Levenson has been quietly developing a biblical theology that would revolutionize Jewish understanding and worship, if only more Jews were to learn of it. Inheriting Abraham is his most accessible book yet--a model of how exacting scholarship can be written for the well-educated layman."--D.G. Myers, Jewish Ideas Daily "[E]xcellent... Inheriting Abraham is informed throughout by Levenson's characteristically great learning... [G]raceful and clear."--Hillel Fradkin, Commentary "Jon Levenson's superb book demonstrates that despite some simplistic and ill-conceived attempts to harmonize the three Abrahamic faiths, and some lingering supersessionist antagonisms, we live in a period remarkable for serious and thoughtful dialogue among these cousin religions. It is a dialogue grounded in responsible awareness of the complexity, beauty, and defining commitments of each one. Working from this awareness is our best hope of developing the vital mutual respect and harmony our divided world requires."--Donald Senior, Commonweal "This well-conceived, elegantly written book traces how the figure of Abraham known from Genesis came to be understood in unique ways by the later Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions. While many speak of Abraham as a figure shared by these three traditions, Levenson shows how each tradition's image of Abraham reflects its own distinct theological assumptions... Rather than grounding interreligious dialogue in various conceptual false cognates in hopes of finding the lowest common denominator, Levenson has led the way in showing how true interreligious understanding can be achieved only if one grasps the nuanced theological grammar of each religious tradition."--Choice "[E]asily accessible to a wide readership... [Levenson's] book is a masterful corrective to the ever more popular, pat and misleading myths that have emerged under the 'Abrahamic' banner."--Allan Nadler, Moment Magazine "[E]rudite and readable... His book will indubitably be valuable for undergraduate courses in scriptural exegesis, interreligious dialogue, and comparative religion."--Mara Benjamin, Religious Studies Review "Simply put, Jon D. Levenson is one of those rare scholars whose every word repays careful reading. Inheriting Abraham is no exception."--Matthew Thiessen, Anabaptist Witness "While Levenson displays expertise in all three religions, his particular strength lies in his treatment of the numerous, varied and even contradictory Jewish traditions on Abraham and in showing the contrasts between Jewish, Christian and Islamic views of Abraham, thereby questioning the validity of the existence of an authentic, unified supra-Abraham."--Rivkah Fishman-Duker, Jewish Political Studies Review "Levenson is a seasoned scholar of this material and his learning, here lightly presented, shines through."--H.G.M. Williamson, Journal of Jewish StudiesTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi A Note on Transliteration from Hebrew xiii Abbreviations xv Introduction * Who Was (and Is) Abraham? 1 Chapter One * Call and Commission 18 Chapter Two * Frustrations and Fulfillments 36 Chapter Three * The Test 66 Chapter Four * The Rediscovery of God 113 Chapter Five * Torah or Gospel? 139 Chapter Six * One Abraham or Three? 173 Notes 215 Index of Primary Sources 235 Index of Modern Authors 243

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Book SynopsisExamines the lives and thought of seven major prophetic figures in twentieth-century America whose social activism was motivated by a deeply felt compassion for those suffering injustice--Amazon.com.Trade Review"This scholarly yet accessible primer to the role of faith in the lives of American activists challenges contemporary notions of the role of religion in politics and argues that empathy is a critical first step in addressing the suffering of others."--Publishers Weekly "The subjects [of American Prophets] knew one another and participated, often shoulder-to-shoulder, in events like the great southern civil rights marches and the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations of the 1960s. As important, they wrote, spoke, and guided the movements. Let the study of them together start with these concise yet weighty appraisals."--Ray Olson, Booklist "Raboteau offers inspiring and challenging examples of embodied faith in the modern world."--Library Journal "Compelling and provocative... A momentous scholarly achievement as well as a moving testimony to the human spirit, American Prophets represents a major contribution to the history of religion in American politics. This book is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about social justice, or who wants to know what prophetic thought and action can mean in today's world."--Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, JewishMediaReview "A powerful text, empowering to read. I highly recommend it."--Tavis Smiley "American Prophets invites the reader closer to the kind of faith that insists on justice. At its best, the book not only extends an invitation to see how figures of faith mobilized their communities, but reminds us that the prophetic spirit is still calling us to action."--Susan Haarman, Commonweal "Written in lucid prose, Raboteau's seven luminous biographical sketches of such figures as Abraham Joshua Heschel, Martin Luther King Jr., Fannie Lou Hamer, and Thomas Merton tell a radical story... Raboteau illuminates the historical and social connections that his radicals had with one another."--Choice "A powerful book about what faith in action truly means. Its underpinning of first-rate scholarship combined with eloquent analysis will compel many different audiences."--Nancy L. Roberts, Catholic News ServiceTable of ContentsAcknowledgments xi Introduction xiii 1 Abraham Joshua Heschel, Prophet of Divine Pathos 1 2 A. J. Muste: The Redemptive Power of Nonviolent Suffering 27 3 Dorothy Day and the Catholic Worker Movement: Doing the Works of Mercy 63 4 Howard Thurman: In Search of Common Ground 95 5 Thomas Merton: Contemplation in a World of Action 119 6 Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement: Religion in US Politics 141 7 "Is This America?" Fannie Lou Hamer and the Voices of Local People 163 Afterword 195 Notes 201 Index 213

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWinner of the 2013 National Jewish Book Award in Scholarship, Jewish Book Council Honorable Mention for the 2015 PROSE Award in Theology & Religious Studies, Association of American Publishers One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2014 "In his rigorous and insightful study Maimonides: Life and Thought, Moshe Halbertal reintroduces readers to this rabbi-scientist, who insisted that faith should be an enterprise based on reason."--Dara Horn, Wall Street Journal "[M]agisterial... Halbertal presents a moving and detailed portrait of Maimonides's life as well as his work... Maimonides is not just a titan of Jewish learning; as Halbertal shows in his timely and definitive book, he can be a surprisingly contemporary guide for our times."--David Mikics, Forward "[Halbertal] pioneers a new path, walking the reader through the different interpretive schools and explaining what supports each one while acknowledging that Maimonides contradicts himself both across and within his many writings--at times purposefully, which inevitably leaves his readers perplexed. Halbertal is a wonderful guide, explaining how different approaches illuminate Maimonides' writings and how certain issues reverberate throughout the sage's work, returning in new forms and contexts... Drawing on all of Maimonides' writings, and especially his many letters, Halbertal crafts a portrait of a refugee who never fully left home and felt the pain of exile for his entire life... [An] extraordinary book."--Jay M. Harris, Foreign Affairs "In a sea of literature about the great twelfth-century Jewish sage and philosopher, one could do no better than turn to Moshe Halbertal's single volume work on Maimonides... Accessible to both scholar and interested general reader, this book should be the first work on Maimonides for an English reader to approach."--David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries Reviews "If you are going to read only one book about Maimonides, make it Moshe Halbertal's stunning Maimonides. Even if you have read many other books by and about Maimonides, you have much to learn here."--Menachem Kellner, AJS Review "Halbertal's book provides an introduction to the complexity of Maimonides's work, and should be studied by any serious Maimonides scholar."--Tamar Rudavsky, Journal of the History of Philosophy "Maimonides, then, remains an elusive and fascinating figure: his importance is clear, but it's hard to grasp exactly what made him so important. That is why Maimonides: Life and Thought, the new study by Moshe Halbertal, is such a valuable contribution... Readers who are curious about this difficult but rewarding thinker will find Maimonides: Life and Thought a thrillingly lucid introduction."--Adam Kirsch, Barnes & Noble Review "Moshe Halbertal's Maimonides is a useful guide to the man and his work, with something to offer both novice and scholar... [T]his admirable work invites us to study Moses Maimonides' writings on our own."--Mark Blitz, Weekly Standard "Halbertal, a professor of both law and Jewish studies, is equipped to grasp the richness of Maimonides's thought, which reflects a potent blend of rabbinic expertise and philosophical acumen... If Halbertal's book accomplishes nothing else but to inspire this Maimonidean approach to life and religion, then he has done his job well."--James A. Diamond, Jerusalem Post "[S]tudying the Andalusian refugee Maimonides will be revealing and this terrific book by the philosopher Moshe Halbertal is a great place to begin."--Richard Marshall, 3ammagazine.com "This insightful, well-written book offers a fresh perspective on Maimonides. Halbertal offers an excellent introductory overview of Maimonides's life and contributions to Jewish law, philosophy, medicine, and religious consciousness. He also makes clear how Mainmonides's personality, psychology, and evolving outlook penetrate his oeuvre... The author offers a window into the self-perception of this greatest of medieval rabbinic thinkers, physicians, legalists, and theologians, and the radical transformations he sought to effect in Judaism."--Choice "[A] valuable and impressive achievement."--Eric Shoag, Jewish Journal "[A] brilliant tour de force."--Lawrence Kaplan, Jewish Review of Books "In this excellent study, Moshe Halbertal makes it clear, in keeping with Maimonides, that there is no one way to understand the Jewish tradition."--Jude P. Dougherty, Mary Elizabeth Tetzlaff "[A]n unusually comprehensive overview of Maimonides achievements."--Berel Dov Lerner, Religion & TheologyTable of ContentsIntroduction 1 Chapter One: Moses the Man "Moses of his Generation" 7 Andalusia: 1138-1159 (?) 14 The Maghrib and Persecution: 1159-1166 23 Fustat: 1166-1177 33 Yemen and Islam: 1172 47 In the Sultan's Palace: 1178-1204 56 The Man Moses 74 Chapter Two: The Commentary on the Mishnah, the Book of Commandments, and the Philosophy of halakhah In the Laboratory of the Commentary on the Mishnah 92 The Purpose of the Commentary on the Mishnah 96 Controversy, Truth, and Interpretation 99 The Book of Commandments and the Structure of halakhah 107 On the Place of Revelation 111 Revelation and Interpretation 116 Interpretation in halakhah: Between Explanatory Principles and Deductive Principles 120 Halakhah and Prophecy 126 Chapter Three: Ethics and Belief in the Commentary on the Mishnah Principles of Faith 134 What Is Man: Immortality of the Soul, and the Afterlife 137 Resurrection of the Dead 142 The Ethics of Virtue and the Ethics of Obligation 148 The Sage and the Pietist 154 Nobility and Saintliness 158 Chapter Four: What Is Mishneh Torah? The Aims and Qualities of the Compilation 164 Mishneh Torah and the History of halakhah 168 The Mishnah of Rabbi Judah the Prince and Mishneh Torah 171 The Authority of the Talmud and the Authority of the Geonim 175 Mishneh Torah: The Moderate and Radical Alternatives 181 Mishneh Torah and Jewish Curriculum 184 Ambiguity and Codification 189 Codification and Self-Esteem 194 Chapter Five: Philosophy and halakhah in Mishneh Torah Love and Awe: Philosophy and Religious Experience 197 The Concept of the Divine: Eternal Universe and Creation ex Nihilo 202 Prophecy, Faith, and the Election of Israel 208 Halakhah, Magic, and Idolatry 216 Messianism, halakhah, and Nature 223 Chapter Six: Mishneh Torah and the Conceptual Understanding of halakhah Reorganizing the halakhah: Form and Content 229 "Laws Concerning Mourning" and the Organization of Mishneh Torah 236 Forging Concepts, Distinctions, and Generalizations 243 Mishneh Torah and Talmudic Sources 255 Three Functions of Aggadah in Mishneh Torah 262 Chapter Seven: The Guide of the Perplexed and Its Critique of Religious Language Concealed and Revealed in the Guide of the Perplexed 277 Idolatry and Religious Language 288 "For You, Silence Is Praise" 296 The Skeptical Reading and the Mystical Reading 301 Chapter Eight: The Guide of the Perplexed: Will or Wisdom? The Creation of the World: The Conservative Reading and the Philosophical Reading 313 The Doctrine of Prophecy 321 The Problem of Evil and the Purpose of Existence 329 Providence 335 The Reasons for the Commandments 341 The Commandments and the Philosopher's Spiritual Exercise 349 Conclusion Four Readings 354 Three Common Elements 358 Maimonides' Teachings in Historical Perspective 362 Maimonides' Writings 369 Bibliography 371 Index 381

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2017 Award for Excellence in Religion Historical Studies, American Academy of Religion""After a brief review of the institution of the caliphate, this exceptional monograph explores how Muslims viewed the caliphate after the Mongol destruction of the Abbasid caliphate. . . . The role of the caliph in the Ottoman Empire has also been underappreciated. Hassan explores this role but focuses her attention on how the dismissal of the caliphate in 1924 with the rise of Ataturk and Kemalism affected Muslims not only in Turkey but also in other parts of the Muslim world. She concludes her book with an examination of current movements that seek to restore the caliphate, such as ISIS and Hizb al-Tahrir." * Choice *"This book is an excellent study that represents a significant contribution to our understanding about the caliphate, and Hassan’s use of memory in the study of religion provides a methodological model of inquiry for scholars to follow."---Susan Gunasti, Critical Research on Religion"Hassan is a gifted writer and does a wonderful job of evoking the melancholy and sadness attendant to loss. . . . In all these and other ways, Hassan’s book is a commendable effort to rescue the caliphate from the crass and often obtuse analysis on offer in the contemporary West and to identify it properly as one of the more significant and consequential cultural symbols in the history of human civilization."---Khurram Hussain, Journal of the American Academy of Religion"Hassan’s specialized work is highly rewarding"---Simon Wolfgang Fuchs, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African StudiesTable of ContentsList of Illustrations and Maps ix Acknowledgments xi Note on Transliteration and Dates xv Introduction 1 Early History of the Caliphate 5 The Abbasid Caliphate 6 The Ottoman Caliphate 9 Diachronic Reflections on Symbolic Loss, Destruction, and Renegotiation 13 1 Visions of a Lost Caliphal Capital: Baghdad, 1258 CE 20 Mapping an Islamic Cultural Discourse 22 al-Subki's Living History: An Enduring Sense of Loss 27 Channeling Muslim Memory through History 30 Loss of the Abbasids 33 Bodily Desecration 37 Literary Dimensions of Religious Rites 44 An Altered Landscape 46 Eschatological Endings 57 The Consolation of Prophetic Transmissions 64 2 Recapturing Lost Glory and Legitimacy 66 Remembering and Recreating a Glorious Past 67 Going Beyond Baghdad 69 Commemorating the Caliphate 71 Contesting Caliphs 75 Embracing Communal Continuity 83 Enduring Salience 88 3 Conceptualizing the Caliphate, 632-1517 CE 98 Classical Articulation of the Islamic Caliphate as a Legal Necessity and Communal Obligation 99 al-Juwayni's Seminal Fifth/Eleventh-Century Resolution 103 Post-656/1258 Theorists of the Caliphate 108 Ghalabah, the Sultanate, and the Caliphate in Ibn Jama'ah's Tahrir al-Ahkam (1241-1333) 108 Ibn Taymiyyah's Views on the Caliphate (1262-1328) 111 Shams al-Din al-Dhahabi's Polemical Treatise on the Grand Imamate (1274-1348) 115 Taj al-Din al-Subki and the Restoration of Blessings (1327-70) 118 The Inter-School Polemics of Najm al-Din al-Tarsusi (1310-57) 120 Ibn Khaldun's Political Entanglements and Ideals (1332-1406) 123 The Mamluk Chancery Contributions of al-Qalqashandi (1355-1418) 126 al-Shirazi's Metaphysical Exaltation of the Abbasid Caliph in Cairo (1386-1457) 131 Jalal al-Din al-Suyuti's Devotional Love of the Prophet's Family (1445-1505) 136 4 Manifold Meanings of Loss: Ottoman Defeat, Early 1920s 142 Notions from Afar 145 The Turkish Republic 155 The Levant 171 5 In International Pursuit of a Caliphate 184 An Internationalist Era 186 Promoting an International Conference 188 Imagining the Global Community and Its Leadership 192 A Spiritual Body 194 A Caliphal Council 199 A Traditional Caliph 202 A Global Electorate 204 Dampening Hopes 205 Unexpected Continuities 212 6 Debating a Modern Caliphate 218 Ismail Sukru (1876-1950) 218 Mehmed Seyyid Celebizade (1873-1925) 220 'Ali 'Abd al-Raziq (1888-1966) 225 Muhammad al-Khidr husayn (1876-1958) 233 Mustafa Sabri (1869-1954) 236 Said Nursi (1876-1960) 244 Epilogue The Swirl of Religious Hopes and Aspirations 253 Notes 261 Bibliography 341 Index 373

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewMichael Cook, Winner of the 2014 Holberg Prize "Ancient Religions, Modern Politics ... addresses a vital present-day issue on which many have offered opinions, all unsupported by the historical scholarship that he has been able to apply ... impregnable scholarship ... towering work."--Jonathan Benthall, Times Literary Supplement "[Cook] presents a panoramic and nuanced overview of political Islam with regard to identity, social values and culture over time."--Sundeep Khanna, Mint "In many ways, this work is a culmination of a life dedicated to scholarly research and writing. Ancient Religions, Modern Politics has depth that is uncommon, is presented in a readable format that makes it accessible to non-experts and is recognised for its academic rigor by specialists... Cook presents a text that is accessible for the undergraduate level while at the same time challenging and a useful resource for the graduate level."--Taylor & Francis Online "A scholarly tour de force by one of the world's pre-eminent historians of Islam."--William McCants, WallStreetJournal.com "Certainly, rich in its use of sources and convincing in its arguments, this book should be widely read and would be very influential."--Maurice Borrmans, Islamochristiana "This is an impressive work that asks difficult questions and is not afraid to answer them. Cook's sources are extensive and delve deeply into each religious tradition... He skillfully weaves together thinkers from the earliest form of the faith to contemporary schools of though. Readers will be ... challenged to think critically about the important questions he raises."--Theodore A. Nitz, Fides et Historia "Enlightening."--Islamic Quarterly "Profoundly erudite, written with exceptional clarity, and laced with mordant wit."--Ellis Goldberg, Journal of Church and State "This impressive book offers a new approach to answering an old question: why did Islam develop a political profile which paved the way to a 'pull of Islamism,' even turning into militant sectarian conflicts? ... Cook's highly stimulating and knowledgeable reading of Muslims' use of tradition and his answer to the old question will certainly prompt a new discussion about the genealogy of political Islam."--Reinhard Schulze, Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African StudiesTable of ContentsPreface xi Part One: Identity Introduction to Part One 1 1 Islam and Identity 3 1. Introduction 3 2. Pre-modern ethnic identity: Turks and Trojans 3 3. Pre-modern ethnic identity: the Islamic factor 8 4. Eighteenth-century Identity politics 18 5. Pre-modern Muslim identity: formation and decay 20 6. The residue of Muslim identity on the eve of modern times 23 7. Modern ethnic and Muslim identity: expectations 32 8. Modern ethnic and Muslim identity: realizations 35 9. Muslim identity and geopolitics 47 10. Conclusion 51 2 Hinduism and identity 53 1. Introduction 53 2. The weakness of pre-modern ethnic and Hindu identity 54 3. Aspects of Hindu coherence 61 4. Modern ethnic and Hindu identity 71 5. Rallying Hindus against Muslims 91 6. What are the Hindu nationalists? 103 7. Conclusion 120 3 Catholicism and identity in Latin America 123 1. Introduction 123 2. The Virgin of Guadalupe 123 3. High expectations 126 4. Low realizations 134 5. Explaining the gap 140 6. Conclusion 154 Conclusion to Part One 156 Part Two: Values Introduction to Part Two 159 4 Society 165 1. Introduction 165 2. Islam 167 3. Hinduism 191 4. Latin American Catholicism 199 5. Religious elites 211 6. Conclusion 213 5 Warfare 215 1. Introduction 215 2. Islam 218 3. Hinduism 234 4. Latin American Catholicism 241 5. Conclusion 246 6 Divine jealousy 249 1. Introduction 249 2. Islam 251 3. Hinduism 282 4. Latin American Catholicism 297 5. Conclusion 307 7 Polity 309 1. Introduction 309 2. Islam 309 3. Hinduism 336 4. Latin American Catholicism 344 5. Conclusion 357 Conclusion to Part Two 361 Part Three: Fundamentalism Introduction to Part Three 371 8 Islam and fundamentalism 377 1. Introduction 377 2. Form 377 3. Substance: identity 386 4. Substance: values 389 5. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 393 6. Conclusion 397 9 Hinduism and fundamentalism 399 1. Introduction 399 2. Form 400 3. Substance: identity 409 4. Substance: values 411 5. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 414 6. Conclusion 429 10 Latin American Catholicism and fundamentalism 431 1. Introduction 431 2. Form 431 3. Substance 434 4. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 438 5. Conclusion 439 Conclusion to Part Three 440 Afterword 443 1. Looking back 443 2. Looking ahead 456 Appendix: "Hindu fundamentalism" and the Fundamentalism Project 463 Bibliography 469 Index 517

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[A] multicourse intellectual feast... Weitzman's facility with making complex points accessible to the lay reader, and his ease with synthesizing a wide range of research and prior analyses, make this an invaluable resource for both novice and scholar. His rigorous critiques will resonate even for those readers with little or no prior interest in the book's central questions."--Publishers Weekly "An accomplishment for the academy."--KirkusTable of ContentsList of Illustrations ix Introduction 1 1 Genealogical Bewilderment: Lost Ancestors and Elusive Lineages 25 2 Roots and Rootlessness: Paleolinguistics and the Prehistory of the Jews 63 3 Histories Natural and Unnatural: The Documentary Hypothesis and Other Developmental Theories 101 4 A Thrice-Told Tel: The Archaeology of Ethnogenesis 139 5 Thought Fossils: Psychoanalytic Approaches 174 6 Hellenism and Hybridity: Did the Jews Learn How to be Jewish from the Greeks? 207 7 Disruptive Innovation: The Jewish People as a Modern Invention 245 8 Source Codes: The Genetic Search for Founders 274 Conclusion 317 Acknowledgments 329 Bibliographical Commentary 333 Index 383

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"The book makes a persuasive case that the study of Roman religion has a lot to gain from increased engagement with theoretical models drawn from other fields, and it points the way forward in this regard."---Celia E. Schultz, Classical Philology"Champion has produced an accessible and nuanced study of an important question in the study of Roman religion. His approach places individual experience at the center of analysis while keeping the individual’s social and cultural context clearly in view. As a result, his book suggests how we might conceive of the emotions and behaviors of elite Romans who were charged with maintaining the pax deorum."---Meghan DiLuzio, Phoenix Journal"[The] discussion of ‘cognitive dissonance’ in Roman religion is the most advanced attempt to date to explore its viability in this field. . . . This book is a very substantial contribution to the understanding of pre-Augustan Roman religion—one that all students of the political and social history of the Roman world will do well not to overlook, and one that historians of other periods will find informative and inspiring in equal measure."---Federico Santangelo, American Historical Review"Champion has written a thought-provoking book with much to recommend it. It joins a growing body of scholarship of both ancient and modern religions that attempts to reinvigorate discussion of the cognitive and emotional elements of religion after a decades-long emphasis on praxis. . . . This book’s erudition, creativity and readability make it a welcome addition for historians, classicists and scholars of religion alike."---Anne E. Truetzel, Journal of Roman Studies"I want to conclude by stressing that Champion has written a remarkable book that will embolden future scholars to make fuller use of scientific literature. Rarely does one see publications from the Bulletin of Mathematical Biophysics tapped as aides-à-penser for the history of Roman religion. . . . [The] book’s capacity to spark disagreement is ocular proof of its overall success, and there is no doubt in my mind that The Peace of the Gods deserves to occupy a position of prominence in Roman religious studies for the foreseeable future."---Dan-el Padilla Peralta, HistosTable of ContentsPreface ix Introduction Studying Elite Religion in the Middle Roman Republic xi 1 Elite-Instrumentalism: Persistence and Paradox 1 2 Domi: Priesthoods, Politics, and the People 23 3 Militiae: Commanders, Elite Religion, and Fear of Military Disaster 76 4 Domi et Militiae: Elite Religion at Rome in Response to External Triumphs and Crises 122 5 Understanding Elites' Religious Behaviors in the Middle Roman Republic 175 Epilogue 222 Acknowledgments 225 Bibliography 227 Abbreviations 227 Works Cited 228 General Index 247 Index Locorum 257

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Choice Reviews' Outstanding Academic Titles of 2018""Hasidism . . . is a tremendous work of research."---Shalom Auslander, Times Literary Supplement"Hasidism: A New History . . . is a monumental scholarly achievement and a great contribution to the understanding of one of the most important movements in Jewish life in the modern period."---Moshe Halbertal, New York Review of Books"For this remarkably well-researched and expansive history of Hasidism, a team of scholars has collaborated to produce an intelligent and eminently readable exploration of a branch of Judaism that has made an extraordinary mark on Jewish life. . . . This effort is rich with detail and insight, and captures the vibrancy and innovation of a thriving, multifaceted movement. It belongs on the bookshelf of any serious student of Jewish history." * Publishers Weekly *"The book is notable for smashing various well-worn myths about Hasidism, and presenting new insights that place the movement at the center of European Jewish history, a major shaper of that history rather than a marginal aberration."---Sue Fishkoff, Jweekly"These eight modern sages managed to produce a fascinating book that embodies their collective wisdom and style in a seamless and highly illuminating work of authorship. This, too, strikes me as something of a miracle."---Jonathan Kirsch, Jewish Journal"Enormously informative, monumental volume."---George Prochnik, Los Angeles Review of Books"Likely to be the definitive work on Judaism’s equivalent of charismatic Protestantism."---Marvin Olasky, World

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Philip Schaff Prize, American Society of Church History""One of Choice Reviews' Outstanding Academic Titles of 2018""Outstanding. . . . The thesis is interesting [and] the evidence effective. . . . Agree or disagree with Frankfurter's central claims, Christianizing Egypt may become a methodological must-read for anyone working in pre-modern Christianity."---Zachary B. Smith, Reading Religion"Christianizing Egypt is a thoughtful and exceptionally valuable study, with implications that go far beyond either Egypt or Late Antiquity. . . . An excellent book."---Philip Jenkins, Journal of Church and State"A carefully nuanced and illuminating anaylsis of the mixture of religious traditions in late ancient Egypt, as traditional religions were slowly giving way to the spread of Christianity. . . . Deeply thought provoking." * Choice *"Christianizing Egypt builds on David Frankfurter’s career working on the religious history of Roman and late antique Egypt and his deep knowledge of the Egyptian sources, material and literary alike, from hagiographical texts and sermons (in both Coptic and Greek) to terracotta figurines and amulets. The contribution this book makes to describing, analysing and interpreting religious change and process is very valuable indeed. There is much in this book for those interested in questions of religious change far beyond the confines of late antique Egypt."---Lucy Grig, Times Literary Supplement"A sophisticated and thought-provoking study of Christianization in Egypt that offers as much to the scholar of religion as it does the historian of ancient Christianity."---Michael Beshay, Bryn Mawr Classical Review"Frankfurter has constructed a model of Christianization that allows him to read these activities as representative of religious processes writ large while still retaining the nuance and specificity of a particular time, place, and religious sensibility. He argues persuasively."---Dana Robinson, Church History and Religious Culture"The work nicely demonstrates the extraordinary range of objects, including texts, uniquely preserved in Egypt, and draws together the evidence for study in a compelling and highly readable exposition. F.’s systematic reappraisal of what it was to be Christian and his deep and critical reading of material sources are especially laudable."---Elisabeth R. O’Connell, Journal of Roman Studies"A deeply stimulating, thought-provoking book which should be on the radar of every researcher of religion in late ancient Egypt."---Dylan M. Burns, Vigiliae Christianae"Christianizing Egypt is a great, uncommon, and thought-provoking book."---Anne Marie Yasin, Journal of Early Christian Studies"A rich and compelling examination of processes of religious change. . . . Frankfurter’s book presents a forceful argument for a revision of our approaches to the mechanisms of Christianization, destabilizing what we mean when we speak of a Christianized community or landscape."---Francoise Dunand, History of Religions"Frankfurter’s learning is wide and deep . . . and his writing is consistently lucid. . . . A rewarding contribution to our understanding of religious change in the late ancient Mediterranean world."---James Rives, ARYS

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Book SynopsisRevised version of author's thesis (Ph.D.)--Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey, United States, 2016.Trade Review"Shortlisted for the British-Kuwait Friendship Society Book Prize""Finalist for the Award for Excellence in the Historical Study of Religion, American Academy of Religion""The Spectator's Books of the Year""This book is a real achievement. It is a fascinating read for any scholar of Christian–Muslim relations, since it deals with a sensitive topic analytically and in an academically balanced manner. . . . In addition, although the author declares that he had no intension to connect the past with the present, the book opens up a larger window of understanding for any reader who is interested in current events in the Middle East."---Risto Jukko, Islam and Christian-Muslim Relations"Meticulously researched and documented. Sahner’s readings of the sources reflect great skill and care for sound methodology. As a result, the book is a welcome contribution to studies focusing on medieval Christian communitiesand their relationships with Muslims."---Charles Tieszen, Scottish Journal of Theology"Christian Sahner has published an excellent study of a long-overlooked and yet extremely important topic."---Stephen J. Shoemaker, Medieval Encounters"Sahner’s excellent book . . . draw[s] a detailed, bold, and colorful view of this new complex society in its formative centuries. Through minute and sensitive analysis of a wide array of martyrological stories Sahner deals with the most significant processes that forged a new society and culture during the first three centuries of Islam."---Milka Levy-Rubin, Bustan: The Middle East Book Review"This is an articulate, well-researched and informed first book, which examines martyrdom, violence, conversion, and identity formation among Christian communities in lands under Islamic rule during the eighth century and into the ninth."---J. E. Tearney-Pearce, Al-Masaq

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A work distinguished by deep scholarship, clear exposition and comprehensive coverage. . . . A smooth narrative covering nearly five centuries of Jesuit history in just over 800 pages. . . . The Jesuits is the best single-authored book on the subject I have seen."---Ronnie Hsia, Times Literary Supplement"This is a magisterial book, massive in its compass, its erudition, and its attention to detail. The history of the Jesuit order has usually been written by one of the members of the Society of Jesus, and yet here is a book of amazing scholarship, written by an outsider and, arguably, all the better for that; for the author brings a freshness of outlook to his task."---Lavinia Byrne, Church Times""[A] comprehensive history. . . . A remarkably fair assessment of the complex history of the Jesuits."---Peter Davidson, Literary Review"A comprehensive and unbiased history of the Society of Jesus. . . . Friedrich doesn’t shy away from controversial topics (such as the Jesuits’ roles in colonization and American slavery), nor does he attempt to either apologize for or demonize the people who are his object of study." * Christian Century *"A fast-paced and richly researched history. . . . Friedrich’s sweeping chronicle has much to offer." * Publishers Weekly *"However scholarly this magnum opus is, it can be read and enjoyed by anyone interested in the topic. The translation from the German original, published in 2016, is exceptionally gratifying."---Cornelius Michael Buckley, S.J., Catholic World Report"Friedrich tells this story with an exceptional command of a wide variety of sources in several languages. He’s assisted by John Noel Dillon in a graceful and very readable English translation. The result is a book that will be of benefit not only to scholars, but also to general readers."---Timothy Walch, Catholic News Service"A fine accomplishment. . . . Friedrich writes in a clear and organized manner that makes for something of a ‘page turner’ experience; whereas some histories of the Jesuits sacrifice readability for density of detail, Friedrich achieves a good balance."---Doug Jones, Jesuit Post"[An] immensely readable history of the order that will appeal to an audience beyond the Catholic tradition."---Thomas Filbin, Arts Fuse

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of The Tablet's Best Books of 2018""[A] riveting social history full of vivid characters in everyday wrangles and powerful reflections on trust and faith."---Teresa Morgan, The Tablet"Trustworthy Men presents a captivating portrait. . . . [It] opens a window onto a fascinating aspect of medieval life, and the study is a model for scholarship across specializations."---G.E. Myers, Choice"Forrest’s book is an impressive work which will probably exert a strong influence on medieval English Church history."---Justin Kirkland, European Legacy

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2005""As John L. Esposito makes clear in his helpful foreword, Professor F.E. Peters' revision of this important, accessible discussion of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition is a welcome contribution for a new generation of readers facing an international political environment where respectful engagement is imperative." * Jewish Book World *"The new edition of Francis E. Peters' The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam . . . is written in a direct and accessible style with thorough and nuanced discussions of each of the three Abrahamic traditions. . . . We have to try our best to understand other religions and our own. Perhaps Peters' book can help us in this."---Horst Jesse, European Legacy

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Book SynopsisExamines "the lives and thought of seven major prophetic figures in twentieth-century America whose social activism was motivated by a deeply felt compassion for those suffering injustice"--Amazon.com.Trade Review"One of CHOICE’s Outstanding Academic Titles for 2017""Raboteau asks--and leaves for the reader to answer—whether last century's prophets for social justice can provide models for future action. This scholarly yet accessible primer to the role of faith in the lives of American activists challenges contemporary notions of the role in religion in politics, and argues that empathy is a critical first step in addressing the suffering of others." * Publishers Weekly *"The subjects [of American Prophets] knew one another and participated, often shoulder-to-shoulder, in events like the great southern civil rights marches and the anti-Vietnam War demonstrations of the 1960s. As important, they wrote, spoke, and guided the movements. Let the study of them together start with these concise yet weighty appraisals."---Ray Olson, Booklist"Raboteau offers inspiring and challenging examples of embodied faith in the modern world." * Library Journal *"Compelling and provocative. . . . A momentous scholarly achievement as well as a moving testimony to the human spirit, American Prophets represents a major contribution to the history of religion in American politics. This book is essential reading for anyone who is concerned about social justice, or who wants to know what prophetic thought and action can mean in today's world."---Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins, JewishMediaReview"Raboteau's admiration for these figures leaps off the pages and invites a hushed reverence. . . .American Prophetsinvites the reader closer to the kind of faith that insists on justice. At its best the book not only extends an invitation to see how figures of faith mobilized their communities, but reminds us that the prophetic spirit is still calling us to action."---Susan Haarman, Commonweal"Written in lucid prose, Raboteau's seven luminous biographical sketches . . . tell a radical story." * Choice *"A powerful book about what faith in action truly means. Its underpinning of first-rate scholarship combined with eloquent analysis will compel many different audiences."---Nancy L. Roberts, Catholic News Service"The book is recommended for students of American politics, religion and social movements. It could hardly have appeared at a better time."---Jeremy Rutledge, Post and Courier"Raboteau brings his vast expertise to bear in these seven pithy profiles, moving back and forth between particular case studies and broader themes in American religion with an ease and authority that often eludes the junior scholar. . . . Compelling."---Heath W. Carter, Sociology of Religion

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the 2017 National Jewish Book Award in History (Gerrard and Ella Berman Memorial Award)""One of CHOICE’s Outstanding Academic Titles for 2017"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2017 Award for Excellence in Religion Historical Studies, American Academy of Religion""After a brief review of the institution of the caliphate, this exceptional monograph explores how Muslims viewed the caliphate after the Mongol destruction of the Abbasid caliphate. . . . The role of the caliph in the Ottoman Empire has also been underappreciated. Hassan explores this role but focuses her attention on how the dismissal of the caliphate in 1924 with the rise of Ataturk and Kemalism affected Muslims not only in Turkey but also in other parts of the Muslim world. She concludes her book with an examination of current movements that seek to restore the caliphate, such as ISIS and Hizb al-Tahrir." * Choice *"This book is an excellent study that represents a significant contribution to our understanding about the caliphate, and Hassan’s use of memory in the study of religion provides a methodological model of inquiry for scholars to follow."---Susan Gunasti, Critical Research on Religion"Hassan is a gifted writer and does a wonderful job of evoking the melancholy and sadness attendant to loss. . . . In all these and other ways, Hassan’s book is a commendable effort to rescue the caliphate from the crass and often obtuse analysis on offer in the contemporary West and to identify it properly as one of the more significant and consequential cultural symbols in the history of human civilization."---Khurram Hussain, Journal of the American Academy of Religion

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Jordan's book, full of imaginative sympathy with those undergoing total displacement, constructs an intricate picture of the convert experience in France. . . . He writes in measured prose, guiding readers along unfamiliar historical paths."---Michael Duggan, Catholic Herald"[This] book has a great deal to offer historians working on range of topics. For those concerned with missionary activity during this era, Jordan’s ability to shed light on the post-conversion experiences of these families represents a real step forward in our knowledge."---Nicholas Morton, Journal of Religious History, Literature, and Culture"Jordan carefully tracks down and puts together the records of the crown’s financial outlays and legal and administrative measures for these immigrant converts. This painstaking detective work provides a fascinating study that will be of great interest to historians of the crusade and of the French crown."---John Tolan, Journal of Ecclesiastical History

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the Jordan Schnitzer Book Award in Medieval and Early Modern Jewish History and Culture, Association for Jewish Studies""Winner of the 2017 National Jewish Book Award in Women’s Studies (Barbara Dobkin Award)""Finalist for the Dionisius A. Agius Book Prize, Society for the Medieval Mediterranean""Finalist for the 2017 National Jewish Book Award in Scholarship (Nahum Sarna Memorial Award)""Honorable Mention for the 2018 AAR Award for Excellence in the Study of Religion: Historical Studies, American Academy of Religion""One of Choice Reviews' Outstanding Academic Titles of 2018""Eve Krakowski’s masterful new book . . . presents an impressive cascade of new insights regarding the Jewish community in old Cairo—their concerns, negotiations, and accommodations with the dominant Fatimid society."---Amit Gvaryahu, Marginalia"Coming of Age in Medieval Egypt is an excellent book based on solid research and replete with brilliant insights. It marks a new, groundbreaking phase in the historical study of the Geniza society and constitutes a major contribution to the social and legal history of Islamicate cultures as well as to gender studies more generally."---Miriam Frenkel, Al-Masāq

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the 2017 National Jewish Book Award in Education and Jewish Identity (In Memory of Dorothy Kripke)"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Winner of the National Jewish Book Award in Scholarship""Winner of the Jordan Schnitzer Award in Biblical Studies, Rabbinics, and Jewish History and Culture in Antiquity, Association for Jewish Studies""An important addition to the field of Jewish Studies, for it makes a significant contribution to scholarly discussions on ways of constructing identity in rabbinic literature."---Michail Kitsos, Religious Studies Review"Time and Difference in Rabbinic Judaism effortlessly weaves together ruminations on time and temporality, rabbinic traditions (both legal and narrative), and Greek and Roman literary sources and material remains. . . . A remarkable achievement."---Max K. Strassfeld, The Journal of Religion

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Book SynopsisA sweeping history of Judaism over more than three millenniaJudaism has preserved its distinctive identity despite the extraordinarily diverse forms and beliefs it has embodied through the centuries. Martin Goodman provides a comprehensive look at how this great religion came to be, how it has evolved from one age to the next, and how its various strains, sects, and traditions have related to each other. He takes readers from Judaism''s origins in the polytheistic world of antiquity to the many varieties of Judaism today. He explains the institutions and ideas on which all forms of Judaism are based, and masterfully weaves together the different threads of doctrinal and philosophical debate that run throughout its history. A History of Judaism is a spellbinding chronicle of a vibrant religious tradition that has shaped the spiritual heritage of humankind like no other.Trade Review"A masterpiece."—Kirkus Reviews"A magisterial work."—David Tesler, Association of Jewish Libraries"One won't find within a single volume a more comprehensive account of Jewish religious history."—Steven Weitzman, Moment Magazine"Goodman's scholarship is formidable."—Daniel Beer, The Guardian"Goodman has done both Jews and non-Jews a great service with this book, encapsulating most of Jewish thought over four millennia in one extraordinarily readable volume."—Julia Neuberger, Literary Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"A compact and serious academic work. With ten pages of bibliography and extensive footnotes, Farneth offers readers a wide-ranging survey of contemporary thinking on social theory and the nature and history of rituals."---Emily Soloff, The Christian Century "A welcome contribution to ritual studies and to the study of religion and politics by offering a nuanced and compelling account of ritual activities and their public/political role. . . . Farneth’s combination of theoretical acuity, lucid writing and argumentation, and frequent use of examples make this text a valuable resource. - Nicholas Buck, Reading Religion "

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the Religion and the Arts Book Award, American Academy of Religion""An excellent addition to the historiography of nineteenth-century U.S. evangelical religion."---Stephanie Griswold, Nova Religio

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the Religion and the Arts Book Award, American Academy of Religion"

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Finalist for the National Jewish Book Award in Autobiography and Memoir"

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"One of The Tablet's Best Books of 2018""[A] riveting social history full of vivid characters in everyday wrangles and powerful reflections on trust and faith."---Teresa Morgan, The Tablet"Trustworthy Men presents a captivating portrait. . . . [It] opens a window onto a fascinating aspect of medieval life, and the study is a model for scholarship across specializations."---G.E. Myers, Choice"Forrest’s book is an impressive work which will probably exert a strong influence on medieval English Church history."---Justin Kirkland, European Legacy

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Book SynopsisThe life and times of a uniquely American testamentIn his retirement, Thomas Jefferson edited the New Testament with a penknife and glue, removing all mention of miracles and other supernatural events. Inspired by the ideals of the Enlightenment, Jefferson hoped to reconcile Christian tradition with reason by presenting Jesus of Nazareth as a gTrade Review"Peter Manseau’s fluent and instructive The Jefferson Bible: A Biography . . . carefully traces Jefferson’s pilgrimage into the non-miraculous."---James Parker, The Atlantic"Peter Manseau knows the Jefferson Bible well. . . . His outstanding biography of the text . . . pays careful attention to its status as private project, published book and political symbol."---Crawford Gribben, Wall Street Journal"Manseau’s story [recounts] a thrilling mixture of accident, fine timing, and diligent public-museum curation."---Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker"[A] fine ‘biography,’ the latest in Princeton University Press’s excellent series on the Lives of Great Religious Books. "---Nick Spencer, Prospect"Manseau's biography is scholarly and witty. It is an excellent introduction to an underappreciated aspect of Jefferson's thinking."---Daniel Rey, History Today"Excellent. . . . As Manseau observes, the ways in which Americans have received the Jefferson Bible may be more interesting than the ways by which Jefferson conceived it."---John Miller, Angelus"An illuminating look at a work of one of our most intellectually inquisitive presidents that will appeal to Jefferson aficionados, as well as anyone interested in the history of American religion." * Library Journal *"[F]ascinating. ... Manseau’s accounting of the post-discovery history of Jefferson’s [Bible] is well told." * The Journal of Southern History *

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