Not in the Heavens traces the rise of Jewish secularism through the visionary writers and thinkers who led its development. Spanning the rich history of Judaism from the Bible to today; David Biale shows how the secular tradition these visionaries created is a uniquely Jewish one; and how the emergence of Jewish secularism was not merely a response to modernity but arose from forces long at play within Judaism itself. Biale explores how ancient Hebrew books like Job; Song of Songs; and Esther downplay or even exclude God altogether; and how Spinoza; inspired by medieval Jewish philosophy; recast the biblical God in the role of nature and stripped the Torah of its revelatory status to instead read scripture as a historical and cultural text. Biale examines the influential Jewish thinkers who followed in Spinoza's secularizing footsteps; such as Salomon Maimon; Heinrich Heine; Sigmund Freud; and Albert Einstein. He tells the stories of those who also took their cues from medieval Jewish mysticism in their revolts against tradition; including Hayim Nahman Bialik; Gershom Scholem; and Franz Kafka. And he looks at Zionists like David Ben-Gurion and other secular political thinkers who recast Israel and the Bible in modern terms of race; nationalism; and the state. Not in the Heavens demonstrates how these many Jewish paths to secularism were dependent; in complex and paradoxical ways; on the very religious traditions they were rejecting; and examines the legacy and meaning of Jewish secularism today.
#1341379 in Books Valeri Mark 2014-01-05 2014-01-05Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.21 x .90 x 6.14l; 1.21 #File Name: 0691162174360 pagesHeavenly Merchandize How Religion Shaped Commerce in Puritan America
Review
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. A detailed complex account of early American market cultureBy Jonathan AndersenMark Valeri provided readers a summary of his book in the opening line of the preface where he stated that; "This book explains how transformations in religious thought contributed to the creation of a market culture in early America." Valeri grounded this story of transformation by employing the biographies of prominent New England merchants and ministers throughout the 17th and 18th centuries. During these hundred years; America experienced a drastic shift in religious and public understanding of a market economy. This understanding had its foundations long before this period and extends to today.Valeri proceeded chronologically through this period and detailed how ministers' shifting views regarding church discipline; providence; and the political sphere influenced views of markets by merchants in their congregations and the wider culture. Early Puritan ministers sought to teach merchants the faith and ensure that their work conformed to the church's teachings on usury; greed; and other sins connected with money. However; as the political situation changed alongside the ministers' views of providence; government began exercising moral supervision over economic affairs. This supervision; which was deeply influenced by a desire for hegemony over Catholic countries; legitimated market ideas and practices that had previously been condemned and led to a shift in moral thinking among ministers and merchants. The combination of all of these developments led to the establishment of the market economy used by all and questioned by few.The strengths and weaknesses of the book lie with Valeri's vast knowledge of economic; political; and religious history. His knowledge enabled him to paint a complex; nuanced; and detailed picture of the transformations during this period. However; at times this complex and nuanced picture that he filled with details of names; dates; and details obscured the larger themes Valeri sought to relay.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very Nice.By CustomerVery Nice.5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. an insightful and important bookBy Douglas A. HicksMark Valeri takes his readers on an engaging and entertaining ride through Puritan thought on the economy; showing how Christian leaders shifted their perspective in critical dialogue with commercial developments. It's a complicated; and fascinating story; and Valeri is the person to tell it. An essential book for anyone interested in the relationship of faith and economics.
