RE204 Lecture 17: Introduction to Judaism - Lecture 17
Document Summary
Judaism and modernity: marks period of challenge and opportunity. How should jew engage in secular world: came with significant gains in rights and freedoms, but challenged all areas of jewish life and tradition. Jew as an individual had rights, but jews as group lost theirs. Change to both jewish life and judaism. Privatization of jewishness into the private life was difficult. Jews gained privileges of citizenship, rather than slavery. Change is the constant, does not lead anywhere. Jews of modern movements have patters in jews of middle ages. Maimonides: religious rationalism, philosophical examination, yesterday"s heretic becomes today"s philosopher. Excommunicated as a heretic, considered to be dangerous. Enlightenment: period in history where reason, tolerance and nature emphasized over dogma and prejudices/hierarchies of birth. Presented universality of rights to apply to jews: philosophy focused good deal on state of humanity and natural order, use of observation to gain knowledge, insight and ethics. Judaism came under fire as a dogma religion.
