{"title":"Rachel S Mikva","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"dangerous-religious-ideas-book-rachel-s-mikva-9780807014769","title":"Dangerous Religious Ideas","description":"\u003cb\u003eReveals how faith traditions have always passed down tools for self-examination and debate, because all religious ideas-not just extremist ones-can cause harm, even as they also embody important moral teachings.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Scripture's abiding relevance can inspire great goodness, such as welcoming the stranger and extending compassion for the poor. But its authority has also been wielded to defend slavery, marginalize LGBTQ individuals, ignore science, and justify violence. Grounded in close readings of scripture and tradition in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, religious scholar Rachel Mikva shows us that the Abrahamic religions have always been aware of their tremendous power both to harm and to heal. And so they have transmitted their sacred stories along with built-in tools-interpretive traditions-to do the necessary work of taking on dangerous religious ideas and fostering self-critical faith.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e By exploring the themes of Scripture, Election, Reward and Punishment, Mikva examines how the interpretive methodologies of these religions have identified and grappled with their perilous power and positive potential. Many readers presume that their understanding of scripture's meaning is absolute, forgetting how these sacred texts and the history of interpretation have valued multiple perspectives and recognized ongoing rhythms of change. It's not a modern phenomenon to debate the nature of truth, hold space open for doubt, value humility, and question our capacity to know things-especially about God and God's will-with certainty. In fact, none of the traditions could remain vital or thrive together without a sustained practice of self-critique. \u003ci\u003eDangerous Religious Ideas\u003c\/i\u003e reframes the way we talk about faith to create a space where public discussion of religion is more constructive, nuanced, and socially engaged.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ GARDNERS","offer_id":49742019559697,"sku":"NGR9780807014769","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50362215956753,"sku":"CIN0807014761G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50972807037201,"sku":"CIN0807014761VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/0807014761.jpg?v=1751010853"},{"product_id":"broken-tablets-book-rachel-s-mikva-9781580231589","title":"Broken Tablets","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eLet the Ten Commandments command your imagination . and enrich your life. \u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWhen the Holy One gave the Torah, no bird chirped, no fowl flew, no ox lowed, not one angel stirred its wing or sang its song. The sea did not roar, creatures did not speak--the whole world was hushed into breathless silence; it was then that the voice went forth: I am the Lord your God.\u003cbr\u003e--Exodus Rabba 29:9\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eEven people who claim not to be religious will generally maintain that they do observe the Ten Commandments. Why is it that these ten statements, thousands of years old, continue to have such a special hold on us?\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHere, twelve outstanding spiritual leaders from across the spectrum of Jewish thought bring us to the life and soul of the Ten Commandments' unusual power. In voices that are personal and diverse, they help us take a closer look at the ten utterances that not only touch every aspect of our lives, but also present each of us with a profound challenge.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eContributors: \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eRabbi Eugene B. Borowitz - Leonard Fein - Rabbi Nancy Fuchs-Kreimer - Rabbi Laura Geller - Rabbi Lawrence A. Hoffman - Dr. Menachem Kellner - Rabbi Peter S. Knobel - Rabbi Lawrence Kushner - Rabbi Richard N. Levy - Rabbi Rachel S. Mikva - Rabbi Zalman M. Schachter-Shalomi - Rabbi Levi Weiman-Kelman - Rabbi Arnold Jacob Wolf\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":49934570160401,"sku":"CIN1580231586G","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50136586813713,"sku":"CIN1580231586VG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51038052745489,"sku":"NIN9781580231589","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52536174084369,"sku":"NLS9781580231589","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1580231586.jpg?v=1750991364"},{"product_id":"dangerous-religious-ideas-book-rachel-s-mikva-9780807051870","title":"Dangerous Religious Ideas","description":"\u003cb\u003eReveals how faith traditions have long passed down tools for self-examination and debate, because all religious ideas--not just extremist ones--can cause harm as well as embody important moral teachings\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOften, in public life, we critique extremist or fundamentalist versions of faith. These versions of a faith tradition, we think, make a mockery of the important moral teachings at their heart. But in a provocative book grounded in close readings of scripture and tradition in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism, religious scholar Rachel Mikva corrects this easy assumption: \u003cb\u003eall \u003c\/b\u003ereligious ideas are dangerous, she says, and thus self-critical faith is essential. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eMikva then takes her argument one step further, showing us that the Abrahamic religions contain within themselves the seeds of the work necessary to take on dangerous religious ideas and foster self-critical faith.\u003cbr\u003eAware of their tremendous power both to harm and to heal, most religions of the world have transmitted their sacred stories alongside tools for penetrating self-examination. This book demonstrates the self-critical capacities of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam by exploring three themes--Scripture, Election, and Reward \u0026amp; Punishment--identifying their perilous power and positive potential, and investigating how the traditions have historically grappled with them. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFor instance, while Scripture's abiding relevance can inspire great goodness, its authority has also been wielded to defend slavery, marginalize LGBTQ-identified individuals, ignore science, and justify violence. Many readers presume their understanding of its meaning is absolute, forgetting how these sacred texts and the history of interpretation have valued multiple perspectives and recognized ongoing rhythms of change. It is not a modern phenomenon to debate the nature of truth, hold space open for doubt, value humility, and question the capacity of human beings to know things--especially about God and God's will--with certainty. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eSelf-critical faith is the litmus that properly distinguishes contemporary camps--not religious identity or degree of orthodoxy, but the willingness to grapple substantively with the potential harm their ideas may inflict. Traditionally rooted and radically engaged, this book's collection of religious voices certainly substantiates the dangers of religious ideas. Yet it also initiates a complementary discourse that brings religious wisdom and insight to enhance public discussion in pursuit of the common good.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"US \/ GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50168818434321,"sku":"CIN080705187XG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"US \/ VERY_GOOD \/ SBYB","offer_id":50214144737553,"sku":"CIN080705187XVG","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/080705187X.jpg?v=1751138440"},{"product_id":"monotheism-and-pluralism-book-rachel-s-mikva-9781009273381","title":"Monotheism and Pluralism","description":"Can monotheistic traditions affirm the comparable value of diverse religions? Can they celebrate our world's multiple spiritual paths? This Element explores historical foundations and contemporary paradigms for pluralism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Recognizing that there are other ways to interpret the traditions, it excavates the space for theological parity.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ -","offer_id":51012126998801,"sku":"","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"US \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":51012130767121,"sku":"NIN9781009273381","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52617482600721,"sku":"NLS9781009273381","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/1009273388.jpg?v=1751299586"},{"product_id":"midrash-vayosha-book-rachel-s-mikva-9783161510090","title":"Midrash vaYosha","description":"Rachel S. Mikva undertakes a close examination of Midrash vaYosha , a medieval rabbinic text which explicates the Song at the Sea (Ex 15:1-18) and the events of the exodus from Egypt leading up to that climactic moment. Relatively short midrashim focusing on a brief biblical narrative or theme were composed in large numbers during the medieval period, and their extant manuscripts are sufficient in number to demonstrate the great popularity of the genre. Based on early manuscripts, two different recensions are transcribed and translated with significant annotation exploring variants, parallels, exegetical significance and literary style. A thorough historical analysis suggests that the midrash was performed as explication of the Torah reading at a certain point in its development - part of the gradual attenuation of live Targum. As Midrash vaYosha leaves the synagogue, its narrative dimension grows tremendously, yielding significant insight into the development of medieval Jewish exegesis.","brand":"WoB","offers":[{"title":"- \/ - \/ INTERNAL","offer_id":52430165704977,"sku":null,"price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"GB \/ NEW \/ INGRAM","offer_id":52430166327569,"sku":"NLS9783161510090","price":0.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/4072\/6801\/files\/9783161510090.jpg?v=1759168954"},{"product_id":"monotheism-and-pluralism-book-rachel-s-mikva-9781009500463","title":"Monotheism and Pluralism","description":"Can monotheistic traditions affirm the comparable value of diverse religions? Can they celebrate our world's multiple spiritual paths? This Element explores historical foundations and contemporary paradigms for pluralism in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. 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