Reform Judaism and Darwin: How Engaging with Evolutionary Theory Shaped American Jewish Religion

Daniel R. Langton

Published by De Gruyter 2019

Reform Judaism and Darwin

How Engaging with Evolutionary Theory Shaped American Jewish Religion

Daniel R. Langton

Volume 111 in the series Studia Judaica

https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110664119

Overview
Contents

About this book

Darwin provoked Jewish as well as Christian thinkers so that many felt obliged to establish oppositional, alternative, synthetic, or complimentary models relating Jewish religion to his theory of natural selection. This book examines a range of leading nineteenth- and early twentieth-century American progressive Jewish thinkers, with the primary focus being rabbis Kohler, Wise, Hirsch, Krauskopf, and Hahn, although many others are covered. Key themes include the widespread commitment to universal evolutionism, that is, the application of biological evolutionary theory to other realms (e.g. history, religion, cosmic), and the particular fascination with the evolution of ethical systems within human societies, bearing in mind mankind’s bestial origins and the new challenges for understanding religious authority and revelation. It is argued that Reform Jewish discussions about the nature of God have been more profoundly shaped by engagement with evolutionary theory than has been recognized before, and that evolutionary thought provides the key framework for understanding Reform Judaism itself. The precise nature of Jewish Reform engagement with Christian proponents of theistic evolution are important, as are their interest in alternative evolutionists to Darwin, such as Spencer and Haeckel.

Author / Editor information

Daniel Langton, University of Manchester, United Kingdom.

Topics

Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	I
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	V
I. Introduction Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	1
II. Evolution ‘in the air’: Scientific, Philosophical and Christian Influences on Reform Jewish Engagement with Evolutionary Theory Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	12
III. Isaac Mayer Wise: The Cosmic God and an Evolving Cosmos Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	28
IV. Aaron Hahn: The Divine Design Principle of the Universe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	52
V. Kaufmann Kohler: The Unfolding of Divine Life Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	60
VI. Emil G. Hirsch: The Divine Soul of an Evolving Universe Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	76
VII. Joseph Krauskopf: The Divine Natural Law of Evolution Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	89
VIII. Conclusion Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	105
Appendix: Evolution and Progressive Judaism in Britain Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	112
Bibliography Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	123
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed Download PDF	129

(Deutsch)

Language: English
Publisher: De Gruyter
Pages
- Front matter: 6
- Main content: 132
Keywords: Religion-science; Evolution-creationism; Reform Judaism; American Judaism.

eBook

Published: July 22, 2019
ISBN: 9783110664119

Hardcover

Published: July 22, 2019
ISBN: 9783110659139