Limits of Orthodox Theology: Maimonides' Thirteen Principles Reappraised

by Marc B. Shapiro

Overview

It is commonly asserted that Maimonides' famous Thirteen Principles are the last word in Orthodox Jewish theology. This is a very popular notion, and is often repeated by scholars from all camps in Judaism. Yet such a position ignores the long history of Jewish theology in which Maimonides' Principles have been subject to great dispute. The book begins with a discussion of the significance of the Principles and illustrates how they assumed such a central place in traditional Judaism. Each principle is then considered in turn: the reasons underlying Maimonides' formulations are expounded and the disputes that have arisen concerning them are discussed in detail. Marc B. Shapiro's authoritative analysis makes it quite clear that the notion that Maimonides' Principles are the last word in traditional Jewish theology is a misconception, and that even Maimonides himself was not fully convinced of every aspect of his formulations. Although structured around Maimonides' Principles, this book can also be seen as an encyclopedia of traditional Jewish thought concerning the central issues of Jewish theology.

The diversity of opinion in Jewish tradition on such issues as God, Creation, and the Revelation of the Torah is sure to surprise readers.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781906764234
Publisher:	The Littman Library of Jewish Civilization in association with Liverpool University Press
Publication date:	08/25/2011
Pages:	234
Sales rank:	859,733
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.10(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Marc Shapiro holds the Weinberg Chair in Judaic Studies at the University of Scranton, Pennsylvania. A graduate of Brandeis and Harvard universities, he is also the author of Between the Yeshiva World and Modern Orthodoxy: The Life and Works of Rabbi Jehiel Jacob Weinberg, 1884-1966 (2002); The Limits of Orthodox Theology: Maimonides' Thirteen Principles Reappraised (); and Changing the Immutable: How Orthodox Judaism Rewrites Its History (), all published by the Littman Library.

Table of Contents

	Note on Transliteration and Conventions Used in the Text	x
	List of Abbreviations	xii
1.	Introduction	1
2.	The Existence and Unity of God	38
3.	The Incorporeality of God	45
4.	Creation Ex Nihilo	71
5.	Only God is to be Worshipped	78
6.	Prophecy and the Uniqueness of Moses	87
7.	Revelation of the Torah	91
8.	Eternity of the Torah	122
9.	God's Knowledge; Reward and Punishment	132
10.	The Messiah; Resurrection of the Dead	139
	Conclusion	157
Appendix I	Other Areas of Dispute	159
Appendix II	Illustrations	163
	Bibliography	169
	Index of Biblical and Rabbinic References	205
	General Index	211