Reviews for Judaism and Enlightenment (Ideas in Context Series)

The average rating for Judaism and Enlightenment (Ideas in Context Series) based on 2 reviews is 2.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2013-01-31 00:00:00 Kevin Wright Is Judaism (or is any religion) beneath reason, or beyond it? Sutcliffe explores this question in light of the hostility that Enlightenment philosophers felt toward traditional, non-rational Jewish thought. Enlightenment values included Rationalism--obviously hard to reconcile with religious mysticism--but also included Tolerance. To what extent could irrationality be tolerated? The writings of Baruch Spinoza, himself an irreligious Sephardic Jew, figure prominently, as do the anti-Semitic polemics of Voltaire. Sutcliffe's closing sentence reveals his own moderately "anti-Enlightenment" view: "The mythic resilience of Judaism ... provides a bulwark against univocal rationalist arrogance." It's fascinating to consider the implications of these centuries-old frictions in our own world of competing orthodoxies. (Jeff B., Reader's Services)

Review # 2 was written on 2011-08-12 00:00:00 Doyal Steward Hard book to read without an extensive background. Worthwhile if you do have that information.