Religion, Science, and Magic: In Concert and In Conflict

by Jacob Neusner (Editor), Ernest S. Frerichs (Editor), Paul Virgil McCracken Flesher (Editor)

Every culture makes the distinction between "true religion" and magic, regarding one action and its result as "miraculous," while rejecting another as the work of the devil. Surveying such topics as Babylonian witchcraft, Jesus the magician, magic in Hasidism and Kabbalah, and magic in Anglo-Saxon England, these ten essays provide a rigorous examination of the history of this distinction in Christianity and Judaism. Written by such distinguished scholars as Jacob Neusner, Hans Penner, Howard Kee, Tzvi Abusch, Susan R. Garrett, and Moshe Idel, the essays explore a broad range of topics, including how certain social groups sort out approved practices and beliefs from those that are disapproved--providing fresh insight into how groups define themselves; "magic" as an insider's term for the outsider's religion; and the tendency of religious traditions to exclude the magical. In addition the collection provides illuminating social, cultural, and anthropological explanations for the
prominence of the magical in certain periods and literatures.

Genres: Nonfiction, Religion

Paperback

First published June 1, 1989

About the author

Born in Hartford, Connecticut, Neusner was educated at Harvard University, the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (where he received rabbinic ordination), the University of Oxford, and Columbia University.

Neusner is often celebrated as one of the most published authors in history (he has written or edited more than 950 books.)Since 1994, he taught at Bard College. He also taught at Columbia University, University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, Brandeis University, Dartmouth College, Brown University, and the University of South Florida.

Neusner was a member of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, and a life member of Clare Hall, Cambridge University. He is the only scholar to have served on both the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts. He also received scores of academic awards, honorific and otherwise.

Reviews

[Neil · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book as a source for a research paper for an online course. What I did read of it, I did enjoy. What I read was interesting; it kept my attention, and the authors I read presented articles that I thought were well-written and well-articulated. It is composed of ten 'chapters' ("papers"?) in which different topics or focuses are discussed; they range from 'ancient times' to 'modern times.' Sadly, I was not able to finish the book 'at this time.' I do see myself finishing it later and will provide a more in-depth review at a later time when I finish it.