Overview

In Jewish Faith and Modern Science, renowned Jewish philosopher and rabbi Norbert Samuelson argues that modern Jewish philosophy has died—that it has failed to address the challenges to traditional beliefs posed by scientific advances, and is therefore no longer relevant to Jews today. Samuelson confronts these challenges head-on, critically reflecting on how all of the forms of contemporary Judaism, from orthodox to liberal to secular to new age, can address questions raised by the latest scientific advances. Considering questions ranging from the existence of the soul, to the relationship between God and particle physics, to the debate over when life begins and ends, Samuelson paves the way for a rebirth of Jewish philosophy applicable to life in the modern world.

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Brilliantly conceived, Jewish Faith and Modern Science is a welcome and timely addition to the growing body of literature whose contributors seek to close the gap between religion and the natural sciences. Opening out new territory in the study of modern Judaism, Norbert Samuelson asks his readers to reconsider the major topic of Jewish under the impact of contemporary developments in all the sciences, from theoretical physics to the bio-sciences and technology. -- Zachary J. Braiterman, Syracuse University Jewish Faith and Modern Science offers a fresh and edgy challenge for the entire discipline of Jewish Philosophy. It is a shofar blast that sends this call to today's Jewish philosophers: 'Awake from your humanistic slumber, look around and remember that disciples of Torah also live in the natural world. The Torah itself remembers that this world is also a place of God's word!' -- Peter Ochs, University of Virginia Samuelson never shirks big, important, and contentious issues. In this, his latest book, he powerfully argues that to its detriment Judaism has failed to grasp crucial developments in the sciences. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, and your mind opened to new possibilities for reframing and revitalizing Jewish thoughtttt -- Geoffrey Cantor, University of Leeds Norbert M. Samuelson's analysis of the death of Jewish philosophy is learned and deeply insightful. It is also courageous: few authors focus so bluntly on the most controversial issues in contemporary Jewish thought and practice. Essential reading for those interested in the renewal of Jewish philosophy within the contemporary world. -- Philip Clayton, Claremont Graduate University Norbert Samuelson is one of our finest scholars of Jewish thought. His reflections on the past and future of Jewish philosophy show a learned and incisive mind at work. This book will no doubt stimulate great debate, and not just in academic circles. -- Steven Nadler, University of Wisconsin Samuelson never shirks big, important, and contentious issues. In this, his latest book, he powerfully argues that to its detriment Judaism has failed to grasp crucial developments in the sciences. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, and your mind opened to new possibilities for reframing and revitalizing Jewish thought -- Geoffrey Cantor, University of Leeds This book is a bombshell for most forms of religious apologetics and sets a new agenda for honest inquiring people of faith. Although the power of this book comes in its critique of the older traditions of Jewish philosophy, the care with which Norbert Samuelson analyzes those traditions makes it a good introduction to Jewish philosophy in general. Most aspects of his critique apply to traditional Christian philosophy and theology as well. -- Robert Cummings Neville, Boston University At last a book on Jewish philosophy by someone has the courage to point out that the emperor has no clothes. This long overdue, thought-provoking book opens the path for a rebirth of modern Jewish thought. -- Carl Feit, Yeshiva University Norbert Samuelson steps into the conflict between modern science and traditional religion with both feet and considerable intellectual prowess. Samuelson has thrown down the gauntlet for Jews and Judaism in an age of science, and no thinking person should go back to business as usual. Samuelson is an iconoclast and a formidable scholar with a grasp of a great variety of disciplines. is a magnum opus from one of the most important Jewish thinkers working on interpreting contemporary science and traditional faith. Readers, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, will be well rewarded and challenged. -- William Grassie Global Spiral Samuelson offers a highly provocative, polemical work arguing that modern Jewish philosophy needs to reorient itself radically to once again become relevant... This is a significant study... Recommended. CHOICE, October 2009

Samuelson never shirks big, important, and contentious issues. In this, his latest book, he powerfully argues that to its detriment Judaism has failed to grasp crucial developments in the sciences. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, and your mind opened to new possibilities for reframing and revitalizing Jewish thought--Geoffrey Cantor

Norbert Samuelson steps into the conflict between modern science and traditional religion with both feet and considerable intellectual prowess. Samuelson has thrown down the gauntlet for Jews and Judaism in an age of science, and no thinking person should go back to business as usual. Samuelson is an iconoclast and a formidable scholar with a grasp of a great variety of disciplines. is a magnum opus from one of the most important Jewish thinkers working on interpreting contemporary science and traditional faith. Readers, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, will be well rewarded and challenged.--William Grassie Global Spiral

Brilliantly conceived, Jewish Faith and Modern Science is a welcome and timely addition to the growing body of literature whose contributors seek to close the gap between religion and the natural sciences. Opening out new territory in the study of modern Judaism, Norbert Samuelson asks his readers to reconsider the major topic of Jewish under the impact of contemporary developments in all the sciences, from theoretical physics to the bio-sciences and technology. -- Zachary J. Braiterman Jewish Faith and Modern Science offers a fresh and edgy challenge for the entire discipline of Jewish Philosophy. It is a shofar blast that sends this call to today's Jewish philosophers: 'Awake from your humanistic slumber, look around and remember that disciples of Torah also live in the natural world. The Torah itself remembers that this world is also a place of God's word!' -- Peter Ochs Samuelson never shirks big, important, and contentious issues. In this, his latest book, he powerfully argues that to its detriment Judaism has failed to grasp crucial developments in the sciences. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, and your mind opened to new possibilities for reframing and revitalizing Jewish thoughtttt -- Geoffrey Cantor Norbert M. Samuelson's analysis of the death of Jewish philosophy is learned and deeply insightful. It is also courageous: few authors focus so bluntly on the most controversial issues in contemporary Jewish thought and practice. Essential reading for those interested in the renewal of Jewish philosophy within the contemporary world. -- Philip Clayton Norbert Samuelson is one of our finest scholars of Jewish thought. His reflections on the past and future of Jewish philosophy show a learned and incisive mind at work. This book will no doubt stimulate great debate, and not just in academic circles. -- Nadler, Steven Samuelson never shirks big, important, and contentious issues. In this, his latest book, he powerfully argues that to its detriment Judaism has failed to grasp crucial developments in the sciences. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, and your mind opened to new possibilities for reframing and revitalizing Jewish thought -- Geoffrey Cantor This book is a bombshell for most forms of religious apologetics and sets a new agenda for honest inquiring people of faith. Although the power of this book comes in its critique of the older traditions of Jewish philosophy, the care with which Norbert Samuelson analyzes those traditions makes it a good introduction to Jewish philosophy in general. Most aspects of his critique apply to traditional Christian philosophy and theology as well. -- Neville, Robert Cummings At last a book on Jewish philosophy by someone has the courage to point out that the emperor has no clothes. This long overdue, thought-provoking book opens the path for a rebirth of modern Jewish thought. -- Carl Feit Norbert Samuelson steps into the conflict between modern science and traditional religion with both feet and considerable intellectual prowess. Samuelson has thrown down the gauntlet for Jews and Judaism in an age of science, and no thinking person should go back to business as usual. Samuelson is an iconoclast and a formidable scholar with a grasp of a great variety of disciplines. is a magnum opus from one of the most important Jewish thinkers working on interpreting contemporary science and traditional faith. Readers, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, will be well rewarded and challenged. -- William Grassie Global Spiral Samuelson offers a highly provocative, polemical work arguing that modern Jewish philosophy needs to reorient itself radically to once again become relevant... This is a significant study... Recommended. CHOICE, October 2009

Brilliantly conceived, Jewish Faith and Modern Science is a welcome and timely addition to the growing body of literature whose contributors seek to close the gap between religion and the natural sciences. Opening out new territory in the study of modern Judaism, Norbert Samuelson asks his readers to reconsider the major topic of Jewish under the impact of contemporary developments in all the sciences, from theoretical physics to the bio-sciences and technology. -- Zachary J. Braiterman, Syracuse University Jewish Faith and Modern Science offers a fresh and edgy challenge for the entire discipline of Jewish Philosophy. It is a shofar blast that sends this call to today's Jewish philosophers: 'Awake from your humanistic slumber, look around and remember that disciples of Torah also live in the natural world. The Torah itself remembers that this world is also a place of God's word!' -- Peter Ochs, Edgar Bronfman Professor of Modern Judaic Studies, University of Virginia Samuelson never shirks big, important, and contentious issues. In this, his latest book, he powerfully argues that to its detriment Judaism has failed to grasp crucial developments in the sciences. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, and your mind opened to new possibilities for reframing and revitalizing Jewish thoughtttt -- Geoffrey Cantor, University of Leeds Norbert M. Samuelson's analysis of the death of Jewish philosophy is learned and deeply insightful. It is also courageous: few authors focus so bluntly on the most controversial issues in contemporary Jewish thought and practice. Essential reading for those interested in the renewal of Jewish philosophy within the contemporary world. -- Philip Clayton, Claremont School of Theology Norbert Samuelson is one of our finest scholars of Jewish thought. His reflections on the past and future of Jewish philosophy show a learned and incisive mind at work. This book will no doubt stimulate great debate, and not just in academic circles. -- Steven Nadler, University of Wisconsin Samuelson never shirks big, important, and contentious issues. In this, his latest book, he powerfully argues that to its detriment Judaism has failed to grasp crucial developments in the sciences. Prepare to have your assumptions challenged, and your mind opened to new possibilities for reframing and revitalizing Jewish thought -- Geoffrey Cantor, University of Leeds This book is a bombshell for most forms of religious apologetics and sets a new agenda for honest inquiring people of faith. Although the power of this book comes in its critique of the older traditions of Jewish philosophy, the care with which Norbert Samuelson analyzes those traditions makes it a good introduction to Jewish philosophy in general. Most aspects of his critique apply to traditional Christian philosophy and theology as well. -- Robert Cummings Neville, Boston University At last a book on Jewish philosophy by someone has the courage to point out that the emperor has no clothes. This long overdue, thought-provoking book opens the path for a rebirth of modern Jewish thought. -- Carl Feit, Yeshiva University Norbert Samuelson steps into the conflict between modern science and traditional religion with both feet and considerable intellectual prowess. Samuelson has thrown down the gauntlet for Jews and Judaism in an age of science, and no thinking person should go back to business as usual. Samuelson is an iconoclast and a formidable scholar with a grasp of a great variety of disciplines. is a magnum opus from one of the most important Jewish thinkers working on interpreting contemporary science and traditional faith. Readers, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, will be well rewarded and challenged. -- William Grassie Global Spiral Samuelson offers a highly provocative, polemical work arguing that modern Jewish philosophy needs to reorient itself radically to once again become relevant... This is a significant study... Recommended. CHOICE, October 2009

Author Information

Norbert M. Samuelson is Grossman Chair of Jewish Studies at Arizona State University. An internationally renowned scholar of Jewish philosophy, he is widely published in the field.

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