The Art of Conversion: Christianity and Kabbalah in the Thirteenth Century (Medieval Mediterranean) [Hardcover]

Harvey J. Hames (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 9004117156 | ISBN-13: 978-9004117150 | Publication Date: July 2000

A discussion of Ramon Llull (circa 1232-1316), the Christian missionary, philosopher and mystic, his relations with Jewish contemporaries, and how he integrated Jewish mystical teachings (Kabbalah) into his thought system so as to persuade the Jews to convert. Issues dealt with include Llull's attitude towards the Jews, his knowledge of Kabbalah, his theories regarding the Trinity and Incarnation (the Art), and the impact of his ideas on the Jewish community. The book challenges conventional scholarly opinion regarding Christian knowledge of contemporary Jewish thought and questions the assumption that Christians did not know or use Kabbalah before the Renaissance. Further, it suggests that Llull was well aware of ongoing intellectual and religious controversies within the Jewish community, as well as being the first Christian to acknowledge and appreciate Kabbalah as a tool for conversion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

'..".an extremeley well-researched and convincing argument for contact between Llull and the Kabbalists.'
Brian Catlos, "Anuario de Estudios Medievales, 2001.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 332 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (July 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004117156
• ISBN-13: 978-9004117150
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,171,825 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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4.0 out of 5 stars The Art of Conversion, November 5, 2009

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This review is from: The Art of Conversion: Christianity and Kabbalah in the Thirteenth Century (Medieval Mediterranean) (Hardcover)

One of Raymond Llull's goals was to convert both Jews and Muslims to Christianity, and his Art developed over a period of some forty years with this purpose in mind. Llull's approach to conversion was based on the need to find principles common to members of the three monotheisitic faiths, which could then be used as a basis for dialogue. The elaboration of these principles presupposes a knowledge of the other's faith, and given that Llull's intellectual milieu was the same as the Kabbalists', the possibility that their teachings made an impression on Llull's thought must be taken into account.

Thus, in broad terms, this book concentrates on the nature of the relationship between different religious societies living in close contact with each other, and the ability to pinpoint the influences that one has over the other. As Christianity emerged as the dominant faith of medieval Europe and as the basis for political power, so its attitude toward the other monotheistic faiths, Judaism and Islam, became part of a continuous attempt at self definition which necessarily involved excluding the others because of conflicting truth claims.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exemplary scholarship, April 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Conversion: Christianity and Kabbalah in the Thirteenth Century (Medieval Mediterranean) (Hardcover)

Dr.Hames has shown exemplary scholarship in this thought provoking work.It will become required reading for anyboby interested in this field.

1 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding schollarship by Doctor Hames, December 16, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Art of Conversion: Christianity and Kabbalah in the Thirteenth Century (Medieval Mediterranean) (Hardcover)

This work is outstanding in every way. Hames' schollarship is thorough, thoughtful, inciteful and provoking. I heartily recommend this book to anyone interesting in medieval history.