Man Is Not Alone : A Philosophy of Religion [Paperback]

Abraham Joshua Heschel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1976

Man Is Not Alone is a profound, beautifully written examination of the ingredients of piety: how man senses God's presence, explores it, accepts it, and builds life upon it. Abraham Joshua Heschel's philosophy of religion is not a philosophy of doctrine or the interpretation of a dogma. He erects his carefully built structure of thought upon foundations which are universally valid but almost generally ignored. It was Man Is Not Alone which led Reinhold Niebuhr accurately to predict that Heschel would "become a commanding and authoritative voice not only in the Jewish community but in the religious life of America." With its companion volume, God in Search of Man, it is revered as a classic of modern theology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"For Jews and Christians beyond the numbering, Abraham Joshua Heschel was a spiritual mentor who changed our lives in ways that we are still trying to understand."--The Reverend Richard John Neuhaus, editor in chief of First Things

About the Author

Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-72) was internationally known as a scholar, author, activist, and theologian. He was Professor of Ethics and Mysticism at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (June 1, 1976)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0374513287
• ISBN-13: 978-0374513283
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #98,110 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Abraham Joshua Heschel (1907-72), one of the foremost Jewish savants of our time, was internationally known as scholar, author, activist, and theologian.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 64 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The classic theological work of the 20th century, December 30, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Man Is Not Alone : A Philosophy of Religion (Paperback)

A profound work that reflects on how man can apprehend God and have an encounter with the ineffable, and the radical amazement that man experiences when experiencing the presence of the Divine. Heshcel's major themes include the problems of doubts and faith; What Judaism means by teaching that God is One; The essence of man and the problem of man's needs. He discusses the definition of religion in genral, and of Judaism in specific, man's yearning for spirituality; Judaism as a pattern for life, and a study of what piety really is. One of the few books to reecive accolades from Orthodox, Conservative and Reform Jews, as well as many Christians.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an explanation of religion, April 20, 2003

By 

Michael Lewyn (Forest Hills, NY) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Man Is Not Alone : A Philosophy of Religion (Paperback)

Heschel's book is a description of faith rather than an argument for faith: not an attempt to persuade the faithless, but an explanation of how the religious person thinks. I especially liked his discussion of prayer and ritual; Heschel explains, for example, that set written prayers exist to help us think about our faith as we read them. MUCH easier to read than his more famous book "God In Search Of Man"; I wish I had read this book first.

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars . . . the One who IS . . ., July 1, 2000

By 

Jonathan Stone (Colorado) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Man Is Not Alone : A Philosophy of Religion (Paperback)

A thinking person who doesn't believe in God, someone who is searching for God, or a believer who wants to know God more deeply -- all will be touched by this profound portrayal of "the One who IS." It is a beautifully written treasure of wisdom.