Rituals and Ritual Theory in Ancient Israel (Brill Reference Library of Judaism) [Hardcover]

Ithamar Gruenwald (Author)

Book Description

Series: Brill Reference Library of Judaism | Publication Date: April 2003

This book, in many ways the first of its kind, addresses the issue of rituals and their embedded ritual theory, in the religion of ancient Israel. The leading idea of the book is that rituals are a autonomous form of expression of the human mind. The human mind expresses itself in rituals, as it does in language, the arts, and mathematics. Rituals are not performative translations of symbols and ideas, and in religion, of any kind of theology. Theology does not explain how rituals are done and how they accomplish what they claim to do. The book begins with a general discussion of what rituals are, and argues that the ritual theory of each ritual is not in any general theory of ritual but embedded in the ritual act itself. Every ritual is structured in such a way that its details create the behavioural logic that makes ritual work. The difference is explored between the early and institutionalised phases of the religion of ancient Israel. Here the role of the economic ethos is the focus of the discussion. The book explores the links between myth and rituals, arguing that the connectedness with ritual endows a story with a myth essence. Detailed discussions of various rituals exemplify the major theoretical discourse. The book is of interest to scholars in the areas of Halakhah (law and ritual), religious studies, and the anthropology of religion.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"'Gruenwald's book offers a tightly argued scholarly analysis It is no hyperbole to say that this volume is profound. a remarkably important and articulate volume'
J. Harold Ellens, "Calvin Theological Journal / "Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 2003.

About the Author

Ithamar Gruenwald, Ph.D., has been teaching at Tel Aviv University since 1967. He is chair of the Program in Religious Studies, and acted as chair of the Department of Jewish Philosophy for a total of ten years. He has lectured at Universities in North America and Europe and organised over twenty international conferences. His major publications are Apocalyptic and Merkavah Mysticism (Brill, 1980) and From Apocalypticism to Gnosticism (Bern, 1988).

Product Details

• Hardcover: 278 pages
• Publisher: Brill Academic Pub (April 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9004126279
• ISBN-13: 978-9004126275
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,560,031 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Important study of the scope of ritual, July 2, 2003

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This review is from: Rituals and Ritual Theory in Ancient Israel (Brill Reference Library of Judaism) (Hardcover)

Rituals and Ritual Theory in Ancient Israel by Ithamar Gruenwald (Brill Reference Library of Ancient Judaism, 10: Brill Academic) in many ways the first of its kind, addresses the issue of rituals and their embedded ritual theory, in the religion of ancient Israel. The leading idea of the book is that rituals are a autonomous form of expression of the human mind. The human mind expresses itself in rituals, as it does in language, the arts, and mathematics. Rituals are not performative translations of symbols and ideas, and in religion, of any kind of theology. Theology does not explain how rituals are done and how they accomplish what they claim to do.
The book begins with a general discussion of what rituals are, and argues that the ritual theory of each ritual is not in any general theory of ritual but embedded in the ritual act itself. Every ritual is structured in such a way that its details create the behavioural logic that makes ritual work. The difference is explored between the early and institutionalised phases of the religion of ancient Israel. Here the role of the economic ethos is the focus of the discussion. The book explores the links between myth and rituals, arguing that the connectedness with ritual endows a story with a myth essence. Detailed discussions of various rituals exemplify the major theoretical discourse.
The book is of interest to scholars in the areas of Halakhah (law and ritual), religious studies, and the anthropology of religion.