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The Savage in Judaism: An Anthropology of Israelite Religion and Ancient Judaism (A Midland Book) Paperback – August, 1990

by Howard Eilberg-Schwartz (Author)

4 customer reviews

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The Savage in Judaism exposes and challenges the opposition between Judaism and "savage" religions that has shaped the conceptualization of Judaism in the discourses of modernity. Since the Enlightenment, Judaism has typically been regarded as superior to other religions. This judgment gave rise to the conviction that interpreters of Judaism had little if anything to learn from either the discipline of anthropololgy or comparative inquiry. This book, by contrast, aligns itself with a growing trend that is seeking to collapse the distinction between Judaism and savage religions. It does so, by recounting the history of that opposition and by a series of studies showing how differently Judaism appears when passed under the gaze of anthropological inquiry and cross-cultural analysis. Topics includes circumcision, impurity, and dietary restrictions.

The Savage in Judaism: An Anthropology of Israelite Religion and Ancient Judaism (A Midland Book)

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Product Details

Series: A Midland Book
Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Indiana University Press; 1st edition (August 1990)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0253205913
ISBN-13: 978-0253205919
Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 6 x 9.2 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,197,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1923 in Books > Religion & Spirituality > Judaism > History
- #2734 in Books > History > World > Religious > Judaism

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Illluminating and provocative

By A Customer on April 29, 2000

Format: Paperback

Interdisciplinary studies are exciting because they hold the promise of radically new insights into familiar subjects. This book lives up to this promise in every way; in fact, it ranks as one of the most thought-provoking and enlightening books I have read in years. Applying anthropology to the study of Judaism, the author argues persuasively that circumcision among the ancient Israelites, as indeed among many other people, originated as a symbol of kinship and as a means of cementing solidarity between father and son and all male cohorts. Only later, as Judaism evolved in the direction of ethicizing and historicizing all human experience, did the circumcision rite become invested with distinctively Judaic religious significance. Many other provocative insights await readers of this book. Admittedly, anthropological studies into worlds now vanished can rarely provide conclusive evidence for their theses. Still, this author's approach deserves serious attention by anthropologists, historians, and the general public.

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Fascinating!

By A Customer on March 29, 2000

Format: Paperback

Interdisciplinary studies are exciting because they hold the promise of radically new insights into familiar subjects. This book lives up to this promise in every way; in fact, it ranks as one of the most thought-provoking and enlightening books I have read in years. Applying anthropology to the historical study of Judaism, the author argues persuasively that circumcision among the ancient Israelites, as indeed among many other people, originated as a symbol of kinship and as a means of cementing solidarity between father and son and all male cohorts. Only later, as Judaism evolved in the directing of ethicizing and historicizing all human experience, did the circumcision rite become invested with distinctively Judaic religious significance. Many other provocative insights await readers of this book. Admittedly, anthropological studies into worlds now vanished can rarely provide conclusive evidence for their theses. Still, this author's approach deserves serious attention from anthropologists, historians, and the general public.

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Five Stars

By Wende Cook on December 8, 2015

Format: Paperback Verified Purchase

perfect condition, this book is eye-opening and a lot of wisdom packed in it!

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not solid basis for understanding

By JSB-Chicago on May 22, 2002

Format: Paperback

Because ancient Judaism shares features with "savage" belief systems does not make ancient Judaism a savage religion itself.
The differences between savage religions and ancient Judaism are many.
1. The Jews (not most) were literate and possessed written scriptures. No "savage" religion does.
2. Most "savage" religions are nature worship without definite calendars. Ancient Judaism, despite prayers for rain etc, was far from nature worship and possessed a definite calendar with dates corresponding to historical events.
Please be aware, the title and cover of this book are misleading. The bk is not about violence in Judaism, but simply comparisons to primitive religions.