The Death of Death (ebook)

Argumento de The Death of Death (ebook)

Does death end life, or is it the passage from one stage of life to another?

In The Death of Death, noted theologian Neil Gillman offers readers an original and compelling argument that Judaism, a religion often thought to pay little attention to the afterlife, not only presents us with rich ideas on this subject?but delivers a deathblow to death itself.

Combining astute scholarship with keen historical, theological and liturgical insights, Gillman outlines the evolution of Jewish thought about bodily resurrection and spiritual immortality. Beginning with the near-silence of the Bible on the afterlife, he traces the development of these two doctrines through Jewish history. He also describes why today, somewhat surprisingly, more contemporary Jewish scholars?including Gillman?have unabashedly reaffirmed the notion of bodily resurrection.

In this innovative and personal synthesis, Gillman creates a strikingly modern statement on resurrection and immortality.

The Death of Death gives new and fascinating life to an ancient debate. This new work is an intellectual and spiritual milestone for all of us interested in the meaning of life, as well as the meaning of death.

"Enables us to recover our tradition's understanding of the afterlife and breaks through the silence of modern Jewish thought on immortality.... A work of major significance."
?Rabbi Sheldon Zimmerman President, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion

?With a unique blend of erudition and clarity, Rabbi Gillman guides us through almost three millennia of evolving thought.... He has endowed his readers with a great scholar?s testament.... In a highly personal way, this remarkable book serves as a convincing demonstration that wisdom is not incompatible with passion, when they are united by faith.?
?Dr. Sherwin B. Nuland author, How We Die ; Clinical Professor of Surgery, Yale University

?A model of using textual and historical studies to provide new insights into contemporary religious issues.?
?Dr. Tikva Frymer-Kensky Professor of Hebrew Bible, University of Chicago Divinity School; author, In the Wake of the Goddesses

?Why is it good for me as a Christian to read The Death of Death? ? To read about such matters in a Jewish key is to allow 'like and unlike? to become a stimulant to my faith.?
?Rt. Rev. Krister Stendah former Dean of Harvard Divinity School; Bishop Emeritus of Stockholm0FOREWORD 11 I THE ESCHATOLOGICAL IMPULSE 17 II THE ORIGINS OF DEATH 37 III DEATH IN THE BIBLE 59 IV JUDAISM ON THE AFTERLIFE: THE EARLY SOURCES 83 V THE CANONIZATION OF A DOCTRINE 113 VI MAIMONIDES: THE TRIUMPH OF THE SPIRITUAL 143 VII THE MYSTICAL JOURNEY OF THE SOUL 173 VIII THE ENCOUNTER WITH MODERNITY 189 IX THE RETURN TO RESURRECTION 215 X WHAT DO I BELIEVE? 243 Notes 275 For Further Study 307 Index 309