The Children of Abraham (ebook)

Argumento de The Children of Abraham (ebook)

"I know of no more measured and thoughtful historical survey of the formative development of the conjoined tradition of Jewish, Christian, and Islamic thought and practice than this one."--William A. Graham, Dean, Harvard Divinity School

"The Children of Abraham is a concise introduction to the work of a scholar who thinks about every aspect of Judaism, Christianity, or Islam 'in triplicate.' This new edition deserves a warm welcome."--Jack Miles, author of God: A Biography and Christ: A Crisis in the Life of God

"For many years this book has occupied a treasured spot on my shelves and I have recommended it countless times. A new, substantially rewritten edition could not be more welcome. There is simply no other volume that presents such broad erudition in a compact, accessible, and beautifully written format."--Jane Dammen McAuliffe, general editor of the Encyclopaedia of the Qur'an

"The Children of Abraham is one of the first synoptic presentations of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam that compares the structures of the three religions without asserting the superiority of any one of them. Fully revised, this new edition reflects current scholarship in the field and contains new footnotes and chapter subheads that make it even more user friendly than before. The book will appeal to teachers of comparative religion as well as to historians looking for a concise narrative about Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. The general reader will find it engaging, too."--Mark Cohen, Princeton University

One of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2005

"As John L. Esposito makes clear in his helpful foreword, Professor F.E. Peters' revision of this important, accessible discussion of the Judeo-Christian-Islamic tradition is a welcome contribution for a new generation of readers facing an international political environment where respectful engagement is imperative."--Jewish Book World

"The new edition of Francis E. Peters' The Children of Abraham: Judaism, Christianity, Islam . . . is written in a direct and accessible style with thorough and nuanced discussions of each of the three Abrahamic traditions. It is a welcome contribution for a new generation of readers facing an international political environment where respectful engagement is imperative. Updated footnotes provide expert guidance to the highly complex issues. . . . We have to try our best to understand other religions and our own. Perhaps Peters' book can help us in this."--Horst Jesse, European Legacy0Foreword by John L.Esposito ix
Preface to the New Edition xv
Preface xvii
INTRODUCTION The Scriptures: Some Preliminary Notions 1
CHAPTER ONE The Promise and the Heirs 7
CHAPTER TWO A Contested Inheritance 21
CHAPTER THREE Community and Hierarchy 41
CHAPTER FOUR The Law 67
CHAPTER FIVE Scripture and Tradition 85
CHAPTER SIX The Worship of God 103
CHAPTER SEVEN Renunciation and Aspiration 116
CHAPTER EIGHT Thinking and Talking about God 138
EPILOGUE Sacred History 167
Notes 173
Glossary 213
Index 227