New Perspectives in Theology of Judaism

If it can be said that theology is the philosophical examination of a religion by an insider, then the present collection of essays by Shubert Spero offers us the proper formula for a truly authentic work. The author sets out to rigorously yet sensitively investigate some of the basic concepts and principles of classical Judaism. The topics addressed range from the familiar-"e;Is God Knowable?"e; and "e;Justifying Religious Belief"e;-to the unusual-"e;Judaism and the Aesthetic,"e; "e;Does Judaism Have a Theory of Self?"e; and "e;Does Messianism Imply Inevitability?"e; Current issues are not neglected, and are addressed in sections such as "e;Religious Zionism: What is it?"e; and "e;The Ethical Theory of Judaism."e; While critical and analytic throughout, the author's style is clear and uncluttered and uses arguments to convince rather than to impress. Neither apologetic nor unnecessarily provocative, Shubert Spero provides a fresh approach to the neglected yet vital domain of Jewish theology.