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Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Aspects of religions (non-Christian) > Worship
In exploring the social background of early Jewish mysticism,
"Scholastic Magic" tells the story of how imagination and magic
were made to serve memory and scholasticism. In the visionary
literature that circulated between the fifth and ninth centuries,
there are strange tales of ancient rabbis conjuring the angel known
as "Sar-Torah," the "Prince of the Torah." This angel endowed the
rabbis themselves with spectacular memory and skill in learning,
and then taught them the formulas for giving others these gifts.
This literature, according to Michael Swartz, gives us rare
glimpses of how ancient and medieval Jews who stood outside the
mainstream of rabbinic leadership viewed Torah and ritual. Through
close readings of the texts, he uncovers unfamiliar dimensions of
the classical Judaic idea of Torah and the rabbinic civilization
that forged them.
Swartz sets the stage for his analysis with a discussion of the
place of memory and orality in ancient and medieval Judaism and how
early educational and physiological theories were marshaled for the
cultivation of memory. He then examines the unusual magical rituals
for conjuring angels and ascending to heaven as well as the
authors' attitudes to authority and tradition, showing them to have
subverted essential rabbinic values even as they remained beholden
to them. The result is a ground-breaking analysis of the social and
conceptual background of rabbinic Judaism and ancient Mediterranean
religions. Offering complete translations of the principal
"Sar-Torah" texts, "Scholastic Magic" will become essential reading
for those interested in religions in the ancient and medieval
world, ritual studies, and popular religion.
Originally published in 1996.
The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand
technology to again make available previously out-of-print books
from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press.
These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these
important books while presenting them in durable paperback
editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly
increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the
thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since
its founding in 1905.
In this in-depth exploration of the symbols found in Navaho
legend and ritual, Gladys Reichard discusses the attitude of the
tribe members toward their place in the universe, their obligation
toward humankind and their gods, and their conception of the
supernatural, as well as how the Navaho achieve a harmony within
their world through symbolic ceremonial practice.
Originally published in 1990.
The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand
technology to again make available previously out-of-print books
from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press.
These paperback editions preserve the original texts of these
important books while presenting them in durable paperback
editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly
increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the
thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since
its founding in 1905.
A resource for worshipers today looking to change hardened worship
patterns that stand in the way of everyday spirituality. All too
often, those who attend church or synagogue find themselves bored
or baffled by the service. Their predominant thought is how slowly
the time ticks by—and that the service never seems to end.
Written for laypeople and clergy of any denomination, The Art of
Public Prayer examines how and why religious ritual works—and why
it often doesn't work. The Art of Public Prayer uses psychology,
social science, theology and common sense to explain the key roles
played by ritual, symbolism, liturgy and song in services. Each
chapter features "conversation points" designed to get you and your
faith community thinking and talking about your own worship
patterns—where they succeed, and where they need improvement. The
Art of Public Prayer can help you and your fellow congregants
revitalize your worship service by allowing you to organize and
direct your own worship, making it a meaningful and fulfilling part
of your life.
Presents the major Jewish holidays, focusing on established traditions and the creation of new customs and rituals.
Die Herausforderung religionsgeschichtlicher Forschung besteht
darin, die Erschliessung von Quellen in ihren Kontexten und ihre
theoriegeleitete Erklarung mit einer historisch-kritischen
Reflexion der Wissensproduktion selbst zu verknupfen. Die Reihe
Religionsgeschichtliche Versuche und Vorarbeiten (RGVV) will dieser
Komplementaritat von historischer Kontextualisierung, theoretischer
Verdichtung und disziplinarer Positionierung Rechnung tragen.
Studien zu kulturspezifischen Sachzusammenhangen stehen neben
vergleichenden Arbeiten, in Form von Monographien oder thematisch
fokussierten Sammelbanden.
Die Herausforderung religionsgeschichtlicher Forschung besteht
darin, die Erschliessung von Quellen in ihren Kontexten und ihre
theoriegeleitete Erklarung mit einer historisch-kritischen
Reflexion der Wissensproduktion selbst zu verknupfen. Die Reihe
Religionsgeschichtliche Versuche und Vorarbeiten (RGVV) will dieser
Komplementaritat von historischer Kontextualisierung, theoretischer
Verdichtung und disziplinarer Positionierung Rechnung tragen.
Studien zu kulturspezifischen Sachzusammenhangen stehen neben
vergleichenden Arbeiten, in Form von Monographien oder thematisch
fokussierten Sammelbanden.
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