Of God and Gods - Egypt, Israel, and the Rise of Monotheism (Paperback, X, 222 Pp. and)

For thousands of years, our world has been shaped by biblical monotheism. But its hallmark - a distinction between one true God and many false gods - was once a new and radical idea. ""Of God and Gods"" explores the revolutionary newness of biblical theology against a background of the polytheism that was once so commonplace.Jan Assmann, one of the most distinguished scholars of ancient Egypt working today, traces the concept of a true religion back to its earliest beginnings in Egypt and describes how this new idea took shape in the context of the older polytheistic world that it rejected. He offers readers a deepened understanding of Egyptian polytheism and elaborates on his concept of the ""Mosaic distinction,"" which conceives an exclusive and emphatic Truth that sets religion apart from beliefs shunned as superstition, paganism, or heresy.Without a theory of polytheism, Assmann contends, any adequate understanding of monotheism is impossible. This work will be of great interest to anyone seeking to understand the relationship between God and gods.

General

Imprint:	University of Wisconsin Press
Country of origin:	United States
Series:	George L. Mosse Series in the History of European Culture, Sexuality, and Ideas
Release date:	May 2008
First published:	May 2008
Authors:	Jan Assmann
Dimensions:	229 x 152 x 13mm (L x W x T)
Format:	Paperback
Pages:	200
Edition:	X, 222 Pp. and
ISBN-13:	978-0-299-22554-4
Categories:	Books > Humanities > Religion & beliefs > Non-Christian religions > Pre-Christian European & Mediterranean religions > Ancient Egyptian religion Books > Religion & Spirituality > Non-Christian religions > Pre-Christian European & Mediterranean religions > Ancient Egyptian religion Promotions
LSN:	0-299-22554-2
Barcode:	9780299225544

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