Messianic Mystics Idel

In this discussion of Kabbalah - from the mystical trends of medieval Judaism to modern Hasidism - Moshe Idel considers different visions of the nature of the sacred text and of the methods to interpret it. He takes as a starting point the fact that the post-biblical Jewish world lost its geographical centre with the destruction of the temple and so was left with a textual centre, the Holy Book. Idel argues that a text-oriented religion produced language-centred forms of mysticism. Against this background, the author demonstrates how various Jewish mystics amplified the content of the Scriptures so as to include everything: the world, or God, for example. Thus the text becomes a major realm for contemplation, and the interpretation of the text frequently becomes an encounter with the deepest realms of reality. Idel delineates the particular hermeneutics belonging to Jewish mysticism, investigates the progressive filling of the text with secrets and hidden levels of meaning, and considers in detail the various interpretive strategies needed to decodify the arcane dimensions of the text....

Shirley gets inspired to create a religious film and asks Abed for his creative input only to discover that he wants to make one of his own. Meanwhile, Pierce comes to terms with being the oldest member of the group and is recruited by another set of students his own age.

Western civilization is closely associated with reason and science and with exceptional accomplishment in art and architecture, music, and literature. Yet it has also been characterized by widespread belief in the supernatural and the irrational—with mystics who have visions of the divine, and with entire movements of people who wait in fervent anticipation of the apocalypse.

Western civilization is closely associated with reason and science and with exceptional accomplishment in art and architecture, music, and literature. Yet it has also been characterized by widespread belief in the supernatural and the irrational—with mystics who have visions of the divine, and with entire movements of people who wait in fervent anticipation of the apocalypse.

In accordance with the intention I expressed in 1985, this third volume in my series of systematic contributions to theology is devoted to christology. And because I have ventured to call the whole of my theology 'messianic theology', the dimensions of this christology are messianic. Within these dimensions, I do not wish to talk solely about 'the Christ of hope' in the form of an eschatological christology although characterizations of that kind are not of course wrong. But the future hope of Israel and Judaism is already messianic; and it was from this that the Christian faith proceeded. ...

Western civilization is closely associated with reason and science and with exceptional accomplishment in art and architecture, music, and literature. Yet it has also been characterized by widespread belief in the supernatural and the irrational—with mystics who have visions of the divine, and with entire movements of people who wait in fervent anticipation of the apocalypse.

Western civilization is closely associated with reason and science, and with exceptional accomplishment in art, architecture, music, and literature.
Yet it has also been characterized by widespread belief in the supernatural and the irrational—with mystics who have visions of the divine, and with entire movements of people who wait in fervent anticipation of the apocalypse.

Western civilization is closely associated with reason and science, and with exceptional accomplishment in art, architecture, music, and literature.

Western civilization is closely associated with reason and science, and with exceptional accomplishment in art, architecture, music, and literature.

Jami (1414-1492), a scholar and mystic, is considered by many to be one of the greatest Persian poets of the 15th century. This volume, edited by F. Hadland Davis and first published in 1908, contains selections from some of Jami's best-known works. "Salaman and Absal" examines the earthly love ("the love that binds and fetters and is corruptible") of the eponymous star-crossed lovers and contrasts it with "incorruptible" celestial love. The "Lawa'ih" is a treatise on Sufism. "Yusuf and Zulaikha" tells of Zulaikha's unrequited love for Yusuf, and the "Baharistan" is a book of verse and prose written as a series of eight "gardens." A brief biography of Jami and some additional information on each of the selections are included in this timeless work. FREDERICK HADLAND DAVIS is also the author of The Persian Mystics: Jalalu'd-Din Rumi (1907) and Myths and Legends of Japan (1912), both available from Cosimo. Reprint of edition 1918....

In the mid-seventeenth century, Shabbatai Zvi, a rabbi from Izmir, claimed to be the Jewish messiah, and convinced a great many Jews to believe him. The movement surrounding this messianic pretender was enormous, and Shabbatai's mission seemed to be affirmed by the numerous supporting prophecies of believers. The story of Shabbatai and his prophets has mainly been explored by specialists in Jewish mysticism. Only a few scholars have placed this large-scale movement in its social and historical context. ...

The award-winning investigation that rediscovers the "common people" in the time of Jesus--the masses led by bandit forces, apocalyptic prophets, and messianic leaders. ...