Título: Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction
Autor: Joseph Dan
Sinopse: In Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction, Joseph Dan, one of the world's leading authorities on Jewish mysticism, offers a concise and highly accurate look at the history and character of the various systems developed by the adherents of the Kabbalah. Dan sheds light on the many misconceptions about what Kabbalah is and isn't—including its connections to magic, astronomy, alchemy, and numerology—and he illuminates the relationship between Kaballah and Christianity on the one hand and New Age religion on the other. The book provides fascinating historical background, ranging from the mystical groups that flourished in ancient Judaism in the East, and the medieval schools of Kabbalah in Northern Spain and Southern France, to the widening growth of Kabbalah through the school of Isaac Luria of Safed in the sixteenth century, to the most potent and influential modern Jewish religious movement, Hasidism, and its use of kabbalistic language in its preaching. The book examines the key ancient texts of this tradition, including the Sefer Yezira or "Book of Creation," The Book of Bahir, and the Zohar. Dan explains Midrash, the classical Jewish exegesis of scriptures, which assumes an infinity of meanings for every biblical verse, and he concludes with a brief survey of scholarship in the field and a list of books for further reading. Embraced by celebrities and integrated in many contemporary spiritual phenomena, Kabbalah has reaped a wealth of attention in the press. But many critics argue that the form of Kabbalah practiced in Hollywood is more New Age pabulum than authentic tradition. Can there be a positive role for the Kabbalah in the contemporary quest for spirituality? In Kabbalah, Joseph Dan debunks the myths surrounding modern Kabbalistic practice, offering an engaging and dependable account of this traditional Jewish religious phenomenon and its impact outside of Judaism. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.
Contexto da obra
Quando a classificação é mais ampla, o contexto do livro costuma depender ainda mais de autoria, tema e edição. “Kabbalah: A Very Short Introduction”, de Joseph Dan, publicado pela editora Oxford University Press, USA, em 2007 e com 144 páginas, integra a categoria Livros Variados. Por isso, autoria, edição e tema acabam tendo ainda mais peso na forma de apresentar o livro.
Editora: Oxford University Press, USA
Páginas: 144
Ano: 2007
Edição: 1
Linguagem: pt_BR
ISBN: 9780195327052
ISBN13: 9780195327052
Sobre a editora
Os livros da editora Oxford University Press, USA, apresentam uma leitura que mescla rigor acadêmico com clareza expositiva, frequentemente explorando temas complexos como filosofia, direito internacional, ciências naturais e história. A experiência de leitura é marcada por textos que vão do detalhamento analítico, como em discussões sobre epistemologia e teoria do conhecimento, até abordagens interpretativas e históricas que contextualizam eventos e ideias ao longo do tempo. O tom varia entre o didático e o crítico, com obras que convidam à reflexão profunda, mas também outras que buscam acessibilidade para o público geral, como introduções concisas a temas científicos e culturais. O catálogo da editora oferece tanto textos mais densos e técnicos quanto obras que privilegiam a narrativa histórica e cultural, indicando uma diversidade editorial que atende a leitores interessados em compreender fundamentos teóricos e suas aplicações práticas.
