Hyam Maccoby's now classic study focuses on the major Jewish-Christian disputations of medieval Europe: those of Paris (1240); Barcelona (1263); and Tortosa (1413-14). It examines the content of these theological confrontations with a sense of present-day relevance; while also discussing the use made of scriptural proof-texts. Part I provides a general thematic consideration of the three disputations and their social and historical background. Part II is a complete translation of the account of the Barcelona Disputation written by Nahmanides; one of the greatest figures in the history of Jewish learning; and was Jewish spokesman at the disputation. Part III contains Jewish and Christian accounts of the Paris and Tortosa disputations. A new introduction reviews the relevant literature that has been published since the original edition appeared.
#3657210 in Books 1998-10-15Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.48 x .53 x 5.50l; .58 #File Name: 1860642942152 pages
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Great bookBy JaiPaul E Walker does a fantastic job of laying down the rather complex ideas of the tenth century Fatimid Dai Abu Yaqub Sijistani. What fascinated me about this Scholar was his rationalistic approach to Islamic theology; and his actually rather interesting cosmological system that synthesized the Neo platonic approach with the Islamic cosmological and Ontological scheme. Abu Yaqub Sijistani solves a rather complicated dilemma about the Existence of God which relates directly to the human comprehension of God; which involved rather polemical discussions relating to the attributes of God as summarized within the main body of Islamic scripture. Numerous sections of Islam started to emerge with new ideas and new principles; interpretations that were supported by scripture and the sayings of the Prophets; companions or Imams appointed to carry on administrating the Islamic community spiritually and politically. The rather surprising idea that Sijistani purposed( which would later put him to death) was the whole idea of the agent Intellect. According to Sijistani what man comprehends as God is not really God; since God cannot be comprehended since God is a supra existent and such an existent cannot be thought of within the context of creation; what Sijistani purposed was that what the rest of the God fearing supposed to be God was actually the Agent intellect which was the first " Shay" or " thing" created by God. This agent Intellect was the " be" or the " Kun fiya kun"; the Intermediary of creation between the created and that; that was before creation which was supra existence; which is God. The reason why Sijistani was eventually put to death was because Sijistani made his God so great that it was purposed that there was no way of comprehending God since God was supra existence; and if there was no way of comprehending God then what relationship was left between man and God? Sijistani even went to the extent of purposing that supra existence in itself does not Exist since something that exists is within the creation; therefore to say the supra existent(God) exists is demeaning and wrong; therefore God does not exist in the context we interpret existence. By far Sijistani was an amazing theologian of Islam; this was a great book and I recommend it to anyone looking to study more into rational approaches towards Islamic theology; cosmology and ontology.8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Al Sijistani; Neoplatonism and Ismaili doctrineBy A CustomerAl Sijistani was a leading visionary during the Ismaili Fatimid period. This period was marked by a strong scientific spirit; a rational approach to the universe and a markedly humanistic view of mankind's key place in it. Al Sijistani was among the group of thinkers who coopted both rationalism and the philosophical sciences and answered that religious revelation reflected not merely a separate realm; but the whole of knowledge. Hence reason or the intellect was accepted as a valid source of Islamic understanding. Al Sijistani in fact argues that intellect can never be overconsumed; but thrives on being spent. Learning in a variety of ways improves the soul; giving it strength by adding to its share of intellect.In reviewing this book;clearly the most interesting aspect of al Sijistani's thought is his combination of Neoplatonic ideas and Ismaili doctrine. This book is in contrast with others on the Ismaili movement that tend to focus on the mystical (batin) aspects of the faith. I have read this book several times and really enjoyed reading it because of its rational approach to the Ismaili faith. I was quite surprised by the sound;readily defensible; theoretical foundation that he was able to build for central and critical issues of Ismaili doctrine.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. ExcellentBy a readerExcellent book. Gives a good overview Sijistani's neo-platonic contstruct and his rational approach to solving the paradox of tawhid.
