Introduction
Chapter One: What Are''Abrahamic Religions''?
Chapter Two: My Abraham is Better than Yours
Chapter Three: From Supersessionism to Ecumenicism
Chapter Four: Modern Usage
Chapter Five: On Words
Chapter Six: On History
Conclusions
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Aaron W. Hughes is Professor of Religious Studies at the University of Rochester.
"With his customary clarity and force, Aaron Hughes shows how the
term 'Abrahamic religions' does not pick out any naturally shared
element in monotheistic religions, but is a term of art that
monotheists have used (and still use) to negotiate the significant
differences between themselves and their near neighbors--other
monotheists. Readers who heed Hughes's cautionary words will return
to their scenes of interreligious dialogue and trialogue with a
historically and philosophically more sophisticated
self-consciousness, and as a result, those scenes will have better
and longer-lasting effects."--Martin Kavka, Associate Professor of
Religion, Florida State
University
"Although quaint and outdated, the 19th century's division between
national and ethnic religions was driven by interests little
different from those determining how we today group and divide
people-making the now popular 'Abrahamic faiths' as tactical a
designator as any that came before. Aaron Hughes makes sure that we
don't forget this and challenges scholars to keep their eyes on the
historical details rather than succumb to the mythology of
unity."--Russell
T. McCutcheon, author of Manufacturing Religion: The Discourse on
Sui Generis Religion and the Politics of Nostalgia
"Hughes's main concern in this volume is to present a case study in
the construction of categories in the academic study of religion.
Even though the notion of 'Abrahamic religions' has no historical
referent, and is largely intertwined with religious and political
agendas, it has nevertheless also been adopted as a category of
analytical value to the student of religion. The lesson to be
learned from the creation of such an 'Abrahamic discourse' for
students
of religion, he rightly points out, is that they must be highly
critical and self-conscious about the categories they deploy in
their work."--Donald Wiebe, Distinguished Fellow and Professor
of
Religion, Trinity College, University of Toronto
"It's an excellent book that deserves to be the book on the subject
matter."--Craig Martin, St. Thomas Aquinas College
Ask a Question About this Product More... |