Religious Studies
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/466
2024-03-29T06:13:49ZWhat Great Transformation? Continuity, Rupture, and Capitalism in Twenty-First-Century Jewish Studies
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/33423
What Great Transformation? Continuity, Rupture, and Capitalism in Twenty-First-Century Jewish Studies
Brody, Samuel Hayim
When it comes to Jewish politics and religion, contemporary scholarly trends broadly—if cautiously—favor the classic interpretation of modernity as a moment of rupture. When it comes to Jews and economics, however, continuity appears to be preferred. Taking up this disparity as it manifests in Jewish economic history and ethics, this essay argues that greater attention to the concept of capitalism would point back toward rupture, and that such a direction should be considered despite its checkered past.
Both poles of Jewish economic history’s essentialist/contextualist divide affirm Jewish economic continuity, albeit in different ways. Essentialists claim that Jews were ushered by historical circumstances into economic niches that prefigured capitalist dynamism and fluidity, while contextualists reinforce liberal ideological notions of an unchanging “economic sphere” even as they attempt to avoid grand narratives. Capitalism, for the former, is seen as having always existed in nuce, even though fettered by environmental, technological, and political factors; for the latter, capitalism is intentionally left underdetermined in order to avoid being drawn back into old debates. If, however, we consider capitalism (with Polanyi and others) a qualitative “great transformation,” both of these descriptive orientations appear problematic.
A similar problem appears in Jewish economic ethics, considered here through the example of the Oxford Handbook of Judaism and Economics. Biblical and rabbinic texts on topics defined today as “economic” are read in ways that suggest the perennial existence of contemporary categories. Taking a historical view of capitalism as a qualitatively determinate phenomenon might assist this field’s normative work.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZThe Way of Humanity: Confucian Wisdom for an Opening World (Teachings of the Korean Philosopher, Haengchon)
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/30363
The Way of Humanity: Confucian Wisdom for an Opening World (Teachings of the Korean Philosopher, Haengchon)
Canda, Edward R.
The Way of Humanity presents a Confucian vision for personal and social transformation intended to bring about a worldwide social order of harmony, dignity, and justice for all peoples, beyond divisive sectarianism and nationalism. It is based on ideals for human flourishing gleaned from Confucian and Neo-Confucian thought as distilled by a highly respected elder philosopher in South Korea, Yi Dong Jun, PhD (Haengchon, literary name). He is Professor Emeritus of the College of Confucian Studies and Eastern Philosophy at Sungkyunkwan University in Seoul.
This work is the first detailed presentation of a contemporary Korean philosopher’s perspective on Confucianism as grounded in daily life, its implications for personal spiritual development, and its potential to contribute to world development. The book holistically presents Master Haengchon’s insights through vivid stories, philosophical essays, numerous illustrations, audio recordings of Confucian chanting, and recommendations for further reading.
There are two recordings of chants included as supplemental files in this record. Each has been made available in .wav format and .mp3 format. The files in the .mp3 format are much smaller and suitable for downloading in situations where bandwidth is restricted.; The second edition of this book is available at http://hdl.handle.net/1808/32470, including a link to buy a paper bound copy.; The second edition of this book is available at http://hdl.handle.net/1808/32470, including a link to buy a paper bound copy.
2020-01-01T00:00:00ZRituals and Sectarian Knowledge: Methods of Constructing Social Identity in the Community Rule (1QS)
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/30098
Rituals and Sectarian Knowledge: Methods of Constructing Social Identity in the Community Rule (1QS)
Schofield, Kyle Reid
This study deals with identity construction in the Community Rule (1QS). Examples of rituals and sectarian doctrines (knowledge) dictated in 1QS will be discussed along with a look into how these rituals and knowledge might have affected and constructed communal identity. The rituals that will be discussed are the communal meals, the admission process, and the nightly study sessions. Along with a discussion of these rituals and their effects, the doctrines that reinforce these rituals will be discussed, along with how that knowledge might have also shaped social identity. All of this builds up to the final section where the doctrine of determinism, as taught in 1QS, is discussed. To gain a better understanding of how this doctrine might have affected identity within the Qumran community, Calvinism is used as constructive comparative data.
2019-05-31T00:00:00ZCamille Eichorn Oral History
https://hdl.handle.net/1808/29426
Camille Eichorn Oral History
Eichorn, Camille; Cyr, Renee
Oral history interview with Camille Eichorn conducted by Renee Cyr on July 11, 2019 at Wheatfields Bakery in Lawrence. Camille is currently a solitary practitioner, but has contacts in many local Pagan groups. Questions cover her personal beliefs, childhood experience, her individual practice, and the larger Pagan community. This interview was conducted as part of a summer fieldwork internship funded by Friends of the Department of Religious Studies. Warning: contains strong language and political commentary.
Oral histories created by University of Kansas students, staff and faculty as part of the Religion in Kansas Project are archived at http://hdl.handle.net/1808/12524 in KU ScholarWorks, the digital repository of the University of Kansas.
2019-07-11T00:00:00Z