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[This book we recommend not only as MUST READ but also as MUST OWN. One of the questions often asked of us is why should God choose a people over and above all other people groupings, nations, races—and what makes Israel special in God’s eyes? We’ve often tried to explain that chosen-ness does not imply superiority as it is often misunderstood to be; in fact the question is asked with some resentment and disbelief. Well, if there is one book that thoroughly explains Israel as “chosen” this is it! And the explanation makes the most sense and in fact surprises even us! We will feature as many excerpts here to provide enough incentive for you to secure your own copy for your library, it is worth it! We bought our copy from DAYENU, the gift shop at the Jewish Community Center in San Francisco CA; it is available in amazon.com in both book and ebook downloadable on kindle.–Admin1.]
Front Cover:
The Center for Religious Inquiry Series: This series explores topics of religion and spirituality in an effort to develop new understandings of the various faith traditions. Each book is developed in conjunction with the acclaimed Center for Religious Inquiry, a model for religious exploration across traditional religious lines that is being replicated across the United States.
Who Are the REAL Chosen People?
The Meaning of Chosenness in Judaism, Christianity and Islam
Reuven Firestone, PhD, is professor of medieval Jewish and Islamic studies at Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion. He is the author of An Introduction to Islam for Jews and Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism for Muslims, among other books. He is a frequent speaker on the topics of early Islam and its relationship to Judaism and Christianity, scriptural interpretation of the Bible and Qu’ran, and the phenomenon of holy war in the Abrahamic religions.
Inside front cover:
Jews, Christians, and Muslims each claim in one way or another to be God’s chosen community. Whether called chosenness or election, the special nature of that divinely authorized status—its implied or stated superiority—has been glorified by religious civilizations when in positions of imperial power and has sustained religious communities suffering persecution.
To understand how and why the concept of chosenness became so important in religion, Reuven Firestone examines the emergence of the authoritative marker of authenticity for the competing expressions of monotheism. He discusses how chosenness became a category over which great arguments, inquisitions, and religious wars have been fought. He shows how understanding the notion of chosenness can help you navigate between your beliefs and those of others, and help you make sense of your own unique place in a religiously complex world.
Back page:
What does it mean to be “Chosen”? Why did God have to choose?
“To be chosen can have a range of meaning from the mundane to the holy, but in all cases it means to be singled out and preferred over others. In a deep sense that permeates much or most of Western culture, having been chosen communicates a sense of something that is extraordinary, is transcendent, and entitles a reward. What is assumed in this sense of the term is that God has done the choosing and the reward is something that is unequaled, for what could possibly equal divinely ordained eternal happiness?”—from the Introduction
Religious people who define themselves as monotheists have often advanced the idea that their relationship with God is unique and superior to all others. Theirs supersedes those that came before, and is superior to those that have followed. This phenomenon tends to be expressed in terms not only of supersessionism, but also of “chosenness” or “election.” Who is the most beloved of God? What expression of divine will is the most perfect? Which relationship reflects God’s ultimate demands or desire?
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CONTENTS
Introduction: The Language of Chosenness
1 In the Beginning
2 Chosenness in the Ancient Near East
3 Best Practice Models and Religious Success
4 Chosenness and Covenant in the New Testament
5 Chosenness and Covenant in the Qur’an
6 Chosenness and Covenant in Rabbinic Literature
7 The Merit of the Ancients
8 The Legacy of Chosenness
9 Does Redemption require Election?
Conclusion: Retaining Our Uniqueness while Affirming the Other
Notes
Suggestions for Further Reading
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Reviews:
“Fair and careful . . . allows the reader to understand the worldview of these different traditions and to recognize ways of navigating the difficult issues that arise from the claims of chosenness . . . Will aid those interested in greater self-understanding and those wishing to engage the difficult issues of interfaith dialogue. Highly recommended.” —Congregational Libraries Today
“Clear and cogent . . . .Insightful . . . .Deserves a wide readership to help Jews, Christians and Muslims not to renounce but to understand more deeply one of the central elements of their religious heritage.—Dialogue & Alliance
“With elegant concision and scrupulous fairness, Reuven Firestone has taken up the most contentious question in all of Western religious history and drawn off at least some of its poison. No teacher or serious student of the tangled relations among Judaism, Christianity and Islam should be without this little book.”—Jack Miles, author, God: A Biography.
“Rabbi Firestone takes us on a journey through the three monotheistic traditions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam to uncover the meaning of ‘chosenness.’ He makes a compelling argument against parochial interpretations of this important concept, and illustrates how erroneously it has been associated with the self-exaltation of one religious community or another. This book is both informative and thought provoking.” Louay Safi, PhD, executive director, Leadership Development Center, Islamic Society of North America
“With a rare depth and range of scholarly knowledge and theoretical sophistication as well as a sympathetic yet judicious eye, Reuven firestone presents a portrait of the notion of chosenness in the three great Abrahamic Western religious traditions—Judaism, Christiantiy, and Islam—-in a manner that is both magisterial and accessible. Scholars and laypeople, believers and skeptics alike will profit greatly from this informative and thought-provoking book.”—Rabbi David Ellenson, PhD, president, Hebrew Union College—Jewish Institute of Religion
“As we enter a new era of interreligious dialogue, the concept of ‘chosenness’ poses a serious problem. This is the first, careful, fair and thorough comparison of how the concept functions in the three major Abrahamic religions, all of which have their version of it. It will help move interreligious relations beyond the cliches in which it can sometimes become mired and into a needed honest grappling with the seemingly more intractable issues. It will be required reading for anyone interested in nurturing religious diversity in a globalizing world.”—Harvey Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity, Harvard University
“Reuven Firestone has waded into the most difficult troubled waters of interreligious conflict and navigated them fairly. This is a highly readable and well-balanced treatment of the tough issues—chosenness and exclusive claims—that have long marred the great moral achievements of monotheism. A worthwhile sourcebook for all who participate in dialogue.”—Dr. Arthur Green, rector, Hebrew College Rabbinical School, author, Seek My Face: A Jewish Mystical Theology and Ehyeh: A Kabbalah for Tomorrow.
“Who are the Real Chosen People? raises a central discussion when examining the relationship between the three great Abrahamic faiths and interfaith dialogue. Rabbi Reuven Firestone has done the reader a favor by not glossing over the hard issues that confront us, rather offering a timely analysis of the concept of ‘chosenness.’ The reader needs to engage with Firestone’s clear and sympathetic arguments in order to make sense of what is happening in the world today. Rabbi Firestone is truly a leader of moral courage and vision for our troubled times.”—Akbar Ahmed, PhD, Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, American University
“A fascinating topic and a highly stimulating exploration of chosenness in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Professor Firestone’s research is thorough, and his discussion and conclusions provide much food for thought.”—Ghada Osman, PhD, Center for Islamic and Arabic Studies, San Diego State University
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