Muslow, who holds a degree in philosophy from the University of Munich, and Popkin (professor emeritus, Washington University) present work dealing with conversions to Judaism from the 16th to the 18th century. Six case studies by international scholars examine phenomena such as crypto-Judaism, reversion of Jewish-Christian converts, and secret conversion of non-Jewish Christians for intellectual reasons. The first contributions examine George Buchanan and John Dury, followed by three studies of the milieu of late-17th-century Amsterdam. The last essay is concerned with Lord George Gordon and Cabbalistic Freemasonry. Annotation ©2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
This volume deals with conversions to Judaism from the 16th to the 18th century. It provides six case studies by leading international scholars on phenomena as crypto-Judaism, "judaizing", reversion of Jewish-Christian converts and secret conversions of non-Jewish Christians for intellectual reasons. With contributions by Arthur Williamson, Richard H. Popkin, Elisheva Carlebach, Allison P. Coudert, Martin Mulsow and Martha Keith Schuchard.
Recenzijos
"...very good indeed, [ ...] make important contributions to our knowledge about religious boundary crossing in early modern Europe (and, more particularly, about the positve reevaluation of Judaism among some radical Christians). The editors of the volume have chosen to draw the reader in by highlighting the apparent historic impoobability of conversion to Judaism in early modern Europe. But the reader will come away from the book reassured that this "improbability", like most other things seen in context, was not improbable at all - at least on a small scale." Miriam Bodian, Renaissance Quarterly.
Introduction, Martin Mulsow & Richard H. Popkin
1. George Buchanan, Crypto-Judaism, and the Critique of European Empire,
Arthur Williamson
2. Can one be a True Christian and a Faithful Follower of the Law of Moses?
The Answer of John Dury, Richard H. Popkin
3. Ich will dich nach Holland schicken . . .: Amsterdam and the Reversion
to Judaism of German-Jewish Converts, Elisheva Carlebach
4. Judaizing in the Seventeenth Century: Francis Mercury van Helmont and
Johann Peter Späth (Moses Germanus), Allison P. Coudert
5. Cartesianism, Skepticism and Conversion to Judaism. The Case of Aaron
dAntan, Martin Mulsow
6. Lord George Gordon and Cabalistic Freemasonry: Beating Jacobite Swords
into Jacobin Ploughshares, Marsha Keith Schuchard
Index of Names
Martin Mulsow, Dr. (1987) in Philosophy, University of Munich, is Privatdozent at the University of Munich. Habilitation (2000) with a book Moderne aus dem Untergrund. Radikale Frühaufklärung in Deutschland 1680-1720 (Meiner, 2001). Further books on Renaissance Philosophy, Enlightenment, and the Republic of Letters.
R.H. Popkin, Ph.D. (1950), Columbia, is Professor Emeritus at Washington University, St. Louis, and Professor Emeritus in History and Philosophy, U.C.L.A. He is the author and editor of over 30 books and 300 articules, including The History of Scepticism (OUP).
