Language:
English
Year of publication:
1995
Titel der Quelle:
Bar-Ilan Studies in History
Angaben zur Quelle:
IV (1995) 13-30
Keywords:
Abelard, Peter,
;
Christianity and other religions Judaism To 1500
;
History
Abstract:
Since Peter Abelard denied that the Jews sinned in crucifying Christ (they only erred), questions whether he was more tolerant to Jews than his contemporaries. Abelard viewed reason as man's way of achieving knowledge of God, but argued that Christ's mediation was essential. Though he viewed law as guidance to what pleases God, he placed Mosaic law below both natural and evangelical law. In his "Dialogue of a Philosopher with a Jew and a Christian", here dated before 1136, he demonstrated that the Jews' laws (e.g. circumcision) are not spiritual and do not bring man closer to God. Thus, though he respected the Jews' sincerity, he argued that they were failures in both spiritual and human terms. By adding his own criticism of the Jews based on reason to the prevalent criticism based on faith, Abelard served to deepen the medieval chasm between Christians and Jews.
Note:
Reprinted in her "Christians and Jews in Dispute" (1998).
URL:
Locate this publication in Israeli libraries
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