The Idea of Semitic Monotheism: The Rise and Fall of a Scholarly Myth

The Idea of Semitic Monotheism explores the concept of Semitic monotheism, developed by Ernest Renan in the mid-nineteenth century, and its implications for the study of religion in the long nineteenth century. It highlights the shift in the status of Judaism and Islam due to the Western discovery of Sanskrit and Orientalism, and the dualistic taxonomy of religions that emerged as a result.

Format: Hardback
Length: 320 pages
Publication date: 20 May 2021
Publisher: Oxford University Press

The Idea of Semitic Monotheism delves into significant facets of the academic study of religion during the long nineteenth century, spanning from the Enlightenment to the First World War. Its primary objective is to comprehend the evolving status of Judaism and Islam during the formative years of this emerging discipline. Guy G. Stroumsa, in his work, centers his attention on the concept of Semitic monotheism, which was formulated by Ernest Renan in the mid-nineteenth century. This concept emerged as a response to the postulated and contentious distinction between the Aryan and Semitic families of peoples, cultures, and religions. This distinction originated from the Western discovery of Sanskrit and its relationship with European languages during the Enlightenment and Romanticism periods. Alongside the rise of scholarly Orientalism, this discovery provided fresh perspectives on the East, leading to the demotion of the Near East from its traditional position as the focal point of Biblical revelations. This groundbreaking work undertakes a comprehensive exploration of a central theme in the modern study of religion. However, it simultaneously highlights the profound implications of the new dualistic taxonomy of religions, shedding light on the origins of European attitudes toward Jews and Muslims in the twentieth century, up to the present day.

Weight: 502g
Dimension: 147 x 223 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780192898685