Religious Knowledge, Authority, and Charisma: Islamic and Jewish Perspectives

The Issue Of Religious Authority Has Long Fascinated And Ignited Scholars Across A Range Of Disciplines: History, Anthropology, The Sociology Of Religion, And Political Science. Religious Knowledge, Authority, And Charisma Juxtaposes Religious Leadership In Premodern And Modern Islam With Examples From The Judaic Tradition. By Illustrating Various Iterations Of Authority In Numerous Historical And Cultural Contexts, This Volume Offers Fresh Insights Into The Nature Of Institutions Of Learning And Other Systems Of Establishing And Disseminating Authority, The Mechanisms For Cultivating Committed Adherents, And The Processes By Which Religious Leadership Is Polarized And Fragmented. Contributors Tease Out The Sources And Types Of Authority That Emerged Out Of The Sunni And Shi?i Milieu And The Evolution Of Muslim Elites Who Served As Formulators And Disseminators Of Knowledge And Practice. Comparative Insights Are Provided By The Examination Of Ideological And Historical Developments Among Jewish Sages Who Inculcated Similar Modes Of Authority From Within Their Traditions. The Rigorous Exploration Of The Dynamic Interface Of Knowledge And Power In Islam And Judaism Serves To Highlight A Number Of Present Tensions Common To Both Religions. By Intertwining A Historical Span That Traces Trajectories Of Continuity And Change, Integrative Discussion Of Cross-sectional Themes, And Comparative Perspectives, This Volume Makes A Distinct Contribution. -- The Issue Of Religious Authority Has Long Fascinated And Ignited Scholars Across A Range Of Disciplines: History, Anthropology, The Sociology Of Religion, And Political Science. Religious Knowledge, Authority, And Charisma Juxtaposes Learned Authority In Early And Modern Islam With Contemporaneous Examples From The Judaic Tradition. By Illustrating Various Instances And Iterations Of Authority In Historical And Cultural Contexts From The Formative Period Of Islamic History (8001,000 Ad) Through The Modern Period (post-1500 Ad)this Volume Conveys A Rich Body Of Examples And Offers Fresh Insights Into The Nature And Operation Of Institutions Of Learning Other Systems Of Establishing And Disseminating Authority, The Mechanisms For Cultivating Committed Adherents, And The Processes By Which Religious Leadership Is Polarized And Fragmented-- Authority Within The Hanbali Madhhab: The Case Of Barbahari / Nimrod Hurvitz -- Restoring The Prophet's Authority, Rejecting Taqlid: Ibn Hazm's Epistle To The One Who Shouts From Afar / Camilla Adang -- Succession Of The Prophets: Shi'i Theoretical And Practical Solutions / Ehud Krinis -- Oral Torah: Ideology And History In The Epistle Of Sherira Gaon / Gerald J. Blidstein -- Spiritual Heirs Of The Prophet: Sufi Masters In A Period Of Sunni Revitalization / Daphna Ephrat -- 'ulama' Of Damascus And Ottoman 'ulama': Career Patterns And Types Of Authority / Michael Winter -- Books, Commentators, And The Democratization Of Knowledge In The Geonic Period / Meir Ben-shahar -- The Rise Of A Charismatic Mujahid: The Salafi-jihadi Quest For Authority / Eli Alshech -- Martyrs As Preachers: Altruistic Death And Moral Authority / Meir Hatina -- The New Media And Islamic Activism: The Case Of 'amr Khalid / Ksenia Svetlova -- Charisma And Politics In The Evolution Of Modern Shi'i Leadership / Meir Litvak -- In Search Of Religious Authority: The International Union Of Muslim Scholars / Muhammad Al-atawneh -- Maggid Or Prediger? Knowledge And Religious Leadership In Nineteenth-century Eastern-european Jewry / Haim Gertner -- The Religious Career Opportunities Of Lay Preachers: A Study Of Folk Preaching In The Haredi Teshuva Movement / Nissim Leon. Edited Bydaphna Ephrat And Meir Hatina ; Foreword By Dale F. Eickelman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.