Religion and Theology by Martin Buber - Book Report/Review Example

? submitted Book Report, Review, Religion and Theology by Martin Buber Martin Buber’s work can only be understood if and only if you take his faith as a Jew, as well as a philosopher of dialogue. His analysis on religion and theology focuses mainly on two figures, Jesus and Apostle Paul. He attempts to analyze Jesus situated between Apostle Paul and his Jewishness. He presents Jesus as a member of classic Judaism. He addresses Judaism as a phenomenon of religious reality, and that it has become manifested through Judaism. So the Judaism exists for the sake of this reality. He argues that by the term ‘God’ he means not a moral ideal, social image nor a projection of a psychic nor anything created by or developed within a man but rather means God who a man possesses in images and ideas which are not the work of free creation but products of divine-human encounters especially when a man attempts to grasp the explicable it happens to him. It is only theophany which changes but not God. Theophany only happens to a man who has great share in it as God. Images and ideas emanate from it through what is revealed in it is neither idea nor image but God. He based his entire thought on the duality of faith analyzing the two different levels which often share common elements. From Buber’s point of view, dialogue philosophy transcends analysis of any subject. However, Christianity analysis can’t be taken out of context of this philosophy neither can it be understood without considering philosophy of realization (Buber). The distinction between I-Thou and the I-It relations are the base of Buber’s thought. The I-It relation is between to an object and a subject but, it entirely has no relationship with genuine meeting. The Eternal Thou which is the relationship with God is perceived in these two types of faith; Judaism and Christianity. Buber uses learned and intuitive reading of the Bible method for analysis. The method does not dissect and disintegrate the traditional text into different sources but rather each section as a unit. Buber’s focuses on these two faiths; Judaism and Christianity and role of Paul in Jewish- Christian Polemics, which is basically a myth of the traditional view of Paul and his role in modern Jewish-Christian Polemics. He is more focused on these faith systems than historical reconstruction of men. According to Buber Paul is characterized as highly Hellenistic because no reference made to Acts and assumption that, throughout there is good familiarity with Romans. The two figures; Jesus and Apostle Paul lead to arising of Christianity as depicted in presentation of Buber’s demarche. He is interested in going further from the image of Jesus proposed by Judaism and Christianity, and the view is seen as from a Jewish thinker to avoid him being seen as close to Christianity or in the middle of Jewish tradition that rejects both Jesus and Christianity(Buber). The difference between the two faiths according to Buber is like trusting somebody and believing somebody. First we trust God is present and close to the soul and also exists which is the belief from Epistle to Hebrews. None of the two faiths is rationally representing or fundamental for instance as “I believe” implies entire being. Emunah, the Jewish faith implies trust in God while Pistes Christian faith implying believing in Christ. Buber compares the Synoptic stories with fragments from John’s Gospel about faith conception. Judaism essence is excluded by Christianity emergence, by two elements addressed by Paul. Most importantly, Buber analyses the inexistence and existence of God in these two types of faith. Buber categorizes things which cannot be seen as “absolute non-perceptibility” of eternal things (Buber). Buber says that the invisible God of the Old Testament does not interpret without affecting his invisibility and showing in manifestation that man experiences. Therefore, a believer is different from the heathen by the exclusiveness of his relationship to his God and referring all things to Him but rather not through more spiritual view of Godhead. From New Testament God’s existence is an article of faith but not to be taken as a matter of course because nearness of God a man does not feel but believe in it. This is highlighted in the believe that God exists and is here. In Christianity non faiths and faith choosing belongs to the present while in Judaic faith does not happen in one unique decision but rather in lifetime events. Trusting within the totality of life proves faith, the Old Testament paradigm being Job since there is no true life for him but only firmly established the covenant between man and God. From analysis of the book of Job, relationship between man’s sufferings and God emphasizes this idea. God works on the enticement basis and secondly God of Job’s suffering which points to sin. However, God of the protesting Job works against every purpose and reason. The God of revelation speaks from the tempest this being a revelation to individuals on their sufferings question. God is different from a logical perspective of friends through in contrast, Job’s view is real and the other view is of a voice speaking from tempest being supralogical truth of reality. Job is deeply rooted in Israelite primitive way of life according to Buberand hence placed in Jewish Paradigm of faith. Buber neglects religion texts in which religion is conceived as a way of being in the world. He refers to John’s Gospel where the conception of Christian ethics is as the way of staying in the world and living Christ did in it whereby faith is conceived as a victory over the world. Sermon on the Mount is important in Buber’s analysis in which to him it has a fundamental link with Old Testament faith. According to Buber, Jesus never brings new law since the law still is the old one but only understood in the absolute sense. He also finds loving ones enemy with respect to New Testament as having its roots in the Old Testament commandment to love one’s neighbor. Buber asserts that Jesus teachings about love deriving its light from the world of Judaism where he stands and contests and even outshines it. Therefore, basing our conclusion on Buber’s analysis, Christian teachings and the prophets’ one has the same content (Buber). Mostly basic laws of modern society are based on Ten Commandments and other laws stated in the book of Exodus(Buber). Judaism embraces the Law of Moses which encourages punishment by murder for idolaters, fornicators and people who commit tre4ason. This law according to Martin promotes a society full of hatred and animosity which hinders interaction of the young generation of the modern society. It is expressed in the book that both Christians and Jews should learn to co-exist promoting a peaceful society, this can be achieved by appreciating each other’s religion in modern society (Buber) Work Cited Buber, Martin. On Judaism. New York: Schocken, 1996. . Read More