The Art of Conversion: Christianity and Kabbalah in the Thirteenth Century
Boston: Brill, 2000.
First Edition. Hardcover. 9 3/4" X 6 1/2". xii, 332pp. Book presents nicely with unclipped dust jacket in protective archival sleeve. Very mild shelf to covers, corners, and edges of jacket. Bound in green cloth over boards with spine lettered in gilt. Pages are clean and unmarked. Binding is firm, tight, and sound.
ABOUT THIS BOOK:
This book discusses Ramon Llull (ca. 1232-1316), the Christian missionary, philosopher and mystic, his relations with Jewish contemporaries, and how he integrated Jewish mystical teachings (Kabbalah) into his thought system so as to persuade the Jews to convert. Issues dealt with include Llull's attitude towards the Jews, his knowledge of Kabbalah, his theories regarding the Trinity and Incarnation (the Art), and the impact of his ideas on the Jewish community. The book challenges conventional scholarly opinion regarding Christian knowledge of contemporary Jewish thought and questions the assumption that Christians did not know or use Kabbalah before the Renaissance. Further, it suggests that Lull was well aware of ongoing intellectual and religious controversies within the Jewish community, as well as being the first Christian to acknowledge and appreciate Kabbalah as a tool for conversion. Series: The Medieval Mediterranean, Volume: 26. (Publisher). Very Good / Very Good. Item #16140
ISBN: 9004117156
Price: $75.00