Judaism: Between Yesterday and Tomorrow, Vol. 1

Swiss-German theologian Kung planned this massive synthesis of Christian history and systematic theology as a sequel to his On Being Christian (1976) and as a companion to Judaism (Crossroad, 1992). Ever the Catholic Church's "faithful critic," Kung displays a dazzling breadth of scholarship. Professor of ecumenical theology at the University of Tubingen, he bases his approach on five historical paradigm shifts: Jewish apocalyptic Christianity, early church ecumenism, the Roman system in the medieval papal church, the Reformation, and modern democracy. He notes dominant influences in each, presenting his convictions on the essence of Christianity and moving toward a polycentrism where Orthodox, Catholic, and evangelical traditions are not mutually exclusive. Over 30 diagrams and many stimulating "questions for the future" sidebars are included. Not all readers will accept the views of this Vatican II peritus (nor did the Vatican in 1973). But the work is a remarkable achievement for a church always in need of reform and reformers. Recommended for all theology collections

""This is the first of a projected series of three books, each dealing with one of the three great monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It is without doubt one of the most serious and learned encounters with Judaism by a non-Jewish scholar and thinker in our time"." -- Shofar

Jewish Book World

Paperback edition of a massive investigation by a sympathetic Christian scholar of developments in Judaism over the past three thousand years. Kung argues that the Jews have experienced six major paradigm shifts since the formation of the Jewish tribal federation. Part of a trilogy on the world's three monotheistic religions, the book represents a serious attempt by a Christian scholar to grapple with the meaning of Judaism in relation to Christianity and Islam.

Hans Kung is Emeritus Professor of Ecumenical Theology at the University of Tubingen and President of the Global Ethic Foundation. He is the author of numerous best selling books including On Being a Christian (Harper Collins).