Abstract
This article examines critical assessments of Max Weber's influential writings on Judaism. It focuses primarily on criticisms of Weber articulated by American Jewish sociologist Philip Rieff (1922-2006) and his one-time teacher Edward Shils (1910-1995). In a posthumously published 2007 work entitled Charisma: The Gift of Grace, and How It Has Been Taken Away from Us, Rieff takes aim at Weber's concept of charisma. In doing so, he argues for a novel yet traditional understanding of the contribution of Judaism to Western culture. This article explores challenges to Weber from Rieff and Shils under three headings: the distinctiveness of the Jewish people; the nature of charisma; and covenant and prophets. It reviews Weber's writings on these subjects and argues that Rieff correctly identifies ways in which Weber's concept of charisma remains beholden to Protestant thought and a mode of inquiry that obscures and opposes key aspects of Jewish self-understanding.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 155-178 |
| Number of pages | 24 |
| Journal | Journal of Jewish Studies |
| Volume | 70 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jan 1 2019 |
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All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Cultural Studies
- History
- Religious studies
- Literature and Literary Theory
Cite this
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Charisma is ordinary : Weber, Rieff and the charismatic faith of biblical Israel. / Legaspi, Michael Chris.
In: Journal of Jewish Studies, Vol. 70, No. 1, 01.01.2019, p. 155-178.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Charisma is ordinary
T2 - Weber, Rieff and the charismatic faith of biblical Israel
AU - Legaspi, Michael Chris
PY - 2019/1/1
Y1 - 2019/1/1
N2 - This article examines critical assessments of Max Weber's influential writings on Judaism. It focuses primarily on criticisms of Weber articulated by American Jewish sociologist Philip Rieff (1922-2006) and his one-time teacher Edward Shils (1910-1995). In a posthumously published 2007 work entitled Charisma: The Gift of Grace, and How It Has Been Taken Away from Us, Rieff takes aim at Weber's concept of charisma. In doing so, he argues for a novel yet traditional understanding of the contribution of Judaism to Western culture. This article explores challenges to Weber from Rieff and Shils under three headings: the distinctiveness of the Jewish people; the nature of charisma; and covenant and prophets. It reviews Weber's writings on these subjects and argues that Rieff correctly identifies ways in which Weber's concept of charisma remains beholden to Protestant thought and a mode of inquiry that obscures and opposes key aspects of Jewish self-understanding.
AB - This article examines critical assessments of Max Weber's influential writings on Judaism. It focuses primarily on criticisms of Weber articulated by American Jewish sociologist Philip Rieff (1922-2006) and his one-time teacher Edward Shils (1910-1995). In a posthumously published 2007 work entitled Charisma: The Gift of Grace, and How It Has Been Taken Away from Us, Rieff takes aim at Weber's concept of charisma. In doing so, he argues for a novel yet traditional understanding of the contribution of Judaism to Western culture. This article explores challenges to Weber from Rieff and Shils under three headings: the distinctiveness of the Jewish people; the nature of charisma; and covenant and prophets. It reviews Weber's writings on these subjects and argues that Rieff correctly identifies ways in which Weber's concept of charisma remains beholden to Protestant thought and a mode of inquiry that obscures and opposes key aspects of Jewish self-understanding.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85065045991&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85065045991&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.18647/3401/jjs-2019
DO - 10.18647/3401/jjs-2019
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85065045991
VL - 70
SP - 155
EP - 178
JO - Journal of Jewish Studies
JF - Journal of Jewish Studies
SN - 0022-2097
IS - 1
ER -