Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices

This essay explores Maimonides’ explanation of the Bible’s rationale behind the ritual sacrifices, namely to help wean the Jews away from idolatrous rites. After clearly elucidating Maimonides’ stance on the topic, this essay examines his view from different angles with various possible precedents i...

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Main Author:	Reuven Chaim Klein
Format:	Article
Language:	English
Published:	MDPI AG 2021-05-01
Series:	Religions
Subjects:	sacrifices theology maimonides ritual idolatry paganism
Online Access:	https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/5/363

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spelling	doaj-6a2b84d03f2f435699d2528d8adca4312021-06-01T00:30:30ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442021-05-011236336310.3390/rel12050363Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual SacrificesReuven Chaim Klein0Independent Researcher, Beitar Illit 90500, IsraelThis essay explores Maimonides’ explanation of the Bible’s rationale behind the ritual sacrifices, namely to help wean the Jews away from idolatrous rites. After clearly elucidating Maimonides’ stance on the topic, this essay examines his view from different angles with various possible precedents in earlier rabbinic literature for such an understanding. The essay also shows why various other Jewish commentators objected to Maimonides’ understanding and how Maimonides might respond to those critiques. Additionally, this essay also situates Maimonides’ view on sacrifices within his broader worldview of the Bible’s commandments in general as serving as a counterweight to idolatrous rituals.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/5/363sacrificestheologymaimonidesritualidolatrypaganism
collection	DOAJ
language	English
format	Article
sources	DOAJ
author	Reuven Chaim Klein
spellingShingle	Reuven Chaim Klein Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices Religions sacrifices theology maimonides ritual idolatry paganism
author_facet	Reuven Chaim Klein
author_sort	Reuven Chaim Klein
title	Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices
title_short	Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices
title_full	Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices
title_fullStr	Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices
title_full_unstemmed	Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices
title_sort	weaning away from idolatry: maimonides on the purpose of ritual sacrifices
publisher	MDPI AG
series	Religions
issn	2077-1444
publishDate	2021-05-01
description	This essay explores Maimonides’ explanation of the Bible’s rationale behind the ritual sacrifices, namely to help wean the Jews away from idolatrous rites. After clearly elucidating Maimonides’ stance on the topic, this essay examines his view from different angles with various possible precedents in earlier rabbinic literature for such an understanding. The essay also shows why various other Jewish commentators objected to Maimonides’ understanding and how Maimonides might respond to those critiques. Additionally, this essay also situates Maimonides’ view on sacrifices within his broader worldview of the Bible’s commandments in general as serving as a counterweight to idolatrous rituals.
topic	sacrifices theology maimonides ritual idolatry paganism
url	https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/12/5/363
work_keys_str_mv	AT reuvenchaimklein weaningawayfromidolatrymaimonidesonthepurposeofritualsacrifices
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Weaning Away from Idolatry: Maimonides on the Purpose of Ritual Sacrifices

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