This two-part volume contains the proceedings of an international conference on the nature, history, function(s), and rationality of prophecy within the three Abrahamic religions. A series of historical case studies comprises its first section, while the second discusses exemplary, systematic-theological and/or -philosophical issues of prophecy.
The thematical focus of this two-part volume, resulting from an international, interdisciplinary and interreligious conference at Frankfurt’s Goethe University, is on questions regarding the nature, history, function(s) and rationality of prophecy within the three Abrahamic religions. The first part comprises a series of historical case studies tracing the history of the idea from the Ancient Near East through Judaism, Christianity, and Islam in Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the early modern period, and the Enlightenment to the present. The second – again taking into account all three religions – contains a number of studies on exemplary, systematic-theological and/or -philosophical issues, such as prophecy and rationality, prophecy and foreknowledge, prophecy and miracles, and prophecy and revelation.
Survey of contents
Heiko Schulz: Introduction
Part I: Historical Case Studies Thomas Wagner: Prophecy in its Ancient Near Eastern Context: Origin, Nature and Rationality –
Menachem Fisch: Prophecy (and its Rationality) in Talmudic Dispute –
Ahmad Ighbariah: Saint vs. Prophet: The Reception of the Qur’anic Story of al-Khiḍr and Moses in some Late Islamic Traditions –
Ottfried Fraisse: The Concept of Prophecy: Continuities and Transitions between Medieval Islamic, Jewish and Christian Accounts –
Adam Afterman: From Prophetic Inspiration to Mystical Integration: The Holy Spirit in Medieval Jewish Thought –
Markus Wriedt: Luther: Prophet of the Germans –
Michael A. Rosenthal: Spinoza on True and False Prophecy – Christian Wiese: Religious, Ethical, and Political Dimensions in Twentieth-Century German Jewish Interpretations of Prophecy –
Bradley H. McLean: The Rationality of Prophetic Truth-Speaking and Deleuze’s Passional Postsignifying Regime of Signs
Part II: Systematical Perspectives Heiko Schulz: Tacit Knowledge: Some Puzzles about Prophecy and their Bearing on the Rationality of Religion –
Johannes Grössl: Can God Know the Future – and Share his Knowledge with Human Beings? An Open and Relational Account of Prophecy –
Jean-Pierre Fortin: “The Word of God in Your Mouth Is Truth.” Reflections on the Nature and Function of Prophetic Inspiration and Ministry –
Yiftach Fehige: “From Your Mouth to God’s Ears.” Relocating Rationality-Considerations Regarding Prophecy to Where They Belong –
Rahim Acar: Why Miracles are not Enough. Epistemic Circularity in the Early Ash’arites Approach to True Prophecy –
Mehmet Sait Reçber: Prophecy and the Justification of Revelation: An Islamic Outline
