Jewish Theological Realism

Jewish Theological Realism restores the place of theology in rabbinic Judaism and provides resources for contemporary Jewish theological reflection. Cass Fisher uses the ideas of theological realism and theological reference to diagnose and remedy the marginalization of theology in Judaism. Both the depiction of rabbinic theology as an edifying discourse for the laity, and the pervasive move in modern Jewish thought to limit theological language arise from skepticism about our ability to make truth claims about God. Fisher argues that the rabbis valued knowledge of God and affirmed their capacity to speak truthfully about the divine. Moreover, while most modern Jewish thinkers sharply limit theological language, there exists an important countertrend of theological realists who have sought to preserve Jewish theology. Fisher concludes with the first application of new theories of reference to theology, demonstrating that these approaches to reference can resolve longstanding challenges to Jewish theology and provide the basis for re-envisioning theology as a communal and religious practice.