The Bible For Normal People Episode 11: Benjamin D. Sommer - Jewish Views on the Bible
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May 29, 2017 Benjamin D. Sommer, professor of Bible at the Jewish Theological Seminary, discusses the complexity of Jewish perspectives on the Bible. The podcast covers the nature and significance of the Bible, responses within Judaism to modernity, the theory of revelation, debates on interpretation, interactions between ancient documents, understanding and shaping Jewish law, the importance of humility in religious beliefs, and commonalities between Jewish and Christian ideas about God.
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Diverse Modern Jewish Movements
- Modern Judaism contains distinct movements (Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Secular) that respond differently to revelation and law.
- These movements combine shared commitments to Jewish law with divergent theories about divine authorship and human interpretation.
Conservative View: Law Is Binding But Human
- Conservative Judaism treats the law as binding but sees biblical wording as largely human interpretation of divine revelation.
- That view allows communal adaptation of law across generations while retaining legal seriousness.
Reform Focus On Choice And Justice
- Reform Judaism treats much of Jewish law as non-binding and selects practices that express devotion and justice.
- Reform emphasizes social and economic justice as the enduring core of religious obligation.