The Religious Humanism of Mordecai Kaplan: An Anthology

" The happiest moments in my life these days are those which I experience whenever I receive letters from Mel Scult." -- Mordecai M. Kaplan, Diary entry, 1974 A foundational work in modern Jewish thought, The Religious Humanism of Mordecai Kaplan: An Anthology presents the radical and enduring philosophy of one of the most influential religious thinkers of the 20th century. " This volume will be valuable to those familiar with Kaplan and to any person who studies or teaches religion-- rabbis, laymen, students, and seekers alike. Kaplan wrote on a level which remains relevant for the ages." -- Prof. Mel Scult, from the Foreword In a landscape of rising religious fundamentalism, The Religious Humanism of Mordecai Kaplan: An Anthology stands as a major intellectual achievement. It explores the work of a theological rebel-- a fiercely independent thinker who rejected supernatural beliefs and was formally excommunicated by the Orthodox rabbinical establishment in 1945, yet remained devoted to confronting the world's biggest ideas. Kaplan maintained a 27-volume personal journal mapping his theology. In this remarkable volume, Professor Mel Scult creates a compelling dialogue: quoting directly from Kaplan's diary entries and offering expert insight into how these encounters shaped his philosophy. Mordecai M. Kaplan (1881- 1983) was a groundbreaking rabbi, philosopher, and founder of the Reconstructionist movement. He instituted the first American Bat Mitzvah for his daughter Judith in 1922. As a longtime professor at the Jewish Theological Seminary, his naturalistic theology and innovations left a lasting mark on modern American Judaism.