The Religion of Israel: A Short History »

There are two Israels. The Israel of the Bible is theological, legendary, and mythological. The other Israel is the Israel that produced the Bible. How and why should we distinguish between the two? The answer is the subject of William J. Doorly's provocative new work, The Religion of Israel. Using literary analysis, Doorly presents the history of religious practices in chronological order, beginning with the emergence of Israel in the highlands of Canaan and continuing into the Exile. With the Hebrew Bible as a primary source, he identifies idealized concepts concerning Israel's past and corrects them for the purpose of obtaining a true historical perspective. Readers will come to understand that the foundations of both Judaism and Christianity emerged as a reaction to popular and official forms of Canaanite religious practice that have passed away. The Religion of Israel is comprehensive, accessible, and must reading for students, Bible scholars, religious professionals, and those who wish to read and understand the Hebrew Bible more effectively and intelligently.