What Does It Mean to Be “Chosen”? Why
Did God Have to Choose?
“To be chosen can have a range of
meaning from the mundane to the holy, but in all cases it means
to be singled out and preferred over others. In a deep sense
that permeates much or most of Western culture, having been
chosen communicates a sense of something that is extraordinary,
is transcendent, and entitles a reward. What is assumed in this
sense of the term is that God has done the choosing and the
reward is something that is unequaled, for what could possibly
equal divinely ordained eternal happiness?”
—from the
Introduction
Religious people who define themselves as
monotheists have often advanced the idea that their
relationship with God is unique and superior to all others.
Theirs supersedes those who came before, and is superior to
those who have followed. This phenomenon tends to be expressed
in terms not only of supersessionism, but also
“chosenness,” or “election.” Who is
most beloved by God? What expression of the divine will is the
most perfect? Which relationship reflects God’s ultimate
demands or desire?
In this fascinating examination of the
religious phenomenon of chosenness, Reuven Firestone explores
the idea of covenant, and the expressions of supersessionism as
articulated through the scriptures of the three major
monotheistic religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. He
explores how and why the ongoing competition and friction
between these religions came about, and offers thoughts about
how to overcome it.
“The first careful, fair, and
thorough comparison of how the concept functions in the three
major Abrahamic religions…. Required reading.”
—Harvey
Cox, Hollis Professor of Divinity,
Harvard University
“Scholars and laypeople, believers
and skeptics alike will profit greatly from this informative
and thought-provoking book.”
—Rabbi
David Ellenson, PhD, president,
Hebrew Union College–
Jewish Institute of Religion
Jewish Institute of Religion
“Does the reader a favor by not
glossing over the hard issues that confront us, rather offering
a timely analysis of the concept of chosenness.”
—Akbar
Ahmed, PhD, Ibn Khaldun Chair of
Islamic Studies, American University
Rabbi Reuven Firestone, PhD, is professor of Medieval Jewish and Islamic
Studies at Hebrew Union College–Jewish Institute of
Religion. He is the author of Introduction
to Islam for Jews and Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Judaism
for Muslims, among other
books. He is a frequent speaker on the topics of early Islam
and its relationship to Judaism and Christianity, scriptural
interpretation of the Bible and Qur’an, and the
phenomenon of holy war in the Abrahamic religions.
The Center for Religious Inquiry™
Series
This series explores topics of religion
and spirituality in an effort to develop new understandings of
the various faith traditions. Each book is developed in
conjunction with the acclaimed Center for Religious
Inquiry™ of St. Bartholomew’s Church in New York
City, a model for religious exploration across traditional
religious lines that is being replicated in other cities across
the United States.
