Journal Article

The Two Faces of Religious Radicalism: Orthodox Zealotry and “Holy Sinning” in Nineteenth-Century Hasidism in Hungary and Galicia

Brown, Benjamin

2013

Overview

In scholarly usage, the term \"religious radicalism\" has two somewhat conflicting definitions. In the context of the conflict between tradition and modernity, \"religious radicalism\" tends to refer to a hard-line traditionalist position opposed to innovation; that is, a forceful affirmation of the authority of traditional religious law (or dogma) and the struggle against those who would abrogate it. Some leaders of Orthodox Judaism in Hungary and Galicia--certain Hasidic masters among them--have been considered religious radicals in this sense of the term. When referring to heterodox movements, however, the term \"religious radicalism\" often refers to a bold, nonconformist, revolutionary religious position that tests the boundaries of religious law (or dogma) and, at times, goes beyond them. Here, Brown suggests a somewhat rough terminology in order to categorize the two types of religious radicalism.

• Publisher: University of Chicago Press,University of Chicago, acting through its Press
• Subject: Authority / Hasidic Jews / Hasidism / Heaven / History and sciences of religions / History of ideas (philosophy, theology, mysticism...) / Israel / Judaism / Methodology / Modern and contemporary Judaism / Modernist art / Prayer / Rabbis / Radicalism / Religious history / Religious law / Religious laws / Religious practices / Studies in religion / Terminology / Transgression