Judaism in Biological Perspective

Biblical Lore and Judaic Practices

Rick Goldberg

• Verlag: Routledge
• Jahr: 2015
• ISBN:
  9781317257158
• Auflage: 1
• Thema: Social Sciences
• Thema: Sociology

Can there be rational examples of the compatibility between natural science and Judaism? This book offers a strikingly novel perspective on traditional and contemporary Judaic practices. For those with some Judaic knowledge, there are biological explanations in these chapters not seen elsewhere. For those well-versed in evolutionary theory, the authors' perspectives suggest new approaches to the scientific study of religion. Topics include the monistic tendency, biblical polygyny, biblical family conflict, circumcision and proselytes, sacrificial-ritualistic mitzvot (obligations), periodic conjugal separation, Judaic traditionalism, male and female reproductive strategies, and the relationship between costly signaling and prestige.

Index

Aaron, 89, 109n25; Moses and, 70–71

Abel. See Cain and Abel

Abraham, 76, 80; fertility of, 46, 48, 50, 52, 54; God’s covenant with, 87, 90, 93, 179–180; Isaac’s sacrificing and, 180–181, 182, 193n71

abstract thinking, Jewish traditionalism and, 150, 160n76, 160n78

acquisition, of knowledge, 27–28

Adam, God’s creation of, 43, 46

adaptive value, of wasting, as costly fitness displays, 187–189, 195nn133–137

adrenal enzyme defects, 105

adultery: biblical prohibition against, 86; female, 126–128, 130, 134n69, 134nn73–74, 136n92

afterlife, Judaism relating to, 22–23

aggadah, 26

ahavas Yisroel, 211, 226

altruism, as handicap, 169–170, 174, 190, 196nn150–151

ancestors, Jewish traditionalism relating to, 141–142, 145, 148, 159n37, 160nn60–61

animal world, intrafamily conflict relating to, 73

anisogamy, 5–6, 45

anthropological monism, 28

anti-Semitism, conversion relating to, 101

Ashkenaz/Ashkenazic Jewry (Northern, Central, Eastern Europe), 140; founder effect, genetic drift, and endogamy in, 102–104, 108; genetic disorders of, 102–105, 107; IQ of, 105–106, 107; as part of Jewish population, 101

Australian aboriginals, circumcision of, 92

Avihu and Nadav, God’s sacrifice of, 181–182, 193n75, 193n80, 193nn77–78

ba’alei teshuva, 214–216, 222, 226, 229n39

babblers, communication between, 169–170

Babylonian exile, 99, 101

badges, behaviors, and bans, 201–207, 210

Baldwin Effect, 28

bans, behaviors, and badges, 201–207, 210

bar/bat mitzvah, 67, 226

Bathsheba, 88

b’chor, 71

behavioral propensities, of human beings, 21, 27

behavior/knowledge, of tradition, 149, 156

behaviors: badges, bans, and, 201–207, 210; Judaic, handicap principle relating to, 167; religious, signaling theory and religion relating to, 201; transformation relating to, 27–28

belief, Jewish ritual signals relating to, 208–212

benefit, definition of, 32

Bible: fertility of prominent men in, 42–61, 56n23, 57nn45–46; as history and natural history...