Buber on God and the perfect man (Brown Judaic studies)

Martin Buber (1878-1965), the Viennese-born philosopher and theologian, became known throughout the world as one of the spiritual leaders of his generation, making a deep impact on Christian as well as Jewish thinkers. In this thought-provoking, enlightening, and moving work, Pamela Vermes (1918-1993) reaffirms Martin Buber's remarkable breadth of intellect and shows how he has drawn on Jewish culture and ideas to point the way to a 'life lived religiously' for both secularists and the religious. Unlike the many commentators who have relegated Buber's Judaism to a mere question of biography, she demonstrates how Buber drew not only on the Bible but on Targum, Midrash, and hasidic teachings too. Buber himself was well aware of these influences and recognized that his thought and the culture he drew it from were indivisible. But he was also dissatisfied with institutionalized religion, and Pamela Vermes emphasizes the important distinction he made between religiosity (the pious response) and religion (institutionalized forms); it is perhaps because of this distinction that Buber's ideas have been powerful beyond the word of Judaism.His seminal work lch und Du (I and You) has profoundly influenced Christian as well as Jewish theology. Pamela Vermes's account of Buber's career and his principal writings is lucid and fresh. Her sensitive translations render key terms in helpful ways that allow for new interpretations and make this an excellent survey of Buber's thought.