Revelation

Abstract

This chapter internalizes the postmodern critique of religion and explores the potential for a new theology of revelation. It integrates cultural particularism by maintaining the concept of revelation at the heart of Jewish theology, while recasting it as a non-metaphysical experience. It also tackles the problem of language through its textual manifestations and explores linguistic functions or 'signifiers' that reflect a communal reality. The chapter illustrates how language is used as an instrument to designate a variety of conflicting and complementary narratives rather than as a description of a metaphysical truth. It discusses Tamar Ross's non-realist application of mysticism to religious truth statements and Rav Shagar's denial of language's ability to refer to anything beyond itself.