Demonic Desires: Yetzer Hara And The Problem Of Evil In Late Antiquity Yetzer Hara And The Problem Of Evil In Late Antiquity Project Muse Upcc Books

In __Demonic Desires__, Ishay Rosen-Zvi examines the concept of __yetzer hara__, or evil inclination, and its evolution in biblical and rabbinic literature. Contrary to existing scholarship, which reads the term under the rubric of destructive sexual desire, Rosen-Zvi contends that in late antiquity the __yetzer__ represents a general tendency toward evil. Rather than the lower bodily part of a human, the rabbinic __yetzer__ is a wicked, sophisticated inciter, attempting to snare humans to sin. The rabbinic __yetzer__ should therefore not be read in the tradition of the Hellenistic quest for control over the lower parts of the psyche, writes Rosen-Zvi, but rather in the tradition of ancient Jewish and Christian demonology.Rosen-Zvi conducts a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the some one hundred and fifty appearances of the evil __yetzer__ in classical rabbinic literature to explore the biblical and postbiblical search for the sources of human sinfulness. By examining the __yetzer__ within a specific demonological tradition, __Demonic Desires__ places the __yetzer__ discourse in the larger context of a move toward psychologization in late antiquity, in which evil—and even demons—became internalized within the human psyche. The book discusses various manifestations of this move in patristic and monastic material, from Clement and Origin to Antony, Athanasius, and Evagrius. It concludes with a consideration of the broader implications of the __yetzer__ discourse in rabbinic anthropology. In Demonic Desires, Ishay Rosen-zvi Examines The Concept Of Yetzer Hara, Or Evil Inclination, And Its Evolution In Biblical And Rabbinic Literature. Contrary To Existing Scholarship, Which Reads The Term Under The Rubric Of Destructive Sexual Desire, Rosen-zvi Contends That In Late Antiquity The Yetzer Represents A General Tendency Toward Evil. Rather Than The Lower Bodily Part Of A Human, The Rabbinic Yetzer Is A Wicked, Sophisticated Inciter, Attempting To Snare Humans To Sin. The Rabbinic Yetzer Should Therefore Not Be Read In The Tradition Of The Hellenistic Quest For Control Over The Lower Parts Of The Psyche, Writes Rosen-zvi, But Rather In The Tradition Of Ancient Jewish And Christian Demonology. Rosen-zvi Conducts A Systematic And Comprehensive Analysis Of The Some One Hundred And Fifty Appearances Of The Evil Yetzer In Classical Rabbinic Literature To Explore The Biblical And Postbiblical Search For The Sources Of Human Sinfulness. By Examining The Yetzer Within A Specific Demonological Tradition, Demonic Desires Places The Yetzer Discourse In The Larger Context Of A Move Toward Psychologization In Late Antiquity, In Which Evil--and Even Demons--became Internalized Within The Human Psyche. The Book Discusses Various Manifestations Of This Move In Patristic And Monastic Material, From Clement And Origin To Antony, Athanasius, And Evagrius. It Concludes With A Consideration Of The Broader Implications Of The Yetzer Discourse In Rabbinic Anthropology. Machine Generated Contents Note: Ch. 1 The Torah Spoke Regarding The Yetzer: Tannaitic Literature -- Ch. 2 Yetzer And Other Demons: Patristic Parallels -- Ch. 3 Yetzer At Qumran: Proto-rabbinic? -- Ch. 4 Coming Of Age: Amoraic Yetzer -- Ch. 5 Refuting The Yetzer: The Limits Of Rabbinic Discursive Worlds -- Ch. 6 Sexualizing The Yetzer -- Ch. 7 Weak Like A Female, Strong Like A Male: Yetzer And Gender. Ishay Rosen-zvi. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [215]-237) And Indexes.

In Demonic Desires, Ishay Rosen-Zvi examines the concept of yetzer hara, or evil inclination, and its evolution in biblical and rabbinic literature. Contrary to existing scholarship, which reads the term under the rubric of destructive sexual desire, Rosen-Zvi contends that in late antiquity the yetzer represents a general tendency toward evil. Rather than the lower bodily part of a human, the rabbinic yetzer is a wicked, sophisticated inciter, attempting to snare humans to sin. The rabbinic yetzer should therefore not be read in the tradition of the Hellenistic quest for control over the lower parts of the psyche, writes Rosen-Zvi, but rather in the tradition of ancient Jewish and Christian demonology.

Rosen-Zvi conducts a systematic and comprehensive analysis of the some one hundred and fifty appearances of the evil yetzer in classical rabbinic literature to explore the biblical and postbiblical search for the sources of human sinfulness. By examining the yetzer within a specific demonological tradition, Demonic Desires places the yetzer discourse in the larger context of a move toward psychologization in late antiquity, in which evil—and even demons—became internalized within the human psyche. The book discusses various manifestations of this move in patristic and monastic material, from Clement and Origin to Antony, Athanasius, and Evagrius. It concludes with a consideration of the broader implications of the yetzer discourse in rabbinic anthropology.

The rabbinic concept of yetzer hara has been incorrectly contextualized as part of the ancient discourse of self-control, contends Rosen-Zvi (Hebrew culture, Tel Aviv U.), and should be understood instead as part of the biblical and post-biblical search for the sources of human sinfulness. He argues that yetzer should be read not in the tradition of the Hellenistic quest for control over the lower parts of the psyche, but in the tradition of ancient Jewish and Christian demonology. His topics include yetzer and other demons, whether yetzer at Qumran was proto-rabbinic, sexualizing the yetzer, and yetzer and gender. Earlier versions of some chapters have appeared elsewhere. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com). This study examines the concept of yetzer hara, or evil inclination. Analyzing the some one hundred and fifty appearances of the yetzer in rabbinic literature, Rosen-Zvi contends that the term should not be read under the traditional rubric of sexual desire, but rather in the context of ancient Jewish demonology. Biographical note: Ishay Rosen-Zvi is Associate Professor of Hebrew Culture at Tel Aviv University, where he serves as the head of the Talmud and late antiquity section. He is also a Research Fellow at the Shalom Hartman Institute for Advanced Studies