Alt oder neu?

By Alessandro Capone

Book Description

In a world where ancient wisdom meets contemporary challenges, this thoughtful collection examines one of humanity's most enduring questions: Can religious traditions truly evolve while maintaining their essential character?

Drawing from diverse scholarly perspectives across Protestant and Catholic theology, Jewish studies, Islamic scholarship, religious studies, philosophy, and classical philology, this volume explores the complex relationship between tradition and transformation in spiritual life. The contributors investigate whether we can meaningfully speak of "old" and "new" religions when examining the historical development of Greek-Roman cults, Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

The book delves into how different faith traditions have understood and applied concepts of progress, modernity, and renewal throughout history. From ancient times through the medieval period to our current era, religious communities have grappled with balancing reverence for established teachings with the need to address contemporary realities.

These timeless debates take on particular urgency today as Christian churches confront what many describe as a crisis of faith, while voices within Islam call for modern interpretations of traditional teachings. For readers seeking to understand how spiritual traditions navigate change while preserving their core identity, this scholarly yet accessible exploration offers valuable insights into the dynamic nature of religious thought and practice across cultures and centuries.