disappearance of God, The

By Richard Elliott Friedman

Book Description

In this thought-provoking exploration, biblical scholar Richard Elliott Friedman uncovers a remarkable pattern woven throughout the Hebrew Bible that has profound implications for understanding our relationship with the divine. Through careful examination of sacred texts, he reveals how God's presence transforms dramatically from the beginning to the end of biblical narrative.

Friedman traces this extraordinary journey from a time when the divine manifested through miraculous interventions and direct communication to an era where God becomes increasingly concealed, leaving humanity to navigate spiritual questions independently. This gradual withdrawal raises compelling questions about divine purpose and human spiritual development.

What makes this pattern even more intriguing is its consistency across centuries of biblical writing by numerous authors, suggesting something deeper than mere literary coincidence. Friedman investigates why this fundamental shift in divine presence has remained largely unrecognized despite its central importance to biblical understanding.

The author extends his inquiry beyond textual analysis to examine how this phenomenon influenced the development of both Judaism and Christianity, offering fresh perspectives on the formation of these major religious traditions. Drawing connections to mystical traditions including Kabbalah, Friedman presents a compelling case for reconsidering how we understand divine hiddenness and human spiritual maturation.

This scholarly yet accessible work invites readers to reconsider fundamental assumptions about divine presence and absence in their own spiritual journeys.