Sacred Texts and Authority

A man takes the Qur'an in his hand, carefully pronouncing each syllable of Arabic, repeating the language of Allah. A family gathers together to read the story of Christ's passion. A young nun pores over the sutras, searching for an answer.
Sacred Texts and Authority probes what five great world religions mean by the term ""sacred text."" For many religions a text might include a person or drama or dance--as much as a document--informing teachings that will be remembered through the passage of time. How are such texts related to authoritative teachings? What sorts of claims does a traditional authority hold on current believers and seekers? These insightful questions are answered by authorities on each tradition.
Jacob Neusner is Research Professor of Religion and Theology at Bard College and Senior Fellow of the Institute of Advanced Theology at Bard. He has published more than 900 books and unnumbered articles, both scholarly and academic and popular and journalistic, and is the most published humanities scholar in the world. He has been awarded nine honorary degrees, including seven US and European honorary doctorates. He received his AB from Harvard College in 1953, his PhD from Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary in 1961, and rabbinical ordination and the degree of Master of Hebrew Letters from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in 1960.