Indigenous categories and the study of world religions in Ethiopia: The case of the Beta Israel (Falasha)
This paper focuses on a number of key terms and categories used in the study of the Beta Israel (Falasha), commonly referred to as 'Ethiopian Jews'. The author demonstrates that the scholarly study of this group has been seriously hindered by the assumption that terms, categories and histo...
| Published in: | Journal of religion in Africa |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Print Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
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| Fernleihe: | Fernleihe für die Fachinformationsdienste |
| Published: |
Brill
1992
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| In: |
Journal of religion in Africa
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| Further subjects: | B
Falashas
B Religion B Judaism B Ethiopia Religion Christianity Judaism Falasha B Christianity B History B Ethiopia |
| Parallel Edition: | Electronic
Non-electronic |
| Summary: | This paper focuses on a number of key terms and categories used in the study of the Beta Israel (Falasha), commonly referred to as 'Ethiopian Jews'. The author demonstrates that the scholarly study of this group has been seriously hindered by the assumption that terms, categories and historical patterns used in the analysis of Christianity and Judaism outside Ethiopia can also be applied to their case. The first section of the article briefly traces the origins of the Beta Israel in order to show that their history is not simply a small-scale recapitulation of that of other Jewish groups. The second section considers the problems posed, presenting Judaism and Christianity as opposing categories and arguing that the religious system of the Beta Israel has far more in common with that of the Ethiopian Christians than with that of any Jewish group. With this material as background, the paper then demonstrates that terms such as 'Falasha' and 'Jew' have been repeatedly misrepresented by writers who have attempted to equate them with both external concepts and with each other. (Documentatieblad/ASC Leiden) |
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| ISSN: | 0022-4200 |
| Contains: | In: Journal of religion in Africa
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