by Martin Buber
First published 1952
Martin Buber examines the concept of divine hiddenness through nine interconnected essays published in 1952. Drawing from the Hebrew notion of hester panim, where God conceals his presence from disobedient people, Buber transforms this troubling idea into grounds for hope. A hidden deity remains discoverable. The philosopher critiques major modern thinkers including Søren Kierkegaard, Hermann Cohen, C.G. Jung, and Martin Heidegger, dismantling their approaches to understanding the divine. Buber argues that religion requires philosophical interpretation to distinguish genuine spiritual experiences from false ones. He develops his theory of the I-Thou relationship, showing how direct dialogue with God becomes possible. The modern world's obsession with scientific knowledge, he contends, prevents people from forming personal connections with the divine. This collection reveals how one of Judaism's most influential twentieth-century voices understood the tension between rational inquiry and religious faith.
Genres: philosophy, 20th-century, religion, academic, jewish
Vibes: intimate, philosophical, thought-provoking
Tropes: philosophical-critique, religious-interpretation
Period: 20th-Century
192 pages · Hardcover · Greenwood Press