Epstein, Lawrence J.

Reflections on Tibetan Culture Essays in Honor of Turrell V. Wylie

1990 0-88946-064-7
A Festschrift commemorating the first 25 years of Tibetan Studies at the University of Washington, honoring the founder of the program. Includes essays on Tibetan geography, history, language, philosophy, and monasticism.

The Theory and Practice of Welcoming Converts to Judaism: Jewish Universalism

1992 0-7734-9493-6
This is a new theological interpretation of Judaism focusing on the Jewish covenantal obligation to offer Judaism and welcome converts. The term "Jewish universalism" is applied to the theory because the central idea of the interpretation is that Judaism is a universal religion. This is supported by an analysis of the basic theological concepts of Judaism (God, the natural world, humanity, chosenness, revelation, covenant, mission, the nation of Israel, and redemption). These concepts are understood to emphasize the Jewish mandate to offer Judaism without requiring it. It includes other arguments for welcoming converts besides Jewish universalism and how these arguments are related. This book is an original synthesis of current scholarship, and the first that provides a detailed, systematic theological interpretation of covenantal obligation.