A Day Apart: How Jews, Christians, and Muslims Find Faith, Freedom, and Joy on the SabbathThe Sabbath is the original feast day, a day of joy and freedom from work, a holy day that allows us to reconnect with God, our fellows and nature. Now, in a compelling blend of journalism, scholarship and personal memoir, Christopher D. Ringwald examines the Sabbath from Creation to the present, weaving together the stories of three families, three religions and three thousand years of history. A Day Apart is the first book to examine the Sabbath in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. A marvelously readable book, it describes the three weekly holy days--the Muslim Juma on Friday, the Jewish Shabbat on Saturday and the Christian Lord's Day on Sunday--and introduces us to three families, including Ringwald's own, and shows how they observe the holy day and what it means to them. The heart of the book recounts the history of the Sabbath, ranging from the Creation story and Moses on Mount Sinai to the teachings of Jesus and Muhammad, the impact of the Protestant Reformation and the Industrial Revolution, and the rise of the modern weekend. Ringwald shows that the Sabbath instinct, to observe a special day of withdrawal and repose, is universal. Indeed, all religions and philosophies teach that life is more than toil, that time should be set aside for contemplation, enjoyment and culture. In today's frantic 24/7 world, the Sabbath--a day devoted to rest and contemplation--has never been more necessary. A Day Apart offers a portrait of a truly timeless way to escape the everyday world and add meaning to our lives. "I can not recall reading anything on the three faiths that so deftly engages them in robust conversation. Amazingly learned, Ringwald nonetheless has a light, friendly touch. The warmth of his soul is unmistakable." --Christian Century |
Contents
1 | |
The Birth of the Sabbath From Creation to Mount Sinai and into the Promised Land in 1100 BCE | 32 |
The Fight for the Sabbath From the Monarchy to Jesus and the Age of the Rabbis 1000 BCE to 200 CE | 52 |
The Lords Day Easter to 1600 | 77 |
Islams Day of Judgment | 108 |
Citizens and Sabbatarians 1600 to 1890 | 131 |
The Sabbath Defeated Reborn Converted 1890 to the Present | 157 |
The Window on Eternity | 188 |
Give Me a Break Work Rest Equality Play and Place | 206 |
The Promise of Peace Sharing the Holy Day | 236 |
Random Notes on Keeping the Sabbath | 261 |
Notes | 266 |
281 | |
294 | |
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Common terms and phrases
Adhan Albany Allah American ancient attend Azra Becky believers Bible blessings blue laws Catholic century Christ church cited congregation covenant Creation day of rest day’s disciples divine earth eruv eternity Exodus faith father fourth commandment Friday God’s habit Hadith Haqqie heaven Hessey holy day human Ibid Imam Islam Israelites Jerusalem Jesus Jewish law Jewish Sabbath Jews John Paul Judaism Juma Kaaba keep Shabbat keep the Sabbath khutbah Kligermans labor later leaders live Lord Lord’s Day Madeleine Mass Mecca Mishnah monotheisms Moses mosque Muhammad Muslims observance oral law peace Pharisees practice pray prayers profane Prophet protect Puritans Quran rabbis Reformation religious ritual rules Sabbatarianism sabbath day sacred salat Saturday says scripture Sebkhaoui secular seventh day Shamim Silton Sinai six days spirit Sunday synagogue Talmud teaching tells Temple Israel three religions Torah tradition walk week weekend weekly women worship