http://www.drdavidneiman.com. These segments are from Dr. David Neiman’s lecture on Egypt and the Amarna age from the lecture series, “Cradles of Civilization”.
Dr. David Neiman (1921-2004) was an internationally renowned scholar, speaker, and writer who inspired many people. His life’s work concerned the intricate relations between Christianity, Islam, and Judaism throughout history and in modern times. Dr. Neiman made history come alive through his dramatic presentations and unique interpretations. In light of our current world situation, Dr. Neiman’s work is not only extremely relevant but also remarkably prescient. More than anything, Dr. Neiman was a keen observer of the human condition. His words convey our shared history with clarity, humor, and humanity.
Dr. Neiman was the first Jewish scholar appointed to teach Religion at Boston College, one of America’s leading Catholic Universities. He served as Professor in the Department of Theology for a quarter of a century. While there he was also invited to teach at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome. After retiring from Boston College, Dr.Neiman moved to Los Angeles, where he taught at Loyola Marymount University, St. John’ s Seminary in Camarillo and the University of Judaism in Bel Air.
New segments from Dr. David Neiman’s lecture on Egypt and the Amarna age from the lecture series, “Cradles of Civilization” are now available on Youtube.
Existing until about 1200 B.C., the City of Ugarit eventually fell to the Greeks during the Trojan wars. This is the first video segment from Dr. David Neiman’s lecture on The Garden of Eden. In this video, Dr. Neiman shows the connection between Ugaritic mythologies and the description of Eden as found in the first chapters of Genesis. Visit YouTube to view the video. Listen to more of Dr. Neiman’s lectures on this site.
Dr. Neiman’s 8-part lecture on Jews in the Persian Empire is featured at Iranian.com. Topics cover Cyrus the Great, The Jews in Ancient Persia, The Destruction of the Temple and more. Click here to visit the site.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Dr. David Neiman’s lectures on religion, history, and the Hebrew language are both unique and academic, but also of interest to the non-academic. Here are several selected audio clips from Dr. Neiman’s many lectures. You can listen to additional clips listed on the audio page.
The lectures are available on:
and
The Epic of Gilgamesh (49 min)A retelling of “The Epic of Gilgamesh” – the earliest dramatic epic poem composed about 5,000 years ago, which deals with problems affecting us today. Audio Sample
Jesus In Context (2 hours 25 min)Dr. Neiman analyzes the socio-political environment of Judaea during the time of Jesus. This lecture Includes segments from “Saint Paul” and “Sadducees, Pharises, Essenes”. Audio Sample
Cradles of Civilization (49 min)
History of Writing
Dr. Neiman takes us from the Agricultural Revolution to the Ceramic Age, and then the Bronze. The development of writing and literature
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Hanukkah: The Historical BackgroundAlexander the Great attempts to Hellenize the Holy Land and meets with great resistance from the Jews. (46 min.)Audio Sample
History of The Talmud (49 min)In this lecture, Dr. Neiman traces the development of the Jewish law from the Torah through today’s Jewish court system.Audio Sample
Saint Paul (45 min)
Origins of Christianity
Saint Paul, a Jew, lays the basis for the new religion of Christianity. His emphasis on the power of faith galvanizes followers in the Greek and Roman world.
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The Church Fathers (52 min)
The Church and the Jews Lecture 1
The early Church Fathers develop laws concerning the Jews in this first lecture in the series, “The Church and The Jews”.
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The Khazarian Empire (67 min)Between 750 – 1000 c.e., a Jewish kingdom flourished in Asia – The Khazars. Dr. Neiman tells their story citing the recent documentary evidence discovered.Audio Sample
Popes Gregory the Great (56 min) and Leo the III
The Church and the Jews Lecture 2
Dr. Neiman recounts the personal histories of two significant popes whose policies defined the church in its first millennium.
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The Popes and the Crusades (55 min)
The Church and the Jews Lecture 3
The Great Schism, The Norman Conquests, the rise of Islam. The events surrounding the crusades and the plight of the Jews.
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The 13th Century (49 min)
The Church and the Jews Lecture 4
The “Great Bonfire of Paris”. Jews are forced to defend their beliefs in public trials in Barcelona. The Charter of Bolislow opens the door to large scale migration to Poland.
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Expulsions and Migration (55 min)
The Church and the Jews Lecture 5
The Spanish Inquisition and large scale migrations of the Jewish people. Chmelnitzki’s Invasion of Russia.
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Church and Reformation (53 min)
The Church and the Jews Lecture 6
The invention of printing plays a role in the rise of the Protestant Reformation. This intra-Christian split impacts the Jewish communities of Europe.
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Passover (64 min)
The Historical Background
Dr. David Neiman refutes the minimalists and argues the historical accuracy of the story of the Exodus
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The Politics of Purim (42 min)The story of Purim is more than a fairytale. It is a clash of empires where the Jews play a pivotal role.Audio Sample
Sadducees, Pharises, Essenes (50 min)
Origins of Christianity
The Roman occupation of the Kingdom of Judea causes splits within the Jewish people.
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The Polemic Language of Genesis (72 min)
Genesis Lecture 1
From “Let there be light” to the Big Bang. Dr. Neiman reconciles the latest theories in astrophysics with the story of creation in the book of Genesis.
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The Garden of Eden (59 min)
Genesis Lecture 2
Dr. David Neiman gives historical context to the early chapters in the Bible that detail the Garden of Eden. The description of the Garden contains elements of Assyrian and Ugaritic literature.
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Geneologies (76 min)
Genesis Lecture 3
Dr. Neiman transforms these dry chapters on the genealogies of man into fascinating accounts of pagan origins and ancient king lists.
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The Flood (54 min)
Genesis Lecture 4
The story of the universal flood appears in the literature of several other ancient near eastern cultures including the literature of the Sumerians, the Babylonians and the Greeks.
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Abraham (55 min)
Genesis Lecture 5
This lecture includes overviews of the Babylonian, Hyksos and Amorite empires. Dr. Neiman illustrates how the fortunes of these great empires impacted the life of Abraham the Ivri.
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Genesis in the Amarna Age (76 min)
Genesis Lecture 6
The Amarna age was a time of social, economic and cultural transformation in Egypt that impacted the lives of the Patriarchs.
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Abraham’s Family (58 min)
Genesis Lecture 7
Dr. Neiman places the stories of the Abraham’s familial relations into a larger historical context giving insight into the motivations and prejudices of the Bible’s authors.
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Isaac and Rebecca (58 min)
Genesis Lecture 8
Dr. Neiman shows how the story of Isaac and Rebecca fits perfectly into the customs, habits and laws of the Babylonian Empire governed by the Code of Hammurabi.
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