The Political Theology of Salomon Maimon

Abstract

Abstract The terminology of ‘political theology’ is not original to the twentieth century. Salomon Maimon (1753–1800) used the term as part of the title to a chapter of his 1792/3 Autobiography, and it is the primary aim of this chapter to explain his understanding of it. The chapter begins by exploring the notion and Salomon Maimon’s account of the role of secrets in religious matters. Next, it studies Maimon’s definitions of, and distinctions among, various forms of religion. Finally, it outlines Maimon’s views on “the greatest of all the mysteries of the Jewish religion” and on the nature of that religion.