The author, a historian of religion whose studies most often concentrated on the symbols found in the art of ancient Judaism, took time out, at the height of his intellectual powers, to make a personal statement of faith. Autobiographical in nature, this book details his life-long spiritual search for what he terms a "mature faith". Originally published in 1955 and in paperback form in 1961 by Yale University Press, this edition contains a new introduction by Jacob Neusner.