Religion as metaphor for ethno-ethical identity / Ignatius Jesudasan.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Jesudasan, Ignatius, author.

Series:

Marquette studies in theology ; #77.

Marquette studies in theology ; number 77

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Ethnicity--Religious aspects.

Ethnicity.

Race relations--Religious aspects.

Race relations.

Identification (Religion).

Metaphor--Religious aspects--Christianity.

Metaphor.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (184 p.)

Place of Publication:

Milwaukee, Wisconsin : Marquette University Press, [2011]

Language Note:

English

Summary:

An acute theological as well as ethical problem has arisen in the intolerance between ethnic religious communities, the religious affiliations legitimising mutual exclusion and hatred. The central point in Jesudasans Religion as Metaphor for Ethno-Ethical Identity is that religious doctrines, norms and rituals are metaphorical in their function, group identities being constructed by that poetic and metaphorical language. In a sociological and anthropological approach we can see the (theological) image of God change with social changes. We have thus an ethical duty to de-objectify religious doctrines and norms in order to promote a world of peace instead of a world of group interests, dualistic-exclusive world views, conflicts, wars and ethnic cleansing. Can we come to a reading of religious texts that discovers a more universal than a particularistic meaning? Jesudasans tentative analyses of Biblical narratives, both in the Old and the New Testaments, from this perspective are very inspiring and influenced by post modern philosophy: ... the metaphorical character of social linguistics reveals that we live not inside reality, but inside our representation of it. We live in metaphors, which move and are syncretistically derived from one text and context to another. - Jan Hjarpe

Contents:

Metaphor, truth, mystery & mystification

The ethical factor of ethnic faith

Ethnic faith as a metaphorical construct

Faiths as mutually deconstructive metaphors

Religions as ethnic identity-defining metaphors

God, angels & devil as metaphors of Semitic societies

Basic metaphors of non-Semitic societies

Adamic myth as allegorized Israelite history

The Gospel metaphor versus the Adamic Israelite

The metaphor and mystery of Christmas

Mary's virginity as metaphor of Christian ethnicity

Easter & baptism as Adwaitic Christian metaphors

Church-constructive metaphors of Peter and Paul

Adwaitic metaphorical reading of the Nicene creed

Acts shows metaphors making new identities

From ethnic ethics & theology to global praxis.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

0-87462-794-X

OCLC:

929504067