REL 2300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Semitic People, Comparative Religion, Israelites
Document Summary
Late 19th early 20th centuries, growth in post migration cities. Identification of biblical israelites as black; africans and african descended = Response to anti jewish prejudice in europe. God had promised the land to jews only jesus can restore the promised land. Protestant reformation: fragmentation of western european christianity. Age of exploration: increasing engagement of diverse tradition. 1592 ce: first use of religions in plural. Define religion by common notions accepted at all times . Lord herbert"s 5 common notions: there is a supreme god , this sovereign deity out to be worshiped , relationship of piety to virtue, humans" fear of their own wickedness, need for repentance, reward or punishment after this life. Enlightenment as development of individual reason, liberation from yoke of guardians . To be a fully developed human: rationality, critical thinking. Religion as response to 2 human conditions: wonder and fear. Humans start with polytheism, later consolidate gods in monotheism.
