Term Paper on "English Literature Science and Religion What Exactly"

Term Paper 5 pages (1281 words) Sources: 2 Style: APA

[EXCERPT] . . . .

English Literature

Science and Religion

What exactly are the three approaches to natural theology?

According to McGrath, Natural Theology does in fact have three very specific and unique approaches, which are identified and explained as follows:

LITERAL APPROACH- Under the literal approach, the argument is made that a Biblical passage/concept is meant to be interpreted literally at face value (McGrath, 1998). For example, one commonly cited theological concepts, dating back from the words of the Old Testament, is the wages of sin being equated with death. In the Literal Approach, one would be justified in the killing of another person if it were able to be established that the person was a sinner.

ALLEGORICAL (NON-LITERAL) APPROACH- Allegorically, the afore mentioned Biblical concept would not be interpreted literally (McGrath, 1998); for example, perhaps one would interpret that the wages of sin are a spiritual, rather than physical death, or the death of a friendship, etc. This approach allows for more independent thought in theology and the proliferation of more theological theory development.

ACCOMODATION APPROACH- Using the Accommodation Approach represents a sort of theological compromise, whereby the theological and natural world would be taken into account in the interpretation of theology (McGrath, 1998). For example, John Calvin combined what was in his time (the 16th century) thought to be valid scientific knowledge with theology to extensively comment on the wisdom and character of God.

2. What exactly is a cosmogonic myth as defined by M. Eliade? As defined by M. Eliade, a cosmogonic myth is a myth which becomes the model for the philosophical and theological thought in a given culture (Eliade, 1998). In other words, cosmogonic myths bring together theological doctrine and the deep thought that involves a consideration of the meaning of life and other questions which have kept thinkers occupied quite literally since the beginnings of intelligent thought. Among the classic classifications of cosmogonic myths are the ideas of primordality (what existed prior to the ordering of the world as depicted in the Book of Genesis), dualism/antagonism (the idea of the existence of a Supreme God along with common human beings, both interacting in the same physical and spiritual worlds), creation/sacrifice (the ideas of life and death among others), and speculation (again, the classic consideration of the purpose and meaning of life itself). In a larger sense, the cosmogonic myth as defined by Eliade encompasses life and death, the meaning of both, and the relationship between humans and their God.

3. What exactly is the essential ethical theme that emerges from myths of cosmic cataclysms, with respect to the judgment of humankind before and after the cataclysm?

Cosmic cataclysms themselves are based upon the concept that all things are created in nature, and as such can be destroyed in nature (Eliade, 1998). The classic example of this is often presented when discussing the power of water. In nature, for example, water has the ability to create beautiful valleys, mountain formations and the like. Conversely, however, water also possesses the power to instantly wipe away everything that it so beautifully created in the first place. Applying this idea to ethical themes and the judgment of human kind before and after the cataclysm, one can easily substitute the idea of an all-powerful God and put forth the assertion that in God, the power to create and destroy the world resides. In between that creation and destruction, the alpha and omega so to speak, the judgment element comes into the picture. God, many maintain, possesses the wisdom to decide what should be allowed to exist and what must be destroyed in the physical world; in fact, the Bible is replete with examples of entire civilizations that were judged by God to be evil, and subsequently destroyed, reflecting back to a form of literal theology.

4. According to Eliade, why is the performance… READ MORE

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