God and Mankind Comparative Study
Mike Ervin

   God and Mankind: Comparative Study of Religion

The teaching is a comprehensive summary of a Teaching Company comparative religions course taught by Professor Robert Oden at Kenyon College, covering various religious traditions and key theological concepts.

This teaching explores the complex relationship between God and mankind through various religious traditions. ​

• The course focuses on key issues such as death, the meaning of life, evil, and suffering. ​
• It primarily examines the Judeo-Christian tradition alongside ancient Sumerian, Egyptian, Hindu, and Buddhist religions. ​
• The course begins with the nature and study of religion, distinguishing between faith and academic inquiry. ​
• It introduces Mircea Eliade's concept of cosmologies and their significance in understanding world religions. ​

Approaches to Studying Religion

This section outlines the four main approaches to the academic study of religion. ​

• The four approaches include religion and history, religion as amateur science, religion and the unconscious, and religion and society. ​
• Each approach has strengths and weaknesses, highlighting the complexity of understanding religion. ​
• The lecture emphasizes that no single approach can fully explain the nature of religion. ​

Nature of Religious Cosmologies

This lecture examines how cosmologies function within religions to provide meaning and understanding. ​

• Cosmology in religion differs from scientific cosmology, focusing on spiritual and existential questions. ​
• Key questions addressed include the origin of the universe, the nature of humanity, and the meaning of life. ​
• Creation myths and religious architecture serve as primary sources for understanding religious cosmologies. ​

The Great Pyramids and Egyptian Cosmology

This section discusses the significance of the Great Pyramids in understanding ancient Egyptian cosmology. ​

• The Pyramids were built as tombs for kings and symbolize the connection between life and the afterlife. ​
• Their orientation and construction reflect religious beliefs about the cosmos and the cycle of life.
• The Pyramids embody the binary oppositions central to Egyptian cosmology, such as life/death and gods/humans. ​

Hindu and Jewish Cosmologies

This teaching compares Hindu and Jewish cosmologies, highlighting their distinct views on creation and salvation. ​

• Hindu cosmology is characterized by an infinite timeline, contrasting with the relatively young world view of Judaism. ​
• In Hinduism, the goal is to escape the cycle of rebirth, while Judaism emphasizes the goodness of creation and collective identity.
• Both cosmologies address the relationship between the divine and humanity, shaping their respective religious practices and beliefs. ​

Birth Narratives of Religious Heroes

This section explores the birth narratives of key religious figures, emphasizing their significance in religious traditions. ​

• Myths of conception and birth often involve unusual circumstances, such as divine intervention or abandonment. ​
• The narratives of Moses, Jesus, Sargon the Great, and Gautama the Buddha share common themes of secrecy and extraordinary origins. ​
• The Epic of Gilgamesh serves as a foundational Sumerian myth, addressing themes of mortality and the human condition. ​

The Significance of the Gilgamesh Epic

The Gilgamesh Epic explores themes of mortality, friendship, and the human condition through the journey of its titular hero. ​

• Sumerian language is unique and unrelated to modern languages. ​
• Sumerians are credited with early written language, law, and education. ​
• The epic features Gilgamesh, a two-thirds divine king of Uruk, who is initially a tyrant. ​
• Enkidu, a wild man, becomes Gilgamesh's friend and counterpart, highlighting the tension between civilization and nature. ​
• Enkidu's death prompts Gilgamesh to confront mortality, leading him to seek immortality through various means. ​
• Ultimately, Gilgamesh learns to accept mortality and focuses on improving his city, Uruk. ​

Lessons from the Gilgamesh Narrative

The narrative imparts lessons about maturity, mortality, and the Sumerian worldview. ​

• Gilgamesh's journey symbolizes the transition from adolescence to adulthood. ​
• Sumerian religion emphasizes acceptance of human fate rather than promises of immortality. ​
• The story reflects a balanced optimism, encouraging individuals to shape their lives and contribute to society. ​

Comparative Study of Religion and Gilgamesh

The Gilgamesh Epic serves as a foundational text for understanding religious narratives and cosmologies.

• The epic was only discovered and translated in the last century, making it less familiar to Western audiences. ​
• It illustrates how myths convey spiritual journeys and what religions consider authentic. ​
• The themes in Gilgamesh prefigure ideas found in later Western religious traditions. ​

Rites of Passage in Religious Heroes

The concept of rites of passage is crucial for understanding the lives of religious founders and heroes. ​

• Rites of passage consist of three stages: preliminal, liminal, and postliminal. ​
• Gilgamesh's journey exemplifies these stages, from his initial arrogance to his acceptance of mortality. ​
• Moses' story also follows this framework, highlighting his transformation and role as a mediator. ​

The Theodicy Problem in Religion

Theodicy addresses the challenge of reconciling a benevolent deity with the existence of suffering and injustice. ​

• Theodicy presents a trilemma involving an omnipotent deity, a benevolent deity, and innocent suffering. ​
• Various religious responses include denial of divine attributes, dualism, just desserts, suffering as a path to salvation, and the notion of temporary suffering.

The Book of Job's Exploration of Suffering

The Book of Job serves as a profound meditation on theodicy and the nature of suffering. ​

• Job's experience contrasts personal suffering with dogmatic beliefs held by his friends. ​
• The narrative emphasizes the importance of personal experience over rigid dogma.
• Job's ultimate realization is that human suffering may not have a comprehensible solution. ​

Christian Responses to Theodicy

Christianity offers specific responses to theodicy, particularly through the writings of Paul and Calvin.

• Paul emphasizes Original Sin and the necessity of divine mercy for salvation. ​
• Calvin's doctrine of predestination asserts that God chooses who is saved, reinforcing the idea of human depravity. ​

Hindu and Buddhist Perspectives on Suffering

Hinduism and Buddhism provide distinct responses to theodicy, focusing on karma and the nature of existence. ​

• Hinduism teaches that karma determines one's future based on past actions, linking suffering to previous deeds. ​
• Buddhism posits that all life is suffering due to the impermanence of existence, advocating for acceptance of this reality. ​

The Role of Rituals in Religious Communities

Rituals play a vital role in shaping religious identity and community cohesion. ​

• Rituals create religious individuals, mark life stages, and reinforce group belonging. ​
• They can also foster exclusivity and denigrate outsiders, as seen in dietary and sexual prescriptions.

Dynamics of Change in Religious Communities

Religious communities evolve from sects to churches, reflecting changes in structure and authority. ​

• Sects are voluntary and exclusive, while churches are institutionalized and inclusive. ​
• The Protestant Reformation exemplifies this dynamic, with sects emerging from established churches. ​

The Puritan Influence on American Identity

The Puritan legacy significantly shapes contemporary American character and values. ​

• America was predominantly Puritan in 1776, influencing its identity as God's elect. ​
• Themes of providential history, covenant, and divine sovereignty are central to American civil religion. ​
• Contemporary American values reflect Puritan ideals, including individualism, anti-intellectualism, and a focus on vocational calling. ​

Evaluation of Robert Bellah’s American Civil Religion

This section critically examines the existence and characteristics of American civil religion as proposed by Robert Bellah. ​

• Bellah’s notion suggests that American civil religion exists and is characterized by shared beliefs and rituals. ​
• The three themes identified by Bellah include a belief in a divine purpose, a commitment to democracy, and a sense of national identity.
• There is debate on whether these characteristics are accurate or if alternative content could define American civil religion. ​
• The increasing diversity in America raises questions about the future of a consensual civil religion. ​

Historical Context of Puritanical Movements

This section explores the connections between fundamentalist revival movements and periods of civil unrest in history. ​

• Puritanical movements in 17th-century England and 18th-century colonial America, such as the Great Awakening, are linked to civil wars and revolutions. ​
• The English Civil War, the American Revolution, and the War Between the States may reflect underlying societal tensions.
• These movements could be seen as both causes and symptoms of larger societal changes.
• A parallel can be drawn to 20th-century movements that reflect similar dynamics of revival and conflict.

God and Mankind Comparative Study

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