341.5 Judaeo-Christian Origins

I. Cultic Background of Judaeo-Christian Religion

• ANE polytheism, Council of the Gods in Gilgamesh Epic
• Mythos of Marduk and Tiamat
• Prophetic truncation of polytheism: High God Monotheism
• Rigorous anti-idolatry theology

II. New Testament Syncretism

• Cultic/cultural background of NT
• Roman, Egyptian, Hellenic, Jewish, Zoroastrian & other religions
• Incorporation of non-Jewish imagery; modification of monotheism
• Incorporation of goddess imagery: Mary

III. Medieval Hierarchialism

• Development of Book/Creed/Church
• Ptolemaic cosmology
• Great Chain of Being
• Orders & grades of society; of nature
• Providence: Theological rationale for all events

IV. Reformation/Modern Individualism

• Reformation Agenda: Priesthood of believer
• Disruption of prevailing political/economic order
• Reductionist philosophies/science
• Accommodation of faith & reason: natural theology
• Appearance of "piety" as normative Christian behavior

V. Post-Modern Emotionalism

• Ultimate privatization of religious belief and behavior
• Strong association of religion with feeling & emotion
• Anti-rational return to pentecostal religion
• Spiritualization of nature: recrudescent natural theology