The former part of contrasting and comparing the two assigned books of Winfried Corduan’s Neighboring Faiths A Christian Introduction to World Religions and John Dickson’s A Spectators’ Guide to World Religions An Introduction to the Big Five and their treatments of religions is to be accomplished in two main ways. First, that of the how a Christian in a Post-Christian society might be able to best use these resources and the information they contain; and second the Christian approach of both books in presenting other world religions.
The Post-Christian world is a steadily increasing mindset in America. A recent study by the Barna Group shows some ninety-six cities are listed as having higher than 10% post-Christian tendencies with the highest being 63% Post-Christian having been rated on a scale of fifteen factors of unbelief (from atheism to lack of local church attendance) . Therefore it is an ever-growing necessity to learn how to be an effective disciple of Christ in a land that is becoming increasingly ignorant and intolerant to the views of Christianity. Part of doing this is aiming at understanding the arguments, which stand as fundamental to the atheistic mindset.
Corduan explains well the mindset, which demands our understanding, “The Evolutionary Approach,” which, “many scholars assume… rests on two assumptions. The first… is a general commitment to an evolutionary view of life and culture… The second assumption has to do with the anthropological method.” That culture and subsequently religion has moved from, “mana and magic,” to, “animism, polytheism, henotheism, and finally monotheism,” begging the question that atheism is the next move in mankind’s religious and cultural evolution.
Within this same chapter Corduan explains the merits of Original Monotheism over and above the Evolutionary Approach. In it’s most basic form, “Original monotheism locates the beginnings of religion in God.” The first form of religion would looks something like: a God of personhood referred to in masculine terms; living in heaven; great in power and knowledge; creator; author of the standards for good and evil; causing mankind’s purpose as his creatures to be obedience to his laws; an alienation of mankind because of their disobedience; and the provider of a way of overcoming said alienation. This is the idea of Original Monotheism Corduan sets forth at the beginning of his book.
[1] Barna Group. The Most
Post-Christian Cities. http://cities.barna.org/the-most-post-christian-cities-in-america/.
The Post-Christian world is a steadily increasing mindset in America. A recent study by the Barna Group shows some ninety-six cities are listed as having higher than 10% post-Christian tendencies with the highest being 63% Post-Christian having been rated on a scale of fifteen factors of unbelief (from atheism to lack of local church attendance) . Therefore it is an ever-growing necessity to learn how to be an effective disciple of Christ in a land that is becoming increasingly ignorant and intolerant to the views of Christianity. Part of doing this is aiming at understanding the arguments, which stand as fundamental to the atheistic mindset.
Corduan explains well the mindset, which demands our understanding, “The Evolutionary Approach,” which, “many scholars assume… rests on two assumptions. The first… is a general commitment to an evolutionary view of life and culture… The second assumption has to do with the anthropological method.” That culture and subsequently religion has moved from, “mana and magic,” to, “animism, polytheism, henotheism, and finally monotheism,” begging the question that atheism is the next move in mankind’s religious and cultural evolution.
Within this same chapter Corduan explains the merits of Original Monotheism over and above the Evolutionary Approach. In it’s most basic form, “Original monotheism locates the beginnings of religion in God.” The first form of religion would looks something like: a God of personhood referred to in masculine terms; living in heaven; great in power and knowledge; creator; author of the standards for good and evil; causing mankind’s purpose as his creatures to be obedience to his laws; an alienation of mankind because of their disobedience; and the provider of a way of overcoming said alienation. This is the idea of Original Monotheism Corduan sets forth at the beginning of his book.
[2] Winfried Corduan. Neighboring Faiths A Christian Introduction
to World Religions. P 24-32. InterVarsity Press IL, 1998.
[3] Ibid
[4] Ibid
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