The Creation of God

256 Pages·2011·2.084 MB·English

by  Rik Pinxten

9
1
s
n
o
i
g
i
l
e
R

d
n
a

s
n
a
m
u
H

,
s
d
o
G The Creation of God

Rik Pinxten
This book develops a scientific approach to the phenomenon of religion. It
is the conviction of the author that such an approach can only be comparative
in nature, in order to overcome centuries of religiously biased views on religion.
From an anthropological point of view the phenomenological school of
thought is intrinsically religionistic (i.e., influenced by a particular religious frame
of reference).
The author formulates a model which seeks to distinguish between three
irreducible religious ways (ritualistic, mythagogic and shamanistic), of which
religious forms at the object level are composed. The typical characteristics of
religion in the theories of the religions of the book then appear as specific
(‘local’) formats, next to and at the same level as any other religious manifest-
ation in the world.
In a second hypothesis in the book, the primacy of action over language for
the human species is argued for. Here again, a local preference for verbal actions
is identified in the religions of the book. To develop a more generic view on
religion, the author proposes to look at humans first and foremost as acting
subjects, with verbal actions as a subcategory.
Rik Pinxten, PhD from Ghent University (Belgium), was Visiting Professor at
Northwestern University and Syracuse University (USA) and was Researcher of
the Flemish Science Foundation (1972-1983). He has been Professor of Anthro-
pology and Religious Studies at Ghent University since 1983.
He has published over a hundred articles and book chapters in several
languages on anthropology and religion studies, e.g. Anthropology of
Space (1983), When the Day Breaks (1997), Culture and politics (2004).
P.I.E. Peter Lang
Brussels
1
title pages.p65 1 19/07/2010, 11:32
2
title pages.p65 2 19/07/2010, 11:32
The Creation of God
P.I.E. Peter Lang
Bruxelles · Bern · Berlin · Frankfurt am Main · New York · Oxford · Wien
3
title pages.p65 3 19/07/2010, 11:32
4
title pages.p65 4 19/07/2010, 11:32
Rik PINXTEN
The Creation of God
“Gods, Humans and Religions”
No.19
5
title pages.p65 5 19/07/2010, 11:32
First edition, fully updated here, appeared as Goddelijke Fantasie,
Antwerp, Belgium with Houtekiet Publ. in 2000.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by print, photocopy,
microfilm or any other means, without prior written permission from the
publisher. All rights reserved.
© P.I.E. PETER LANG S.A.
Éditions scientifiques internationales
Brussels, 2010
1 avenue Maurice, B-1050 Brussels, Belgium
[email protected]; www.peterlang.com
ISSN 1377-8323
ISBN 978-3-0352-6019-9
D/2010/5678/41
Printed in Germany
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Pinxten, Rik.The creation of God / Rik Pinxten.
p. cm. — (Gods, humans, and religions, ISSN 1377-8323 ; no.19)
Includes bibliographical references (p.).
ISBN 978-3-0352-6019-9 1. Religion. I. Title.
BL48.P528 2010 210—dc22 2010029719
CIP also available from the British Library, GB
Bibliographic information published by “Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek”. “Die
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek” lists this publication in the “Deutsche National-
bibliografie”; detailed bibliographic data is available on Internet at <http://www.
d-nb.de>.
6
title pages.p65 6 22/07/2010, 09:29
This book is dedicated to Laura Nader,
An ominous intellectual friend with a big heart,
Loving a hug any time.