Narrative and Belief

Narrative and Belief PDF Author: Markus Altena Davidsen
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351362631
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 271

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Book Description
The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and certain other works of fantasy and science fiction have inspired some of their readers and viewers to believe that the superhuman powers of the story-worlds, such as Gandalf and the Force, exist also in the real world. We can say that such fictional narratives possess ‘religious affordance’, for they contain certain textual features that afford or make possible a religious, rather than just a fictional, use of the text. This book aims to identify those features of the text that make it possible for a fictional narrative to inspire belief in the supernatural beings of the story, or even to facilitate ritual interaction with these beings. The contributions analyse the religious affordance and actual use of a wide range of texts, spanning from Harry Potter and Star Wars, over The Lord of the Rings and late 19th-century Scandinavian fantasy, to the Christian Gospels. Although we focus on the religious affordance of fictional texts, we also spell out implications for the study of religious narratives in general, and for the narrativist study of religion. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Religion.

Narrative and Belief

Narrative and Belief PDF Author: Markus Altena Davidsen
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1351362631
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 271

Get Book

Book Description
The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, and certain other works of fantasy and science fiction have inspired some of their readers and viewers to believe that the superhuman powers of the story-worlds, such as Gandalf and the Force, exist also in the real world. We can say that such fictional narratives possess ‘religious affordance’, for they contain certain textual features that afford or make possible a religious, rather than just a fictional, use of the text. This book aims to identify those features of the text that make it possible for a fictional narrative to inspire belief in the supernatural beings of the story, or even to facilitate ritual interaction with these beings. The contributions analyse the religious affordance and actual use of a wide range of texts, spanning from Harry Potter and Star Wars, over The Lord of the Rings and late 19th-century Scandinavian fantasy, to the Christian Gospels. Although we focus on the religious affordance of fictional texts, we also spell out implications for the study of religious narratives in general, and for the narrativist study of religion. This book was originally published as a special issue of the journal Religion.

Religious Stories We Live By

Religious Stories We Live By PDF Author: R. Ruard Ganzevoort
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 900426406X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 308

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Book Description
Stories have always been important in religion, but systematic explorations of the narrative dimensions of religion are more recent and interdisciplinary explorations of narrative approaches in theology and religious studies are scarce. Religious Stories We Live By paves the ground for these much needed interdisciplinary conversations. It first offers philosophical, psychological, and epistemological reflections on the importance of narrative approaches in the study of religion. The subsequent sections contain case studies and disciplinary overviews of narrative perspectives in biblical, empirical, systematic, and historical approaches in theology and religious studies. Combined, the contributions showcase the potential of narrative perspectives in bridging theology and religious studies, as well as descriptive and normative approaches. Narrative perspectives offer a fruitful common ground for the study of religion. Contributors include Angela Berlis, Marjo Buitelaar, James Day, Maaike de Haardt, Marieke den Braber, Luco van den Brom, Marjet Derks, Toke Elshof, Dorothea Erbele Küster, John Exalto, Ruard Ganzevoort, Joep van Gennip, Annelies van Heijst, Chris Hermans, Liesbeth Hoeven, Anne-Marie Korte, Edwin Koster, Marit Monteiro, Michael Scherer-Rath, Klaas Spronk, Piet Verschuren, Wim Weren, and Willien van Wieringen.

Religious Narrative, Cognition and Culture

Religious Narrative, Cognition and Culture PDF Author: Armin W. Geertz
Publisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1317545486
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 348

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Book Description
'Religious Narrative, Cognition and Culture' brings together some of the world's leading scholars in the fields of cognitive science and comparative religion. The essays range across diverse fields: the neurological processes and possible genetic foundations of how language emerged; the possible phylogenetic routes in the development of language and culture; the complex interrelations between the ontogenesis and the sociogenesis of cognitive processes; the value of a combination of neurology, narratology and a reworked speech-act approach that focuses on narrative; how the psychology of ritual helps make narrative beliefs possible; religious narratives; emotional communication; the role of gossip as religious narrative; area studies of religious narrative and cognition in the Bible; Indian Epic literature; Australian Aboriginal mythology and ritual; modern religious forms such as New Age, Asatro, astrological narrative and virtual rituals in cyberspace.

Narrative and Religion in the Superdiverse City

Narrative and Religion in the Superdiverse City PDF Author: Stephen Pihlaja
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 1009407007
Category : Language Arts & Disciplines
Languages : en
Pages : 134

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Book Description
This Element focuses on how narrative is used to construct religious identity in superdiverse contexts, considering specifically how people talk about their own religious identity, and the religious identity of others. Drawing on interviews with twenty-five participants, and numerous site visits throughout the city of Birmingham (UK), the analysis focuses on how self and other positioning is used to construct religious identity in talk about beliefs, actions, and behaviours in different contexts. Additionally, the analysis shows how conflict emerges and is resolved in spaces where people of different faiths and no faith interact, and how people talk about and understand community. Finally, a model for talking about faith in diverse contexts is presented to help people find common goals and act together towards shared interests.

Faith and Narrative

Faith and Narrative PDF Author: Keith Edward Yandell
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780197739105
Category : Knowledge, Theory of (Religion)
Languages : en
Pages : 0

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Book Description
From novel to anecdote, literary narratives engage and entertain us. Recently, the importance of narrative to ethics and religion has become a pervasive theme, and the essays collected here also focus on narrative's contribution to knowledge.

Talk to Me

Talk to Me PDF Author: Qasim Rashid
Publisher:
ISBN: 9780989397742
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 366

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Book Description
#TalkToMe: Changing the narrative on race, religion, and education is a non-fiction memoir from inspiring thought leaders on how the power of dialogue can overcome racism, xenophobia, intolerance, and violence. It is the real life story of how ordinary Americans are rising beyond the forces that seek to drive us apart, and instead finding paths to peace and understanding. These are the stories you won't hear in the media because the fact is, good news just doesn't sell newspapers. They are stories that remain untold because bigotry sells more than unity. Terror, more than tolerance. Instead, I want to give these powerful stories of pluralism the platform they deserve. I wrote #TalkToMe because I believe that our differences are a source of strength, not division. I believe things aren't hopeless and I believe we can repair the damage done. We must work together, and it all begins with dialogue. But we can't sit idle and we can't waste another day. So come on, #TalkToMe.

Making Sense of God

Making Sense of God PDF Author: Timothy Keller
Publisher: Penguin
ISBN: 0525954155
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 338

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Book Description
We live in an age of skepticism. Our society places such faith in empirical reason, historical progress, and heartfelt emotion that it’s easy to wonder: Why should anyone believe in Christianity? What role can faith and religion play in our modern lives? In this thoughtful and inspiring new book, pastor and New York Times bestselling author Timothy Keller invites skeptics to consider that Christianity is more relevant now than ever. As human beings, we cannot live without meaning, satisfaction, freedom, identity, justice, and hope. Christianity provides us with unsurpassed resources to meet these needs. Written for both the ardent believer and the skeptic, Making Sense of God shines a light on the profound value and importance of Christianity in our lives.

Handbook of Leaving Religion

Handbook of Leaving Religion PDF Author: Daniel Enstedt
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 9004331476
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 372

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Book Description
The Handbook of Leaving Religion introduces a neglected field of research with the aim to outline previous and contemporary research, and suggest how the topic of leaving religion should be studied in the future. The handbook consists of three sections: 1) Major debates about leaving religion; 2) Case studies and empirical insights; and 3) Theoretical and methodological approaches. Section one provides the reader with an introduction to key terms, historical developments, major controversies and significant cases. Section two includes case studies that illustrate various processes of leaving religion from different perspectives, and each chapter provides new empirical insights. Section three discusses, presents and encourages new approaches to the study of leaving religion.

Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion

Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion PDF Author: Dirk Johannsen
Publisher: BRILL
ISBN: 900442167X
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 391

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Book Description
Narrative Cultures and the Aesthetics of Religion studies narrativity as situated modes of engaging with reality in religious contexts across the globe, equally shaped by the immersive character of the stories told and the sensory qualities of their performances.

Narrative Apologetics

Narrative Apologetics PDF Author: Alister E. McGrath
Publisher: Baker Books
ISBN: 1493419242
Category : Religion
Languages : en
Pages : 176

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Book Description
The Bible is a narrative--the story of God's creation, humankind's fall, and God's plan of redemption. And it is filled with countless smaller stories that teach us about people, history, and the nature of God. It's no surprise that God would choose to reveal himself to us in story--after all, he hardwired us for story. Despite this, we so often attempt to share our faith with others not through story but through systems, arguments, and talking points--methods that appeal only to our mind and neglect our imagination and our emotions. In this groundbreaking book, scholar and author Alister McGrath lays a foundation for narrative apologetics. Exploring four major biblical narratives, enduring stories from our culture such as Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings and Lewis's The Chronicles of Narnia, and personal narratives from people such as Augustine of Hippo and Chuck Colson, McGrath shows how we can both understand and share our faith in terms of story.