Introduction To The Science Of Religion - Softcover

Friedrich Max Müller

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0371458714 ISBN 13: 9780371458716

Publisher: HardPress, 2021

Synopsis

Introduction To The Science Of Religion: Four Lectures Delivered At The Royal Institution With Two Essays On False Analogies, And The Philosophy Of Mythology by Friedrich Max Müller opens a programmatic exploration of religion as a historical science. Based on lectures given at the Royal Institution in 1870 and published in 1873, the book argues for a bold comparative study of the principal religions, using canons of philology, textual criticism, and linguistic analysis. Müller distinguishes historical forms of faith (comparative theology) from introspective theories (theology) and insists that all religions must be studied without bias, testing their origins, texts, and development against the evidence of languages and ancient literature. The work surveys eight world traditions, identifies three ancient centres of religion (Aryan, Semitic, Turanian), and argues that language and thought co-create religious ideas. Two essays examine false analogies and the philosophy of mythology, showing how myths arise from language, metaphor, and the evolution of human cognition. Original edition is the first English presentation of Müller's science of religion; the Preface notes his aim to widen sympathy and to expand our religious horizon.

Edition details

• Publisher: HardPress
• Publication date: 2021
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0371458714
• ISBN 13: 9780371458716
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 432