Myth and Meaning The Complete Works Volume 7

Description

This book comprises a collection of research and studies on mythology and the religions of the ancient Near East, each addressing a specific yet closely related topic. The author tackles these sensitive subjects through a rigorous and disciplined inductive scientific approach.

These topics include:

• The function of myth and its role in the life of the individual and the community.

• Meaning in myth and its hidden implications.

• The relationship between myth and religion and religious beliefs.

• Ritual and myth.

• The model of Tammuzian hymns.

• Myth and history.

• The relationship between religion and ethics in the Eastern religions.

• Ancient Near Eastern beliefs: Paganism or monotheism?

• The image of the biblical God and its reflections on biblical ethics.

These and other topics are meticulously documented with textual evidence from myths, rituals, and prayers. The author’s aim in these studies is to understand the spiritual dimension of humanity through its mythological and religious expressions throughout history in general, and the history of the ancient Near East in particular.