In this influential work, Alan W. Watts explores the role of myth and ritual in Christianity and other religious traditions. Through his careful analysis of religious practices and symbols, he demonstrates how they can provide meaningful insights into the nature of human existence and the divine. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other ...
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In this influential work, Alan W. Watts explores the role of myth and ritual in Christianity and other religious traditions. Through his careful analysis of religious practices and symbols, he demonstrates how they can provide meaningful insights into the nature of human existence and the divine. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
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Add this copy of Myth And Ritual In Christianity to cart. $19.72, new condition, Sold by Ingram Customer Returns Center rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from NV, USA, published 2023 by Legare Street Press.
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Add this copy of Myth and Ritual in Christianity to cart. $75.87, new condition, Sold by Bonita rated 4.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Newport Coast, CA, UNITED STATES, published 2023 by Legare Street Press.
Alan Watts is better-known for his studies of Eastern religions, and for his wisdom-of-insecurity, "Zen" philosophy. What is less-well known -- and subsequently under-appreciated-- is Watts' contribution to Christianity as a Perennial Philosophy-- work which stood chronologically at the inception of Watts' writing career.
MYTH AND RITUAL IN CHRISTIANITY invokes a Medieval Christian world-view, which was a living reality in (especially Roman- or Anglo- ) Catholicism well into the 20th century, and is still vibrant in the post-Vatican-II Catholic world in more-subtle ways, such as when a monk or nun writes a meditative piece for appreciation by a traditional Catholic audience.
The Christian legends-- Creation, Incarnation, Resurrection, the "Pentecostal Experience," and the Eschatology/Last-Things-- as mythical/symbolic (irrespective of whether they are historical) creations, interpretable from a Universalist frame of reference Watts identifies as cognate with THE PERENNIAL PHILOSOPHY-- a termed coined by (Italian) Augustino Steuco in the 16th century, employed by the philosopher Leibniz, and figuring prominently in the wisdom of Aldous Huxley and (Indian) Ananda Coomaraswamy. This universalist philosophy fits well with a broad-minded person's thinking, and comfortably fits in the accepting ideological mode prevailing in this 21st century.
For those looking to "redeem" traditional Christianity from its conservative dogmatism, this book is REALLY TONIC: with it one can find ways-- at the same time-- to be both Catholic (or just Christian, if that term suits better) and accepting of other (religious/philosophical/theosophical) traditions as well. As such therefore, this book is a great contribution to HUMAN COMMUNITY-- a signal accomplishment.
