Edward Carpenter

Pagan and Christian Creeds (eBook, ePUB)

• Format: ePub

Produktbeschreibung

The subject of Religious Origins is a fascinating one, as the great multitude of books upon it, published in late years, tends to show. Indeed the great difficulty today in dealing with the subject, lies in the very mass of the material to hand—and that not only on account of the labor involved in sorting the material, but because the abundance itself of facts opens up temptation to a student in this department of Anthropology (as happens also in other branches of general Science) to rush in too hastily with what seems a plausible theory. The more facts, statistics, and so forth, there are available in any investigation, the easier it is to pick out a considerable number which will fit a given theory. The other facts being neglected or ignored, the views put forward enjoy for a time a great vogue. Then inevitably, and at a later time, new or neglected facts alter the outlook, and a new perspective is established.
There is also in these matters of Science (though many scientific men would doubtless deny this) a great deal of "Fashion". Such has been notoriously the case in Political Economy, Medicine, Geology, and even in such definite studies as Physics and Chemistry. In a comparatively recent science, like that with which we are now concerned, one would naturally expect variations. A hundred and fifty years ago, and since the time of Rousseau, the "Noble Savage" was extremely popular; and he lingers still in the story books of our children. Then the reaction from this extreme view set in, and of late years it has been the popular cue (largely, it must be said, among "armchair" travelers and explorers) to represent the religious rites and customs of primitive folk as a senseless mass of superstitions, and the early man as quite devoid of decent feeling and intelligence. Again, when the study of religious origins first began in modern times to be seriously taken up—say in the earlier part of last century—there was a great boom in Sungods. Every divinity in the Pantheon was an impersonation of the Sun—unless indeed (if feminine) of the Moon.

Produktdetails

• Verlag: Edward Carpenter
• Erscheinungstermin: 4. Januar 2017
• Englisch
• ISBN-13: 9788822884404
• Artikelnr.: 47385530

Autorenporträt

Edward Carpenter (1844-1929) was a prominent English socialist poet, philosopher, and early advocate for LGBT rights. He was a key figure in the late 19th and early 20th century socialist movement in Britain and is best known for his writings on social reform, spirituality, and human rights. His notable works are Towards Democracy (1883): A poetic work that reflects Carpenter's hilosophical and spiritual beliefs. "The Intermediate Sex" (1908): One of the earliest works advocating for the acceptance and understanding of homosexuality. " Civilisation: Its Cause and Cure" (1889): An exploration of the ills of industrial civilization and the potential for a more harmonious social order. "Pagan & Christian Creeds: Their Origin and Meaning" (1920): An analysis of the similarities between pagan and Christian religious practices and beliefs. Carpenter's advocacy for social reform and human rights influenced a wide range of social movements, including the labor movement, the feminist movement, and the LGBT rights movement. Carpenter lived with George Merrill from the 1890s until Merrill's death in 1928, a relationship that was openly acknowledged and celebrated in his social circle. Edward Carpenter's life and work left a lasting impact on social thought and progressive movements in Britain and beyond, making him a significant figure in the history of social reform and human rights advocacy.