Amythia: Crisis in the Natural History of Western Culture - Softcover

Rue, Loyal D.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0817351361 ISBN 13: 9780817351366

Publisher: University Alabama Press, 2004

Synopsis

A provocative analysis of the ways our culture suffers amythia

Amythia results when cosmology and morality are not effectively integrated by a root metaphor, and the only possibility for the future is to transpose the old Christian God as Person to a root metaphor that is even older in origin, the concept of the Covenant tradition inherited from Israel but now understood in a nonsupernaturalist manner.

Rue asserts that amythia is a critical condition within the natural history of Western culture. The argument of the book begins with a theoretical perspective on the place of human culture within the scope of natural history and proceeds to establish the conceptual foundations for a natural history of culture.

Following an overview of the natural history of Western culture to expose the origins and depth of the contemporary intellectual and moral crisis, Rue moves on to specify and justify the limits of distinctiveness and plausibility appropriate for the task of transposing Covenant tradition. Finally, an appeal is made to the mythmakers of contemporary culture to take up the challenge of amythia.

About this title

About the Author

Loyal D. Rue is Professor of Religion and Philosophy at Luther College and author of By the Grace of Guile: The Role of Deception in Natural History and Human Affairs. William G. Doty is Professor and Chair Emeritus of the Department of Religious Studies at The University of Alabama and author of Mythography: The Study of Myths and Rituals.

Edition details

• Publisher: University Alabama Press
• Publication date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0817351361
• ISBN 13: 9780817351366
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 223