Read Wilfred Cantwell Smith, The Meaning and End of Religion (ONLY Chapters 5 and 6 ) and ″Primal Myths; Creation Myths Around the World” by Barbara Sproul (introduction along with the 3 different myths). Both readings are attached below in files. Compare the systematic approaches of both these authors. Pick one or two key aspects of one author and find points of overlap or distinct tension with the work of the second author. For example, how does Smith’s view of religious ideas on spirituality and religion compare or contradict Sproul’s view on religions through myths? Thoroughly investigate these points of connection (or conflict) and describe, in your own words, what you make of the relationship between these ideas. PLEASE ONLY USE THESE TWO SOURCES TO WRITE THE ESSAY WITHOUT USING ANY OUTSIDE INFORMATION OR RESOURCE. WHEN WRITING THE ESSAY, MAKE SURE TO SHOW CONNECTIONS INSTEAD OF TELLING RANDOM POINTS. THE BIBLIOGRAPHY SHOULD ONLY INCLUDE THE TWO READINGS I PROVIDED IN MLA FORMAT. PLEASE INCLUDE DIRECT QUOTES IN THE ESSAY, WITH PAGE NUMBERS, AND FULL ANALYSIS OF EACH QUOTE AND HOW IT IS RELEVANT TO THE CLAIM YOU ARE MAKING.
HELPFUL NOTES:
• Smith: thinks that the level of religiosity that was being practiced when he wrote his book in the 50s was going to stay at the level that it was. Smith writes a book he’s like well we got to stop using religion because stop thinking of the concept of religion because it gets it all wrong it misses the point of all these practices people do it misses the point of how the people live we’v blown it you know like we’re using categories that aren’t real categories.
• Spiritual questions as to “why” things happen
• Problem with religion: idea is historically conditioned “recent vintage”, what is more of an accurate way than labeling people, he introduces two things : cumulative tradition (figure out what is tradition even) and faith (there is nothing without you )”, faith is unquantifiable
• Sproul: uses “infinite” (inconceivable, you cannot think through it, ground of being underneath anything) and “being itself”
• We live inside mythology all the time in our daily lives, personal mythology can provide meaning and structure, symbolism
