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The Evolution of Theology: an Anthropological Study / Essay #8 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition" cover

The Evolution of Theology: an Anthropological Study / Essay #8 from "Science and Hebrew Tradition"

The essay treats theology as a natural product of human mental operations and traces its origin, development, and decline through an anthropological lens. It surveys primitive beliefs in ghosts, fetishism, ancestor and hero worship, and witchcraft as foundations of religious ideas, and reads stratified biblical documents as layered deposits that preserve earlier theological forms. Using a paleontological method, the author examines archaic Israelite texts—notably a narrative of a ruler's consultation with a necromancer—to reconstruct early theological conceptions while avoiding doctrinal judgment.

By Thomas Henry Huxley
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Archaeology & AnthropologyHistory - AncientReligion/Spirituality

About This Book

The essay treats theology as a natural product of human mental operations and traces its origin, development, and decline through an anthropological lens. It surveys primitive beliefs in ghosts, fetishism, ancestor and hero worship, and witchcraft as foundations of religious ideas, and reads stratified biblical documents as layered deposits that preserve earlier theological forms. Using a paleontological method, the author examines archaic Israelite texts—notably a narrative of a ruler's consultation with a necromancer—to reconstruct early theological conceptions while avoiding doctrinal judgment.

About the Author

Huxley, Thomas Henry portrait

Thomas Henry Huxley

Thomas Henry Huxley (1825-1895) was an English biologist and a prominent advocate of Charles Darwin's theory of evolution. Often referred to as 'Darwin's Bulldog' for his defense of evolutionary science, Huxley made significant contributions to the fields of zoology and paleontology. His works, such as "A Critical Examination of the Position of Mr. Darwin's Work" and "American Addresses, with a Lecture on the Study of Biology," reflect his commitment to scientific inquiry and education. Huxley's writings often explored the relationship between science and religion, and he was instrumental in promoting the importance of scientific literacy in society.

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