Inconceivable Polytheism
Subtitle: Studies in Religious Historiography (Inconceivable Polytheism)
Edition: 1 edition
Publisher: Routledge
Published: January 1, 1987
Language: eng
Format: Paperback
Number of pages: 386
ISBN-13: 9783718603671
Subjects: Historiography; Religion: general; Archaeology / Anthropology; Religion; Anthropology - General; Social Science / Anthropology / General; Theism
First sentence: Before the word "polytheism" (invented by Philo of Alexandria) was rediscovered by Jean Bodin in 1580, the term used was "idolatry" The starting point of all questions pertaining to idolatry - and principally the problem of its origins - was the biblical text During the sixteenth century and up until G J Vossius, the origin of idolatry was, first and foremost, a problem of scriptural exegesis The English deists treated this problem in a new light relegating biblical evidence to a position of secondary importance, they anchored the debate in the realm of the comparative history of religions.