History of Religious Thought

History of Religious Thought

Mircea Eliade

Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences Press

2011-09-01

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Summary

This book not only explains the development process of various religious phenomena in history, but also reveals the structure of religion in space and its significance to mankind. Volume 1 From the Stone Age to the Eleusinian Mysteries Volume 2 From Gautama Siddhartha to Christ...

Highlights

I have carefully selected sentences or paragraphs from Mircea Eliade's History of Religious Thought. These are not only profound, but also unique in perspective, beautiful in language, full of wisdom and creativity. Here are my choices: 1. "Religion is a fundamental manifestation of the human spirit, revealing our desire for infinity and transcendence." This sentence profoundly points out the essence of religion, which is the embodiment of human pursuit of transcendence. 2. "In the long history of religion, myths are not only the narration of stories, but also the cosmic map of the human mind." Eliade, with a unique perspective, elevates myths to the height of the cosmic map of the human mind, showing the profound significance of myths. 3. "Each religion is a unique interpretation of the sacred, and together they constitute the rich diversity of the human spirit." This sentence emphasizes the diversity of religions and different understandings of the sacred, reflecting the author's respect and tolerance for different religions. 4. "Religious rituals are not only external behavioral norms, but also a place where the inner mind encounters the sacred." Eliade deeply analyzes the internal and external meanings of religious rituals and reveals the important role of rituals in religious life. 5. "The binary opposition between the sacred and the secular is the core issue of religious thought, which runs through the history of religion." The author accurately points out the core position of the opposition between the sacred and the secular in religious thought. 6. "Religious symbols are the bridge to the mysterious world, and they reveal invisible forces in a unique way." This sentence is full of poetry and vividly describes the important role of religious symbols in connecting people with the mysterious world. 7. "Mythological thinking is an early cognitive way of human beings. It understands the world in a symbolic and metaphorical way." Eliade analyzed the characteristics of mythological thinking from the perspective of cognitive science and showed its profound insight. 8. "Religious belief is not only the worship of supernatural power, but also the exploration of the meaning of human existence." This sentence deeply reveals the close connection between religious belief and the meaning of human existence. 9. "In the context of religion, death is not only the end of life, but also the starting point to another world." Eliade re-examined the meaning of death in religion from a unique perspective, full of profound philosophical thinking. 10. "Religious art is an expression of emotion. It conveys human perception of the sacred through images and colors." This sentence emphasizes the important role of religious art in emotional expression and sacred perception. 11. "Religious classics are not only a guide to faith, but also the crystallization of human wisdom." Eliade highly praised the important position of religious classics in the inheritance of human wisdom. 12. "The Reformation is not only a change in the belief system, but also a profound transformation of social culture." This sentence accurately points out the profound impact of the Reformation on the belief system and social culture. 13. "Religious dialogue is a bridge to understand different beliefs. It promotes the exchange and integration of human spirit." The author emphasizes the important role of religious dialogue in promoting the understanding of different beliefs and the exchange of human spirit. 14. "Mysticism is the core of religious experience. It reveals the direct connection between human beings and the sacred." Eliade deeply analyzes the core position of mysticism in religious experience and shows his profound religious insights. 15. "Religious ethics is an important force to regulate human behavior. It guides us to pursue a higher moral realm." This sentence emphasizes the important role of religious ethics in regulating human behavior and improving moral realm. 16. "Religious history is an important part of the history of human civilization. It records the exploration and pursuit of the sacred by human beings." Eliade examined the important position of religion in the history of human civilization from a macro-historical perspective. 17. "Philosophy of religion is a rational reflection on faith. It attempts to answer the fundamental questions in religion." This sentence accurately defines the important role of philosophy of religion in answering the fundamental questions of religion. 18. "Religious experience is a unique encounter between an individual and the sacred. It cannot be fully expressed in words but has a profound impact on us." Eliade emphasized the uniqueness and profound impact of religious experience, reflecting his deep understanding of religious experience. 19. "Religious diversity is an important feature of world culture. It enriches the spiritual life of mankind." This sentence highly praised the important role of religious diversity in enriching the spiritual life of mankind. 20. "The future of religion does not lie in extinction or replacement, but in constantly adapting to the changes of the times and playing its unique social function." Eliade looked forward to the future development trend of religion from a forward-looking perspective, showing his profound social insight.

About the Author

Mircea Eliade is a famous Romanian religious historian, philosopher and writer.< His works have had a profound impact in the fields of religion, mythology and comparative religion.

The following is a detailed introduction to Mircea Eliade: 1.

Personal basic information: Mircea Eliade was born on March 9, 1907 in Bucharest, the capital of Romania, and died on April 22, 1998 in Chicago, USA.< 2.

Education and career background: Eliade studied philosophy and religion at the University of Bucharest, and then continued his studies at the University of Paris, France.< His academic career was mainly spent in France and the United States, and he taught at universities such as the University of Paris and the University of Chicago.

3.

Writing career: Eliade's writing career began in the 1930s, and his works cover many fields such as religious history, mythology, anthropology and literature.

Some of his important works include The History of Religious Ideas, The Sacred and the Profane, and Yoga: Immortality and Freedom.< 4.

Style and Themes of Works: Eliade's writing style is known for its in-depth and meticulous analysis and interdisciplinary research methods.< The themes of his works mostly revolve around religious beliefs, myths and legends, and human exploration of mysterious phenomena.

5.

Personal Life: Eliade's personal life is relatively low-key, and he devotes most of his time and energy to academic research and writing.< 6.

Social Influence: Eliade's works have had a profound impact on the study of religion, mythology, and comparative religion, and his theories have been widely used in the study of religion, culture, and philosophy.< 7.

Citations and Evaluations: Authoritative media and experts generally have a high evaluation of Eliade.< For example, the New York Times once evaluated him as "one of the most important religious thinkers of the 20th century", and the famous religious scholar Joseph Campbell praised his works for their "groundbreaking contributions.

" 8.

Latest News: Although Eliade has been dead for many years, his works and theories still have a lasting impact in the academic world.< In recent years, research and discussion on Eliade are still active, and some of his works have been republished and translated.

In short, Mircea Eliade is a scholar with an important position in the field of religious studies, and his works and theories have had a profound impact on later generations.