The relationship between primal religion and biblical religion in the works of William Robertson Smith
This thesis examines the relationship between primal religion and biblical religion in the works of William Robertson Smith on the understanding that it was a central and persisting concern of his career as a Christian scholar and apologist. It is hoped that this work not only contributes to an understanding of Robertson Smith as one who sought to integrate faith with scientific scholarship, but that the issues raised through his perception and discussion of the subject do contribute to the phenomenological reflection on the nature of biblical and Christian faith, and the possible modes of Christian engagement with a religiously pluralist world. The study proceeds on the basis of the view that Smith's perception of primal and of biblical religion, being intimately linked with his European Christian identity and intellectual heritage, cannot be adequately understood without a consideration of two formative influences in European Christian identity and engagement with other peoples and religions-namely, Christendom and the European image of ~primitive~ peoples and religions. Both of these contributed significantly to a nineteenth century European intellectual and cultural consensus, having an impact upon a wide
Bediako, Gillian Mary
Philosophy
The relationship between primal religion and biblical religion in the works of William Robertson Smith. This thesis examines the relationship between primal religion and biblical religion in the works of William Robertson Smith on the understanding that it was a central and persisting concern of his career as a Christian scholar and apologist. It is hoped that this work not only contributes to an understanding of Robertson Smith as one who sought to integrate faith with scientific scholarship, but that the issues raised through his perception and discussion of the subject do contribute to the phenomenological reflection on the nature of biblical and Christian faith, and the possible modes of Christian engagement with a religiously pluralist world. The study proceeds on the basis of the view that Smith's perception of primal and of biblical religion, being intimately linked with his European Christian identity and intellectual heritage, cannot be adequately understood without a consideration of two formative influences in European Christian identity and engagement with other peoples and religions-namely, Christendom and the European image of ~primitive~ peoples and religions. Both of these contributed significantly to a nineteenth century European intellectual and cultural consensus, having an impact upon a wide
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