Order and chaos with special reference to Mende religion
This thesis examines, by cross-cultural comparisons, several religious traditions with respect to the theme of order and chaos. Special attention has been given to a specific world-view, that of the Mende of Sierra Leone. The Order refers to integral relations, structural array, harmonious functions and normative standards which constitute a sacred universe instituted and regulated by superhuman powers. Chaos, the complementary but antithetical element in the cosmos, represents aspects of anti-structure, anarchy, and disharmony in opposition to order (Chapter X). The discourse divides into two distinct, but related, sections which conflate and concentre in a common theme. Part I provides an overview of the motif in religious experience and an introductory framework intended to further exploration of the theme in Mende religion. This portion proffers a purview of the study and sets forth its phenomenological perspective (Chapter I); describes the establishment, mediation, and cataclasm of sacred order (Chapter II); discusses cosmos and chaos with a particular focus on space and time (Chapter III); and examines dimensions of the theme in ritual and ethics (Chapter IV). In Part II, the thrust shifts from synthetic
Cabbage, J. R.
Philosophy
Order and chaos with special reference to Mende religion. This thesis examines, by cross-cultural comparisons, several religious traditions with respect to the theme of order and chaos. Special attention has been given to a specific world-view, that of the Mende of Sierra Leone. The Order refers to integral relations, structural array, harmonious functions and normative standards which constitute a sacred universe instituted and regulated by superhuman powers. Chaos, the complementary but antithetical element in the cosmos, represents aspects of anti-structure, anarchy, and disharmony in opposition to order (Chapter X). The discourse divides into two distinct, but related, sections which conflate and concentre in a common theme. Part I provides an overview of the motif in religious experience and an introductory framework intended to further exploration of the theme in Mende religion. This portion proffers a purview of the study and sets forth its phenomenological perspective (Chapter I); describes the establishment, mediation, and cataclasm of sacred order (Chapter II); discusses cosmos and chaos with a particular focus on space and time (Chapter III); and examines dimensions of the theme in ritual and ethics (Chapter IV). In Part II, the thrust shifts from synthetic
order_chaos special_reference religion examines cross_cultural comparison several religious_tradition respect theme order_chaos special_attention_give specific world_view sierra_leone order refers integral relation structural array harmonious function normative standard constitute sacred universe institute regulated power chaos complementary antithetical element cosmos represent aspect anti structure anarchy opposition order discourse divide_two distinct relate section conflate common_theme part provide_overview motif religious_experience introductory framework intend exploration theme religion portion proffer purview study set_forth phenomenological perspective describes establishment mediation sacred order discuss cosmos chaos particular_focus space_time iii examines dimension theme ritual ethic part thrust shift synthetic