Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology
This article examines the role of hope relative to the unexplored potential of narrative theology as a particular mode of thinking. The first section provides a brief introduction. The second section begins by discussing the world of experience as postulated by Alfred North Whitehead: I argue that l...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-05-01
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| Series: | Religions |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/5/430 |
| _version_ | 1797496014154760192 |
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| author | Daniel Boscaljon |
| author_facet | Daniel Boscaljon |
| author_sort | Daniel Boscaljon |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This article examines the role of hope relative to the unexplored potential of narrative theology as a particular mode of thinking. The first section provides a brief introduction. The second section begins by discussing the world of experience as postulated by Alfred North Whitehead: I argue that literal idolatry forms as a specific technology based around the use of symbols. The third section explores the resources of narrative as a centrifugal model of metaphor that serves as a robust alternative literal idolatry: I argue that narratives develop the intellect through pattern recognition and the imagination through empathetic recognition, and then describe how narrative theory’s emphasis on focalized perspectives opens hopeful expectations of the future. The fourth section explores Ricoeur’s work in narrative theology, defining it as a “field” whose dynamic emphasis on tension provides an alternative to the static, “closed circuit” of religious symbols. The final section looks at Colson Whitehead’s <i>The Intuitionist</i> as a contemporary novel that seems to fit with Ricoeur’s stipulations for what generates a field of narrative theology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:57:39Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-329e3b7639ec42e5a5866db8c95ff61a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2077-1444 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T01:57:39Z |
| publishDate | 2022-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Religions |
| spelling | doaj.art-329e3b7639ec42e5a5866db8c95ff61a2023-11-23T12:52:53ZengMDPI AGReligions2077-14442022-05-0113543010.3390/rel13050430Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative TheologyDaniel Boscaljon0Independent Researcher, Cheyenne, WY 82001, USAThis article examines the role of hope relative to the unexplored potential of narrative theology as a particular mode of thinking. The first section provides a brief introduction. The second section begins by discussing the world of experience as postulated by Alfred North Whitehead: I argue that literal idolatry forms as a specific technology based around the use of symbols. The third section explores the resources of narrative as a centrifugal model of metaphor that serves as a robust alternative literal idolatry: I argue that narratives develop the intellect through pattern recognition and the imagination through empathetic recognition, and then describe how narrative theory’s emphasis on focalized perspectives opens hopeful expectations of the future. The fourth section explores Ricoeur’s work in narrative theology, defining it as a “field” whose dynamic emphasis on tension provides an alternative to the static, “closed circuit” of religious symbols. The final section looks at Colson Whitehead’s <i>The Intuitionist</i> as a contemporary novel that seems to fit with Ricoeur’s stipulations for what generates a field of narrative theology.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/5/430Alfred North WhiteheadPaul TillichPaul Ricoeurhopenarrative theologynarrative theory |
| spellingShingle | Daniel Boscaljon Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology Religions Alfred North Whitehead Paul Tillich Paul Ricoeur hope narrative theology narrative theory |
| title | Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology |
| title_full | Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology |
| title_fullStr | Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology |
| title_short | Beyond Literal Idolatry: Expectations and Hope in the Field of Narrative Theology |
| title_sort | beyond literal idolatry expectations and hope in the field of narrative theology |
| topic | Alfred North Whitehead Paul Tillich Paul Ricoeur hope narrative theology narrative theory |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/13/5/430 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT danielboscaljon beyondliteralidolatryexpectationsandhopeinthefieldofnarrativetheology |