Abstract
Cassirer, Jung and Bultmann share at least one principle, namely their appreciation of the role played by myth in experiencing the language of faith. All three of the theorists advocate the reading of mythological texts against the backdrop of a mythological world view. By accentuating the existential and transformational value of myth, they underline the importance of myth for religion. However, they do not promote a positivistic interpretation of myth, which might lead to the rebirth of biblical fundamentalism. This article advanced the perspective that biblical texts, when read as myth, could open up spiritual experiences, even to post-modern readers.
Highlights
The entire Bible was written against the backdrop of a mythical world view, in which everything that a modern-day person might regard as supernatural would, most likely, have been considered perfectly normal
I do judge a positivistic interpretation of myths negatively, especially when my contemporaries cling to a mythical world view of biblical fundamentalism
The basic reason why Bultmann rejects Historie as the basis of faith is that he believes that God spoke and still speaks, to humankind through the proclamation of the Christ event In Bultmann’s understanding of the historical Jesus, two theological factors are of great significance
Summary
Affiliation: 1Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, South Africa. Dr Andries G. van Aarde, Honorary Professor in the Faculty of Theology at the University of Pretoria, South Africa. Postal address: Department of New Testament Studies, University of Pretoria, Lynwood Road, Pretoria 0002, South Africa. How to cite this article: Schutte, P.J.W., 2011, ‘Post-modern spirituality: Experience, rather than explain’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 67(1), Art. By accentuating the existential and transformational value of myth, they underline the importance of myth for religion. They do not promote a positivistic interpretation of myth, which might lead to the rebirth of biblical fundamentalism. This article advanced the perspective that biblical texts, when read as myth, could open up spiritual experiences, even to post-modern readers
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