ORIGINAL RESEARCH

 

Beliggaamde realisme en ekobillike godskonstrukte

 

Embodied realism and congruent god constructs

 

 

Philip P. Venter

Departement van Ou Testament Studies, Universiteit van Pretoria, Suid-Afrika

Correspondence

 

 

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ABSTRACT

The findings of modern cognitive sciences have far-reaching implications for the philosophical framework within which theological texts have been and could be interpreted. In this regard, the body presents itself as an important epistemological agent. Body-critical analysis of Bible texts provides insight into the societal and cultural factors that brought about those texts, and presents a philosophical approach of embodied realism congruent with the embodiment of thought, the cognitive subconscious and the methaphorical nature of abstract concepts. By taking the body ideology fundamental to the concepts and constructs in religious texts seriously, a new discourse can be stimulated that will bring about new embodied perspectives on the relationship between humans, the environment and other 'others'. A society that is serious about ecojustice as far as the interrelatedness of all creatures is concerned should shoulder the responsibility continuously to consider and revise its hierarchical normative paradigms. The purpose of this article is to investigate the role and place of the body in the establishment of God constructs as normative paradigms.

Keywords: kognitiewe wetenskap; filosofiese denkraamwerk; oriëntasiemiddelpunt; medium; beliggaamdheid

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Correspondence:
Philip Venter
Posbus 73095,
Fairland 2030,
Suid-Afrika
E-mail: venterp@iafrica.com

Received: 3 Mar. 2008
Accepted: 28 Apr. 2009
Published: 23 Oct. 2009