TY - JOUR
T1 - Afterword
T2 - Returning to cosmology - Thoughts on the positioning of belief
AU - Handelman, Don
PY - 2008
Y1 - 2008
N2 - Cosmology may be helpful in positioning belief. I suggest, through discussing the contributions to this collection, that belief, especially propositional belief, is integral to monotheistic cosmoses that are constituted through gigantic fractures (like that between God and human being). Such fractures distinguish between cosmic interior and cosmic exterior. The fracture as boundary is absolute, paradoxical, not to be breached. Thus, the infinite Hebrew God integrates His finite cosmos by holding it together from its outside. The absolute boundary signifies cosmic discontinuity. Here belief in the unfathomable may be central to overcoming such discontinuity and, so, to integrating cosmos. By contrast, an organic cosmos is held together within itself, is more continuous within itself, is more holistic, and, in flowing through itself, obviates any centrality of belief.
AB - Cosmology may be helpful in positioning belief. I suggest, through discussing the contributions to this collection, that belief, especially propositional belief, is integral to monotheistic cosmoses that are constituted through gigantic fractures (like that between God and human being). Such fractures distinguish between cosmic interior and cosmic exterior. The fracture as boundary is absolute, paradoxical, not to be breached. Thus, the infinite Hebrew God integrates His finite cosmos by holding it together from its outside. The absolute boundary signifies cosmic discontinuity. Here belief in the unfathomable may be central to overcoming such discontinuity and, so, to integrating cosmos. By contrast, an organic cosmos is held together within itself, is more continuous within itself, is more holistic, and, in flowing through itself, obviates any centrality of belief.
KW - Boundaries
KW - Cosmology
KW - Monotheism
KW - Paradox
KW - Phenomenality
KW - Representation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=57749143952&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3167/sa.2008.520111
DO - 10.3167/sa.2008.520111
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AN - SCOPUS:57749143952
SN - 0155-977X
VL - 52
SP - 181
EP - 195
JO - Social Analysis
JF - Social Analysis
IS - 1
ER -