Symbols In Art And Religion

We are a product of nature. Every single cell of our body is made of, and depends, on nature. Our inner soul is heavily influenced by nature. We feel sad if the sun is not shining for a few days, and feel pleasure when drawn to the wonder of flowers and uplifted by the song of birds. We came from nature; we are part of nature. In short, we are nature. Nature has been an intimate part of the human experience from the earliest times. Different religions and cultures, from all corners of the world, have honoured and worshipped nature in art, ritual and literature in their own unique ways. This book shows how we learn about our own human nature, our own sense of identity and how we fit into the larger scheme of life and spirit when we come to better understand how our human ancestors, through art, symbol and myth, expressed their relationship with the natural world.

A thorough survey of great interest and value to scholars in this field. Contributions in this series stem from a Symposia on Indian Religions which took place over ten years (1975 to 1984). The Seventh Symposium housed in Oxford, UK in 1981 was concerned with the theme of symbolism in Indian religions and like its previous one-theme conference on mysticism, generated much interest and led to this publication.

Examines the use and meaning of Christian symbols found in Renaissance art.

Symbols of the Sacred gathers four classic essays by Louis Dupr on the role of symbols in our understanding of the sacred and on their fundamental importance to religious consciousness. A leading philosopher of religion, Dupr here discusses the nature of religious symbols, the importance of language for capturing symbolic meaning, the ancient link between art and expressions of the sacred, and the vital relationship between religious symbol and myth. The volume concludes with a powerful reflection on the innate capacity of human minds to grasp the transcendent. Elegantly expressed, conversant with a wide range of thinkers, and marked by a lifetime of reflection on the subject, Symbols of the Sacred offers profound insights into the religious dimension of human life.

Radical new interpretation of Celts and their way of life

An examination of the vibrant traditional and folk arts inspired by the sacramental use of peyote by members of the Native American Church