Symbols of Transcendence

by Levesque, Paul J.

• ISBN13: 9780802844880
• ISBN10: 080284488X
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1998-03-01
• Publisher: Eerdmans Pub Co

Summary

Volume 22 in the LTPM series offers a synchronic investigation of the thought of Christian philosopher Louis Dupre. Working from a careful reading of Dupre's vast body of writings, Paul Levesque demonstrates that in Dupre's work all religious expression, insofar as it has a transcendent reference, is intrinsically symbolic. In the course of his study, Levesque discusses the general necessity of employing symbols for religious expression; investigates in depth Dupre's symbol theory and applies it to the religious symbols of ritual, sacraments, and religious art; examines the modern inability to fully form religious symbols; and explores Dupre's particular call to recover the mystical experience in personal life.

Table of Contents

FOREWORD	XIII	(4)
Louis Dupre
PREFACE	XVII	(2)
ABBREVIATIONS	XIX	(2)
INTRODUCTION	XXI
CHAPTER ONE JUSTIFICATION OF "SYMBOL" AS PRIMARY EXPRESSION OF RELIGIOUS UNDERSTANDING	1	(59)
A. "RELIGIOUS"	2	(8)
1. Neither Purely Objective nor Purely Subjective	2	(2)
2. The Religious Attitude is Dialectical	4	(3)
3. The Religious Attitude is Symbolic	7	(1)
4. The Religious Attitude Integrates	8	(2)
5. Summary Sentence	10	(1)
B. THEOLOGICAL JUSTIFICATION	10	(21)
1. Introductory Comments on Mysticism	11	(8)
2. Image Mysticism and Negative Theology	19	(8)
3. Trinity	27	(3)
4. Conclusion	30	(1)
C. PHILOSOPHICAL JUSTIFICATION	31	(15)
1. Friedrich Schleiermacher	31	(6)
2. G. W. F. Hegel	37	(8)
3. Conclusion	45	(1)
D. JUSTIFICATION OF METHOD	46	(14)
1. Philosopher or Theologian?	46	(5)
2. Phenomenological Method	51	(1)
a. Question of Transcendence	52	(4)
b. Question of Real Existence	56	(1)
c. Question of Truth	57	(1)
3. Concluding Comment	58	(2)
CHAPTER TWO SYMBOL THEORY IN GENERAL	60	(64)
A. FOUNDATIONS	61	(15)
1. Ernst Cassirer	61	(1)
a. Roots	62	(3)
b. Philosophy of Symbolic Form	65	(3)
c. Philosophy of Culture	68	(1)
2. G. W. F. Hegel	69	(1)
3. Susanne Langer	70	(1)
a. Sign: Signal, Symbol	70	(2)
b. Art	72	(4)
B. FRAMING SYMBOLISM WITHIN METAPHYSICS AND CULTURE	76	(8)
1. Metaphysics and Culture	77	(3)
2. Symbols and Metaphysical Ultimacy	80	(4)
C. THREE GENERAL PATTERNS	84	(38)
1. Form	85	(5)
2. Representation	90	(5)
3. Language	95	(1)
a. Language in General	95	(3)
b. Religious Language	98	(4)
i. Thetic	102	(1)
ii. Two essential conditions	103	(4)
iii. Paradoxical	107	(5)
iv. Relation to ordinary language	112	(3)
v. Symbolic	115	(7)
D. SUMMARY	122	(2)
CHAPTER THREE SYMBOL THEORY APPLIED	124	(64)
A. SPECIFIC RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS	124	(44)
1. Ritual	125	(1)
a. Preliminary Comments	125	(4)
b. Time in Ritual and Myth	129	(11)
c. Play	140	(5)
d. Other Functions of Ritual	145	(2)
2. Sacraments	147	(1)
a. As Ritual Action	147	(1)
b. Sacramental Efficacy	148	(4)
c. Word and Deed	152	(1)
3. Religious Art	153	(1)
a. Aesthetics and Form	154	(1)
b. Aesthetic and Ordinary Perception	155	(2)
c. Aesthetic and Religious Experience	157	(7)
d. Religious and Nonreligious Art	164	(4)
B. THE UNIQUENESS OF RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS	168	(18)
1. God	169	(2)
2. Sacred	171	(1)
a. Initial Position	171	(2)
b. Revised Position	173	(5)
3. Transcendence	178	(1)
a. Transcendence as Universal	179	(2)
b. Transcendence as Key	181	(3)
c. Transcendence as Unique Referent	184	(2)
C. SUMMARY	186	(2)
CHAPTER FOUR INABILITY TO MAKE RELIGIOUS SYMBOLS: THE MODERN PREDICAMENT	188	(86)
A. FROM PREMODERNITY TO MODERNITY	189	(24)
1. Nature: Cosmic, Human, Transcendent	191	(2)
2. Transcendence Torn From Nature	193	(1)
a. Synthesis with Aristotle: Causality	194	(2)
b. Synthesis with Aristotle: Nature and Grace	196	(2)
c. Disintegration of Medieval Syntheses	198	(3)
d. Attempts to Regain the Syntheses	201	(1)
e. Implications for Religious Symbols	202	(1)
3. Human Subject Torn from Cosmos	203	(1)
a. Transition to Objectivism	203	(2)
b. Mastery Over Nature	205	(2)
c. Loss of Selfhood	207	(4)
d. Implications for Religious Symbols	211	(1)
4. Conclusion	212	(1)
B. THE MODERN SITUATION	213	(27)
1. Late Modernity or Postmodernity	214	(6)
2. The Loss of the Sense of Transcendence	220	(3)
3. Effects of the Loss of Transcendence on Religion in General	223	(2)
4. Effects of the Loss of Transcendence on Religious Symbols	225	(1)
a. Ritual	225	(7)
b. Sacraments	232	(2)
c. Religious Art	234	(4)
5. Conclusion	238	(2)
C. HOPE FOR THE FUTURE	240	(34)
1. Failed Attempts to Regain Transcendence	241	(6)
2. Dupre's General Assessment	247	(2)
3. Dupre's Alternative	249	(1)
a. Historical Precedent: Devout Humanism	249	(2)
i. Ignatius of Loyola	251	(3)
ii. Francis de Sales	254	(2)
iii. Implications for today	256	(2)
b. Contemporary Key: Transcendent Selfhood	258	(1)
i. Personal not individual	259	(5)
ii. Unity of experience and message	264	(4)
iii. Negative theology and mysticism	268	(2)
4. Conclusion	270	(4)
CONCLUSION THE TAPESTRY OF DUPRE'S THOUGHT	274	(7)
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF LOUIS DUPRE	281	(87)
A. BOOKS AND ARTICLES BY LOUIS DUPRE COMPLETE LIST TO JUNE 1997	281	(47)
B. REVIEWS BY LOUIS DUPRE COMPLETE LIST TO JUNE 1997	328	(10)
C. WORKS ON THE THOUGHT OF LOUIS DUPRE	338	(4)
D. REVIEWS OF LOUIS DUPRE'S BOOKS	342	(22)
E. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF LOUIS DUPRE	364	(4)
BIBLIOGRAPHY OF ADDITIONAL SOURCES	368	(12)
INDEX OF NAMES	380