Table of Contents |
Many narratives are not religious. Instead, they contain stories, perhaps actual histories, of the lives of cultures and societies. These secular narratives are not intended to portray a religious tradition in any direct way as the religious narratives generally do. Certainly, religious themes might be present within the secular narrative, but this is not the purpose or the approach of secular narratives.
Both secular and religious narratives often have universal themes that don’t necessarily know any boundaries. In spite of the unique elements that are specific to each religion, there’s often no distinction between themes. These themes apply to many different traditions and cultures.
The common religious themes have to do with subjects such as where humanity came from and what role God plays in the unfolding of the universe and human civilizations. Perhaps the most universal theme of all is the belief that there is some very special relationship between humanity and the sacred realm of the divine and transcendent.
In the Jewish and Christian tradition, there is a fairly well-known creation story in the book of Genesis, the book where Adam and Eve appear in the Garden of Eden.
In Judaism, the book of Genesis ends with the people of Israel who had descended into slavery in Egypt, and there they await the arrival of Moses, who would lead them back to their promised land, Canaan. This is their land of origin. The second book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament is the book of Exodus. This book narrates the story of Moses leading the Israelites out of captivity and through the desert back to Canaan. The Ten Commandments are received by Moses, and the foundation of Jewish law is further established. The subsequent stories portray the establishment of civilization and the mandates of God.
In certain branches of Hinduism, there is the creation story that links divine Vishnu, the incomprehensible transcendent being, with creation. His sport, folly, and love entailed manifesting itself in the form of various avatars, such as Lord Krishna, and dispersing himself throughout the universe. He is all pervasive and all encompassing. Creation represents his divine will and expansion.
Source: THIS TUTORIAL WAS AUTHORED BY TED FAIRCHILD FOR SOPHIA LEARNING. Please see our Terms of Use.