Religious Symbolisms as Reflected in Fiction

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• INTRODUCTION
• OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
• REVIEW OF LITERATURE
• METHODS
• Research Design
• Subject of the Study
• Materials Analyzed
• Procedure
• Ethical Considerations
• DISCUSSION
• Religious Symbolism Traced
• Animism
• Nirvana
• Divination
• Hope
• Spiritual Freedom
• Parallel Depiction of Characters
• Piousness
• Fundamentalism
• Reincarnation
• Negative Theology
• Pantheism
• Discipleship
• Redeemer
• Proposed Teaching Guide
• CONCLUSION
• RECOMMENDATIONS
• REFERENCES
• APPENDICES

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis investigates the use of religious symbolism in selected fiction, aiming to understand how authors creatively express their own views on spirituality and religion's role in society. The study explores how religious symbolism serves as a reflection of the public's perception of religion and its influence on the social order. This analysis encompasses both the author's own perspective and their portrayal of the broader religious landscape.

• The evolution of religious symbolism in literature
• The relationship between religious symbolism and the author's personal beliefs
• The influence of religious symbolism on literary themes and character development
• The portrayal of diverse religious perspectives and practices in literary works
• The intersection of religious symbolism with cultural and social contexts

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introduction explores the concept of religious symbolism and its significance in literature, highlighting how it reflects both individual perspectives and broader societal understandings of spirituality. The study establishes a historical context for the analysis, discussing how religious symbolism gained renewed importance in the 20th century, particularly through the works of scholars like Goldammer, Circlot, Cooper, and Reilly.

The discussion chapter delves into specific examples of religious symbolism traced in the selected literary works. It examines themes such as animism, nirvana, divination, hope, and spiritual freedom, as well as the portrayal of various religious personalities, including pious individuals, fundamentalists, and those who believe in reincarnation. The chapter further investigates concepts like negative theology, pantheism, discipleship, and the redeemer figure.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The key terms and concepts explored in this thesis include religious symbolism, spirituality, literary analysis, religious perspectives, social order, cultural context, literary themes, character development, animism, nirvana, divination, hope, spiritual freedom, piousness, fundamentalism, reincarnation, negative theology, pantheism, discipleship, and the redeemer figure. These keywords highlight the focus of the research on understanding the multifaceted nature of religious symbolism in fiction and its relationship to broader cultural and societal issues.