The Dialectical History of Religion

The Dialectical History of Religion



Welcome to the intriguing world of the Dialectical History of Religion! To know what a dialectic is, refer to my blog post on Hegel. This unique framework traces the evolution of the major world religious thought through a series of dialectical relationships, unveiling the interplay between opposing ideas and their harmonious synthesis. Divided into three branches, this historical journey invites us to explore the dynamic nature of human spirituality. This is only a draft and much work is needed to be done! Let me know where I can improve in the comments below.

 

1. First Branch:

Thesis: Eclectic Spirituality

Antithesis: Nihilism

Synthesis: Animism

Thesis: Animism

Antithesis: Materialism

Synthesis: Shamanism

Thesis: Shamanism

Antithesis: General Atheism

Synthesis: General Deism

Thesis: General Deism

Antithesis: General Polytheism

Synthesis: Monotheism*

Thesis: Monotheism

Antithesis: Ancient Paganism

Synthesis: Judaism

Thesis: Judaism
Antithesis: Ancient Reform Judaism**

Synthesis: Jewish Pharisees

Thesis: Jewish Pharisees

Antithesis: Jewish Sadducees

Synthesis: Rabbinic Judaism

Thesis: Rabbinic Judaism

Antithesis: Greek Paganism
Synthesis: Hellenistic Judaism

Thesis: Hellenistic Judaism

Antithesis: Jewish Zealot Messianic Movements
Synthesis: Jamesonian Christianity

Thesis: Jamesonian Christianity

Antithesis: Pauline movements

Synthesis: Proto-Orthodox Christianity

Thesis: Proto-Orthodox Christianity

Antithesis: Arianism

Synthesis: Nicene Christianity

Thesis: Nicene Christianity

Antithesis: Nestorianism and Monophysitism

Synthesis: Chalcedonian Christianity

Thesis: Chalcedonian Christianity

Antithesis: Unitarian Christianity

Synthesis: Sunni Islam

Thesis: Sunni Islam

Antithesis: Shia Islam

Synthesis: Ibadi Islam

Thesis: Ibadi Islam

Antithesis: Sufism

Synthesis: Ismailism

Thesis: Ismailism

Antithesis: Hinduism
Synthesis: Sikhism

Thesis: Sikhism

Antithesis: Baháʼí Faith

Synthesis: Religious Pluralism

Thesis: Religious Pluralism

Antithesis: Dogmatic Fundamentalism

Synthesis: New-Age Spirituality

Thesis: New-Age Spirituality

Antithesis: New-Age Atheism

Synthesis Eclectic Spirituality

 

2. Second Branch:

Thesis: Eclectic Spirituality

Antithesis: General Atheism

Synthesis: General Deism

Thesis: General Deism

Antithesis: General Polytheism

Synthesis: Monotheism

Thesis: Monotheism

Antithesis: Paganism

Synthesis: Spiritual Hinduism

Thesis: Spiritual Hinduism

Antithesis: Analytical Hinduism

Synthesis: Advaita Vedanta

Thesis: Advaita Vedanta

Antithesis: Dvaita Vedanta

Synthesis: Vaishnavism/Vishishtadvaita Vedanta

Thesis: Vaishnavism

Antithesis: Theravada Buddhism* 

Synthesis: Jainism

Thesis: Jainism

Antithesis: Sikhism

Synthesis: Religious Pluralism

Thesis: Religious Pluralism

Antithesis: Dogmatic Fundamentalism

Synthesis: New-Age Spirituality

Thesis: New-Age Spirituality

Antithesis: New-Age Atheism

Synthesis Eclectic Spirituality

 

3. Third Branch:

Thesis: Theravada Buddhism

Antithesis: Mahayana Buddhism

Synthesis: Zen Buddhism

Thesis: Zen Buddhism

Antithesis: Confucianism

Synthesis: Taoism

Antithesis: Humanism**

Synthesis: Religious Pluralism

Thesis: Religious Pluralism

Antithesis: Dogmatic Fundamentalism

Synthesis: New-Age Spirituality

Thesis: New-Age Spirituality

Antithesis: New-Age Atheism

Synthesis Eclectic Spirituality

 

*Branch Split
**Placeholder

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