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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 3 page essay that looks at Stephen Reynolds' The Foundations of Christianity. The writer argues that one might describe this work as a "Cliff Notes" study guide or the "Reader's Digest" version of several centuries of history that cover the time both before and after the life of Jesus. No topic is covered in depth, but everything of note from a religious standpoint is at least mentioned. A summation and analysis of this work is offered. No additional sources cited.
Page Count:
3 pages (~225 words per page)
File: D0_khrevjc.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
the time both before and after the life of Jesus. No topic is covered in depth, but everything of note from a religious standpoint is at least mentioned. The authors
thesis is stated clearly in his first paragraph, which is that Christianity "cannot be understood without some grasp of its Jewish matrix" (Reynolds 1). From this point, Reynolds immediately
dives into an abbreviated summation of the major events that have occurred in Jewish history, beginning with the Babylonian exile in 586 BC. Using a primary source--an extensive quote
from a "well-known," but unnamed Jewish historian--Reynolds quickly establishes the context of Jewish life, with its emphasis on not allowing the Jewish people to be assimilated into the Persian culture.
While Reynolds does at least cite the book where he found the quote, the failure to include the historians name is indicative of a trait that he shows throughout the
text, which is a tendency to "talk down" to his readers, simplifying complex issues and glossing over his precise sources of information. Reynolds than goes on to "hit the
high points" of Greek culture, particularly as it regards religion, touching on the influx of "mystery" religions from the East (3). He also includes the appeal of these religious rites,
stating that "Myth and symbol dramatized the accessibility of...life-enhancing power" in a manner that many people "found psychologically satisfying" (4). The half-page section in which Reynolds summarizes the entirety of
Greek philosophy is one of the finest examples of the art of summation that this writer/tutor has ever read. However, the student researching this topic should understand that this brevity
does not begin to adequately convey the meaning of Greek philosophy. It is rather like judging a TV show by the TV Guide synopsis. This is an intriguing "thumbnail" description
...