试析上古中东宗教发展的特点

上古中东宗教的发展演变可分四个阶段:(1)以埃及和两河流域为中心的早期原始拜物教、多神教发展时期。(2)多神教文化从两大中心向其他地区传播的时期。(3)二元神教和一神教兴起的时期。(4)世界性一神教兴起和主导的时期。其间,中东宗教表现出五个特征:第一,逐渐形成体现在三大一神教中的、以天堂地狱说和复活说为特征的终极关怀体系,表现出一定的“集体救赎”观念。第二,宗教的社会职能从早期的多功能的不分化状态向后期广泛地指导、规范社会政治经济生活、内部自治的紧密型宗教社团发展。第三,神灵体系从原始的万物有灵出发,经多神教、二元神教的过渡向一神教发展。第四,在社会观上,从早期的民众宗教,经过精英主义和等级主义的过渡向普世主义和平等主义发展。

Analysis of Characteristics of Ancient Religion's Development in the Middle East

The development of ancient religions in the Middle East falls into four periods: 1) paganism and polytheism,centered around Egypt and Mesopotamia;2) spread of polytheisms from the two centers to other areas;3) rise of dualist religions and monotheism;4) rise and dominance of universal monotheisms.All these religions have the following characteristics: 1) formation of the ultimate value system,characterized by the theories of Paradise and Hell,and of Resurrection and "Collective Deliverance" idea;2) development of the religious social functions from the earlier non-division to the later closely connected religious community with autonomy and extensive guidance in political and social life;3) the development of god system from pantheism to dualist religion and finally to monotheism;4) the transition of elitism and hierarchy to the development of equalitarianism.