Mesopotamian religion and spirituality

with reference to the biblical world

Editor: Giorgio Buccellati
Associate Editor: Jonah Lynch

     A critical assessment of studies about
      (1) Mesopotamian religion, understood as a cultural system of beliefs about the absolute, that can be defined in terms of the external aspects of expressed principles and identifiable elements, as well as in terms of the actions that are aimed at establishing a relationship with these elements, for both the individual and the community; and
     (2) Mesopotamian spirituality, understood as the underlying and unifying perception that can be interpreted as the both the driving force and the goal of the religious system.
     The Mesopotamian system of religion and spirituality is contrasted with its counterpart in the biblical world, seen as a cultural phenomenon that is at odds with the one elaborated in Mesopotamia even while depending on it for its cultural aspects.

     It is narrative based, in the sense that it uses at its core a frame of reference to which the individual studies are linked as parallel arguments. It also expands selected topics into larger treatments.
     Serving as a point of reference for the field, it remains active through the work of a Research Group that provides input on an ongoing basis.



1. Introduction
I. THE ARGUMENT

2.The core narrative
3. Notes
4. Themes
5. Monographs
6. Hist. of discipline
II. THE RECORD

7. Bibliography
8. Excerpts
9. Reviews
10. Sources
III. UTILITIES

11. Linear indices
12. Multi-nodal index
13. Authorship
14. Data handling
15. Archives

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