Christian Mythology and Philosophy of Mind

Abstract

Myth, the Christian one, is a means of self-creation of man. Does it work in a scientific worldview? To answer this question, the author substantiates the possibility of interpreting and rethinking some of the essential mythologems of Christianity. He proposes to consider them in the light of the modern philosophy of consciousness. According to this philosophy, a person cognizes the world being inside it. Thus, he is ontologically rooted in it. Therefore, our world contains certain conditions for its cognition, which themselves have no conditions. Their existence is evidenced only by their effects; they appear simply as a supernatural reality. Without the concept of the supernatural, there can be no adequate understanding of the phenomenon of “man”, since his being is not limited to its natural side. Religion in the modern world is supposed to have a renewed mythology. However, there is a problem. The traditional Christian mythology emerged spontaneously. The mythology of our time cannot but have an artificial origin. It must be rationally understood as mythology. The author believes that a possible interpretation of the mythologems of Christianity that is adequate to the time gives reason to disagree with the idea of the historical failure of Christianity. At the same time, he argues that this religion can claim the status of a supra-confessional, universal world outlook. This is tantamount to claiming its trinitarian meanings, which have so far remained largely undiscovered. The supra-confessional worldview implies that sociality should also be based on Christian moral values and that a person should not be limited to the task of personal salvation. This also means participation in the preservation and reproduction of civilization.