Perspectives Vocab and Important Quotes

Fall '25, Prof. Noval

Which figure of Greek Mythology said, “You’ll never persuade me to give up the truth,” ironically.

Oedipus

Which character in Oedipus does the quote, “You, Oedipus, your misery teaches me to call no mortal blessed,” come from?

Chorus of Oedipus

Pollution of Bloodguilt

The notion that murder and/or murders defiled the land and community where they resided, requiring exile or purgation of bloodguilt by killer’s death.

Scapegoat

The figure whose expulsion/persecution/death relieves the community’s (internal and environmental) strife.

Ontology

The fundamental nature or principles of being or reality.

Cosmos

Greek word for “order” which comes from “beauty” and “universe/world”.

Ontology

The fundamental nature or principles of being or reality.

Cosmogony

A narrative that explains how the cosmos came to be.

Theogony

A narrative that explains how the gods came to be.

Polytheism

The acknowledgement and worship of multiple divine/supernatural realities.

Monolatry

The worship of only one divine being, while acknowledging the existence of others.

Myth

A narrative account meant to explain fundamental realities of the world; involves god or gods; recited to keep its community together in its fundamental vision or practices.

Theological anthropology

An account for human nature in light of some divine revelation.

Divine revelation

Granting of knowledge that we can’t access by God/gods.

Prophets

Those who recieve divine revelation

Image of God

The doctrine that humans reflect some features of God and exist in relation to God.

The “fall”

The story of humanity’s disobedience and subsequent exile from paradise into death.

Who are the subjects of the passage, “And the eyes of the two were opened, and they knew they were naked” (Genesis 3:7)?

Adam and Eve after consuming the forbidden fruit.

Etiology

A story that explains an origin (ex. custom or place name).