Parallelomania

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Ancient Sumerian cylinder seal impression: Dumuzid tortured in the Underworld by the galla
Venus and Cupid lamenting the dead Adonis (1656) by Cornelis Holsteyn
The dying-and-rising deity motif may be an example of parallelomania, and dismissing it might be an example of parallelophobia

In historical analysis, biblical criticism and comparative mythology/religion, parallelomania has been used to refer to a phenomenon (mania) where authors perceive apparent similarities and construct parallels and analogies without historical basis.[1]

The concept was introduced to scholarly circles in 1961 by Rabbi Samuel Sandmel (1911–1979) of the

Hebrew Union College in a paper of the same title, where he stated that he had first encountered the term[2] in a French book of 1830, but did not recall the author or the title.[3] Sandmel stated that the simple observations of similarity between historical events are often less than valid, but at times lead to a phenomenon where an author first notices a supposed similarity, overdoses on analogy, and then "proceeds to describe source and derivation as if implying a literary connection flowing in an inevitable or predetermined direction".[1] Martin McNamara, MSC (Milltown Institute of Theology and Philosophy) stated that Sandmel's initial paper has proven to be "highly influential".[4]

Christian and Jewish scholars have used the concept in a number of cases and areas.

Society of Jesus (SJ), states the analyses of the Pauline epistles have at times suffered from parallelomania through the construction of unwarranted analogies with prior traditions.[7] Gerald O'Collins, SJ states that most scholars are now aware of the pitfalls of parallelomania which exaggerate the importance of trifling resemblances.[8]

See also

References

  1. ^
    JSTOR 3264821
    .
  2. ^ in French: "parallélomanie"
  3. ISBN 1589832590
    pages 107-118
  4. ISBN 9004217304
    page 279
  5. ISBN 0805401377
    page 122
  6. ISBN 9780788505775
    E.J. Brill pages 188-189
  7. ISBN 0809133903
    page 32
  8. ^ Gerald O'Collins, "The Hidden Story of Jesus" New Blackfriars Volume 89, Issue 1024, pages 710–714, November 2008
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Parallelomania&oldid=1214355565"