In the book, Interpreting the Sacred, Paden examines different views of religion and how they were interpreted, through different perspectives. (Interpretive frames) These “frames” have been put in place to give the reader a different perspective on a theory.

Paden will examine the social, psychological and comparative theories. Each of these theories has its own idea of what religion is about, and attempts to teach it.

Next, Paden’s idea of “contextuality”, what it involves, and how it is used to solve the problems associated with each of these theories will be discussed.

In 1912, sociologist, Emile Durkheim, developed a model to explain religion. This model was based on the concept of society.

Durkheim sought to prove that religion was a system of belief and behavior, which represented social ideals. Durkheim argued that society creates a culture by building and shaping it, which in turn develops social roles and identities for people. Therefore, if society can create a culture, than why could it not create gods

By making this distinction a creation of societies has been classified; therefore religions have also been classified. From the religions that have been classified, new and different ones start to span throughout the world. These new religions are also reflective upon a particular culture at that time. As the new religions grew around the world, the need for more interpretations became eminent.

In reading this book, and applying the contextuality frame, the reader (being myself) is more able to understand that an interpretation is basically an opinion. When thinking of an interpretation in the context of an opinion, it’s easier to acknowledge, and keep an open mind.

Following 1912 Jung and Freud separated. In Jung’s view, Freud had viewed the unconscious as a place that the ego put all its repressed personal issues to rest until they are brought out through psychoanalysis. Jung, on the other hand, viewed the unconscious as a multi-level world in itself, and needed to be explored.

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