Abstract

UHDE, Bernhard. ‘In the beginning was the logos’ -or was it rather the mythos?: On the Re-presentation Principle in Judaism and Christianity. arete [online]. 2009, vol.21, n.1, pp.111-122. ISSN 1016-913X.

Myth and logos are united in the description of myth which allows for a re-presentation (Vergegenwärtigung)** and is comprehensible for the understanding: "μυθολογείν”. Thus, that logos which was “in the beginning” would be itself a myth, if it does not present (vergegenwδrtigt) itself as logos. The principle of religion, the Eternal itself, allows in Judaism the narration of a myth that ends in a logos and can be interpreted as such. In Christianity, the self-representation of the principle of religion as self-reflection, that is, incarnation, puts the logos before the myth: "He who has seen me has seen the Father" (Jn., 14,9). This is what distinguishes Christianity from that which will remain foreign to Judaism, since: "you cannot see my face; for no one shall see me and continue to live" (Ex. 33, 11ff).

Keywords : myth; logos; principle of religion; representation; self-representation.

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