Exclusive Monotheism and Sahagún’s Mission: The Problem of Universals in the First Book of the Florentine Codex
This article outlines the missionary methods of the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagún, his interaction with Nahua communities in central Mexico, and the production of a text called the Florentine Codex. This article argues that the philosophical problem of universals, whether “common natures” existed...
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| Published in: | Religions (Basel, Switzerland ) Vol. 12; no. 3; p. 204 |
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| Main Author: | |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
01-03-2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | This article outlines the missionary methods of the Franciscan Bernardino de Sahagún, his interaction with Nahua communities in central Mexico, and the production of a text called the Florentine Codex. This article argues that the philosophical problem of universals, whether “common natures” existed and whether they existed across all cultures, influenced iconoclastic arguments about Nahua gods and idolatry. Focusing on the Florentine Codex Book 1 and its Appendix, containing a description of Nahua gods and their refutation, the article establishes how Sahagún and his team contended with the concept of universals as shaped by Nahua history and religion. This article presents the Florentine Codex Book 1 as a case study that points to larger patterns in the Christian religion, its need for mission, and its construal of true and false religion. |
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| ISSN: | 2077-1444 2077-1444 |
| DOI: | 10.3390/rel12030204 |