Fabriquer du divin

By Nicole Belayche

Book Description

In "Fabriquer du divin," Nicole Belayche invites readers to explore the fascinating process of how humanity constructs and reconstructs the divine. This scholarly work reveals that the world of gods is not a fixed reality but rather a dynamic human creation, constantly questioned, reshaped, and reimagined throughout history.

Belayche examines how polytheistic religious systems operate without rigid dogma or central authority, allowing for continuous elaboration and adjustment through what she describes as pragmatic operations of spiritual "bricolage." The book delves into the essential questions of divine construction: How do we create gods, and why do we shape them in particular ways?

Drawing from various cultural contexts of the ancient Mediterranean world, the author investigates how different forms of expression influence our understanding of the divine. She explores how literary genres create distinct representations of gods, how rhetorical and iconographic forms both preserve and transform divine imagery, and how ritual practices actively modify rather than merely reflect divine concepts.

The work also examines the role of artisans and creators who must balance innovation with tradition, opening new interpretations while maintaining recognizable forms for believers. Through careful analysis of these creative processes, Belayche offers readers insight into the complex mechanisms through which human societies have always participated in shaping their understanding of the sacred and divine.