Page |103 As the classic American example interpretations of influence on the course of fire-and-brimstone Protestant of nature by divine ideas and purposes. preaching, “Sinners in the Hands of an Since the late nineteenth century, many Angry God” depends, for its effect, on instances of the so-called “warfare” anthropomorphism: ascribing human between science and theology have form and attributes—hands, emotions, turned on the issue of whether any and purposive agency—to nonhuman scientific plausibility could be attached phenomena. Anthropomorphism has to concepts of a divine mind, purpose, or been a hotly debated feature of religion intention that guided or ordered the since classical antiquity. But, in the structure of the universe." According to modern world, religious the philosopher Charles Taylor, the anthropomorphism has become transition from perceptions of a divinely especially controversial, while, at the ordered, purposive universe to an same time, also becoming a crucial “impersonal order” of nature marked a concept in modern theories about the pivotal change that, especially since the very nature of religion." Modern eighteenth century, has shaped “a secular objections to anthropomorphism have age” among the societies of the modern taken two major forms. First, traditions West.” In short, anthropomorphism has within Judaism, Christianity, and Islam not only become a source of tension have long opposed the worship of within religions but also something of an “idols,” and regarded anthropomorphism impasse between religious and scientific as a dangerous assault against genuine interpretations of the universe. piety and properly theological Nonetheless, anthropomorphic understanding of existence. In the assumptions remain vigorously present modern period these religious objections in many of the modern forms of against anthropomorphism have theology, spiritual practice, and religious eventuated not only in sophisticated art, a persistence that suggests th