The Honor of Divine Parentage
The Honor of Divine Parentage is a play written by George Bernard Shaw that explores the themes of religion and morality. The story follows a group of characters who are struggling with their beliefs and values in a world where traditional religious institutions have lost their power. Throughout the play, Shaw challenges his audience to question their own beliefs and consider alternative ways of thinking about life and spirituality.
By George Bernard Shaw · First published 1904 · Genre: Philosophical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religious Commentary · 660 words
First lines
One more tradition must be noted. The consummation of praise for a king is to declare that he is the son of no earthly father, but of a god. His mother goes into the temple of Apollo, and Apollo comes to her in the shape of a serpent, or the like. The Roman emperors, following the example of Augustus, claimed the title of God. Illogically, such divine kings insist a good deal on their royal human ancestors. Alexander, claiming to be the son of Apollo, is equally determined to be the son of Philip. As the gospels stand, St. Matthew and St. Luke give genealogies (the two are different) establishing the descent of Jesus through Joseph from the royal house of David, and yet declare that not Joseph but the Holy Ghost was the father of Jesus. It is therefore now held that the story of the Holy Ghost is a later interpolation borrowed from the Greek and Roman imperial tradition.
What this Textopian page supports
The Honor of Divine Parentage is listed on Textopian as an essay by George Bernard Shaw, dated 1904 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: George Bernard Shaw
- Date: 1904 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Philosophical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Religious Commentary, Satire, Literary Criticism
- Length: 660 words
- Structure: 1 section, 6 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
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Genres
- Philosophical Fiction — Explores themes of divine parentage, belief systems, and contradictions in religious narratives.
- Historical Fiction — References historical figures and events, such as Roman emperors and biblical genealogies, to explore the concept of divine lineage.
- Religious Commentary — Analyzes religious texts and traditions, particularly focusing on the narratives of divine birth and their implications.
- Satire — Critiques the contradictions and beliefs in religious and historical narratives with a tone that suggests irony and skepticism.
Tags
philosophy · theology · drama · satire · social commentary · humanism · religion · morality · identity · divine · parentage · existentialism