The Ancient Self in the Modern Mind: A Theological Analysis of Worldview and Spiritual Selfhood

Date of Award

8-15-2026

Degree Name

M.A. in Theology

Department

Department of Religious Studies

Advisor/Chair

Ethan Smith

Abstract

The problem of modern versus ancient selfhood and worldview has been a perennial one in theological history. Although there has been substantial theological work detailing the characteristics of the ancient worldview, not nearly as much has been studied regarding the relationship between the self, what I call spiritual selfhood, and those worldviews. As such, the argument of this thesis is that not only is there great discontinuity between the ancient and modern worldviews, but there is also significant alterity in notions of the self. In short, the ancient world had a demonstrably different notion of spiritual selfhood than we do today. To show this difference, this thesis looks three particular problems. First, it addresses the problem of studying worldviews as an object of historical inquiry by highlighting the struggle that contemporary pastors, lay people, and even theologians encounter when they try to bridge the contemporary and ancient worldviews in a way that makes the kerygma meaningful to the modern mind. It then seeks to show, through an analysis of Rudolf Bultmann’s historiography, that worldview conflation is not just a theological problem, but an historical one. Finally, using St. Augustine as the primary case study of the ancient selfhood, positioning himself as the first theologian of inwardness, this thesis demonstrates that his notion of selfhood is demonstrably different than that of the modern mind.

Keywords

History, Theology

Rights Statement

Copyright 2026, author

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