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In an effort to better understand our world, which is so challenged to find kind recognition of otherness, we look at the "not much" and "yet much" epistemological differences between Judeo-Christian-Islamic theists and agnostic, post-modernists. We propose that such theists devolve into particularism or inclusivism and that agnostics correspondingly devolve into positive or negative atheism. We propose that these stances align with either a paranoid-schizoid or a depressive level existential-relational position in psychological development. We hope that articulation of this helps locate us all in our ongoing challenge to engage respectfully both the otherness of others and the otherness we have to our own selves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Typical considerations of mortality are discussed from the perspective of four "existential" positions that have been explicated over many years by the Object Relations school of psychoanalysis. These positions describe various relationships to self and other that in the course of development we progress through and move between. The middle two positions, termed paranoid-schizoid and depressive are especially useful for making sense of reasons why it is commonly accepted that one begins life liberal and becomes increasingly conservative with age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]