The dance or invocation is generally performed in front of the village shrines. It is also performed in the houses as ancestor worship with elaborate rite and rituals. There is no stage or curtain and other arrangements for the performance. The devotees would be standing or some of them would be sitting on a sacred tree in front of the shrine. In brief it is an open theatre. A performance of a particular deity according to its significance and hierarchy in the shrine continues for 12 to 24 hours with intervals. The chief dancer who pr ...

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Theyyam, Theyyam - History, Theyyam - Classification of Sub Cults, Theyyam - Patronage by Brahmins, Theyyam - A Paragraph on Performance, Theyyam - Sree Muthappan Theyyam, Theyyam - Bibliography

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The Anglo-Saxon tribes brought their pagan faith to England around the 5th and 6th centuries and continued in that form of worship until nearly all were converted to Christianity by the 8th century. The Anglo-Saxon kings claimed descent from Woden. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle and the Historia Britonum, Woden had the sons Wecta, Baeldaeg, Casere and Wihtlaeg, who in turn were ancestors of the royal houses of the Heptarchy Lombardic Godan appears in the 7th century Origo Gentis Langobardorum. According to the le ...

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Wodanaz, Wodanaz - Etymology, Wodanaz - Odin and Mercury, Wodanaz - Celtic parallels, Wodanaz - Shamanic traits, Wodanaz - Worship, Wodanaz - Migration period, Wodanaz - Viking Age, Wodanaz - Medieval reception, Wodanaz - Revivals, Wodanaz - Notes, Wodanaz - Literature

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Since they had severed much contact with the Tibetans since ancient times, along with some Buddhist influence, the Pumi had largely practiced Animism and ancestor worship, a religion locally known as Zanbala. However, through the efforts of Tibetan Buddhist missionaries from Tibet, a significant proportion have adopted the Gelugpa and Kagyu lineage of Lamaism, much of whom are those in Sichuan. The Zanbala religion, also locally known as Dingba, literally means white earth. It is noted that the Pumi around Ninglang still instal ...

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Pumi, Pumi - Script, Pumi - History, Pumi - Religion, Pumi - Culture, Pumi - Lifestyle

Read more here: » Pumi: Encyclopedia II - Pumi - Religion

Vietnamese people usually return to their families during Tết. Some return to worship at the family altar or visit the graves of their ancestors. Others return to where they grew up. Although Tết is a universal holiday among all Vietnamese, each region and religion has its own customs. Generally, Tết in the three Vietnamese regions can be divided into three periods, known as Tất Niên, Giao Thừa, and Tân Niên, representing the preparation before Tết, the eve of Tết, and the days of and following Tết, respectively. See also:

Tết, Tết - Customs, Tết - Tất Niên, Tết - Giao Thừa New Year's Eve, Tết - Tân Niên, Tết - Greetings, Tết - Food, Tết - Calendar differences, Tết - Trivia

Read more here: » Tết: Encyclopedia II - Tết - Customs

Homer applies the Greek word ηρως to all free men who were fighting in the Trojan War. Another epic poet, Hesiod, uses it in the context of the Fourth Age of Men. The most common mythological meaning comes from the Greek poet Pindar, who presents them as the offspring of mortals and the gods or those who had done a great service to mankind.[1] Hero - Nature of hero cult. Hero cults were one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion. Greek hero-cults were distinct from ancestor worship: they were usually a civic rather than familial affair, and in many cases none of the worshipers ...

See also:

Hero, Hero - Overview, Hero - The Greek Hero, Hero - Nature of hero cult, Hero - Types of hero cult, Hero - Heroes politics and gods, Hero - Later European History, Hero - Operatic Hero, Hero - The Modern Fictional Hero

Read more here: » Hero: Encyclopedia II - Hero - The Greek Hero

Humans have many different methods which attempt to answer fundamental questions about the nature of the universe and our place in it (cosmology). What is reality? How can we know? Who are we? Why we are here? How should we live? What happens after we die? Religion is only one of the methods for trying to answer one or more of these questions. Other methods include science, philosophy, metaphysics, esotericism, and mysticism. Many people use more than one of these methods. Christianity is the religion with the largest number o ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia II - Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe

Adherents of particular religions deal with the differing doctrines and practices espoused by other religions in a variety ways. All strains of thought appear in different segments of all major world religions. Religion - Exclusivism. People with exclusivist beliefs sometimes typically explain other religions as either in error, or as corruptions or counterfeits of the true faith. Examples include: Christian scripture states that Jesus said: "I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia II - Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others

Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs. These include efforts to determine the meaning and application of "sacred" texts and beliefs in the context of the student's personal worldview. This generally takes one of three forms: one's own — efforts by believers to ascertain the meaning of their own sacred text or other traditions, and to conform their thoughts and actions to the principles enunciated in those traditions. For most believers, this involves ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia II - Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions

Homer applies the Greek word ηρως to all free men who were fighting in the Trojan War. Another epic poet, Hesiod, uses it in the context of the Fourth Age of Men. The most common mythological meaning comes from the Greek poet Pindar, who presents them as the offspring of mortals and the gods or those who had done a great service to mankind.[1] Hero - Nature of hero cult. Hero cults were one of the most distinctive features of ancient Greek religion. Greek hero-cults were distinct from ancestor worship: they were usually a civic rather than familial affair, and in many cases none of the worshipers ...

See also:

Hero, Hero - Overview, Hero - The Greek hero, Hero - Nature of hero cult, Hero - Types of hero cult, Hero - Heroes politics and gods, Hero - Later European history, Hero - The validity of the hero in historical studies, Hero - Operatic hero, Hero - The modern fictional hero

Read more here: » Hero: Encyclopedia II - Hero - The Greek hero

The origins of the word "religion" have been debated for centuries. Some explanations for the origin of the word are: re-reading--from Latin re (again) + legio (read), referring to the repetition of scripture. treating carefully--from Latin relegere (Cicero's interpretation) re-connection to the divine--from Latin re (again) + ligare (to connect, as in English ligament). This interpretation is favoured by modern scholars such as Tom Harpur, but prob ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia II - Religion - Etymology

The origins of the word "religion" have been debated for centuries. Some explanations for the origin of the word are: re-reading--from Latin re (again) + legio (read), referring to the repetition of scripture. treating carefully--from Latin relegere (Cicero's interpretation) 'to go over again' or to carefully ponder. re-connection to the divine--from Latin re (again) + ligare (to connect, as in English ligament). This interpretation is favoured by m ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia II - Religion - Etymology

African Initiated Churches fall into several main groups, which in many cases overlap. Each has its own characteristics. African Initiated Church - Ethiopian churches. Ethiopian churches generally retain the Christian doctrines of their mother church in an unreformed state. African Initiated Church - Zionist churches. Zionist churches, such as the Zion Christian Church, mix aspects of traditional African beliefs like ancestor worship with Christian doctrine. Many Zionists stress faith-healing and revelation, ...

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African Initiated Church, African Initiated Church - Location, African Initiated Church - Origins, African Initiated Church - Characteristics, African Initiated Church - Ethiopian churches, African Initiated Church - Zionist churches, African Initiated Church - Messianic churches, African Initiated Church - Apostolic churches, African Initiated Church - Reference

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Atlantide (Ancient Greek) The ancestors of the Pharaohs and the forefathers of the Egyptians, according to some, and as the Esoteric Science teaches. (See S.D., Vol. II., and Esoteric Buddhism.) Plato heard of this highly civilized people, the last remnant of which was submerged 9,000 years before his day, from Solon, who had it from the High Priests of Egypt. Voltaire, the eternal scoffer, was right in stating that "the Atlantide (our fourth Root Race) made their appearance in Egypt It was in Syria and in Phrygia, as well as Egypt, that they established the worship of the Sun." Occult philosophy teaches that the Egyptians were a remnant of the last Aryan Atlantide.

(See also: Atlantide, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

There are several models for understanding how religions develop. Models which view religion as untrue include: The "Dogma Selection Model," which holds that religions, although untrue in themselves, encode instructions or habits useful for survival, that these ideas "mutate" periodically as they are passed on, and they spread or die out in accord with their effectiveness at improving chances for survival. The "Opium of the Masses Model," in which "Religion in any shape or form is regarded as pernicious and del ...

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Religion, Religion - Etymology, Religion - Religion and science, Religion - Philosophy and metaphysics, Religion - Esotericism and mysticism, Religion - Spirituality, Religion - Myth, Religion - Approaches to the study of individual religions, Religion - Methods of studying religion subjectively in relation to one's own beliefs, Religion - Methods of studying religion objectively in a scientific and religiously neutral fashion, Religion - Development of religion, Religion - Religion today, Religion - Approaches to relating to the beliefs of others, Religion - Exclusivism, Religion - Inclusivism, Religion - Pluralism, Religion - Syncretism, Religion - Universalism, Religion - Systemization, Religion - Religion and other approaches to forming beliefs about the nature of the universe, Religion - Related philosophical stances, Religion - Compare with

Read more here: » Religion: Encyclopedia II - Religion - Development of religion

Other than this, Sceaf is mentioned only in chronicles tracing the lineage of the English kings. Most such genealogies stop at the god Woden, but some trace the supposed ancestors of Woden up to a certain Geat. The account in the Historia Britonum calls Geat a son of a god. Asser in his Life of Alfred writes instead that the pagans worshipped Geat himself for a long time as a god. Moderns speculate on whether this Geat is any eponym of the people known as Geats, or whether it may be the name of a god, or whether it is bo ...

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Sceaf, Sceaf - Widsith, Sceaf - In genealogies, Sceaf - Scyld Scefing, Sceaf - In Beowulf, Sceaf - A rite involving scyld and sceaf, Sceaf - Variations on Sceaf's lineage, Sceaf - King Sheave, Sceaf - External link

Read more here: » Sceaf: Encyclopedia II - Sceaf - In genealogies

Main article: Confucianism Although Confucianism is often followed in a religious manner by the Chinese, argument continues over whether to refer to it as a religion because it makes little reference to theological or spiritual matters (God(s), the afterlife, etc.). Confucius's principles gained wide acceptance primarily because of their basis in common Chinese opinion. He championed strong familial loyalty, ancestor worship, and respect of elders by their children and of husbands by their wives, and used the family as a ...

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Confucius, Confucius - His life, Confucius - Teachings, Confucius - Philosophy, Confucius - Ethics, Confucius - Politics, Confucius - Disciples, Confucius - Names, Confucius - Family and descendants, Confucius - Home town

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Zoolatry [from Greek zoon animal + latreia worship]

Animal worship; animal symbols are found in all religions, as in the religions of ancient Egypt and in Christianity, as the dove and the lamb. The Maharajas of the four quarters of space are sometimes represented as elephants; most of the zodiacal signs are animals, as the name implies.

These symbols should not be regarded as arbitrarily chosen on account of a fancied resemblance: the animals are actually emblems, if not in all cases manifestations, of the powers in question. It is the same with plants and stones: they are not emblems only but actually enshrine certain occult qualities. If plants may have medicinal virtues, and stones possess magical powers, why may not animals have the same? The phrase animal worship implies that the veneration has often been transferred from the power to its symbol or emblem, as in the case of idolatry.

Yet no polished or cultivated nation of antiquity, no more so than the Christians today, worshiped these animal emblems as otherwise than figurations, or also at times as manifestations, of cosmic powers or beings -- end-products of divine cosmic originants. Man himself falls into the same category, not only as being an offspring of the gods, but as an end-product of a divine hierarchy manifesting in greater or less degree the spiritual-divine attributes, functions, faculties, and powers of his sublime ancestors or parents.

(See also: Zoolatry, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

Deities in The Belgariad - Aldur. Aldur is the eldest of the seven gods. He takes no people, but has a number of disciples, among them Belgarath, Beldin, and Polgara. His totem animal is the owl; this is never mentioned in the story (though the owl is commonly associated with his disciples in various ways), but appears in the Rivan Codex. After Aldur and his brothers create the world in which the stories are set, Aldur refuses to take a seventh part of mankind to worship him, leaving the ancestors of the U ...

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Deities in The Belgariad, Deities in The Belgariad - Gods, Deities in The Belgariad - Aldur, Deities in The Belgariad - Belar, Deities in The Belgariad - Chaldan, Deities in The Belgariad - Issa, Deities in The Belgariad - Mara, Deities in The Belgariad - Nedra, Deities in The Belgariad - Torak, Deities in The Belgariad - Eriond, Deities in The Belgariad - UL, Deities in The Belgariad - Demons

Read more here: » Deities in The Belgariad: Encyclopedia II - Deities in The Belgariad - Gods

Shintoism

(Shen-Tao “the way of the gods. ”) Ancient polytheistic religion of Japan that focuses more on Japanese Culture, traditions, attitudes and ideology rather than a system of doctrines or code of ethics.

The roots of the movement are obscure, but it eventually developed into the idea that Japan, unlike other countries, was uniquely fathered by the god Izanami, whose consort, the goddess Izanagi, gave birth to the Japanese islands. Consequently the concept evolved that Japanese people are divine and superior to other humans.

In one form of the religion, State Shintoism, the Japanese emperors were seen as infallible descendants of the gods. Today devotion centers around public shrines and home altars dedicated to ancestors and gods. The sun goddess Amaterasu is the chief deity worshipped, and a belief in kami, a form of spiritism, is also maintained.

(See also: Shintoism, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

pinda: (Sanskrit) "Roundish mass; body; part of the whole, individual; microcosm."

In worship rites, small balls of rice set aside daily in remembrance of ancestors. Philosophically, and emphasized in Siddha Siddhanta, the human body as a replica of the macrocosm, mahasakara pinda, also called Brahmanda (cosmic egg), or simply anda (egg).

Within the individual body of man is reflected and contained the entire cosmos. Each chakra represents a world or plane of consciousness with the highest locus in the head and the lowest in the feet. "Microcosmmacrocosm" is embodied in the terms pinda-anda. Siddha Siddhanta Paddhati lists six pindas, from the garbhapinda, "womb-born body," to parapinda, "transcendental body."

See: Brahmanda, microcosm-macrocosm.

(See also: Pinda, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Atlantidae (Greek) Descendants of Atlantis; "The ancestors of the Pharaohs and the forefathers of the Egyptians, according to some, and as the Esoteric Science teaches. . . . Plato heard of this highly civilized people, the last remnant of which was submerged 9,000 years before his day, from Solon, who had it from the High Priests of Egypt. Voltaire, the eternal scoffer, was right in stating that 'the Atlantidae (our fourth Root Race) made their appearance in Egypt. . . . . It was in Syria and in Phrygia, as well as Egypt, that they established the worship of the Sun.' Occult philosophy teaches that the Egyptians were a remnant of the last Aryan Atlantidae" (TG 42).

(See also: Atlantidae, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Two animistic theories of the origin of religion have been put forward. The one, often termed the "ghost theory," mainly associated with the name of Herbert Spencer, but also maintained by Grant Allen, refers the beginning of religion to the cult of dead human beings. The other, put forward by Dr. E. B. Tylor, makes the foundation of all religion animistic, but recognizes the non-human character of polytheistic gods. Although ancestor-worship, or, more broadly, the cult of the dead, has in many cases overshadowed other cults or even e ...

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Animism, Animism - Overview, Animism - Origins, Animism - Plant souls, Animism - Object souls, Animism - Animism and death, Animism - Evil spirits, Animism - Differences between animism and religion, Animism - Animism and the origin of religion, Animism - Animism and mythology, Animism - Animism in philosophy, Animism - Tylor, Animism - List of phenomena believed to lead to animism, Animism - The new animism

Read more here: » Animism: Encyclopedia II - Animism - Animism and the origin of religion