Catharism was a religious movement with Gnostic elements that originated around the middle of the 10th century, branded by the contemporary Roman Catholic Church as heretical. It existed throughout much of Western Europe, but its home was in Languedoc and surrounding areas in southern France. The name Cathar most likely originated from Greek καθαροί, "pure ones". One of the first recorded uses is Eckbert von Schönau, who wrote on heretics from Colog ...

Including:

• Cathar - Origins
• Cathar - Beliefs
• Cathar - The human condition
• Cathar - Eschatology
• Cathar - Consolamentum
• Cathar - Theology
• Cathar - Social relationships
• Cathar - Suppression
• Cathar - Influences
• Cathar - The Holy Grail
• Cathar - Visigoths

Read more here: » Cathar: Encyclopedia - Cathar

See also:

Cathar, Cathar - Origins, Cathar - Beliefs, Cathar - The human condition, Cathar - Eschatology, Cathar - Consolamentum, Cathar - Theology, Cathar - Social relationships, Cathar - Suppression, Cathar - Influences, Cathar - The Holy Grail, Cathar - Visigoths

Read more here: » Cathar: Encyclopedia II - Cathar - Beliefs

The beliefs came originally from Eastern Europe by way of trade routes. The name of Bulgarians (Bougres) was also applied to the Albigenses, and they maintained an association with the Bogomils of Thrace. Their doctrines have numerous resemblances to those of the Bogomils (and Paulicians). It is difficult to form any precise idea of the Cathar doctrines, as all the existing knowledge of them is derived from their opponents, and the few texts from the Cathars (the Rituel Cathare de Lyon and the Nouveau Testament en Provencal) co ...

See also:

Cathar, Cathar - Origins, Cathar - Beliefs, Cathar - The human condition, Cathar - Eschatology, Cathar - Consolamentum, Cathar - Theology, Cathar - Social relationships, Cathar - Suppression, Cathar - Influences, Cathar - The Holy Grail, Cathar - Visigoths

Read more here: » Cathar: Encyclopedia II - Cathar - Origins

In Christianity, Docetism is the belief, regarded by most theologians as heretical, that Jesus did not have a physical body; rather, that his body was an illusion, as was his crucifixion. This belief is most commonly attributed to the Gnostics, who believed that matter was evil, and hence that God would not take on a material body. This sort of statement, however, is rooted in the idea that a divine spark is imprisoned within the material body and that the material body is in itself an obstacle, deliberately created by an evil lesser god (the demiurge) for this purpose, that prevents man from seeing his ...

Read more here: » Docetism: Encyclopedia - Docetism

The Albigensian Crusade (1209-1229) was a brutal 20-year military campaign initiated by the Roman Catholic Church to eliminate the religion practiced by the Cathars of Languedoc, which the Roman Catholic hierarchy considered heretical. It is historically significant for a number of reasons: the violence inflicted was extreme even by medieval standards; the church offered legally sanctioned dominion over conquered lands to northern French nobles and the King of France, acting as essentially Catholic mercenaries, who then nearly doubled ...

Including:

• Albigensian Crusade - Origin
• Albigensian Crusade - Crusades
• Albigensian Crusade - Initial success 1209 to 1215
• Albigensian Crusade - Revolts and reverses 1216 to 1225
• Albigensian Crusade - French King intervenes
• Albigensian Crusade - Inquisition

Read more here: » Albigensian Crusade: Encyclopedia - Albigensian Crusade

Preacher is a colloquial term for a clergyman, in particular a local priest, pastor or Minister; one who preaches. Some believe a preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication of the doctrine rather than the development of the doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined. Preaching is not limited to religious views, but it extends to moral and social world-views as well. Preachers are common throughout most cultures. They can take the form of a Christian "Reverend" on a Sunday morni ...

Including:

• Preacher - Other uses

Read more here: » Preacher: Encyclopedia - Preacher

The Brethren of the Free Spirit (Brüder und Schwestern des Freien Geistes) was a medieval heretical pantheistic movement. The movement was condemned by Pope Clement V at the Council of Vienne (1311). The beginnings of medieval pantheistic Christian theology lie in the early 13th century, with theologians at Paris such as David of Dinant and Amalric of Bena (died 1207), as well as Ortlieb of Strassburg and was ...

Including:

• Brethren of the Free Spirit - Literature

Read more here: » Brethren of the Free Spirit: Encyclopedia - Brethren of the Free Spirit

The Waldensians are a Christian denomination believing in poverty and austerity, founded around 1173, promoting true poverty, public preaching and the literal interpretation of the scriptures. Declared heretical, the movement was brutally persecuted by the Roman Catholic church during the 12th and 13th centuries and nearly totally destroyed, but the Waldensian Church survives to this day. There are two prevailing theories about the identity and origin of the Waldensians. Their own claim is that their history extends back to the ...

Including:

• Waldensians - Waldenses' origin story
• Waldensians - Mainstream academic origin story
• Waldensians - Seen as schism and heretics
• Waldensians - Assessment in later Protestantism
• Waldensians - Modern Waldensians
• Waldensians - In Italy
• Waldensians - In the United States of America
• Waldensians - In South America
• Waldensians - In Germany

Read more here: » Waldensians: Encyclopedia - Waldensians

Manichaeism was one of the major ancient religions. Though its organized form is mostly extinct today, a revival has been attempted under the name of Neo-Manichaeism. However, most of the writings of the founding prophet Mani have been lost. Some scholars and anti-Catholic polemicists argue that its influence subtly continues in Western Christian thought via Saint Augustine of Hippo, who converted to Christianity from Manichaeism and whose writing continues to be enormously influential among Catholic and Protestant theologians. ...

Including:

• Manichaeism - Origins
• Manichaeism - Theology
• Manichaeism - Expansion
• Manichaeism - Manichaeism and orthodox Christianity
• Manichaeism - Criticisms

Read more here: » Manichaeism: Encyclopedia - Manichaeism

Blood libels are allegations that a particular group kills people as a form of human sacrifice, and uses their blood in various rituals. The alleged victims are often children. Jews are the most common target of blood libels, but many other groups have been accused, including Christians, Cathars, Knights Templar, Witches, Christian heretics, Roman Catholics, Roma, Wiccans, Druids, neopagans, Satanists, and evangelical Protestant missionaries. Blood libel - Blood libel against followers of Ancient Greek religionIncluding:

• Blood libel - Blood libel against followers of Ancient Greek religion
• Blood libel - Blood libel against Jews
• Blood libel - Blood libel against Christians
• Blood libel - Contemporary blood libel myths in the West
• Blood libel - The decline of belief in ritual murder

Read more here: » Blood libel: Encyclopedia - Blood libel

Bogomilism is the Gnostic dualistic sect, the synthesis of Armenian Paulicianism and local Slavonic Church reform movement in Bulgaria between 950 and 1396. Bogomilism - The Origin. The now defunct Gnostic social-religious movement and doctrine originated in the time of Peter I of Bulgaria (927-969) as a reaction against state and clerical oppression. In spite of all measures of repression, it remained strong and popular until the fall of Bulgaria in the end of 14th century. It is difficult to ascert ...

Including:

• Bogomilism - The Origin
• Bogomilism - Doctrine
• Bogomilism - History
• Bogomilism - Name

Read more here: » Bogomilism: Encyclopedia - Bogomilism

The term Demiurge (or Yaldabaoth, Yao, Ialdabaoth and several other variants, such as Ptahil used in Mandaeanism) refers in some belief systems to a deity responsible for the creation of the physical universe and the physical aspect of humanity. The word derives from the ancient Greek δημιουργός (dēmiourgós, latinized demiurgus), meaning "artisan" or "craftsman". (This word in turn comes from δήμιος "official" which in turn comes from δῆμος "people" and έρ� ...

Including:

• Demiurge - Platonism
• Demiurge - Gnosticism
• Demiurge - Comparisons
• Demiurge - Christianity
• Demiurge - Vedic tradition Hinduism
• Demiurge - Siberian Shamanism

Read more here: » Demiurge: Encyclopedia - Demiurge

Heresy, according to the Oxford English Dictionary, is a "theological or religious opinion or doctrine maintained in opposition, or held to be contrary, to the catholic or orthodox doctrine of the Christian Church, or, by extension, to that of any church, creed, or religious system, considered as orthodox. By extension, [heresy is an] opinion or doctrine in philosophy, politics, science, art, etc., at variance with those generally accepted as authoritative." Heresy - Etymology. The word "heresy" comes from ...

Including:

• Heresy - Etymology
• Heresy - Religious heresy
• Heresy - Christianity
• Heresy - Heresy in Judaism
• Heresy - Heresy in Islam
• Heresy - Contemporary heresy

Read more here: » Heresy: Encyclopedia - Heresy

The term dualism can refer to a variety of doctrines, mainly in theology and philosophy, each involving the purported existence of two opposites of some kind. These opposites can be, among other things, opposing forces, or opposing ontological or epistemic categories. Dualism - Theological usage. Dualism - Western or theistic usage. Main Article: Theology In theology, dualism can refer to ditheism: the belief that there are two basic principles ...

Including:

• Dualism - Theological usage
• Dualism - Western or theistic usage
• Dualism - Eastern or mystic usage
• Dualism - Usage in philosophy of mind
• Dualism - Usage in philosophy of science
• Dualism - Usage in physics
• Dualism - Usage in contemporary feminist theory
• Dualism - Usage in recent religious and philosophical movements

Read more here: » Dualism: Encyclopedia - Dualism

The term witchcraft (and witch) is a controversial one with a complicated history. Witchcraft is viewed differently in different cultures around the globe. Used with entirely different contexts, and within entirely different cultural references, it can take on distinct and often contradictory meanings. Each culture has its own particular body of concepts dealing with magic, religion, benevolent and harmful spirits, and ritual; and these ideas d ...

Including:

• Witchcraft - Practices typically considered to be witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Etymology
• Witchcraft - European witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Middle Eastern witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Ancient Middle Eastern and Near Eastern beliefs
• Witchcraft - Witchcraft in the Tanakh Hebrew Bible Old Testament
• Witchcraft - Witchcraft in the New Testament
• Witchcraft - Jewish views of witchcraft
• Witchcraft - African witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Theories of Neopagan witchcraft
• Witchcraft - Additional Reading

Read more here: » Witchcraft: Encyclopedia - Witchcraft

History of Christianity Jesus of Nazareth The Apostles Ecumenical councils Great Schism The Crusades Reformation The Trinity God the Father Christ the Son The Holy Spirit The Bible Old Testament New Testament Apocrypha The Gospels Ten Commandments Sermon on the Mount Christian theology Salvation · Grace Christian worship Christian Church Catholicism Orthodox Christianity Protestantism Christian denomin ...

Including:

• Criticism of Christianity - Criticisms Regarding the Bible
• Criticism of Christianity - Criticisms Regarding Selective Interpretation of the Bible
• Criticism of Christianity - Criticisms Regarding Christianity and Tolerance
• Criticism of Christianity - Criticisms Regarding Christianity and Science
• Criticism of Christianity - Criticisms Regarding Christianity and Reason
• Criticism of Christianity - Christian Responses to Criticisms of Christianity

Read more here: » Criticism of Christianity: Encyclopedia - Criticism of Christianity

The Nazi Ahnenerbe Forschungs und Lehrgemeinschaft organization was founded by Heinrich Himmler, Hermann Wirth, and Walter Darré on July 1st 1935 as a research foundation. It was incorporated into the larger SS in January 1939. The name of the society literally means "ancestral heritage", and it was originally devoted to research concerning the anthropological and cultural history of the German ra ...

Including:

• Ahnenerbe - History
• Ahnenerbe - Travels Operations and Expeditions
• Ahnenerbe - Medical Experiments
• Ahnenerbe - Involvement of German soldiers
• Ahnenerbe - End of the War
• Ahnenerbe - Fantasy vs. reality
• Ahnenerbe - Resources
• Ahnenerbe - Notes

Read more here: » Ahnenerbe: Encyclopedia - Ahnenerbe

A witch-hunt was traditionally a search for witches or evidence of witchcraft, which could lead to a witchcraft trial involving the accused person. Today such events are recognised as a type of moral panic. Witchhunts still occur in the modern era, in the sense that ignorant or uneducated people, isolated peoples, or people living a traditional lifestyle may persecute people that they believe are witches. The term is now widely used in a modern sense to refer to any search for a perceived or hidden enemy, with the same connotations of ...

Including:

• Witch-hunt - Early modern Europe
• Witch-hunt - Evidence
• Witch-hunt - Execution
• Witch-hunt - The Burning Times
• Witch-hunt - Africa
• Witch-hunt - Other parts of the world
• Witch-hunt - Sociology
• Witch-hunt - Modern usage
• Witch-hunt - George Orwell
• Witch-hunt - Arthur Miller
• Witch-hunt - Modern witchhunts
• Witch-hunt - Religious deprogramming
• Witch-hunt - Day care sex abuse
• Witch-hunt - Involuntary commitment
• Witch-hunt - Political confirmation

Read more here: » Witch-hunt: Encyclopedia - Witch-hunt

The Order of the Solar Temple also known as Ordre du Temple Solaire (OTS) in French, and the International Chivalric Organization of the Solar Tradition or simply as The Solar Temple was a secret society based upon the new age myth of the continuing existence of the Knights Templar (see Origins of the Solar Temple below). OTS was purportedly started by Joseph di Mambro and Luc Jouret in 1984 in Geneva as l'Ordre International Chevaleresque de Tradition Solaire (OICTS) and renamed Ordre du Temple Solaire. It is believed that other mem ...

Including:

• Order of the Solar Temple - Dogma and Beliefs of the Solar Temple
• Order of the Solar Temple - Founders of the Solar Temple
• Order of the Solar Temple - Structure of the OTS
• Order of the Solar Temple - Origins of the Solar Temple
• Order of the Solar Temple - The Solar Temple in Quebec
• Order of the Solar Temple - Mass murders and suicides: leaving the planet destination: Sirius
• Order of the Solar Temple - Bibliography

Read more here: » Order of the Solar Temple: Encyclopedia - Order of the Solar Temple

Religious pluralism is loosely defined term concerning peaceful relations between different religions, and is used in a number of related ways: Religious Pluralism often describes the worldview that one's religion is not the sole and exclusive source of truth, and thus recognizes that some level of truth and value exists in at least some other religions. Religious pluralism often is used as a synonym for ecumenism. At a minimum, ecumenism is the promotion of unity, co-operation, or ...

Including:

• Religious pluralism - Pluralism as the belief that more than one religion can teach truths
• Religious pluralism - Pluralism is not relativism
• Religious pluralism - Pluralism as interfaith dialogue
• Religious pluralism - Conditions for the existence of religious pluralism
• Religious pluralism - History of religious pluralism
• Religious pluralism - Antiquity
• Religious pluralism - Medieval times in Europe
• Religious pluralism - The Protestant Reformation
• Religious pluralism - Enlightenment
• Religious pluralism - Classical Greek and Roman pagan religious views
• Religious pluralism - Inter-religious pluralism between different religions
• Religious pluralism - Jewish views
• Religious pluralism - Christian views
• Religious pluralism - Muslim views
• Religious pluralism - Bahá'í views
• Religious pluralism - Hindu views
• Religious pluralism - Buddhist views
• Religious pluralism - Intra-religious pluralism between different denominations within the same religion
• Religious pluralism - Jewish views
• Religious pluralism - Christian views
• Religious pluralism - Muslim views

Read more here: » Religious pluralism: Encyclopedia - Religious pluralism