There are a number of beliefs regarding fallen angels. Many focus on issues of free will, lust, pride, or the incomprehensibility of the acts of God. Fallen angel - The Different Facets of God. This hypothesis focuses on the concept that God has two opposite sides — a divine (or bright) side, and a shadow (or dark) side. It is believed that if mortals were to see God's bright side, His radiance would incinerate them instantly. Therefore, a dark ...

See also:

Fallen angel, Fallen angel - Reasons for their fall, Fallen angel - The Different Facets of God, Fallen angel - Consequences of Free Will, Fallen angel - Bowing to mankind, Fallen angel - Fallen angels by rank, Fallen angel - First Sphere, Fallen angel - Second Sphere, Fallen angel - Third Sphere, Fallen angel - Others

Read more here: » Fallen angel: Encyclopedia II - Fallen angel - Reasons for their fall

Prayer is common to all religions. Love for God is universal, the mode or method of prayer could be different since everyone is free to pray to the divine power in their own way. Prayer should be acceptable to all, simple and easy to adopt in daily life. Generally, people follow the path of prayer practised in the family. The Gayatri Mantra and any other prayer should be recited with sincerity and for the love of God. Only then its true benefit can be derived.

(See also: Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Gayatri Mantra: Gayatri - Mother Of All Mantras

The first such program was Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), which was begun in 1935 by Bill Wilson and Dr. Bob Smith, known to A.A. members as "Bill W." and "Dr. Bob." They established the tradition within the "Anonymous" twelve-step programs of using only first names. The Twelve Steps were originally written by Wilson and other early members of AA to codify the process that they felt had worked for them personally. The Twelve Steps were essentially a rewriting of the 6 steps of the Oxford Group with whom Wilson had contact. This "codex" is the book Alcoholics Anon ...

See also:

Twelve-step program, Twelve-step program - Characteristics, Twelve-step program - The Twelve Steps, Twelve-step program - History, Twelve-step program - Relation to religion, Twelve-step program - Twelve-Step-Groups, Twelve-step program - Literature

Read more here: » Twelve-step program: Encyclopedia II - History

All twelve-step programs follow some version of the Twelve Steps. Members meet regularly to discuss their problem(s) and share their victories. One of the most widely-recognized characteristics of twelve-step groups is the requirement that members admit that they "have a problem". In this spirit, many members open their address to the group along the lines of, "Hi, I'm Pam and I'm an alcoholic" — a ...

See also:

Twelve-step program, Twelve-step program - Characteristics, Twelve-step program - The Twelve Steps, Twelve-step program - History, Twelve-step program - Relation to religion, Twelve-step program - Twelve-Step-Groups, Twelve-step program - Literature

Read more here: » Twelve-step program: Encyclopedia II - Characteristics

These are the twelve steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. We admitted we were powerless over alcohol; that our lives had become unmanageable. Came to believe that a power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Were entirely ready to ...

See also:

Twelve-step program, Twelve-step program - Characteristics, Twelve-step program - The Twelve Steps, Twelve-step program - History, Twelve-step program - Relation to religion, Twelve-step program - Twelve-Step-Groups, Twelve-step program - Literature

Read more here: » Twelve-step program: Encyclopedia II - The Twelve Steps

A primary belief of members is that their success is based on giving up on self-reliance and willpower, and instead relying on God, or a "Higher Power". Critics of these programs, however, often hold that this reliance is ineffective, and offensive or inapplicable to atheists and others who do not believe in a salvific deity. Proponents of twelve-step programs argue that many atheists have been helped by the progr ...

See also:

Twelve-step program, Twelve-step program - Characteristics, Twelve-step program - The Twelve Steps, Twelve-step program - History, Twelve-step program - Relation to religion, Twelve-step program - Twelve-Step-Groups, Twelve-step program - Literature

Read more here: » Twelve-step program: Encyclopedia II - Relation to religion

If we meet no Gods, its because we harbour none, said Emerson. For us, God is not a remote, abstract figure; He is a living, loving Presence. The nirguna or formless God of Shankara’s Advaita is difficult to relate to - but give Him a sweet form and through saguna upasana or worship He can become your very own because of the wonderful ease it creates in human divine encounter.

The predominant religious motif of practising Hinduism is this archanam andpadasevanam - the worship and adoration of a God made visible to our eyes in beautiful images, in homes and in temples. It is the ornamental centrepiece of the Vaishnav bhakti tradition set in motion by acharyas like Ramanuja, Madhava and Vallabha.

(See also: Hindu Worship , God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Hindu Worship: Devotional Worship And Service to All  

Retaining no traces of individuality to hinder the flow of God's love and harmony through them, their work is done by God, their teachings are from God and the transformations they cause are also from God alone. God, then, is the actual Guru, the physical body only serving to spread love and knowledge about His own Self.

This is the true foundation of Siddha Yoga in which allegiance to the guru is complete. Reverence of the spiritual master as God is the foundational belief. Those who embrace such a path find true protection, peace, love, joy, well being and the experience of the Divine at every step because of blessings from their spiritual master.

(See also: Siddha Yoga , Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Siddha Yoga: Guru is Divinity, Says Siddha Yoga  

Religion and religious expression is an interesting and often frustrating facet of the life of the Awakened Indigo and Octarine transitional. Quite often, if an Indigo is the member of a particular faith group, they will find one reason or another for separating from it as they mature and find their Gifts.

If the Indigo is a member of a particularly controlling church that requires lots of participation outside of the Sunday service, they will experience growing dissatisfaction with the basic operation and structure of the group, and may separate from it in a manner that is less than cordial.

(See also: Indigo Children, What is Indigo Children, Parenting Indigo Children, Adult Indigo, Indigo Children Channeling)

Read more here: » Indigo Children: The Indigo and Octarine Relationship With God  

Asclepius was the Greek god of healing. His healing sanctuaries were found throughout the known Hellenic world. This tradition was active for almost 2000 years from around 1300 BCE to 500CE. In times of illness and when the physician was unable to help, one would turn to Asclepius for healing. Healing would come about through a visitation of the healing god (or one of his totems � the dog or snake) in a dream. The dream would then result in a spontaneous healing or an indication of what had to be done or undone to bring about healing.

Read more here: » Dream Healing: Asclepius and dream healing

Goddess worship is a general description for the veneration of a female Goddess or goddesses. Many New Age Goddess devotees prefer the term goddess spirituality, avoiding the term "worship" for a faith that does not distance the Divine into a remote, hierarchical separation. Goddess veneration may be also used instead of "worship", as it can imply respect and intimacy without undue deference. In such contexts, "spirituality" is often preferred to "religion" because major organised religions have not typically nurtured go ...

Including:

• Goddess worship - Examples of goddess worship

Read more here: » Goddess worship: Encyclopedia - Goddess worship

Buddhism is generally regarded as a non-theistic religion. Although it does teach the existence of “gods” (devas), these are merely heavenly beings who temporarily dwell in celestial worlds of great happiness. Such beings, however, are not eternal in that incarnational form and are subject to death and eventual rebirth into lower realms of existence. However, a distinction needs to be drawn between the seemingly non-deistic and non-theistic teachings of the Buddha in the Pāli Canon and the “agamas”, and the mystically-hued id ...

Including:

• God in Buddhism - The God Idea in Early Buddhism
• God in Buddhism - Mahayana and Tantric Mystical Doctrines
• God in Buddhism - Literature

Read more here: » God in Buddhism: Encyclopedia - God in Buddhism

This entry discusses how the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam deal with God and gender. It includes both traditional religious views, and modern views of these faiths, especially as to how modern feminism has influenced the theology of these religions. Monotheists hold a belief in one God as a fundamental religious principle. In Judaism and Islam, God is believed to be sexless, but has been traditionally referred to using male grammatical gender. In Christianity, God is ...

Including:

• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - God in Islam Arabic Quran
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - God in the Hebrew Bible
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Jewish views of God and gender
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Christian views of God and gender
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Mormon views
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Translating the names of God into English
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Third person pronouns: He She or It?
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Mankind and Humankind
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - New translation solutions
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Criticism of feminine reconstructions of theology
• Abrahamic religions on God and gender - Bibliography

Read more here: » Abrahamic religions on God and gender: Encyclopedia - Abrahamic religions on God and gender

Jehovah (also sometimes spelled Yehovah) is the name of the God of the Old Testament as commonly transliterated in English from the Masoretic Hebrew text. Etymologically, it is a third person singular, imperfect, probably the causative form of the verb hawah (or hayah), signifying "to be." The word Jehovah consists of the consonants JHVH or JHWH (more accurately YHWH or YHVH), with the vowels of a separate word, Adonai (Lord). What its original vowels were is a matter of speculation, as an interpretation of such texts as Exodus ...

Including:

• Jehovah - Jehovah is an 18th century English translation of יְהֹוָה [Hebrew word #3068]
• Jehovah - Encyclopedia Britannica of 1910-1911’s Case against Jehovah
• Jehovah - Qeri-Perpetuum [a.k.a.Qere Perpetuum]
• Jehovah - KJVO Christians defend the vowel points of יְהֹוָה and the name Jehovah
• Jehovah - Jehovah's Witnesses and the English rendering of the name Jehovah
• Jehovah - יְהֹוָה is found only 44 times in the Leningrad Codex of 1008-1010 A.D.
• Jehovah - Latin Translations of יְהֹוָה from 1278 A.D. to 1518 A.D.
• Jehovah - English Translations of יְהֹוָה from 1530 A.D. to 1890 A.D.
• Jehovah - Translations of YHWH found in writings of the Greek Fathers
• Jehovah - Articles that defend the Name Jehovah
• Jehovah - Articles that critique the Name Jehovah
• Jehovah - Footnotes
• Jehovah - Technical note

Read more here: » Jehovah: Encyclopedia - Jehovah

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 denominations C ...

Including:

• Holy Spirit - The Holy Spirit in the Bible
• Holy Spirit - Christian views on the Holy Spirit
• Holy Spirit - Pentecostalism
• Holy Spirit - Catholic Church
• Holy Spirit - Orthodoxy
• Holy Spirit - Dispensationalism
• Holy Spirit - Branch Davidian
• Holy Spirit - Holy Spirit or Holy Ghost
• Holy Spirit - Gifts and Fruits of the Holy Spirit
• Holy Spirit - The powers of the Holy Spirit
• Holy Spirit - Depiction in art
• Holy Spirit - Non-Trinitarian Christian views
• Holy Spirit - Rastafarian view of the Holy Spirit
• Holy Spirit - Other views
• Holy Spirit - Judaism
• Holy Spirit - Islam
• Holy Spirit - Mandaeanism
• Holy Spirit - Hinduism
• Holy Spirit - Comparisons in fiction

Read more here: » Holy Spirit: Encyclopedia - Holy Spirit

Anthropopathy (Greek ανθρωπος, anthropos, "human", παθος, pathos, "suffering") is the attribution of human emotion to a non-human being, generally a god. The term anthropomorphism refers to non-humans taking human shape, rather than emotion. This term may encompass both meanings in common usage. See also. God Nature of God Philo's view of God Uncanny Valley Category: Emotion

Read more here: » Anthropopathy: Encyclopedia - Anthropopathy

This entry discusses how the Abrahamic faiths of Judaism, Christianity and Islam deal with God and gender. It includes both traditional religious views, and modern views of these faiths, especially as to how modern feminism has influenced the theology of these religions. For the discussion of the topic in Hinduism, see Hindu views on God and gender. Monotheists hold a belief in one God as a fundamental religious principle. In Judaism and Islam, God is believed to be sexless, but has been traditionally referr ...

Including:

• God and gender - God in the Hebrew Bible
• God and gender - Jewish views of God and gender
• God and gender - Christian views of God and gender
• God and gender - Mormon views
• God and gender - Translating the names of God into English
• God and gender - Third person pronouns: He She or It?
• God and gender - Mankind and Humankind
• God and gender - New translation solutions
• God and gender - Criticism of feminine reconstructions of theology
• God and gender - Bibliography

Read more here: » God and gender: Encyclopedia - God and gender

A deity or a god, is a postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. They assume a variety of forms, but are frequently depicted as having human or animal form. Sometimes it is considered blasphemous to imagine the deity as having any concrete form. They are usually immortal. They are commonly assumed to have personalities and to possess consciousness, intellects, desires, and emotions much like human ...

Including:

• Deity - Etymology
• Deity - Relation with humanity
• Deity - Religion
• Deity - Singular God

Read more here: » Deity: Encyclopedia - Deity

Sin has been a term most usually used in a religious context, and today describes any lack of conformity to the will of God; especially, any willful disregard for the norms revealed by God is a sin. The word is from the old English synn, presumed to be from Germanic *sun(d)jō (lit: "it is true"). [1] It is recorded in use as early as the 9th century. The most common formal definition is an infraction against religious or moral l ...

Including:

• Sin - Etymology
• Sin - Jewish views of sin
• Sin - Jewish conceptions of atonement for sin
• Sin - Hebrew Concept of Sin
• Sin - Christian views of sin
• Sin - In General
• Sin - Roman Catholic Views
• Sin - Eastern/Oriental Orthodox Views
• Sin - Protestant Views
• Sin - Christian teachings on Atonement or the Remedy for Sin
• Sin - Muslim views of sin
• Sin - Hindu views of sin
• Sin - Atheist views of sin
• Sin - Notes and references

Read more here: » Sin: Encyclopedia - Sin

What is the brain�s unique role in connecting a human being to what many call God? New scientific information about the human heart identifies it as the very first connection point between the physical body and its Creator source. Amazing recent evidence indicates that the heart begins to beat in the unborn fetus even before the brain is formed so it appears that the heart truly holds primary status as the initiator of human life.

Read more here: » Science and Spirituality: How are your Heart and Brain connected to God?

Malcolm X, (born Malcolm Little May 19, 1925 – February 21, 1965) also known as Detroit Red, El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz, and Omowale, was a longtime spokesman for the Nation of Islam. He was also founder of the Muslim Mosque, Inc. and the Organization of Afro-American Unity. During his life, Malcolm went from being a street-wise Boston hoodlum to one of the most prominent black nationalist leaders in the United States. As a militant leader, Malcolm X advocated black pride, economic self-reliance, and identi ...

Including:

• Malcolm X - Name
• Malcolm X - Birth and early years
• Malcolm X - Prison
• Malcolm X - Nation of Islam
• Malcolm X - Marriage
• Malcolm X - Hajj
• Malcolm X - A Changed Man
• Malcolm X - Africa
• Malcolm X - Death and aftermath
• Malcolm X - Funeral
• Malcolm X - Biographies and speeches
• Malcolm X - Notes

Read more here: » Malcolm X: Encyclopedia - Malcolm X

Exalt is a word which means to praise, glorify, honor, intensify, or heighten. It is most often used in religious contexts. exaltation, a theological word for trance. It also means a a state of being divine or close to God, as believed by the Mormons. The Exaltation of the Cross, or "Feast of the Cross" an Orthodox Christian holiday. Exalted, a role-playing game produced by White Wolf Publishing, Inc.. exaltation (astrology), the second strongest essenti

Read more here: » Exalt: Encyclopedia - Exalt