A superhero is a fictional character who is noted for feats of courage and nobility, who usually has a colorful name and costume and abilities beyond those of normal human beings. A female superhero is called a superheroine. Since the definitive superhero, Superman, debuted in 1938, the stories of superheroes - ranging from episodic adventures to decades-long sagas - have become an entire genre of fiction that has dominated American comic books and crossed over into several other media. Superhero - Common t ...

Including:

• Superhero - Common traits
• Superhero - Common costume features
• Superhero - Character subtypes
• Superhero - Divergent character examples
• Superhero - History of superheroes in comic books
• Superhero - Antecedents
• Superhero - Golden Age
• Superhero - Silver Age
• Superhero - Deconstruction of the superhero
• Superhero - Struggles of the 1990s
• Superhero - Growth in diversity
• Superhero - Female characters
• Superhero - Non-Caucasian characters
• Superhero - Gay characters
• Superhero - Diversified teams
• Superhero - Treatment in other media
• Superhero - Film
• Superhero - Live-action television series
• Superhero - Animation
• Superhero - Radio
• Superhero - Prose
• Superhero - Computer games
• Superhero - Notes

Read more here: » Superhero: Encyclopedia - Superhero

A Sramana (Sramati tapasyatiti Sramanah) is one who performs acts of mortification or austerity. According to the definition, a being is himself responsible for his own deeds. Salvation, therefore, can be achieved by anybody irrespective of caste, creed, color or culture. The Cycle of Rebirth to which every individual is subjected is viewed as the cause and substratum of misery. The goal of every person is to evolve a way to escape from the cycle of rebirth, namely by discounting ritual as a means of a emancipation and establishing fr ...

Including:

• Sramana - Etymology
• Sramana - Sramana Movement
• Sramana - Sramana Teachings and Schools
• Sramana - Sramanas in Western litterature
• Sramana - Nicolaus of Damascus c.10 CE
• Sramana - Clement of Alexandria 150-211
• Sramana - Porphyry 233-305
• Sramana - Notes

Read more here: » Sramana: Encyclopedia - Sramana

Theosophy is a body of ideas which holds that all religions are attempts by man to ascertain "the Divine," and as such each religion has a portion of the truth. Theosophy, as a coherent system of thought, developed from the writings of Helena Petrovna Blavatsky (also Hélène). Together with Henry Steel Olcott, William Quan Judge, and others she founded the Theosophical Society in 1875. A more formal definition from the Concise Oxford Dictionary describes Theosophy as "any of various philosophies professing to achieve a ...

Including:

• Theosophy - Basic Theosophical beliefs
• Theosophy - Consciousness is universal and individual
• Theosophy - Man is provisionally immortal
• Theosophy - Reincarnation is universal
• Theosophy - Karma
• Theosophy - Universal brotherhood
• Theosophy - Evolution
• Theosophy - The Septenary
• Theosophy - A brief history of Theosophy
• Theosophy - Music
• Theosophy - Early 20th-century literary references to Theosophy
• Theosophy - Notes

Read more here: » Theosophy: Encyclopedia - Theosophy

Harishchandra, in Hindu mythology is the 28th king of the Solar Dynasty. His legend is very popular and often told as a benchmark for an ideal life. He was renowned for his piety and justice. His name is Sanskrit for "having golden splendour". Harishchandra had two unique qualities. The first being, he kept his word and never went back on what he uttered as a promise. The other being, he never uttered a lie in his life. These twin qualities were tested heavily in his life by various circumstances that led him to penury and separation ...

Including:

• Harishchandra - The Legend of Harishchandra's ideal life
• Harishchandra - Representations in Hindu mythology

Read more here: » Harishchandra: Encyclopedia - Harishchandra

Pragmatism is belief of the teaching of philosophy which originated in the United States in the late 1800s. Pragmatism is characterized by the insistence on consequences, utility and practicality as vital components of meaning and truth. Pragmatism objects to the view that human concepts and intellect represent reality, and therefore stands in opposition to both formalist and rationalist schools of philosophy. Rather, pragmatism holds that it is only in the struggle of intelligent organisms with the surrounding environment that theori ...

Including:

• Pragmatism - American philosophy
• Pragmatism - Pragmatism in history
• Pragmatism - Notable pragmatists

Read more here: » Pragmatism: Encyclopedia - Pragmatism

Jainism (pronounced in English as /ˈdʒeɪ.nɪzm̩/), traditionally known as Jain Dharma (जैन धर्म) , is a religion and philosophy originating in the prehistory of South Asia. Now a minority in modern India with growing communities in the US, Western Europe, Africa and elsewhere, Jains have continued to sustain the the ancient Shraman (श्रमण) tradition. Jainism has significantly influenced the ethical, political and economic spheres in India for well ...

Including:

• Jainism - Overview of Jain Dharma
• Jainism - Universal History and Jain Cosmology
• Jainism - Beliefs and practices
• Jainism - Jain Symbols
• Jainism - Jain Literature
• Jainism - Jain Worship and Rituals
• Jainism - Digambar and Shvetambar Traditions
• Jainism - Geographical spread and influence
• Jainism - Jain Contributions to Indian Culture
• Jainism - Jainism and Indian Archaeology
• Jainism - Holy sites
• Jainism - Jain Temples in the West
• Jainism - Holy days
• Jainism - Jainism and other religions

Read more here: » Jainism: Encyclopedia - Jainism

In the Hindu theory of Karma, Punya is merit that accumulates as a result of good deeds, acts or thoughts and that carries over to later in life or to a person's next birth. Punya is an important element of the Mahayana ("Greater Vehicle") branch of Buddhism, but not as much of the earlier Hinayana ("Lesser Vehicle") branch. Other related archivesBuddhism, Hinayana, Hindu, Karma, Mahayana

Read more here: » Punya: Encyclopedia - Punya

'Solipsism (from the Latin ipse = "self" and solus = "alone") is the epistemological belief that one's self is the only thing that can be known with certainty and verified (sometimes called egoism). Solipsism is also commonly understood to encompass the metaphysical belief that only one's self exists, and that "existence" just means being a par't of one's own mental states — all objects, people, etc, that one experiences are merely parts of one's own mind. Solipsism is first recorded with the presocrat ...

Including:

• Solipsism - Objections
• Solipsism - Truism

Read more here: » Solipsism: Encyclopedia - Solipsism

In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and other related religions, samsara or saṃsāra refers to the concept of reincarnation or rebirth in Indian philosophical traditions. Samsara - Etymology. Samsara is derived from saṃ√sṛ, "to flow together," to go or pass through states, to wander. One who is subject to Samsara is called a samsarin. Rebirth (Buddhist), Reincarnation, Wheel of Life, Six lower realms Samsara - Cycle of rebirth. Including:

• Samsara - Etymology
• Samsara - Cycle of rebirth
• Samsara - Saṃsāra in Hinduism
• Samsara - Saṃsāra in Jainism
• Samsara - Saṃsāra in Buddhism
• Samsara - Saṃsāra in Nikaya Buddhism
• Samsara - Saṃsāra in Mahayana Buddhism
• Samsara - Saṃsāra in Tibetan Buddhism
• Samsara - Samsara in Surat Shabda Yoga
• Samsara - Compare with

Read more here: » Samsara: Encyclopedia - Samsara

Avidyamaya and Vidyamaya are concepts created by the Hindu sage Ramakrishna based on his realizations. Ramakrishna implied that all things, good and bad, were maya (illusion). According to him, both love and hate, materialism and spirituality, egotism and generosity exist only due to our limited perception of Reality. However, he divided them in illusions that further bind us (avidyamaya) and illusions that ...

Read more here: » Avidyamaya and Vidyamaya: Encyclopedia - Avidyamaya and Vidyamaya

The terms Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path refer to a postulated dichotomy between two distinct types of religion. The exact meaning of the terms has varied over time; the most modern usage regards religions which focus upon the worship of one or more deities and the observance of strict moral codes as belonging to the Right-Hand Path, while religions which value the advancement of the self over other goals are considered to belong to the Left-Hand Path. This usage of the terms is invoked almost exclusively by p ...

Including:

• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Origins
• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Usage in Tantra
• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Adoption by Western occultism
• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Usage in modern occultism
• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Left-hand path religions
• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Criticism
• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Usage
• Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path - Other uses

Read more here: » Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path: Encyclopedia - Left-Hand Path and Right-Hand Path

Hinduism (हिन्दू धर्म; also known as Sanātana Dharma - सनातन धर्म, and Vaidika-Dharma - वैदिक धर्म) is a worldwide religious tradition that is based on the Vedas and is the direct descendant of the Vedic religion. It encompasses many religious traditions that widely vary in practice, as well as many diverse sects and philosophies. An array of deities, all manifestations of the one supreme monistic Ishvara, are venerated. Beliefs, codes and principles vary fr ...

Including:

• Hinduism - Core Concepts
• Hinduism - The Eternal Way
• Hinduism - Basic beliefs
• Hinduism - Practice Yoga Dharma
• Hinduism - The four objectives Of Life
• Hinduism - The four stages of Life
• Hinduism - The four classes of the society
• Hinduism - Nature of God
• Hinduism - Denominations
• Hinduism - Hindu sacred texts
• Hinduism - Shruti
• Hinduism - Bhagavad Gītā
• Hinduism - Smriti
• Hinduism - Origins and society
• Hinduism - Origins of Hinduism
• Hinduism - Etymology
• Hinduism - Vedic religion
• Hinduism - Hindu nationalism
• Hinduism - Temples
• Hinduism - Current geographic distribution
• Hinduism - Hindu philosophy: the six Vedic schools of thought
• Hinduism - Pūrva Mīmāmsā
• Hinduism - Yoga
• Hinduism - Uttara Mimāmsā: Vedānta and its three main schools
• Hinduism - Alternative cultures of worship
• Hinduism - The Bhakti schools
• Hinduism - Tantra
• Hinduism - Important symbolism and themes in Hinduism
• Hinduism - Tilaka symbol on forehead or between eyebrows
• Hinduism - Ahimsa non-violence vegetarian diet and the cow
• Hinduism - Hindu symbolism
• Hinduism - Murtis icons
• Hinduism - Sanskrit
• Hinduism - Mantra
• Hinduism - Criticism
• Hinduism - Hinduism
• Hinduism - Related systems and religions

Read more here: » Hinduism: Encyclopedia - Hinduism

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita

The Twelve Nidanas (Pali: nidana- foundation, source or origin) are the application of the Buddhist concept of Pratitya-samutpada (dependent origination). The Twelve Nidanas are employed in the analysis of phenomena according to the principle of Pratitya-samutpada. The aim of the Twelve Nidanas analysis is to reveal the origins of phenomena, and the feedback loop of conditioning and causation that leads to suffering in current and future lives. Twelve Nidanas - Summary. The basic principle of pratitya-samut ...

Including:

• Twelve Nidanas - Summary
• Twelve Nidanas - The Twelve Nidana
• Twelve Nidanas - Notes
• Twelve Nidanas - Twenty four types of conditions
• Twelve Nidanas - The whole description

Read more here: » Twelve Nidanas: Encyclopedia - Twelve Nidanas

Shruti Vedas Rig Veda Sama Veda Yajur Veda Atharva Veda Brahmanas Aranyakas Upanishads Smriti Itihāsas Mahābhārata Bhagavad Gītā Ramayana Puranas (List) Tantras Sutras (List) Stotras Ashtavakra Gita Git ...

Including:

• Puranas - List of Puranas
• Puranas - Heaven Hell and other worlds in the Puranas

Read more here: » Puranas: Encyclopedia - Puranas

Reincarnation, as a doctrine or mystical belief, holds the notion that one's 'Spirit' ('Soul' depending on interpretation), 'Higher or True Self', 'Divine Spark', 'I' or 'Ego' (not to be confused with the ego as defined by psychology) or critical parts of these returns to the material world after physical death to be reborn in a new body. The natural process is considered integrative of all experiences from each lifetime. A new personality feature, with the associated character, is developed during each life in the physical world, bas ...

Including:

• Reincarnation - Overview
• Reincarnation - Reincarnation in various religions traditions and philosophies
• Reincarnation - Eastern religions and traditions
• Reincarnation - Western religions and traditions
• Reincarnation - Contemporary movements and thinkers
• Reincarnation - Common variations in the belief
• Reincarnation - Reincarnation Research
• Reincarnation - Objections to reincarnation
• Reincarnation - Theories put forward to explain the phenomenon
• Reincarnation - A theory of reincarnation

Read more here: » Reincarnation: Encyclopedia - Reincarnation

Eckankar, Religion of the Light and Sound of God emphasizes the value of personal experiences as the most natural way back to God. The current spiritual leader of Eckankar (since October 1981) is Harold Klemp. They are generally regarded as a new religious movement begun in 1965, but it is their opinion that they are a sort of "Perennial Philosophy", with ancient origins. However, extensive research by current and ex-members have never been able to substantiate any ancient origins. Klemp has done much to distance himself and the movem ...

Including:

• Eckankar - Teachings
• Eckankar - ECK masters
• Eckankar - Splinter groups
• Eckankar - Teachings borrowed?
• Eckankar - Is Eckankar a Cult?

Read more here: » Eckankar: Encyclopedia - Eckankar

Modern Christianity is divided on how much authority the Bible has in determining the life and belief of its adherents. Some Christians view the Bible as the only authoritative source of truth (a common view among Protestants), whereas others emphasise the tradition of the Church as also authoritative (particularly Roman Catholics and Orthodox). However, the tradition of the Church (e.g. the Nicene Creed), and the New Testament proclaim a belief in the Resurrection of the dead, which most liberal Christians would view as antithetical to noti ...

See also:

Bible and reincarnation, Bible and reincarnation - Differences between conservative and liberal Christian views, Bible and reincarnation - Judaism, Bible and reincarnation - Supporting passages from a Christian point of view, Bible and reincarnation - Elijah became John the Baptist, Bible and reincarnation - John 9:1-3, Bible and reincarnation - Galatians 6:7, Bible and reincarnation - New Testament passages seen to be in opposition, Bible and reincarnation - Hebrews 9:27, Bible and reincarnation - Luke 13, Bible and reincarnation - The thief on the cross, Bible and reincarnation - Paul's teaching, Bible and reincarnation - Apologetics, Bible and reincarnation - Origen, Bible and reincarnation - History of Canonical and extra-biblical writings, Bible and reincarnation - New Age views, Bible and reincarnation - Reference literature, Bible and reincarnation - Positive, Bible and reincarnation - Critical, Bible and reincarnation - Footnotes:

Read more here: » Bible and reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Bible and reincarnation - Differences between conservative and liberal Christian views

There are also some Biblical passages commonly seen to refute a Christian belief in reincarnation: Bible and reincarnation - Hebrews 9:27. The verse most commonly used to dispute reincarnation is Hebrews 9:27, which states that it is appointed to man to die once, and after that face judgment. This verse does not, by itself, rule out reincarnation. Traditional Christian teaching (including beliefs held by modern Fundamentalists and Evangelicals) interprets this verse in the context of the "Day of Jud ...

See also:

Bible and reincarnation, Bible and reincarnation - Differences between conservative and liberal Christian views, Bible and reincarnation - Judaism, Bible and reincarnation - Supporting passages from a Christian point of view, Bible and reincarnation - Elijah became John the Baptist, Bible and reincarnation - John 9:1-3, Bible and reincarnation - Galatians 6:7, Bible and reincarnation - New Testament passages seen to be in opposition, Bible and reincarnation - Hebrews 9:27, Bible and reincarnation - Luke 13, Bible and reincarnation - The thief on the cross, Bible and reincarnation - Paul's teaching, Bible and reincarnation - Apologetics, Bible and reincarnation - Origen, Bible and reincarnation - History of Canonical and extra-biblical writings, Bible and reincarnation - New Age views, Bible and reincarnation - Reference literature, Bible and reincarnation - Positive, Bible and reincarnation - Critical, Bible and reincarnation - Footnotes:

Read more here: » Bible and reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Bible and reincarnation - New Testament passages seen to be in opposition

Origen, an early Christian theologian who lived during the third century, wrote that "The soul has neither beginning nor end. [They] come into this world strengthened by the victories or weakened by the defeats of their previous existence" (De Principiis). This belief was not unique to Origen; early Christians believed that the soul exists prior to the conception and birth of a person, a belief that many then-popular variants of Greek philosophy accepted. However, this does not in and of itself imply reincarnation, cf. the Morm ...

See also:

Bible and reincarnation, Bible and reincarnation - Differences between conservative and liberal Christian views, Bible and reincarnation - Judaism, Bible and reincarnation - Supporting passages from a Christian point of view, Bible and reincarnation - Elijah became John the Baptist, Bible and reincarnation - John 9:1-3, Bible and reincarnation - Galatians 6:7, Bible and reincarnation - New Testament passages seen to be in opposition, Bible and reincarnation - Hebrews 9:27, Bible and reincarnation - Luke 13, Bible and reincarnation - The thief on the cross, Bible and reincarnation - Paul's teaching, Bible and reincarnation - Apologetics, Bible and reincarnation - Origen, Bible and reincarnation - History of Canonical and extra-biblical writings, Bible and reincarnation - New Age views, Bible and reincarnation - Reference literature, Bible and reincarnation - Positive, Bible and reincarnation - Critical, Bible and reincarnation - Footnotes:

Read more here: » Bible and reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Bible and reincarnation - Origen

Bible and reincarnation - Positive. Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Erin L. Prophet, Reincarnation: The Missing Link in Christianity ISBN 0922729271, 1997 Max Heindel, The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception or Mystic Christianity (Part I, Chapter IV: Rebirth and the Law of Consequence), ISBN 0-911274-34-0, 1909 Bible and reincarnation - Critical. ...

See also:

Bible and reincarnation, Bible and reincarnation - Differences between conservative and liberal Christian views, Bible and reincarnation - Judaism, Bible and reincarnation - Supporting passages from a Christian point of view, Bible and reincarnation - Elijah became John the Baptist, Bible and reincarnation - John 9:1-3, Bible and reincarnation - Galatians 6:7, Bible and reincarnation - New Testament passages seen to be in opposition, Bible and reincarnation - Hebrews 9:27, Bible and reincarnation - Luke 13, Bible and reincarnation - The thief on the cross, Bible and reincarnation - Paul's teaching, Bible and reincarnation - Apologetics, Bible and reincarnation - Origen, Bible and reincarnation - History of Canonical and extra-biblical writings, Bible and reincarnation - New Age views, Bible and reincarnation - Reference literature, Bible and reincarnation - Positive, Bible and reincarnation - Critical, Bible and reincarnation - Footnotes:

Read more here: » Bible and reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Bible and reincarnation - Reference literature

Some New Age writers in the '80s picked up the above theory that references to reincarnation had been removed from the Bible. Shirley MacLaine, e.g., quotes this teaching in her book "Out on a Limb" (1983): "; The theory of reincarnation is recorded in the Bible. But the proper interpretations were struck from it during an ecumenical council meeting of the Catholic Church in Constantinople sometime ...

See also:

Bible and reincarnation, Bible and reincarnation - Differences between conservative and liberal Christian views, Bible and reincarnation - Judaism, Bible and reincarnation - Supporting passages from a Christian point of view, Bible and reincarnation - Elijah became John the Baptist, Bible and reincarnation - John 9:1-3, Bible and reincarnation - Galatians 6:7, Bible and reincarnation - New Testament passages seen to be in opposition, Bible and reincarnation - Hebrews 9:27, Bible and reincarnation - Luke 13, Bible and reincarnation - The thief on the cross, Bible and reincarnation - Paul's teaching, Bible and reincarnation - Apologetics, Bible and reincarnation - Origen, Bible and reincarnation - History of Canonical and extra-biblical writings, Bible and reincarnation - New Age views, Bible and reincarnation - Reference literature, Bible and reincarnation - Positive, Bible and reincarnation - Critical, Bible and reincarnation - Footnotes:

Read more here: » Bible and reincarnation: Encyclopedia II - Bible and reincarnation - New Age views