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 ...

See also:

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

NATURE RELIGION - a symbolic center and the cluster of beliefs, behaviors and values that encircles it based on wilderness identification as well as a passionate concern for place and easterly in society. (Catherine Albanese) (NAD)

(See also: NATURE RELIGION, Wiccan Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

nature religion

A symbolic center and the cluster of beliefs, behaviors, and values that encircles it based on wilderness identification as well as a passionate concern for place and mastery in society

(See also: Nature religion, Body Mind and Soul)

Not to be confused with The Nature of Things, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation television show about natural science. On the Nature of Things is a first century BC epic poem by Lucretius that grandly proclaims the reality of man's role in a universe without a god to help him along. It is a statement of personal responsibility in a world in which everyone is driven by hungers and passions with which they were born and do not understand. On the Nature of Things - Seeing with compassion. Lucre ...

Including:

• On the Nature of Things - Seeing with compassion
• On the Nature of Things - Characters in the drama
• On the Nature of Things - What draws men to religion?
• On the Nature of Things - External link

Read more here: » On the Nature of Things: Encyclopedia - On the Nature of Things

Ancient scriptures say we have five sheaths: physical environment, physical body, mind, intuitive sheath or subtle environment, and the Self.

Indian tradition believes in the sanctity of nature. Our rishis perceived the mountains, rivers, Sun, Moon and trees to be sacred. That which is sacred is honoured. Environmental consciousness has been built into our way of life, to become our second nature. But when we start moving away from our nature we begin polluting the environment. Unfortunately, we pollute our rivers and mountains in the name of sacred rituals.

(See also: Spirituality and Ecology, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Man is no longer to be the measure of all things, the centre of the universe. He has been measured and found to be an undistinguished bit of matter, different in no essential way from bacteria, stones and trees. His goals and purposes, his egocentric notions of past, present and future; his faith in his power to predict and through prediction to control his destiny - all these are called into question, considered irrelevant, or deemed trivial.

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Our love and concern for animals emerge out of two basic postulates of Indian philosophy. One, that like us, every plant and living being is the ansha or part of the one Param Brahma, the Omnipotent One, and two, that born of the one earth mother all of them have equal right on all resources. So they are like our own siblings. All life forms have a symbiotic relationship - we are all linked together and our actions are bound to have an effect on our environment and other living beings.

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

A tree is a beautiful expression of mother earth's creativity. It has shakti . It restores balance in the environment by its positive force. A tree doesn't have a mind of its own, only the cosmic heart of the universe. It responds to human sentiments.

The pipal tree is sacred to Hindus and Buddhists - the Buddha attained nirvana under this tree. In the Bhagavad Gita Krishna said: "I am as strong as the pipal is among trees." Pipal and tulsi play significant roles in Hindu rituals. The neem tree is the favourite of Durga, and it is grown to ward off evil spirits. The Avdhumra tree is believed to be the abode of Lord Dattatreya, so it is never cut down

(See also: Sacred Nature, Faith and Belief, Spiritual Guidance, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Philosophy of religion is the rational study of the meaning and justification of fundamental religious claims, particularly about the nature and existence of God (or gods, or the divine). Philosophy of religion - Philosophy of religion as a part of metaphysics. Philosophy of religion was classically regarded as a part of metaphysics, after Aristotle, among whose writings was a piece that later editors identified as The Metaphysics. Aristotle there described first causes as one of the subjects ...

Including:

• Philosophy of religion - Philosophy of religion as a part of metaphysics
• Philosophy of religion - Questions asked in philosophy of religion
• Philosophy of religion - What is God?
• Philosophy of religion - Monotheistic definitions
• Philosophy of religion - Polytheistic definitions
• Philosophy of religion - Pantheistic definitions
• Philosophy of religion - Rationality of belief
• Philosophy of religion - Positions
• Philosophy of religion - Natural theology
• Philosophy of religion - Major philosophers of religion

Read more here: » Philosophy of religion: Encyclopedia - Philosophy of religion

Religion (see etymology below) —sometimes used interchangeably with faith or belief system—is commonly defined as belief concerning the supernatural, sacred, or divine; and the moral codes, practices, values, institutions and rituals associated with such belief. In its broadest sense some have defined it as the sum total of answers given to explain humankind's relationship with the universe. In the course of the development of religion, it has taken ...

Including:

• 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 - Religion

The supernatural (Latin: super- "exceeding" + nature) refers to forces and phenomena which are beyond the current scientific understanding and concept of nature, and which may actually directly contradict conventional scientific understandings. Concepts in the supernatural domain are closely related to concepts in religious spirituality and metaphysics. Those asserting the occurrence of supernatural events and entities usually describe them as having been observed or experienced firsthand, but as being so unique that they canno ...

Including:

• Supernatural - Views on the supernatural
• Supernatural - The supernatural as distinct from nature
• Supernatural - The supernatural as sovereign over nature
• Supernatural - The supernatural as manifested through nature
• Supernatural - The supernatural as a higher nature
• Supernatural - The supernatural as a human coping mechanism
• Supernatural - The supernatural as magic
• Supernatural - Arguments in favor of a supernatural reality
• Supernatural - Arguments against a supernatural reality
• Supernatural - Naturalization vs. supernaturalization
• Supernatural - Naturalization
• Supernatural - Supernaturalization
• Supernatural - The subjective nature of the issue
• Supernatural - Alleged instances of supernaturalization
• Supernatural - The supernatural in monotheistic religions
• Supernatural - Compare with

Read more here: » Supernatural: Encyclopedia - Supernatural

Paganism (from Latin paganus) and Heathenry are catch-all terms which have come to connote a broad set of spiritual/religious beliefs and practices of a natural religion, as opposed to the Abrahamic religions. These beliefs, which are not necessarily compatible with each other, are usually characterized by polytheism and animism. Often, the term has pejorative connotations, comparable to infidel and Kafir in Islam. Paganism - Etymology. Paganism - Pagan. The term < ...

Including:

• Paganism - Etymology
• Paganism - Pagan
• Paganism - Heathen
• Paganism - Terminology
• Paganism - Common Word Usage
• Paganism - Heathenry
• Paganism - Pagan classifications
• Paganism - Pagan religions
• Paganism - Neo-pagan religions
• Paganism - Neopaganism
• Paganism - Modern nature religion
• Paganism - Notes

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Glabrousness is the technical term for having a lack of hair or down. Those who are glabrous have either performed depilation, or have medical conditions in which hair does not grow. It is not usually considered to be a sexual fetish, although it can sometimes become one. Glabrousness - Puberty. The preference for hairless genitals is not normally related to any form of attraction towards a pre-pubescent age group. Although the appearance of secondary hair on parts of the body is a sign of pub ...

Including:

• Glabrousness - Puberty
• Glabrousness - Sensations
• Glabrousness - Culture and religion
• Glabrousness - Fashions
• Glabrousness - Naturism

Read more here: » Glabrousness: Encyclopedia - Glabrousness

The Federation of Malaysia (Malay: Persekutuan Malaysia) or simply Malaysia, is a country in Southeast Asia. It consists of two geographical regions divided by the South China Sea: West Malaysia or Peninsular Malaysia on the Malay Peninsula shares a land border on the north with Thailand and is connected by the Johor Causeway and the Tuas Second Link on the south with Singapore. East Malaysia, consisting of the federal territory of Labuan and the states of Sabah and Sarawak, occupies the ...

Including:

• Malaysia - History
• Malaysia - Politics
• Malaysia - States
• Malaysia - Geography
• Malaysia - Economy
• Malaysia - Natural resources
• Malaysia - Communications
• Malaysia - Healthcare
• Malaysia - Education
• Malaysia - Demographics
• Malaysia - Religion
• Malaysia - Culture
• Malaysia - Citizenship
• Malaysia - Miscellaneous topics

Read more here: » Malaysia: Encyclopedia - Malaysia

The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of south-eastern Europe. The region has a combined area of 728,000 km² and a population of around 53 million. The region takes its name from the Balkan mountains which run through the centre of Bulgaria into eastern Serbia. Balkans - Definitions and boundaries. Balkans - Balkan Peninsula. The Balkans are sometimes referred to as the "Balkan Peninsula" as they are surrounded by ...

Including:

• Balkans - Definitions and boundaries
• Balkans - Balkan Peninsula
• Balkans - The Balkans
• Balkans - Etymology and evolving meaning
• Balkans - Southeastern Europe
• Balkans - Ambiguities and controversies
• Balkans - Current common definition
• Balkans - Related countries
• Balkans - Nature and natural resources
• Balkans - History and geopolitical significance
• Balkans - Population composition by nationality and religion

Read more here: » Balkans: Encyclopedia - Balkans

Theodicy is a branch of theology that studies how the existence of a good or benevolent God is reconciled with the existence of evil. An attempt to reconcile the co-existence of evil and God is sometimes called "a theodicy". See the article on the problem of evil for examples. Theodicy - Origin of the term. The term theodicy comes from the Greek θεός (theós, "god") and δί ...

Including:

• Theodicy - Origin of the term
• Theodicy - The problem of evil
• Theodicy - The nature of God
• Theodicy - Examples of theodicy
• Theodicy - Analysis of these solutions
• Theodicy - The free will theodicy
• Theodicy - The Calvinistic theodicy
• Theodicy - Relativity of goodness — evil is not absolute
• Theodicy - Human nature
• Theodicy - God is not omnipotent or omniscient
• Theodicy - Contemporary philosophy of religion
• Theodicy - General problems with all theodicies
• Theodicy - Hindu answers to the problem of evil
• Theodicy - Against theodicy
• Theodicy - Evidential arguments from evil

Read more here: » Theodicy: Encyclopedia - Theodicy

The Republic of Dagestan (Russian: Респу́блика Дагеста́н), older spelling Daghestan, is a federal subject of the Russian Federation (a republic). The direct transliteration of the republic's name is Respublika Dagestan. It is the largest republic of Russia in the northern Caucasus, both in area and population. The word Daghestan or Daghstan is Turkic for country of mountains. The spelling Dagestan is a transliteration of the Russian name and is rather modern. - total - ...

Including:

• Dagestan - Geography
• Dagestan - Time zone
• Dagestan - Rivers
• Dagestan - Lakes
• Dagestan - Mountains
• Dagestan - Natural resources
• Dagestan - Climate
• Dagestan - Administrative divisions
• Dagestan - Demographics
• Dagestan - Ethnic groups
• Dagestan - History
• Dagestan - Politics
• Dagestan - Economy
• Dagestan - Religion

Read more here: » Dagestan: Encyclopedia - Dagestan

Some people believe that supernatural events occur, while others do not. In the process of debate, both sides attempt to discredit the other. People that believe in supernatural events accuse those who do not of naturalizing genuinely supernatural events; people that do not believe in supernatural events accuse who do of supernaturalizing genuinely natural events. The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Naturalization. The neologism naturalize, meaning, "to make natural", is sometimes us ...

See also:

The supernatural in monotheistic religions, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Definition of supernatural, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Naturalization versus supernaturalization, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Naturalization, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Supernaturalization, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - The subjective nature of the issue, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Views on the supernatural within monotheism, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Supernaturalization and naturalization in the Hebrew Bible, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Supernaturalization and naturalization in the New Testament, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - The Von Corvin Hypothesis, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Creeping supernaturalization as a falsifiable phenomenon, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - The Doherty Hypothesis, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Specific recorded supernatural events, The supernatural in monotheistic religions - The wishful thinking hypothesis

Read more here: » The supernatural in monotheistic religions: Encyclopedia II - The supernatural in monotheistic religions - Naturalization versus supernaturalization

Exorcism is the practice of evicting demons or other evil spiritual entities which are supposed to have possessed (taken control of) a person or object. The practice is quite ancient and still part of the belief system of many religions. The person performing the exorcism, known as an exorcist, is often a priest, or an individual thought to be graced with special powers or skills. The exorcist may use religious material, such as prayers and set formulas, gestures, symbols, icons, amulets, etc.. The exorcist often invokes some benign s ...

Including:

• Exorcism - History
• Exorcism - Exorcism in Judaism
• Exorcism - Exorcism in Christianity
• Exorcism - Roman Catholicism
• Exorcism - Protestant denominations
• Exorcism - Exorcism in Islam
• Exorcism - Exorcism in the Qur'an and Sunnah
• Exorcism - On the nature of the Jinn
• Exorcism - Exorcism in other religions
• Exorcism - Exorcism-related deaths
• Exorcism - Exorcism in fiction

Read more here: » Exorcism: Encyclopedia - Exorcism

Lucretius has compassion for those men who do not understand the mechanisms of the universe that gave them birth. He felt these ignorant and unfortunate men need religion to explain where they came from, why good things sometimes occur, and what could possibly shield them from the misfortunes they see fall upon others. Nor [is this the place] to pursue the atoms one by one, To see the law whereby each thing goes on. But some men, ignorant of matter, think, Opposing this, that not without the gods, ...

See also:

On the Nature of Things, On the Nature of Things - Seeing with compassion, On the Nature of Things - Characters in the drama, On the Nature of Things - What draws men to religion?, On the Nature of Things - External link

Read more here: » On the Nature of Things: Encyclopedia II - On the Nature of Things - What draws men to religion?