wisdom teachings

A collection of wisdom; a body of knowledge about the hidden nature of humanity and the world held sacred through all time

(See also: Wisdom teachings, Body Mind and Soul)

Spiritual Gifts

According to Christian doctrine, special abilities given by God to worthy believers. Every Christian has at least one

Following is a list of the gifts arranged in two groups.

• The first are gifts that require supernatural intervention and are possessed only by true Christians.
• The second are gifts that do not require supernatural intervention. Even non-Christians can have the second group of gifts.

A further issue is whether or not the gifts are still in use today. Some believe they ceased with the apostles and the completion of the writings of the Bible) and they are no longer needed for the building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4: 12). Others believe the gifts are still in use but not in the pure apostolic sense. In other words, they are still in use but not in the same way possessed by the apostles. Instead, they are available to the believer if and when God decides it is beneficial to use them.

The first group of spiritual gifts are: Salvation, Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing of Spirits, Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues.

The second group of spiritual gifts are: Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leading, and Showing mercy.

(see Psychic Gifts)

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

Spiritual Gifts

According to Christian doctrine, special abilities given by God to worthy believers. Every Christian has at least one

Following is a list of the gifts arranged in two groups.

• The first are gifts that require supernatural intervention and are possessed only by true Christians.
• The second are gifts that do not require supernatural intervention. Even non-Christians can have the second group of gifts.

A further issue is whether or not the gifts are still in use today. Some believe they ceased with the apostles and the completion of the writings of the Bible) and they are no longer needed for the building up of the body of Christ (Eph. 4: 12). Others believe the gifts are still in use but not in the pure apostolic sense. In other words, they are still in use but not in the same way possessed by the apostles. Instead, they are available to the believer if and when God decides it is beneficial to use them.

The first group of spiritual gifts are: Salvation, Word of Wisdom, Word of Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Distinguishing of Spirits, Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues.

The second group of spiritual gifts are: Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Giving, Leading, and Showing mercy.

(see Psychic Gifts)

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

Belief in reincarnation is held by many Hindus, Buddhists, and Taoists but such beliefs are held by relatively few Christians, Jews, and Muslims. No mainstream Christian denomination includes reincarnation among their doctrines. The Christian creeds and confession have consistently proclaimed a belief in a single judgement of humanity and in the eschatological hope of the resurrection of the dead. Some small sects, such as the Liberal Cat ...

Including:

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 - Bible and reincarnation

By exponents of New Age the theory has been voiced, that reincarnation is not incompatible with Christianity, but was suppressed by the church (or the pope or the emperor Constantine) in order to increase the power and influence of the church. According to this theory, the texts that offered the greatest acceptance of Roman Pagan doctrine were made part of biblical canon; those that tended to re ...

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 - History of Canonical and extra-biblical writings

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

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

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

The term Western mystery tradition (also Western Esoteric tradition) refers to the collection of the mystical esoteric knowledge, such as Kabbalah, of the western world. Western mystery tradition - History. The Western mystery tradition traditionally started in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Rome and Israel, while it contains many characteristics from the Pagan people of Ancient Britain and Scandinavia, such as the Celts. Ancient figures associated with the Western tradition include Plato, Pyt ...

Including:

Western mystery tradition - History
Western mystery tradition - The Dark Ages Western mystery tradition - The European Enlightenment Western mystery tradition - The Second World War Western mystery tradition - The Collapse of the Soviet Union Western mystery tradition - Today
Western mystery tradition - Philosophy
Western mystery tradition - Initiation Western mystery tradition - The Main Themes Western mystery tradition - The Teachings
Western mystery tradition - Organisations Western mystery tradition - People Western mystery tradition - Texts

Read more here: » Western mystery tradition: Encyclopedia - Western mystery tradition

Prosperity Consciousness is a term and teaching often referred to in New Age and New Thought communities, and it is a term sometimes used by financial professionals. It describes the belief that by opening one's mind to the financial opportunities in the world, and by living a life and having a perspective that welcomes financial resources, one will bring financial wealth into one's life. See also. Cargo Cults ...

Read more here: » Prosperity Consciousness: Encyclopedia - Prosperity Consciousness

Sri Kalki Bhagavan (born Vijaykumar, March 7, 1949 in Arcot district, Tamil Nadu, India) is a highly controversial modern spiritual teacher and religious guru and the founder of the new religious movement known variously as Oneness University, Kalki Dharma, Bhagavad Dharma and Golden Age Foundation. At various times, Sri Kalki has also used names such as Mukteshwar, Sri Kalki Bhagavan and Sri Bhagavan. For clarity, in this article he is referred to simply as Sri Kalki, as the n ...

Including:

Sri Kalki Bhagavan - Life Sri Kalki Bhagavan - Teachings Sri Kalki Bhagavan - Teaching Literature

Read more here: » Sri Kalki Bhagavan: Encyclopedia - Sri Kalki Bhagavan

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

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

There are several verses that some claim support reincarnation: The 'Word' came to Jeremiah, and said "Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations." This verse has been used by Traditional Christians as evidence that God has foreknowledge of persons and events — that is not limited by time and space. Christians who believe in reincarnation may see this verse as evidence ability to "know" a person throughout a variety of reincarnated lif ...

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 - Supporting passages from a Christian point of view

Though there are no formal or definitive boundaries for membership; those who are likely to sample many diverse teachings and practices (from both 'mainstream' and 'fringe' traditions) and to formulate their own beliefs and practices based on their experiences can be considered as New Age.' Rather than follow the lead of an organised religion, "New Agers" typically construct their own spiritual journey based on material taken as needed from the mystical traditions of all or most world religions, includin ...

See also:

New Age, New Age - Definitions, New Age - History, New Age - Beliefs, New Age - Lifestyle, New Age - Underlying assumptions, New Age - Language, New Age - Critiques of the New Age, New Age - Medicine, New Age - Music, New Age - New Age communities

Read more here: » New Age: Encyclopedia II - New Age - Definitions

The Western mystery tradition traditionally started in Ancient Egypt, Ancient Greece, Rome and Israel, while it contains many characteristics from the Pagan people of Ancient Britain and Scandinavia, such as the Celts. Ancient figures associated with the Western tradition include Plato, Pythagoras and other Greek philosophers, Hermes Trismegistus, Akhenaten and other pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. Ancient Egypt and Ancient Greece were the most known sources of what we currently call Western Mystery Tradition. Egypt was considered more advanced in mysticism, and thus many Ancient Greek philosophers t ...

See also:

Western mystery tradition, Western mystery tradition - History, Western mystery tradition - The Dark Ages, Western mystery tradition - The European Enlightenment, Western mystery tradition - The Second World War, Western mystery tradition - The Collapse of the Soviet Union, Western mystery tradition - Today, Western mystery tradition - Philosophy, Western mystery tradition - Initiation, Western mystery tradition - The Main Themes, Western mystery tradition - The Teachings, Western mystery tradition - Organisations, Western mystery tradition - People, Western mystery tradition - Texts

Read more here: » Western mystery tradition: Encyclopedia II - Western mystery tradition - History

Today, the Western mystery tradition is a mixture of ancient philosophy, paganistic and Christian thought, medieval ideas, and also contains some imports from Asia and modern Science. However, the true Tradition, seems to focus on individual spiritual progress through initiation into some sort of brotherhood, group rituals, study of philosophy and the cosmic laws and their practical application with the aims of alchemy, meditation, divination and ritual magic. ...

See also:

Western mystery tradition, Western mystery tradition - History, Western mystery tradition - The Dark Ages, Western mystery tradition - The European Enlightenment, Western mystery tradition - The Second World War, Western mystery tradition - The Collapse of the Soviet Union, Western mystery tradition - Today, Western mystery tradition - Philosophy, Western mystery tradition - Initiation, Western mystery tradition - The Main Themes, Western mystery tradition - The Teachings, Western mystery tradition - Organisations, Western mystery tradition - People, Western mystery tradition - Texts

Read more here: » Western mystery tradition: Encyclopedia II - Western mystery tradition - Philosophy

Modern people who are related to the Western mystery tradition include: Aleister Crowley, occultist Dion Fortune, magician Harvey Spencer Lewis, founder of AMORC Max Heindel, author of The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception S. L. MacGregor-Mathers, founding member of the 1888's Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn Historical individuals who are related to the Western mystery tradition include: Hermes Trismegistus, ancient mythical figure Akhenaten, Ancient Egy ...

See also:

Western mystery tradition, Western mystery tradition - History, Western mystery tradition - The Dark Ages, Western mystery tradition - The European Enlightenment, Western mystery tradition - The Second World War, Western mystery tradition - The Collapse of the Soviet Union, Western mystery tradition - Today, Western mystery tradition - Philosophy, Western mystery tradition - Initiation, Western mystery tradition - The Main Themes, Western mystery tradition - The Teachings, Western mystery tradition - Organisations, Western mystery tradition - People, Western mystery tradition - Texts

Read more here: » Western mystery tradition: Encyclopedia II - Western mystery tradition - People

Allegory in the Middle Ages - Late Antiquity. Before the 5th century the traditions of allegorical interpretations were created in a time when rhetorical training was common, when the classics of mythology were still standard teaching texts, when the Greek and Roman pantheon of Gods were still visible forms (if not always fully recognized by the more learned populace), and when the new religions such as Christianity adopted or rejected pagan element ...

See also:

Allegory in the Middle Ages, Allegory in the Middle Ages - Four types of allegory, Allegory in the Middle Ages - History of allegory, Allegory in the Middle Ages - Late Antiquity, Allegory in the Middle Ages - Early Middle Ages, Allegory in the Middle Ages - High and Late Middle Ages

Read more here: » Allegory in the Middle Ages: Encyclopedia II - Allegory in the Middle Ages - History of allegory

Cumbey's book The Hidden Dangers of the Rainbow was one of the earliest writings from a fundamentalist Christian perspective concerning New Age spirituality. Her rejection of New Age spirituality was grounded in her understanding of Christian teachings about the role of Christ as saviour, and also of bible prophecy. Her argument centered on an interpretation of bible prophecies about the end-times, and presented through the prism of conspiracy theory. She maintained that the Aquarian Conspiracy that New Age writer Marilyn Ferguson ref ...

See also:

Constance Cumbey, Constance Cumbey - Critical Assessments, Constance Cumbey - Published works, Constance Cumbey - Assessments

Read more here: » Constance Cumbey: Encyclopedia II - Constance Cumbey - Critical Assessments