The Qemant traditionally practiced a religion which is said to combine elements from Judaism, paganism and animism. According to the American scholar Frederic C. Gamst, their "Hebraism is an ancient form and unaffected by Hebraic change of the past two millenia". A recent sociolinguistic survey notes that the Kemant religion is in a very precarious situation since very few people still adhere to it. According to this study, the ratio of those who follow the Kemant religion vs. those who are baptized and converted to Orthodox Christianity is about 1% vs. 99%^{See also:}

Qemant, Qemant - Religion, Qemant - History, Qemant - Notes and references, Qemant - Notes, Qemant - References

Read more here: » Qemant: Encyclopedia II - Qemant - Religion

See also:

Esotericism, Esotericism - Etymology, Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism, Esotericism - Nuances, Esotericism - Scope, Esotericism - Historical sketch, Esotericism - Esoteric themes, Esotericism - Traditions, Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

Read more here: » Esotericism: Encyclopedia II - Esotericism - Historical sketch

The vampire lifestyle has been criticised on a number of grounds. Christians, Jews and Muslims tend to believe the consumption of others' blood is related to cannibalism, paganism and many other sins. There is concern in the general public for those who are found to be participating in what is often perceived as a cult. For some self-styled vampires as well as outsiders, the proliferation of groups aggressively pushing trinkets, books, jewelry and other vampire merchandise (advertised as ways by which teenagers may become official vam ...

See also:

Vampire lifestyle, Vampire lifestyle - Origins and influences, Vampire lifestyle - Common features, Vampire lifestyle - Variants, Vampire lifestyle - Sanguinarian vs. psionic vampires, Vampire lifestyle - The thirst, Vampire lifestyle - Creation of new vampires, Vampire lifestyle - Other purported features, Vampire lifestyle - Role-playing versus vampirism, Vampire lifestyle - Criticism, Vampire lifestyle - Citations

Read more here: » Vampire lifestyle: Encyclopedia II - Vampire lifestyle - Criticism

Reflections on OLD GUARD PAGANISM

'Old Guard Paganism'. The phrase started out as a joke, but then caught on. This tells us something. It tells us there is a NEED for such a term. It also implies its own antithesis, 'New Guard Paganism'. And it indicates that there is some difference between the two -- a 'difference that makes a difference' -- and thus requires differentiating labels. (It should perhaps be noted that the word 'Paganism' is used in the present context -- however inaccurately -- to refer to modern Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, or Wicca. With grave misgivings, I have adopted this usage here.)

Read more here: » Paganism: Reflections on OLD GUARD PAGANISM

Paganism & Pornography

At times my political views seem to lead me into contradictions. Last month saw me writing a furious letter to Penthouse magazine concerning their misinformed story on Witchcraft. Within two weeks I was writing to the head of the QuickTrip Corporation protesting the removal of Penthouse from their stores. You'd think I would have been happy at a blow struck against a magazine that maligned my religion. Not so. At stake is the free expression of ideas. Misinformation and censorship are both threats to that freedom. Of the two, I judge censorship to be the greater threat. As long as publishing continues unimpeded, retraction of misinformation is possible. When publishing is censored, even that becomes impossible.

Read more here: » Paganism: Paganism Pornography

THE PENTAGRAM

The pentagram, or five-pointed star, may be the most misunderstood religious symbol around these days. Being the most common symbol of Neo-Pagan Witchcraft, it has nevertheless been denigrated by movie and publishing industries which seem 'hell-bent' on connecting it with Satanism and other malevolent practices. However, like the Roman Cross or Crucifix, it is only when the symbol is INVERTED that it alludes to negativity. And even then, there are exceptions, as we shall see.

Read more here: » Paganism: THE PENTAGRAM

Hinduism is a faith - a way to understand the truth. Other faiths like Islam and Christianity also enable seekers to get closer to the truth. There need be no contradiction, for nobody has monopoly over truth. I am a Hindu. My truth should co-exist with other truths.

Faith now is being used as an identity by certain sections. Some Hindus proclaim their identity by espousing the cause of Hindutva. This is a self-defeating exercise that will help neither Hinduism nor the country.

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

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 denomination ...

Including:

• Christian philosophy - How one can reconcile Christianity with philosophy or not
• Christian philosophy - Interaction between Christian and non-Christian philosophers
• Christian philosophy - Origins of Christian philosophy
• Christian philosophy - Hellenistic Christian philosophies
• Christian philosophy - Medieval Christian philosophies
• Christian philosophy - Renaissance and Reformation Christian philosophies
• Christian philosophy - Modern and Contemporary Christian philosophies
• Christian philosophy - Related Sites

Read more here: » Christian philosophy: Encyclopedia - Christian philosophy

The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, is a list of religious and moral imperatives which, according to the Bible, was spoken by God to Moses on Mount Sinai and engraved on two stone tablets. They feature prominently in Judaism and Christianity. In Biblical Hebrew language they are termed עשרת הדברים (translit. Aseret ha-Dvarîm), and in Rabbinical Hebrew עשרת הדברות (translit. Aseret ha-Dibrot), both translatable as "the ten statements". The name decalogue is derived from the Greek name δέκα λόγοι or dekalogoi ("ten statements") found in the Septuag ...

Including:

• Ten Commandments - Preparations
• Ten Commandments - God's name
• Ten Commandments - Exodus 20/Deuteronomy 5
• Ten Commandments - Written in stone
• Ten Commandments - Breaking the first tablets
• Ten Commandments - Second set
• Ten Commandments - 10 Commandments or more?
• Ten Commandments - Texts of the commandments
• Ten Commandments - Jewish understanding
• Ten Commandments - The ten statements
• Ten Commandments - Jewish interpretation
• Ten Commandments - Special status
• Ten Commandments - Samaritan understanding
• Ten Commandments - Christian understanding
• Ten Commandments - Orthodox and Roman Catholic Christianity
• Ten Commandments - Protestant Christianity
• Ten Commandments - Typical Protestant view
• Ten Commandments - Jehovah's Witnesses
• Ten Commandments - Muslim understanding
• Ten Commandments - Views of other faiths
• Ten Commandments - Controversies
• Ten Commandments - Sabbath day
• Ten Commandments - Idolatry
• Ten Commandments - Public monuments and controversy in the USA
• Ten Commandments - Origins

Read more here: » Ten Commandments: Encyclopedia - Ten Commandments

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 Chris ...

Including:

• Sabbath - Overview of The Sabbath
• Sabbath - Early Observance of the Sabbath
• Sabbath - New Testament Basis for Christian Sabbatarianism
• Sabbath - Primary Sabbath Friday sunset to Saturday sunset Sabbatarianism
• Sabbath - Protestant Sabbatarianism
• Sabbath - Arguments Used Against Sabbath Observance
• Sabbath - Basis of First Day Observance
• Sabbath - Sunday vs Saturday
• Sabbath - Biblical References to the Sabbath Day
• Sabbath - Churches Keeping the Seventh-Day Sabbath
• Sabbath - Churches Keeping a Sunday Sabbath

Read more here: » Sabbath: Encyclopedia - Sabbath

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 ...

Including:

• Divine grace - Shared concepts of grace
• Divine grace - Biblical concepts of grace
• Divine grace - Ideas of grace in the Hebrew Bible
• Divine grace - New Testament ideas of grace
• Divine grace - Tension between grace and works in the New Testament
• Divine grace - Efforts to resolve the tension
• Divine grace - Concepts of grace in the history of Christianity
• Divine grace - Grace in Western Christianity
• Divine grace - Pelagius vs. St Augustine
• Divine grace - Grace and merit
• Divine grace - Grace in Eastern Christianity
• Divine grace - Grace in the Protestant Reformation:
• Divine grace - Calvinism and Arminianism
• Divine grace - Jansenism versus the Jesuits
• Divine grace - The Protestant Reformation and ecclesiology
• Divine grace - Latter-day Saint Perspective
• Divine grace - For further reading
• Divine grace - Orthodox
• Divine grace - Roman Catholic
• Divine grace - Protestant

Read more here: » Divine grace: Encyclopedia - Divine grace

Esotericism refers to knowledge suitable only for the advanced, privileged, or initiated, as opposed to exoteric knowledge, which is public. It is used especially for mystical, occult and spiritual viewpoints. Esotericism - Etymology. Esoteric is an adjective originating in Hellenic Greece under the domain of the Roman Empire; it comes from the Greek esôterikos, from esôtero, the comparative form of esô: "within". Esoteric refers to anything that is inner and occult. It ...

Including:

• Esotericism - Etymology
• Esotericism - Esoteric vs. Esotericism
• Esotericism - Nuances
• Esotericism - Scope
• Esotericism - Historical sketch
• Esotericism - Esoteric themes
• Esotericism - Traditions
• Esotericism - Esotericism in popular culture

Read more here: » Esotericism: Encyclopedia - Esotericism

Therianthropy is a generic term for any transformation of a human into another animal form, or for a being which displays both human and animal characteristics, either as a part of mythology or as a spiritual concept. The word is derived from Greek therion, meaning "wild animal", and anthrōpos, meaning "man". Therianthropy - Scholarly use of the term. In folklore, mythology and anthropology, therianthropy can be used to describe a character that shares some traits of humans and some of non-hu ...

Including:

• Therianthropy - Scholarly use of the term
• Therianthropy - Modern subcultural use of the term
• Therianthropy - Description and origins
• Therianthropy - Grouping therians
• Therianthropy - Subculture social structure
• Therianthropy - Comparisons

Read more here: » Therianthropy: Encyclopedia - Therianthropy

Bilskirnir, Breidablik, Élivágar, Eliudnir, Fensalir, Fólkvangr, Gimlé, Ginnungagap, Gjallar Bridge, Gjöll, Gladsheim, Glasir, Glitnir, Gnipa, Himinbjörg, Hindarfjall, Horgr, Idavoll, Jotunheim, Ironwood, Hlidskjalf, Midgard, Muspelheim, Mirkwood, Nastrond, Niflheim, Noatun, Sessrúmnir, Singasteinn, Slidr River, Sökkvabekkr, Thrudvang, Thrymheim, Utgard, Valhall, Vanaheim, Hvergelmi ...

Including:

• Norse mythology - Sources
• Norse mythology - Cosmology
• Norse mythology - Supernatural beings
• Norse mythology - Völuspá: the origin and end of the world
• Norse mythology - Kings and heroes
• Norse mythology - Norse worship
• Norse mythology - Centres of faith
• Norse mythology - Priests
• Norse mythology - Human sacrifice
• Norse mythology - Interactions with Christianity
• Norse mythology - Modern influences
• Norse mythology - Bibliography

Read more here: » Norse mythology: Encyclopedia - Norse mythology

Odin is considered the highest god in Norse mythology and Norse paganism. His role, like many of the Norse pantheon, is complex: he is god of both wisdom and war. He is also attested as being a god of magic, poetry, victory, and the hunt. His name is, in Old Norse, Óðinn. Although its precise meaning is debated, the name is thought to be related to the word óðr, meaning "excitation" or "fury". Worship of Odin dates to Proto-Germanic paganism, and the names Old English (and Old Saxon) Wōden; Old ...

Including:

• Odin - Etymology
• Odin - General characteristics
• Odin - Odin and Mercury
• Odin - Celtic parallels
• Odin - Eddaic Odin
• Odin - Attributes
• Odin - Names
• Odin - Anglo-Saxon Woden
• Odin - Worship
• Odin - Sacrifices
• Odin - Shamanic traits
• Odin - Odin and Jesus
• Odin - Medieval reception
• Odin - Persisting beliefs in Odin
• Odin - Modern age
• Odin - Notes
• Odin - Literature

Read more here: » Odin: Encyclopedia - Odin

The Book of Esther is a book of the Tanakh (Hebrew Bible) and of the Old Testament. The Book of Esther or the Megillah is the basis for the Jewish celebration of Purim. Its full text is read aloud twice during the celebration. Book of Esther - Setting. The Biblical Book of Esther is set in the third year of Ahasuerus, a king of Persia usually identified with Xerxes I, although other identifications have been suggested. It tells a tale of palace intrigue, attempted genocide and a ...

Including:

• Book of Esther - Setting
• Book of Esther - Plot Summary
• Book of Esther - Authorship and date
• Book of Esther - Debate over historicity
• Book of Esther - Interpretation of Esther as an allegory of Babylonian Mythology
• Book of Esther - Historical reading
• Book of Esther - Narrative reading
• Book of Esther - Allegorical Reading
• Book of Esther - Relation To Other Books In the Bible
• Book of Esther - Additions to Esther
• Book of Esther - Reinterpretations of the story

Read more here: » Book of Esther: Encyclopedia - Book of Esther

Thealogy is literally the study of the Goddess (Greek θεά, thea, "goddess" + λόγος, logos, "study"). In 1993, Charlotte Caron's definition of thealogy as "reflection on the divine in feminine and feminist terms" appeared, but the term actually originates in the writings of Isaac Bonewits in 1974. Thealogy - First uses. Thealogy - First? usages. In "The Druid Chronicles (Evolved)," privately published in 1976, Isaac Bonewits used "thealogian" to ref ...

Including:

• Thealogy - First uses
• Thealogy - First? usages
• Thealogy - Second? usage
• Thealogy - Bonewits again
• Thealogy - Growing usage by Carol Christ and Ursula King
• Thealogy - Further expansion of thealogy by Starr* Saffa
• Thealogy - Definition by Charlotte Caron
• Thealogy - Melissa Raphael's view
• Thealogy - Three interpretations of thealogy
• Thealogy - Thealogy as Goddess spirituality
• Thealogy - Broad interpretation of thealogy Caron
• Thealogy - A challenge to androcentrism
• Thealogy - Linguistic twiddling

Read more here: » Thealogy: Encyclopedia - Thealogy

The vampire lifestyle (or vampyre lifestyle) is a number of customs and beliefs followed (in various fashions and to different degrees) by a subculture of people who are attracted to contemporary vampire lore and seek to emulate it. Members of the subculture (vampirists) often prefer the spelling vampyre to distinguish themselves from the "fictional" vampire while simultaneously lending a Gothic or Victorian flair to their activities, yet it must be taken into consideration that not all the members o ...

Including:

• Vampire lifestyle - Origins and influences
• Vampire lifestyle - Common features
• Vampire lifestyle - Variants
• Vampire lifestyle - Sanguinarian vs. psionic vampires
• Vampire lifestyle - The thirst
• Vampire lifestyle - Creation of new vampires
• Vampire lifestyle - Other purported features
• Vampire lifestyle - Role-playing versus vampirism
• Vampire lifestyle - Criticism
• Vampire lifestyle - Citations

Read more here: » Vampire lifestyle: Encyclopedia - Vampire lifestyle

God is the term used to denote the Supreme Being ascribed by many religions to be the creator, ruler and/or the sum total of, existence. Conceptions of God vary widely, despite the common use of the same term for them all. God - Definition. God - Concept of God. In many Western religions, God is usually said to have a specific and clearly defined relationship to, and interest in, the happenings of this world and the lives of those in it. Metaphors for God's relationship t ...

Including:

• God - Definition
• God - Concept of God
• God - Attributes of God
• God - Etymology
• God - Capitalization
• God - Names of God
• God - History of monotheism
• God - Theology
• God - Conceptions of God
• God - Abrahamic conceptions
• God - Conceptions of God in Hinduism
• God - Christian Monism
• God - The Ultimate
• God - Aristotelian definition of God
• God - Modern views
• God - Notes and references
• God - Popular Culture

Read more here: » God: Encyclopedia - God

Christian opposition to anti-semitism is expressed in many of the writings of Christian leaders throughout history. This article combines some commentary on the historical background of the major writings against Anti-Semitism, but it is primarily a basic listing of all statements and actions taken by Christians to stop the persecution of the Jews. Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - Sicut Judaeis Non Bull. This "Constitution for the Jews" was the official position of the papacy regarding the Jews throu ...

Including:

• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - Sicut Judaeis Non Bull
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - Beginnings to 1094
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - 1094 to 1200
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - 1200 to 1300
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - 1300 to 1500
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - 1500 to 1900
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - 1900 to today
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - Pius XII
• Christian opposition to anti-Semitism - Reasons for Perceived Anti-Semite Church Legislation

Read more here: » Christian opposition to anti-Semitism: Encyclopedia - Christian opposition to anti-Semitism