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Below are some short introductions. Click on the blue hyperlinked word to get more related articles.
Deism- A Christian theological position that asserts that God is the creator of the universe, but does not thereafter exert providential or sovereign control over it.
Developed first in England in the late sixteenth century and in France in the eighteenth century, it was an outgrowth of the thinking that propounded natural religion, which was juxtaposed to traditional Christian support of the notion of revealed religion
(Compare to Atheism, Agnosticism, and Theism. )
Pictish Witchcraft- The study and practice of the religion of the Picts, the pre-Celtic inhabitants of northern Scotland. Pecti-Wita is concerned with all aspects of prosperity, growth, abundance, creativity, and healing, and honors the Celtic Dieties. The main tools in Pecti-Wita are the Staff and the Athame or Dirk. Pecti-Witans use a "Keek-Stane" which is, in effect, a scrying stone or the equivalent of a crystal ball. Also known as Pecti-Wita, Wita.
Ritual- There is only one thing to be said for ritual: Create your own or risk being swallowed up by some damned religion''s stercus taurinum.
Amesha-spentas- Amesha-Spentas (Avestan) (from a not + mesha, mara mortal, mutable + spenta benefactor, holy, soul-healing; cf Sanskrit svanta)
Immortal benefactors; six in number: Vohu-Manah, Asha-Vahishta, Khshathra-Vayria, Spenta-Armaiti (love), Haurvatat (perfection), and Ameretat (immortality). The first three are attributes of Ahura Mazda, abstractions without form. These male positive creative forces leave their impressions in the mental world and give birth to the second trinity, who lead man to freedom. "The Amshaspends, (are)
our Dhyan-Chohans or the ''Serpents of Wisdom.'' They are identical with, and yet separate from Ormazd (Ahura-Mazda). They are also the Angels of the Stars of the Christians -- the Star-yazatas of the Zoroastrians -- or again the seven planets (including the sun) of every religion. The epithet -- ''the shining having efficacious eyes'' -- proves it. This on the physical and sidereal planes. On the spiritual, they are the divine powers of Ahura-Mazda; but on the astral or psychic plane again, they are the ''Builders,'' the ''watchers,'' the Pitar (fathers), and the first Preceptors of mankind" (SD 2:358).
"Zarathushtra is the Divine Universal Force that directs everything within the universe towards perfection. This force is known as Amesha-Spenta" (Shahrestani, Al-Melal Va Al-Nehal). This force is equivalent to the Gnostic primeval ruler or governor, the closest being to the creator; the active mind or intellect which is the source of divine bliss and providence, with the Manichaen pure or holy spirits; the Hebrew elohim, the Arabic Malaeka (angels); the Koranic soul within the angels; and the theosophic dhyani-chohans or dhyani-buddhas. They are the rulers of the seven globes of the earth-chain.
A verse in the Ormazd Yasht (prayer to Ahura Mazda) hints at another aspect of the Amesha-Spentas connected with the afterdeath state. Each one is named, and the verse ends: these "are the reward of the holy ones, when freed from their bodies, my creatures" (v 25).
Some consider Ahura Mazda as the chief of the six Amesha-Spentas, but this is valid only when Ahura Mazda is taken for the pure, unmanifested light and not as the father of all creation.
See also AMSHASPANDS
Macumba- The Brazilian form of Vodoun and Santería. Macumba is not in itself a religion but the umbrella fro the two principal forms of African spirit worship in Brazil
Arya Samaj- Arya Samaj (Sanskrit) A movement started in India during the 19th century by Swami Dyanand Sarasvati in order to lead his countrymen back to the pristine purity of their Vedic religion, although under the form of a theistic philosophy, and to free them from the degenerations and demoralizations of the orthodox Brahmanism of the time.
It was affiliated for a short time with the Theosophical Society, but the union was soon dissolved because it became evident that the Samaj was not in harmony with the universality of the aims and purposes of the Theosophical Society as had previously been understood. The Samaj gradually spread throughout Northern India to the extent of two or three hundred branches.
Once-born- ONCE-BORN: one who has not been initiated into the Old Religion.
Judaism- World religion founded approximately 1500 BC by the prophet Moses (Thothmoses - prince and high-priest of Egypt)
The foundation of Judaism is the Torah (Genesis through Deuteronomy), which is said to have been written by Moses. The Israelites returned to the promised land of Canaan and became a small but powerful nation there under the rule of King David and his son Solomon.
After Solomon''s death the kingdom split into a northern kingdom called Israel and a southern kingdom called Judah (the name of David''s tribe). The northern kingdom was conquered and decimated by the Assyrians in 722 BC, after which the term Judeans, or Jews, gradually came into use to refer to all Israelites.
The Jews suffered conquests by a succession of foreign powers - the Babylonians, Persians, Greeks, and finally the Romans in the first century BC. Throughout this period the Jews developed a strong sense of national identity, identification with the Promised Land, and anticipation of a coming Messiah (“Anointed Prince”).
There are three main branches of modern Judaism: Orthodox (traditional, literal adherence to the Torah as interpreted by the Talmud), Conservative (a middle position advocating traditional beliefs and practices up to a point), and Reform (liberal, non-literal stance on the Torah and Talmud; often non-religious or secular with emphasis on Jewish culture).
Mazdean- Mazdean (Persian) [from Mazda bestower of intellect or knowledge]
Also Mazdeism. Applied to the ancient religion of the Iranians and to the scriptures of the Zoroastrians, who are represented today by the Parsis. The earliest followers of the Zoroastrianism, however, in their records called themselves Airyavo danghavo (Aryan races). Nowadays the Parsis call themselves Mazdiasnians, or Mazda-Yasna, which means worship of intellect, referring to all those who believe in the supremacy of light over darkness. From the time of the renovation of Zoroastrianism during the Sassanid period, this term has been used concurrently in the same sense as Zoroastrianism.
Religion- Derived from the Latin word religio, meaning to bind or bring together. Religion is that which brings people together.
Confucianism- A world religion based on the teachings of Confucius): His writtings form the basis of Confucianism. Doctrines include ancestor worship, devotion to family elders, and right conduct based on the inherent goodness of man.
Puritan- A person who is overly strict or rigid regarding morals and religion.
Taoism- A Chinese religion and philosophy that sees the universe as engaged in ceaseless motion and activity. All is considered to be in continual flux. The universe is in trinsically dynamic. This continual cosmic process is called the "Tao" by the Chinese. The process is described in terms of Yin and Yang. (See: Yin/Yang. )
Tao is that which is formless, yet the mother of all forms, and that which is timeless, yet prior to all manifestations, and that which does nothing, yet leaves nothing undone. At the base of Taoism is Lao Tzu''s adage "Forget right and wrong, and it will be better for everyone. "
Thelemite- A follower of the religion of Thelema as propounded by Aleister Crowley
Druids- Druids. A sacerdotal caste which flourished in Britain and Gaul. They were Initiates who admitted females into their sacred order, and initiated them into the mysteries of their religion.
They never entrusted their sacred verses and scriptures to writing, but, like the Brahmans of old, committed them to memory; a feat which, according to the statement of Cesar took twenty years to accomplish. Like the Parsis they had no images or statues of their gods.
The Celtic religion considered it blasphemy to represent any god, even of a minor character, under a human figure. It would have been well if the Greek and Roman Christians had learnt this lesson from the "pagan" Druids. The three chief commandments of their religion were: - "Obedience to divine laws; concern for the welfare of mankind; suffering with fortitude all the evils of life".
Pecti-wita- The study and practice of the religion of the Picts, the pre-Celtic inhabitants of northern Scotland. Pecti-Wita is concerned with all aspects of prosperity, growth, abundance, creativity, and healing, and honors the Celtic Deities. The main tools in Pecti-Wita are the Staff and the Athame or Dirk. Pecti-Witans use a "Keek-Stane" which is, in effect, a scrying stone or the equivalent of a crystal ball. Also known as Pictish Witchcraft, Wita.
Initiation- Initiation. From the same root as the Latin initia, which means the basic or first principles of any Science. The practice of initiation or admission into the sacred Mysteries, taught by the Hierophants and learned priests of the Temples, is one of the most ancient customs. This was practised in every old national religion. In Europe it was abolished with the fall of the last pagan temple.
There exists at present but one kind of initiation known to the public, namely that into the Masonic rites. Masonry, however, has no more secrets to give out or conceal. In the palmy days of old, the Mysteries, according to the greatest Greek and Roman philosophers, were the most sacred of all solemnities as well as the most beneficent, and greatly promoted virtue. The Mysteries represented the passage from mortal life into finite death, and the experiences of the disembodied Spirit and Soul in the world of subjectivity. In our own day, as the secret is lost, the candidate passes through sundry meaningless ceremonies and is initiated into the solar allegory of Hiram Abiff, the "Widow’s Son".
Bon- The native Tibetan religion that was later merged with Buddhism and Tantrism
Jew Itch- Name coined by some Pagans of Jewish origin who are actively seeking out the pagan roots of their birth religion.
Buddhism- The religion based on the doctrine of Gautama Buddha that asserts suffering is inseparable from existence and that enlightenment is achieved by the inward extinction of the self and of the senses. Buddhism is the predominant religion of eastern and central Asia, and is represented by many different sects.
Vishnu- (Sanskrit) "The All-Pervasive." Supreme Deity of the Vaishnavite religion. God as personal Lord and Creator, the All-Loving Divine Personality, who periodically incarnates and lives a fully human life to reestablish dharma whenever necessary. In Saivism, Vishnu is Siva''s aspect as Preserver.
See: Vaishnavism.
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