OLD RELIGION - One of many names for the religion of Wica.

(See also: OLD RELIGION, Wiccan, Wicca, Witchery, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)

Wisdom Religion. The one religion which underlies all the now-existing creeds. That "faith" which, being primordial, and revealed directly to human kind by their progenitors and informing EGOS (though the Church regards them as the "fallen angels"), required no "grace", nor blind faith to believe, for it was knowledge. (See "Gupta Vidya", Hidden Knowledge.) It is on this Wisdom Religion that Theosophy is based.

(See also: Wisdom Religion, Theosophy, Spirituality, Body mind and Soul, Spiritual Dictionary, )

A Theosophical definition of Religion :

Religion

An operation of the human spiritual mind in its endeavor to understand not only the how and the why of things, but comprising in addition a yearning and striving towards self-conscious union with the divine All and an endlessly growing self-conscious identification with the cosmic divine-spiritual realities. One phase of a triform method of understanding the nature of nature, of universal nature, and its multiform and multifold workings; and this phase cannot be separated from the other two phases (science and philosophy) if we wish to gain a true picture of things as they are in themselves.

Human religion is the expression of that aspect of man's consciousness which is intuitional, aspirational, and mystical, and which is often deformed and distorted in its lower forms by the emotional in man.

It is usual among modern Europeans to derive the word religion from the Latin verb meaning "to bind back"  - religare. But there is another derivation, which is the one that Cicero chooses, and of course he was a Roman himself and had great skill and deep knowledge in the use of his own native tongue. This other derivation comes from a Latin root meaning "to select," "to choose," from which, likewise, we have the word lex, "law," i.e., the course of conduct or rule of action which is chosen as the best, and is therefore followed; in other words, that which is the best of its kind, as ascertained by selection, by trial, and by proof.

Thus then, the meaning of the word religion from the Latin religio, means a careful selection of fundamental beliefs and motives by the higher or spiritual intellect, a faculty of intuitional judgment and understanding, and a consequent abiding by that selection, resulting in a course of life and conduct in all respects following the convictions that have been arrived at. This is the religious spirit.

To this the theosophist would add the following very important idea: behind all the various religions and philosophies of ancient times there is a secret or esoteric wisdom given out by the greatest men who have ever lived, the founders and builders of the various world religions and world philosophies; and this sublime system in fundamentals has been the same everywhere over the face of the globe.

This system has passed under various names, e.g., the esoteric philosophy, the ancient wisdom, the secret doctrine, the traditional teaching, theosophy, etc. (See also Science, Philosophy)

See also: Religion, Mysticism, Body Mind and Soul)

Wisdom-Religion, Wisdom-Science.

See THEOSOPHY

(See also: Wisdom-Religion, Wisdom-Science, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body mind and Soul)

MAGIC, DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION & SORCERY

Religion is the subordination of man to the gods. Sorcery is the invocation of the gods to use them to work one's will. M/magic(k) is the transmogrification of the world through the four elements. (Psychologically we can say that "Self and Ego" are the equivalents of "God" and "man").

(See also: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RELIGION & SORCERY, Magick, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul, )

religion: From Latin religare, "to bind back."

Any system of belief in and worship of suprahuman beings or powers and/or of a Supreme Being or Power. Religion is a structured vehicle for soul advancement which often includes theology, scripture, spiritual and moral practices, priesthood and liturgy.

See: Hinduism.

(See also: Religion, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Civic Religion: Popular cultural elements and institutions that bring a community together. An example would be democracy, which is a civic religion in Western nations like the United States. The institution of democracy brings the people of the U.S. together, binding them. Zen is a civic religion of Japanese culture.

 (See also: Civic Religion, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

neo-Indian religion: Navabharata Dharma.

A modern form of liberal Hinduism that carries forward basic Hindu cultural values - such as dress, diet and the arts - while allowing religious values to subside. It emerged after the British Raj, when India declared itself an independent, secular state. It was cultivated by the Macaulay education system, implanted in India by the British, which aggressively undermined Hindu thought and belief. Neo- Indian religion encourages Hindus to follow any combination of theological, scriptural, sadhana and worship patterns, regardless of sectarian or religious origin. Extending out of and beyond the Smarta system of worshiping the Gods of each major sect, it incorporates holy icons from all religions, including Jesus, Mother Mary and Buddha. Many Navabharatis choose to not call themselves Hindus but to declare themselves members of all the world's religions.

See: panchayatana puja, Smartism, Smarta Sampradaya, syncretism, universalist.

(See also: Neo-Indian religion, Hinduism, Body Mind and Soul)

Universal Religion

The belief that, since all is God, then only one reality exists, and all religions are simply different paths to that ultimate reality. The universal religion can be visualized as a mountain, with many spiritual paths to the summit. Some are hard; others easy. There is no one correct path. All paths eventually reach the top. Believers anticipate that a new universal religion which contains elements of all faiths will evolve and become generally accepted worldwide. (See Bahai)

(See also: Universal Religion, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Old Religion

Term often used for the Wiccan faith. Used because Wicca is a re-creation of what is believed to be ancient paganism.

(See also: Old Religion, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Old Religion

Term often used for the Wiccan faith. Used because Wicca is a re-creation of what is believed to be ancient paganism.

(See also: Old Religion, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Crypto-religion

A religion that keeps itself concealed, an occult religion, a religion whose doctrines and tenets are not clear.

(See also: Crypto-religion, New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

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)

santana dharma:

the eternal teaching; traditional name for the hindu religion

(See also: santana dharma, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Ancient Wisdom. See WISDOM-RELIGION

(See also: Ancient Wisdom, Mysticism, Mysticism Dictionary, Occultism, Occultism Dictionary)

Santeria:

A Cuban spiritist religion.

(See also: Santeria, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Umbanda:

A Brazilian spiritist religion.

(See also: Umbanda, Psychic, Psychic Dictionary, Parapsychology, Parapsychology Dictionary)

Dharma: teaching or religion; honor or status

(See also: Dharma, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Allah:

Allah. God, in the Islam religion.

(See also: Allah, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

matha:

matha. Religion.

(See also: matha, Hinduism, Hinduism Dictionary, Sanskrit Dictionary, Body Mind and Soul)

Bon:

The native Tibetan religion that later merged with Buddhism and Tantrism.

(See also: Bon, Pagan, Paganism, Pagan Dictionary)