The current English word "soul" may have originated from Old English sawol, documented in 970 AD, which has possible etymological links with a Germanic root from which we also get the word "sea". The old German word is called 'se(u)la', which means: belonging to the sea (ancient Germanic conceptions involved the souls of the unborn and of the dead "living" being part of a medium, similar to ...

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Soul, Soul - Etymologies, Soul - Philosophical views, Soul - Socrates and Plato, Soul - Aristotle, Soul - Religious views, Soul - Bahá'í beliefs, Soul - Buddhist beliefs, Soul - Christian beliefs, Soul - Hindu beliefs, Soul - Islamic beliefs, Soul - Jainist beliefs, Soul - Jewish beliefs, Soul - Other religious beliefs and views, Soul - Science and the soul, Soul - Materialistic Science and the Soul, Soul - Scientific approaches for study of a non-material soul, Soul - Other uses of the term, Soul - Movie, Soul - External references and links

Read more here: » Soul: Encyclopedia II - Soul - Etymologies

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Soul, Soul - Etymologies, Soul - Philosophical views, Soul - Socrates and Plato, Soul - Aristotle, Soul - Religious views, Soul - Bahá'í beliefs, Soul - Buddhist beliefs, Soul - Christian beliefs, Soul - Hindu beliefs, Soul - Islamic beliefs, Soul - Jainist beliefs, Soul - Jewish beliefs, Soul - Other religious beliefs and views, Soul - Science and the soul, Soul - Materialistic Science and the Soul, Soul - Scientific approaches for study of a non-material soul, Soul - Other uses of the term, Soul - Movie, Soul - External references and links

Read more here: » Soul: Encyclopedia II - Soul - Etymologies

The Ancient Greeks used the same word for 'alive' as for 'ensouled'. So the earliest surviving Western philosophical view might suggest that the soul makes living things alive. Soul - Socrates and Plato. Plato, drawing on the words of his teacher Socrates, considers the soul as the essence of a person, as that which decides how we act. He considered this essence as an incorporeal occupant of our being. The Platonic soul comprises three parts: the reason (mind or logos) the appetite (body or passion) spirit (emotion or pathos). Each of these has ...

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Soul, Soul - Etymologies, Soul - Philosophical views, Soul - Socrates and Plato, Soul - Aristotle, Soul - Religious views, Soul - Bahá'í beliefs, Soul - Buddhist beliefs, Soul - Christian beliefs, Soul - Hindu beliefs, Soul - Islamic beliefs, Soul - Jainist beliefs, Soul - Jewish beliefs, Soul - Other religious beliefs and views, Soul - Science and the soul, Soul - Materialistic Science and the Soul, Soul - Scientific approaches for study of a non-material soul, Soul - Other uses of the term, Soul - Movie, Soul - External references and links

Read more here: » Soul: Encyclopedia II - Soul - Philosophical views

The soul, according to many religious and philosophical traditions, is the ethereal substance — spirit (Hebrew:rooah or nefesh) — particular to a unique living being. Such traditions often consider the soul both immortal and innately aware of its immortal nature, as well as the true basis for sentience in each living being. The concept of the soul has strong links with notions of an afterlife, but opinions may vary wildly, even within a given religion, as to what happens to the soul after death. Many wi ...

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Soul - Etymologies Soul - Philosophical views
Soul - Socrates and Plato Soul - Aristotle
Soul - Religious views
Soul - Bahá'í beliefs Soul - Buddhist beliefs Soul - Christian beliefs Soul - Hindu beliefs Soul - Islamic beliefs Soul - Jainist beliefs Soul - Jewish beliefs Soul - Other religious beliefs and views
Soul - Science and the soul
Soul - Materialistic Science and the Soul Soul - Scientific approaches for study of a non-material soul
Soul - Other uses of the term Soul - Movie Soul - External references and links

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The Vedas contain revelations of the eternal Truth. The culture of a community or a nation is derived from the values that people live and uphold in their lives. The word Veda is derived from the Sanskrit vid , to know.

They contain knowledge in every field of worldly science , under the following broad headings - the sadangas or six limbs: Siksa or phonetics, kalpa or the code of rituals, vyakarana or grammar, nirukta or etymology, chandas or literature, and jyotish or astronomy. Along with these, four upvedas o r subvedas consist of the four sciences: Ayurveda or medicine, dhanurveda or new archery, gandharvaveda or music and sthapatyaveda or architecture

(See also: Vedas, God and Religion, Peace on Earth, Peace of Mind, Love and Happiness, Life and Beyond, Body Mind and Soul)

Read more here: » Vedas: Vedas As A Guide To Good Living  

An angel is an ethereal being found in many religions, whose duties are to assist and serve God or the gods. Angel - Etymology. The English word originated from Latin, angelus, which is itself derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, ángelos, meaning "messenger" (double gamma "γγ" is pronounced "ng" in Greek). The closest Hebrew word for angel is מלאך, mal'ach Hebrew word #4397 in Strong's, also meaning "messenger". "Angel" is also used in the English Version of the Bible for the ...

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Angel - Etymology Angel - Angels in the Tanakh
Angel - Appearance of angels Angel - Purpose
Angel - Jewish views
Angel - Maimonides and rationalism
Angel - Christian views Angel - Islamic views Angel - Latter-Day Saint views Angel - Other religions
Angel - Hinduism Angel - Thelema
Angel - Angels as a development step of the soul Angel - Named angels and archangels Angel - Bibliography

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The English word "spirit" comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning breath. In religion and spirituality, the respiration of the human being has for obvious reasons been strongly linked with the very occurrence of life. A similar significance has been attributed to human blood. Spirit has thus evolved to denote that which separates a living body from a corpse, but can be used metaphorically (she performed the piece with spirit or she put up a spirited defence) where ...

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Spirit - Etymology

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Zalmoxis (Greek Ζάλμοξις, also known as Salmoxis, Σάλμοξις, Zamolxis, Ζάμοξλις, or Samolxis Σάμοξλις) was a semi-mythical social and religious reformer, regarded as the only true God by the Thracian Dacians (also known in the Greek records as Getae Γέται). According to Herodotus (IV. 95 sq.), the Getae, who believed in the immortality of the soul, looked upon death merely as going to Zalmoxis, as they knew the way to become immortals. Zalmoxis - Etymology< ...

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Zalmoxis - Etymology Zalmoxis - The man Zalmoxis - The god

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Óðr is the husband of Freyja in Norse mythology. Although the precise mythological meaning is uncertain, the word itself means "wit, soul" and is used in compounds to mean "fierce power, energy" (from Proto-Germanic *wōþuz; compare also the etymology of Odin.) Snorri Sturluson describes it in his Prose Edda as follows: "Freyja is most gently born (together with Frigg): she is wedded to the man named Ódr. Their daughter is Hnoss: she is so fair, that those things which are fair and precious are ca ...

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In Hindu theology, Paramatman is Absolute Atman or Supreme Soul or Supreme Spirit (also Supersoul, Oversoul) in the Vedanta and Yoga philosophies of India. Paramatman is one of the aspects of Brahman: "Learned transcendentalists who know the Absolute truth call this nondual substance Brahman, Paramatma or Bhagavan." (Bhagavata Purana 1.2.11) Also known as the divine self or the one object, Paramatman is both part of an individual and part of the macrocosm. Upanishads compare Atman and Paramatman to two birds sitti ...

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Paramatman - Etymology Paramatman - Descriptions

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For information on the band, see Samhain (band). Samhain (IPA: /ˈsawənʲ/) is the word for November in Irish and Scottish Gaelic. The same word was used for the first month of the ancient Celtic calendar, and in particular the first three nights of this month, the festival marking the beginning of the winter season. Elements of the festival are continued in the traditions of All Souls Day and Halloween. The name is also used for one of the ...

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Samhain - Etymology Samhain - Ancient Celts Samhain - Celtic folklore Samhain - Neo-Paganism Samhain - Pop culture references

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Annwn or Annwfn, ( "under-world" or "un-world", sometimes inaccurately written Annwyn, Annwyfn or Annwfyn) was the Otherworld, the land of souls that had departed this world in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn, or much later by Gwynn ap Nudd, it was essentially a world of delights and eternal youth where disease is absent and food is ever-abundant. Annwn was said to lie so far to the west that not even Manawydan ap Llyr had found it, for you could only reach Annwn by dying yourself. It was also said, ...

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Annwn - Etymology of the Name Annwn - The door Annwn - Pwyll, Prince of Dyfed Annwn - Culhwch and Olwen Annwn - Book of Taliesin

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Asceticism denotes a life which is characterized by refraining from worldly pleasures (austerity). Those who practice ascetic lifestyles often perceive their practices as virtuous and pursue them to achieve greater spirituality. Many ascetics believe the action of purifying the body helps to purify the soul, and thus obtain a greater connection with the Divine. In a more cynical context, ascetic may connote some form of self-mortification, ritual punishment of the body or harsh renunciation of pleasure. However the word certain ...

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Asceticism - Etymology Asceticism - Worldly vs Otherworldly Asceticism - Religious vs Secular motivation
Asceticism - Religious Motivation Asceticism - Secular Motivation

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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

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Creating a Horcrux is an evil and violent act. The soul of the creator must be torn into at least two pieces to provide a portion of the soul to conceal within the object. To do this, the creator must commit murder, which "rips the soul apart"[HP6], then cast a spell to infuse one part of the soul into the intended Horcrux. This magic is the most evil and unnatural of the Dark Arts. As Professor Horace Slughorn tells a young Tom Riddle, "the soul is supposed to remain intact and whole... splitting it is an act against nature."[HP6]. It is intimated that the humanity in Voldemort decreased with each ...

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Horcrux, Horcrux - Description, Horcrux - Creation, Horcrux - Mythological inspiration, Horcrux - Etymology, Horcrux - Horcruxes within the Harry Potter novels, Horcrux - Known Horcruxes, Horcrux - Possible Horcruxes, Horcrux - Possible locations

Read more here: » Horcrux: Encyclopedia II - Horcrux - Creation

Lord Voldemort's creation of Horcruxes is central to the later storyline of the Harry Potter novels, as are the Horcruxes themselves. In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Albus Dumbledore believes it is likely that Voldemort has created six Horcruxes from six of his murders (while it is likely that Voldemort has killed more than six times, the resulting "soul framents" were not extracted), thus concealing his soul within seven seperate locations. Voldemort chose to split his soul into seven pieces because seven is a power ...

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Horcrux, Horcrux - Description, Horcrux - Creation, Horcrux - Mythological inspiration, Horcrux - Etymology, Horcrux - Horcruxes within the Harry Potter novels, Horcrux - Known Horcruxes, Horcrux - Possible Horcruxes, Horcrux - Possible locations

Read more here: » Horcrux: Encyclopedia II - Horcrux - Horcruxes within the Harry Potter novels

A Horcrux is a magical object created through the use of the Dark Arts by evil witches or wizards who wish to avoid death. To do so, they conceal part of their soul within an object—the Horcrux—that is usually hidden away in a safe location. Thus protected, they become immune to death while it exists. The exact mechanism of why this works is not fully explained in the novels. The destruction of the creator's body does not result in death, but leaves the creator in a state of half-life "lesser than the meanest ghost". Lord Voldemort was left in this state when his attempted use of the Killing Curse on Harry Potter ...

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Horcrux, Horcrux - Description, Horcrux - Creation, Horcrux - Mythological inspiration, Horcrux - Etymology, Horcrux - Horcruxes within the Harry Potter novels, Horcrux - Known Horcruxes, Horcrux - Possible Horcruxes, Horcrux - Possible locations

Read more here: » Horcrux: Encyclopedia II - Horcrux - Description

Some mystics believe, that a soul is growing in steps from minerals, plants and animals to men. When the human body dies, a soul could become an angel. The Sufi mystic Jalal al-Din Muhammad Rumi wrote in his poem Masnavi: I died as inanimate matter and arose a plant, I died as a plant and rose again an animal. I died as an animal and arose a man. Why then should I fear to become less by dying? I shall die once again as a man ...

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Angel, Angel - Etymology, Angel - Angels in the Tanakh, Angel - Appearance of angels, Angel - Purpose, Angel - Jewish views, Angel - Maimonides and rationalism, Angel - Christian views, Angel - Islamic views, Angel - Latter-Day Saint views, Angel - Other religions, Angel - Hinduism, Angel - Thelema, Angel - Angels as a development step of the soul, Angel - Named angels and archangels, Angel - Bibliography

Read more here: » Angel: Encyclopedia II - Angel - Angels as a development step of the soul

Joseph Smith, Jr., founder of the Latter Day Saint movement (Mormonism), and several of his associates, claimed that they were visited by angels on multiple occasions and for a variety of purposes in conjunction with the restoration of the gospel of Jesus. According to the official doctrine of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, (Bible Dictionary entry on "Angels"): "These are the messengers of the Lord, and are spoken of in the epistle to the Hebrews as 'ministering spirits'. We learn from latte ...

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Angel, Angel - Etymology, Angel - Angels in the Tanakh, Angel - Appearance of angels, Angel - Purpose, Angel - Jewish views, Angel - Maimonides and rationalism, Angel - Christian views, Angel - Islamic views, Angel - Latter-Day Saint views, Angel - Other religions, Angel - Hinduism, Angel - Thelema, Angel - Angels as a development step of the soul, Angel - Named angels and archangels, Angel - Bibliography

Read more here: » Angel: Encyclopedia II - Angel - Latter-Day Saint views

The belief in angels is central to the religion of Islam, beginning with the belief that the Qur'an was dictated to the Prophet Muhammad by the chief of all angels, the archangel Jibril (Gabriel). Angels are thus the ministers of God, as well as the agents of revelation in Islam. In Islam, angels are benevolent beings created from light and do not possess free will. They are completely devoted to the worship of God (Allah) and carry out certain functions on His command, such as recording every human being's actions, placing a soul in ...

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Angel, Angel - Etymology, Angel - Angels in the Tanakh, Angel - Appearance of angels, Angel - Purpose, Angel - Jewish views, Angel - Maimonides and rationalism, Angel - Christian views, Angel - Islamic views, Angel - Latter-Day Saint views, Angel - Other religions, Angel - Hinduism, Angel - Thelema, Angel - Angels as a development step of the soul, Angel - Named angels and archangels, Angel - Bibliography

Read more here: » Angel: Encyclopedia II - Angel - Islamic views