LEXICON- DEFINITIONS & INTERPRETATIONS (PART 7)

Bahaismiran:

Fetish:

An object held in awe or reverence. The term has had a wide range of uses and meanings. In origin, it derives from the observations made by early traders and travelers in W. Africa of objects (often worn) held in high regard. From this it was concluded that a fetish was an idol. It was then recognized that these objects were not so much worshipped as used to exercise power, and the word began to be used of objects containing force. Beyond that, the word fetish was taken up in psychoanalysis to refer to a sexual tendency to obtain erotic satisfaction form objects rather than people, even if only of objects associated with people. Colloquially, a fetish is an object of obsessive preoccupation, making a fetish of something.

Hinduism:

The major continuing and connected religion of India, which have now spread throughout the world. About 80 percent of India’s approx., one billion people regard themselves as Hindu, and there are about 30 million Hindus elsewhere in the world. The word “Hinduism” derives from the persion hindu (SKt., sindhu river), belonging to the Indus Valley, hence “Indian”. The term is misleading if it gives the impression of a unified system of belief and practice: it was replaced for a time in academic circles by: Indian religion” in the plural (though that too is ambiguous, Since Jains, Sikhs, and Christians are also religions of India, as for many countries was Buddhism). The term “Hinduism” is used here and throughout this work as a convenient shorthand. A name for the tradition which is in common use among Hindu is sanatana dharma, everlasting dharma; another with more specific focus on the brahmanical system is varnasramadharma.

Historically, Hinduism is seen as unfolding through successive stages, but this again is misleading, Since many beliefs and practices from earlier stages persist through to the present, often little affected by subsequent developments. The roots are set down in the traditions of the original stone-age inhabitants of India; The Indus Valley civilization; the more developed Dravidian culture related to the Indus Valley, and persisting especially among the Tamils; and the Aryan invasion leading to Vedic religion (the religion based on the Vedas).

For majority of Hindus, religious life is a matter, not so much of philosophy, as of ordering one’s life according to the principles and practices which will lead to a better rebirth or even to moska (release). This ordering of life is to live it according to dharma, or, less usually, to live it according to particular vows or devotions. Dharma has many meanings, but in this case it means roughly “appropriateness”: Hinduism as sanatana dharma is the map of how to live appropriately. It is this “mapping” of the ways to live appropriately which is expressed in the divisions of labour (Varna), and even more specifically in the case-system (jati). In general Hindus can aim legitimately for four goals.

At independence (1947), India was designated a secular state with recognition of all religion: the eclectic genius of Indian religion (which does not mean that there can not be sharp conflicts and divisions) makes this a natural outcome. However, the remarkable ability of Indians to put this into practice (e.g. with the possibility of a Muslim president; contrast the status of Islam in Pakistan) has already come under strain with a growing sense that Hindus should affirm their identity over against the separatist tendencies of Sikhs and (in some areas) Muslims-hence the emergence of specifically Hidus political movements and parties. The contrast between these two attitudes were already apparent in the many 19^th-cent attempts to revive and restate Hinduism.

Kabbalah/ Qabbalah:

Teachings of Jewish mystics. The term encompasses all the esoteric teachings of Judaism which evolved from the time of the second temple. More particularly, it refers to those forms which evolved in the Middle Ages. Kabbalah draws on the awareness of the transcendence of God, and yet of his immanence (e.g., through Sefirot). God can most closely be perceived through contemplation and illumination. God both conceals and reveals himself. Through speculation and revelation. The hidden life of God and his relationship with his creation can be more nearly understood. Because mystical knowledge can so easily be misinterpreted its spread should be limited to those of a certain age and level of learning.

Although the influence of Kabbalah was limited in the area of Kabbalah, the Kabbalists created fresh aggadic material and completely reinterpreted much early midrashic aggadot. The classic anthology of Kabbalistic aggadah is Reuben Hoeshke’s Yalkut Re’uveni (1660). Kabbalistic teaching and motifs entered the various prayer books and thus spread to every diaspora community. Popular customs were also affected by Kabbalah and Kabbalistic ideas were observed as folk beliefs. These customs and beliefs were described by Jacob Zemah in Shulhan Arukh ha-Ari (1661). Popular ethics were also influenced by Kabbalism, as it evidenced by such word as Elijah de Vidas’ Reshit Hokhmah (1579). From the 15^th Cent. Attempts were made to harmonize Kabbalistic ideas with Christian doctrines, and, although this tendency was derided by the Jewish Kabbalists, it did serve to spread Kabbalah beyond the Jewish community. K.von Rosenroth’s version of Kabbalah texts (Kabbala Denudata, 1677-84) led the way to a popular appropriation of Kabbalah outside Judaism, at least in Theosophy.

Mithra:

God worshipped in four different religious: in Hinduism (as Mitra); in Zoroastrianism (Mithra); in Manichaeism (Mithra), and in the Roman Mithraic mysteries (Mithras). Why this Zoroastrianized Indo-Iranian deity was the focus of a cult in the enemy empire of Rome remains something of a historical puzzle. The recommendation of Mithraic belief and practice is difficult, because no specifically Mithraic texts have survived, only inscriptions and accounts by outsiders, notably Prophyry. The main source of evidence is hundreds of excavated temples (Mithraea) and their statuary. The cult explicitly claimed to have been founded by Zoroaster and became known as the Persian mysteries. There were seven grades of initiation. The main cult relief (tauoctony) depicted Mithras Slaying the bull, a scene thought to have soteriological significance, understood at least in part in as a unique inimitable act of the god himself, who is described in one inscription as having saved. The initiation by the shedding of the eternal blood. Mithraism appears from the inscriptions to have been a very respectable cult, inculcating a disciplined, ascetic and arduous life.

Modernism:

The attempt especially in the Roman Catholic Church at the beginning of the 29^th cent, to reformulate doctorine in the light of contemporary philosophical and scientific research. Exegetes, the most distinguished of whom was Alfred Loisy, argued that the scriptures had to be treated simply as historical documents, and studied without reference to tradition or to the magisterium of the Church. Modernism was condemned by the Holy Office in the decree Lamentabili of July 1907, and by Pius X’s encyclical Pascendi the following Sept. the ensuing purge in the Church has been known as “the anti-Modernist terror” requiring as it did the anti-Modernist oath. Outside the RC Church modernism may be generally identified with theologically liberal Protestantism; and with the movement in Anglicanism which issued in the Modern Churchmen’s Union.

Mormons:

Mormons or The church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints: Religious movement derived from Joseph Smith (1805-44) and the Book of Mormon. In 1822, the angel Moroni revealed to Smith where gold tablets were to be found. On which were written God’s words. The texts tell of a post-resurrection appearance of a post-resurrection appearance of Christ in America to establish religious order and truth. The authentically of the text has been called in question because of its grammatical errors, its reminiscences of the Authorized Version, its resemblance to an unpublished novel, etc., but for Mormons, its authenticity is not in doubt. Under persecution and opposition, the Mormons made several moves, until Joseph Smith was arreated in Carthage, Illinois, and was killed by a mob. Schisms resulted, partly over leadership, partly over doubts about polygamy. Plural marriage after the order of Abrahama had been introduced by a special revelation in 1843. Most Mormons followed Brigham Young (1801-77), who led the movement to the Salt Lake area of Utah, where Zion in the Widerness was constructed Central to Mormons belief is the Restoration: the Churches have apostasized, but true Christianity has been restored by Joseph Smith.

Neo-Paganism:

A variety of witchcraft and other movements such as the Pagan Pathfinders that have emerged in recent times to revive and spread what is called the pagan way of being, to protect pagan sacred places and more generally Mother Earth.

Maya: 1. The mother of Gotama who became the Buddha. She died within a few days of his birth. Later accounts (e.g. Buddhacarita) recount many miracles, including a virgin birth.

2. (Skt., “supernatural power”). In the early Vedic literature, maya generally means supernatural power or magic. It also carries the connection of direst or trickery. In the Bhagavad-gita, maya is the power to bring things into apparent form.

In Advaita Vedanta philosophy, Gaudapada used the term maya for the power of the apparent creation of the world as well as the world so created.

In Mahayana Buddhism, maya means a delusion or an illusion such as that produced by a magician. The phenomenal world is illusiory, maya., with the madhyamaka arguing that the separate dharmas themselves are conditioned and have no being of their own, and the Yogacara / Vijnanvada school regarding the dharmas as merely ideas or representations.

Among Sikhs the teaching of the Gurus is that maya is a real part of God’s creation. However, the attraction of maya (i.e. wealth, physical love, etc.) are also, in the end, delusory and cannot accompany a person beyond death.

Zionism:

 

International, political, and ideological movement dedicated to restoring Erez Israel to the Jewish people. The desire to return to the land of Israel has been preserved in the liturgy and folk consciousness of the Jews of the diaspora since the time of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem in 70 CE. Modern political Zionism was first conceived by the odor Herzl, and the movement was launched at the First Zionist congress of 1897. Its stated aim was to establish a home for the Jewish people in Palestine secured under public law. Early Zionism was not supported wholeheartedly by the Jewish community. Many of the Orthodox believed that the return to Zion would only be effected by divine intervention, and that it was wrong for human beings to anticipate divine providence. At the other extreme, members of the Progressive movements were anxious to play down the ethnic and nationalistic aspirations of Judaism and were convinced of their successful future in the countries of the diaspora. Today, Zionist activities are organized under the auspice of the World Zionist Organization which embraces all the various, federations, and associations.