Religious Knowledge Thread

[Insidious Rex]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
No, those ones you talked about (or maybe somewhat before them, but not too much) were the kind I was talking about. Post-cave-man era.

Yeah Im interested in those too. Dont know nearly enough about the truly ancient religions. Any Sumerians on the moot?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

LOL!

[The Lady of Ithilien]

Just wanted to insert something I read yesterday, apparently a true story, though told second hand: an anthropologist in Alaska was talking to a shaman there, who let the anthropologist go on and on about systems of worship and the like, and finally got fed up and said: "Look, you worship. We fear."

Interesting. Do more primitive religions act primarily out of fear, while the members of four of the five great religions currently (the fifth -- I'm serious -- being irreligion) are advanced beyond fear into worship or another form of intellectual activity?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I suppose it depends on your definition of 'fear'.

[TinuvielChild]

What "higher authority" -like priests and whatnot - do atheists answer to, if any? Just wondering.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Of course, not being atheistic, I don't know, but I think that as a whole, they are their own 'higher authority'. They tell themselves what is right and what is wrong.

Though I would expect it to vary from atheist to atheist.

[Insidious Rex]

Originally posted by TinuvielChild
What "higher authority" -like priests and whatnot - do atheists answer to, if any? Just wondering.

Yeah the Murray family.

In America they even have a president: http://www.atheists.org/welcome.html. And a board of directors. In many ways they organize just like any other religion. Although their approach tends to be more corporate design then religious heirarchy and theres no reason to actually listen to anyone who calls themself an atheist authority.

[TinuvielChild]

Thanks!

[GrayMouser]

Originally posted by TinuvielChild
What "higher authority" -like priests and whatnot - do atheists answer to, if any? Just wondering.

None. Zippo. Nobody. (Hey, Mom, just kidding.- Ouch!)

[GrayMouser]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
Not QUITE that originally. I mean like several thousand years ago, before the time of the Romans, like maybe around the days of Egypt as two kingdoms, or maybe earlier.

EDIT:
When I say 'didn't they all worship one pantheon/deity', I should have said 'each' instead of 'all'. In other words, each pagan would worship one deity or pantheon, not that they would all worship one deity or pantheon.

I think that they would come from a few different sources.

One would be the personification of Nature, ranging from Sun and Earth Gods/Godesses to individual trees, springs etc.

That would make it easy to conflate beliefs - "The King of the Gods is called Marduk" "Oh, we call him Zeus. I'll tell you a story about him, and you tell me one of yours."

Or, conflict- "We beat you, so our god is more powerful than yours."

Another process is euhemerisation- attributing the origins of the gods to the memories of notable human beings

This is very common in Chinese folk religion; many gods were originally historical figures. This is said to be happening with Mao Tse-tung; apparently many peasants in China have shrines to the Chairman, complete with incense and offerings. He is being sanctified as the protector of the oppressed and poor , in the face of the 'reforms' of the very corrupt modern-day Communist Party (in spite of his 'Great Leap Forward' which caused 30 million deaths by starvation.)

[Gwaimir Windgem]

That reminds me of the Catholic practice of canonizing Saints, and makes me wonder something: what is the Catholic foundation for the practice of "praying" to and canonizing Saints?

[jerseydevil]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
That reminds me of the Catholic practice of canonizing Saints, and makes me wonder something: what is the Catholic foundation for the practice of "praying" to and canonizing Saints?

Well saints are just protectors. The process for canonizing is long. So many confirmed miracles have to be attributed to them. I forget all the rules - but it's not like they just one day decide - "Think we'll make them a saint".

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Yes, I know that. I think I read that either 6 or 12 prayers to a dead person had to be answered before they would be canonized. But what I meant was: What is the Scriptural basis?

[Elvellyn]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
That reminds me of the Catholic practice of canonizing Saints, and makes me wonder something: what is the Catholic foundation for the practice of "praying" to and canonizing Saints?

My friend goes to a Catholic school, and she said that when they "pray" to saints they aren't really praying to them; its more like asking the saint to intercede for them (or something like that.)

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Yes, I know, I've heard that. That's why I put quotes around the 'praying'.

Ok, any Catholics out there who feel like answering my question?

[Arien the Maia]

Originally posted by Gwaimir Windgem
Yes, I know, I've heard that. That's why I put quotes around the 'praying'.

Ok, any Catholics out there who feel like answering my question?

Ok, I don't have a Bible or the Catechism handy but when I get a chance I will look up the praying to the saints thing! I will say this though...alot of protestants and non christians think that when we "pray" to the saints or Mary that we are worshipping them. There is a big difference between praying and worshipping....we only worship the One true God, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Only he can truely answer what we have prayed for. In asking the saints or MAry to pray for something, well the Church has always said that the Church is composed of members who reside in Heaven, Purgatory and Earth. We are all connected and continue to help one another through the power of prayer.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Of course, I didn't think it was actually worship. I know more than that.

Thanks for your time!

And now I have a question for Coney (If you don't want to answer, then don't): In what way do you worship your Gods?

[Gwaimir Windgem]

I guess I was a bit too personal. Sorry!

Okay, I have a few questions for Jews, and one for Catholics:

Jews:

1. Do you believe in Kabbalah, and could you give a general overview of it?

2. Do you believe in a "golem"?

3. Do you believe that if one utters the name of God (the Ineffable Name) as spelled by the Hebrew consonants, that they have no place in the World to Come?

4. Could you give a general overview of your stance on animal sacrifice, if the Temple were rebuilt?

Catholics:

1. Could you give a general overview of exorcists?

Also, if you could answer my previous question I'd greatly appreciate it.

Thanks very much for your time!

P. S. - To Wiccans: Was my original question regarding your religion too personal?

[TinuvielChild]

I think Coney just forgot to check the thread.


Wiccan worship varies from individual to individual, depending on the tradition they follow, same as with Christians. There are daily devotions, small rituals with a purpose ("spells"), and then there are the Sabbats/Esbats. Those are the "holy days", and there are 8 major Sabbats: Imbolc, Ostara, Beltane, Summer Solstice, Lammas, Mabon, Samhain, and Yule. Ostara, Summer Solstice, Mabon, and Yule are the equinoxes and the more "minor" of the 8. Besides all that, Wiccans worship their gods/goddesses with their actions, much as Christians do. They follow the Wiccan Rede, which states "An' it harm none, do as ye will!" Then there's meditation, herbalism, and a million other paths one can follow.


Any "real" Wiccans out there who feel like correcting me, please feel free to do so; I'm a bit hazy on all this myself.

[Gwaimir Windgem]

Thanks very much for your reply, TC.

Just for reference, my original question was:

3.
Wiccans worship a God and Goddess, right? Do they have names?