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	Syncretism consists of the attempt to reconcile disparate or contrary beliefs, often while melding practices of various schools of thought. The term may refer to attempts to merge and analogise Analogy Analogy is both the cognition process of transferring information from a particular subject to another particular subject , and a language expression corresponding to such a process.... several originally discrete tradition Tradition The word tradition comes from the Latin traditionem, acc. of traditio which means "handing over, passing on", and is used in a number of ways in the English language:... s, especially in the theology Theology Theology is the study of the existence or attributes of a deity or gods, or more generally the study of religion or spirituality. It is sometimes contrasted with religious studies: theology is understood as the study of religion from an internal perspective , and religious studies as the study of religion from an external perspective.... and mythology Mythology The word *mythology* refers to a body of folklore/myths/legends that a particular culture believes to be true and that often use the supernatural to interpret natural events and to explain the nature of the universe and humanity.... of religion Religion A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of myth, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendence quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power or truth.... , and thus assert an underlying unity allowing for an inclusive Inclusive * In the description of any formally defined set, the rules by which an object may be defined as included in the set are referred to as rules of inclusion or inclusive rules.... approach to other faiths. Syncretism also occurs commonly in literature Literature Literature is the art of written works. Literally translated, the word means "acquaintance with letters" . In Western culture the most basic written literary types include fiction and non-fiction.... , music Music Music is an art form whose media is sound organized in time. Common elements of music are pitch , rhythm , dynamics , and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture .... , the representational arts and other expressions of culture Culture Culture is difficult to define. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions.... . (Compare the concept of eclecticism Eclecticism Eclecticism is a conceptual approach that does not hold rigidly to a single paradigm or set of assumptions, but instead draws upon multiple theories, styles, or ideas to gain complementary insights into a subject, or applies different theories in particular cases.... .) Syncretism may occur in architecture as well. There also exist syncretic politics Syncretic politics Syncretic politics involves taking political positions that attempt to reconcile seemingly opposed ideological systems, usually by combining some elements associated with the Left-wing politics with some associated with the right-wing politics.... , although in political classification the term has a somewhat different meaning. Origin of the word The Oxford English Dictionary Oxford English Dictionary The *Oxford English Dictionary* , published by the Oxford University Press , is a comprehensive dictionary of the English language. Two fully-bound print editions of the OED have been published under its current name, in 1928 and 1989; as of December 2008 the dictionary's current editors have completed a quarter of the third edition.... first attests the word syncretism in English in 1618. It derives from modern Latin Latin Latin is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. Through the Military history of the Roman Empire, Latin spread throughout the Mediterranean and a large part of Europe.... syncretismus, drawing on Greek Greek language Greek is an Indo-European languages native to the southern Balkan peninsula, the language of the Greek people. It forms an independent branch within Indo-European.... s?????t?sµ?? (synkretismos), meaning "Synchronization with Crete." The Greek word occurs in Plutarch Plutarch Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. AD 46 ? 120 ? commonly known in English as Plutarch ? was a Ancient Rome historian , biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonism.... 's (1st century AD) essay on "Fraternal Love" in his Moralia (2.490b). He cites the example of the Cretans Crete Crete is the largest of the Greek islands and the List of islands in the Mediterranean largest island in the Mediterranean Sea at 8,336 km? .... , who reconciled their differences and came together in alliance when faced with external dangers. "And that is their so-called Syncretism." Erasmus probably coined the modern usage of the Latin word (in his Adagia Adagia *Adagia* is an annotated collection of Greek language and Latin adages, compiled during the Renaissance by Netherlands Humanism Erasmus. According to Speroni , Adagia is one of "the most monumental collections of [...] adagia ever assembled".... ("Adages"), published in the winter of 1517–1518) to designate the coherence of dissenter Dissenter The term dissenter , labels one who dissents or disagrees in matters of opinion, belief, etc. In the social and religious history of England and Wales, however, it refers particularly to a member of a religious body in England or Wales who has, for one reason or another, separated from the Established Church.... s in spite of their differences in theological opinions. In a letter to Melanchthon of April 22, 1519, Erasmus specifically adduced the Cretans of Plutarch as an example of his adage "Concord is a mighty rampart". Social and political roles Overt syncretism in folk belief may show cultural acceptance of an alien or previous tradition, but the "other" cult may survive or infiltrate without authorized syncresis nevertheless. For example, some Converso Converso Conversos and its feminine form conversa referred to Jews or Muslims or the descendants of Jews or Muslims who converted to Catholicism in Spain and Portugal, particularly during the 14th and 15th centuries.... s developed a sort of cult Cult (religious practice) In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings , its theology or mythologys, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety.... for martyr-victims of the Spanish Inquisition Spanish Inquisition The Spanish Inquisition was an ecclesiastical tribunal established in 1478 by Catholic Monarchs Ferdinand II of Aragon and Isabella I of Castile.... , thus incorporating elements of Catholicism Catholicism Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its Theology and doctrines, its Catholic liturgy, Ethics, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole.... while resisting it. Some religious movements have embraced overt syncretism, such as the case of the adoption of Shinto Shinto is the former state religion of Japan and remains the most common name for the nation's non-Buddhist ethnic religion practices. It was formed from disparate local mythologies, beginning with the Kojiki of 712, into an imperial cult called State Shinto that solidified in the Meiji period.... elements into Buddhism Buddhism Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal.... as well as the adoption of Germanic and Celtic pagan elements into Catholicism during Christianity's spread into Gaul, the British Isles and Germany. Others have strongly rejected it as devaluing precious and genuine distinctions; examples of this include post-Exile Judaism Judaism Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts.... and Islam Islam Islam is a Monotheism, Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of the Prophets of Islam Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure.... . Syncretism tends to facilitate coexistence and constructive interaction between different cultures (intercultural competence Intercultural competence Intercultural competence is the ability of successful communication with people of other cultures.A person who is interculturally competent captures and understands, in interaction with people from foreign cultures, their specific concepts in perception, thinking, feeling and acting.... ), a factor that has recommended it to rulers of multi-ethnic realm Empire Empire derives from the Latin word imperium, denoting ?military command? in Roman. Politically, an empire is a geographically extensive group of states and peoples united and ruled either by a monarch or an oligarchy.... s. Conversely the rejection of syncretism, usually in the name of "piety Piety In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue. While different people may understand its meaning differently, it is generally used to refer either to religion or to spirituality, or often, a combination of both.... " and "orthodoxy Orthodoxy The word orthodox, from Greek language orthodoxos "having the right opinion," from orthos + Doxa , is typically used to mean adhering to the accepted or traditional and established faith, especially in religion.... ," may help to generate, bolster or authorize a sense of cultural unity Cultural identity Cultural identity is the Identity of a group or culture, or of an individual as far as he or she is influenced by her belonging to a group or culture.... in a well-defined minority or majority. Religious syncretism Religious syncretism exhibits blending of two or more religious belief systems into a new system, or the incorporation into a religious tradition of beliefs from unrelated traditions. This can occur for many reasons, and the latter scenario happens quite commonly in areas where multiple religious traditions exist in proximity and function actively in the culture, or when a culture is conquered, and the conquerors bring their religious beliefs with them, but do not succeed in entirely eradicating the old beliefs or, especially, practices. Religions may have syncretic elements to their beliefs or history, but adherents of so-labeled systems often frown on applying the label, especially adherents who belong to "revealed" religious systems, such as the Abrahamic religions Abrahamic religions Abrahamic religions are monotheistic faiths which recognize a spiritual tradition identified with Abraham. The term is mostly used to refer collectively to Judaism, Christianity and Islam.... , or any system that exhibits an exclusivist Exclusivism Exclusivism is the practice of being exclusive; mentality characterized by the disregard for opinions and ideas other than one's own, or the practice of organizing entities into groups by excluding those entities which possess certain traits .... approach. Such adherents sometimes see syncretism as a betrayal of their pure truth. By this reasoning, adding an incompatible belief corrupts the original religion, rendering it no longer true. Indeed, critics of a specific syncretistic trend may sometimes use the word "syncretism" as a disparaging epithet, as a charge implying that those who seek to incorporate a new view, belief, or practice into a religious system actually distort the original faith. Non-exclusivist systems of belief, on the other hand, may feel quite free to incorporate other traditions into their own. In modern secular Secularization Secularization or secularisation generally refers to people of transformation by which a society migrates from close identification with religious institutions to a more separated relationship.... society, religious innovators sometimes create new religions syncretically as a mechanism to reduce inter-religious tension and enmity, often with the effect of offending the original religions in question. Such religions, however, do maintain some appeal to a less exclusivist audience. Discussions of some of these blended religions appear in the individual sections below. Ancient Greece Syncretism functioned as an essential feature of Ancient Greek Ancient Greece The term Ancient Greece refers to the period of History of Greece lasting from the Greek Dark Ages ca. 1100 BC and the Dorian invasion, to 146 BC and the Roman Republic conquest of Greece after the Battle of Corinth .... religion. Overall, Hellenistic Hellenistic Greece In the context of Ancient Greek art, architecture, and culture, Hellenistic Greece corresponds to the period between the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC and the annexation of the Classical Greece heartlands by Roman Republic in 146 BC.... culture in the age that followed Alexander the Great Alexander the Great Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle.... itself showed syncretist features, essentially blending of Persian Iran Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran and formerly known internationally as Persian Empire until 1935, is a country in Central Eurasia, located on the northeastern shore of the Persian Gulf and the southern shore of the Caspian Sea.... , Anatolia Anatolia Anatolia or Asia Minor is a region of Western Asia, comprising most of the modern Republic of Turkey. It is a geographic region bounded by the Black Sea to the north, the Caucasus to the northeast, the Aegean Sea to the west, the Mediterranean Sea to the south, and the Iranian plateau to the east and southeast.... n, Egypt Egypt Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.... ian (and eventually Etruscan Etruscan civilization Etruscan civilization is the modern English name given to the culture and way of life of a people of ancient Italy and Corsica whom the ancient Romans called Etrusci or Tusci.... -Roman) elements within an Hellenic formula. The Egyptian Egyptian mythology Ancient Egyptian religion encompasses the various religious beliefs and rituals practiced in ancient Egypt over at least 3,000 years, from the Predynastic Egypt until the adoption of Coptic Christianity in the early centuries Common Era.... god Amun Amun Amun, reconstructed Egyptian language Yamanu , was the name of a deity in Egyptian mythology who gradually rose from being an abstract concept to the patron deity of Thebes, Egypt and one of the most important deities in Ancient Egypt before fading into obscurity.... developed as the Hellenized Zeus Zeus Zeus in Greek mythology is the king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky father and List of thunder gods. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull , and oak.... Ammon after Alexander the Great Alexander the Great Alexander the Great , also known as Alexander III of Macedon was an ancient Greeks King of Macedon . He was one of the most successful military commanders of all time and is presumed undefeated in battle.... went into the desert to seek out Amun's oracle Oracle An oracle is a person or agency considered to be a source of wise counsel or prophecy opinion; an infallible authority, usually Spirituality in nature.... at Siwa Siwa Oasis The Siwa Oasis is an oasis in Egypt, located between the Qattara Depression and the Egyptian Sand Sea in the Libyan Desert, nearly 50 kilometre east of the Libyan border, and 560 km from Cairo.... . Such identifications derive from interpretatio graeca Interpretatio graeca *Interpretatio graeca* is a Latin term for the common tendency of ancient Greek writers to equate foreign divinities to members of their own pantheon.... , the Hellenic habit of identifying gods of disparate mythologies Mythology The word *mythology* refers to a body of folklore/myths/legends that a particular culture believes to be true and that often use the supernatural to interpret natural events and to explain the nature of the universe and humanity.... with their own. When the proto-Greeks (peoples whose language would evolve into Greek proper) first arrived in the Aegean Aegean Sea The Aegean Sea is an elongated embayment of the Mediterranean Sea located between the southern Balkans and Anatolian peninsulas, i.e., between the mainlands of Greece and Turkey respectively.... and on the mainland of modern-day Greece early in the 2nd millennium BCE, they found localized nymph Nymph In Greek mythology, a nymph is any member of a large class of mythological entities in human form. They were typically associated with a particular location or landform.... s and divinities Divinity Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems ? and even by different individuals within a given faith ? to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power, or its attributes or manifestations in the world.... already connected with every important feature of the landscape: mountain Mountain A mountain is a landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area usually in the form of a peak. A mountain is generally steeper than a hill.... , cave Cave A cave is a natural underground void large enough for a human to enter. Some people suggest that the term cave should only apply to cavities that have some part that does not receive daylight; however, in popular usage, the term includes smaller spaces like sea caves, rock shelters, and grottos.... , grove Grove (nature) A grove is a small group of trees, such as a sequoia grove, or a small orchard planted for the cultivation of fruits or nut . Other words for groups of trees include woodland, copse, woodlot, thicket or spinney.... and spring Spring (hydrosphere) A spring is a point where groundwater flows out from the ground, and is thus where the aquifer surface meets the ground surface.Dependent upon the constancy of the water source , a spring may be ephemeral or Perennial stream .... all had their own locally-venerated deity Deism Deism is a religious and philosophical belief that a supreme natural God exists and created the physical universe, and that religious truths can be arrived at by the application of reason and observation of the natural world.... . The countless epithet Epithet An epithet is a descriptive word or phrase accompanying or occurring in place of the name of a person or thing, which has become a fixed formula.... s of the Olympian gods reflect their syncretic identification with these various figures. One defines "Zeus Molossos" (worshipped only at Dodona Dodona Dodona in Epirus in northwestern Greece, was a prehistoric oracle devoted to the Mother Goddess identified at other sites with Rhea or Gaia , but here called Dione and later, in historical times also to the Greek mythology God Zeus.... ) as "the god identical to Zeus as worshipped by the Molossians Molossians The Molossians were an ancient Greeks tribe that settled Epirus during Mycenaean Greece times. On their northeast frontier they had the Chaonians and to their southern frontier the kingdom of the Thesprotians, to their north were the Illyrians.... at Dodona". Much of the apparently arbitrary and trivial mythic fabling Fable A fable is a succinct story, in prose or verse, that features animals, plants, inanimate, or nature which are anthropomorphized , and that illustrates a moral lesson , which may at the end be expressed explicitly in a pithy maxim .... results from later mythographers' attempts to explain these obscure epithets. Judaism In Moses and Monotheism, Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud Sigmund Freud , born Sigismund Schlomo Freud , was an Austrian psychiatrist who founded the psychoanalysis of psychology. Freud is best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the defense mechanism of Psychological repression and for creating the clinical practice of psychoanalysis for curing psychopathology through dialogue... made a case for Judaism Judaism Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts.... arising out of the pre-existing monotheism Monotheism In theology, monotheism is the belief that only one god exists. The concept of "monotheism" tends to be dominated by the concept of God in the Abrahamic religions, such as Judaism, Christianity and Islam, and the Neoplatonism concept of God as put forward by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite.... that was briefly imposed upon Egypt Egypt Egypt is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Western Asia. Covering an area of about , Egypt borders the Mediterranean Sea to the north, the Gaza Strip and Israel to the northeast, the Red Sea to the east, Sudan to the south and Libya to the west.... during the rule of Akhenaten Akhenaten Akhenaten , was a Pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty of Egypt, who died 1336 BC or 1334 BC. He is especially noted for attempting to compel the Egyptian population in the monotheism worship of Aten, although there are doubts as to how successful he was at this.... . Aten Aten Aten was the disk of the sun in ancient Egyptian mythology, and originally an aspect of Ra. He became the deity of the monotheism ? in fact, monism ? religion Atenism of Amenhotep IV, who took the name Akhenaten.... , the disk of the sun Sun The Sun , a G V star, is the star at the center of the Solar System. The Earth and other matter orbit the Sun, which by itself accounts for about 98.6% of the Solar System's mass.... in ancient Egyptian mythology, and originally an aspect of Ra Ra Ra is an ancient Egyptian Solar deity . By the Fifth dynasty of Egypt he became a major deity in ancient Egyptian religion, identified primarily with the noon, with other deities representing other positions of the sun.... , was chosen as the sole deity for Akhenaten's new religion. The "Code of Hammurabi Code of Hammurabi The Code of Hammurabi is a well-preserved ancient law code, created ca. 1760 BC in ancient Babylon. It was enacted by the sixth Babylonian king, Hammurabi.... " is also cited as a likely starting point for the Jewish Ten Commandments Ten Commandments The Ten Commandments, or Decalogue, are a list of religious and moral imperatives that, according to Judeo-Christian tradition, were authored by God and given to Moses on the mountain referred to as "Biblical Mount Sinai" or "Mount Horeb" in the form of two stone tablets.... . Hammurabi Hammurabi Hammurabi Hammurabi is known for the set of laws called Code of Hammurabi, one of the first written Civil code in recorded history. These laws were written on a stone tablet standing over six feet tall that was found in 1901.... was from the Mesopotamia Mesopotamia Mesopotamia is the area of the Tigris-Euphrates river system, along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, largely corresponding to modern Iraq, as well as some parts of northeastern Syria, some parts of southeastern Turkey, and some parts of the Khuzestan Province of southwestern Iran.... n culture that revered Marduk Marduk Marduk was the Babylonian language name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon permanently became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi , started to slowly rise to the position of the head of the Babylonian pantheon, a position he fully acqu... , among others. Judaism fought lengthy battles against syncretist tendencies: note the case of the golden calf Golden calf The golden calf was an idolatry made for the Israelites during Moses' absence, as he went up to Mount Sinai. According to the Hebrew Bible, the calf was made by Aaron to satisfy the Israelites, whereas the Quran indicates the maker to be Samiri.... and the railing of prophet Prophet In religion, a prophet is a person who has claimed to have encountered the supernatural or the Divinity, often one who serves as an intermediary with humanity.... s against temple prostitution, witchcraft Witchcraft Witchcraft, in various historical, anthropological, religious and mythological contexts, is the use of certain kinds of supernatural or Magic powers.... and local fertility cults, as told in the Tanakh Tanakh The Tanakh is the Bible used in Judaism. The name "Tanakh" is a Hebrew language Acronym and initialism formed from the initial Hebrew alphabet of the Tanakh's three traditional subdivisions: The Torah , Nevi'im and Ketuvim - hence TaNaKh.... . On the other hand, some scholars hold that Judaism refined its concept of monotheism and adopted features such as its eschatology Eschatology Eschatology is a part of theology and philosophy concerned with what is believed to be the final events in the history of the world, or the ultimate destiny of All humanity, commonly referred to as the end of the world.... , angelology and demonology Demonology Demonology is the systematic research of demons or beliefs about demons. Insofar as it involves exegesis, demonology is an orthodox branch of theology.... through contacts with Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster, after whom the religion is named. The term Zoroastrianism is in general usage, essentially synonymous with Mazdaism, i.e., the worship of Ahura Mazda, exalted by Zoroaster as the supreme divine authority.... . In spite of the Jewish halakhic Halakha Halakha ? also Hebrew transliteration Halocho and Halacha ? is the collective body of Judaism religious law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.... prohibitions on polytheism Polytheism Polytheism is the belief in or worship of multiple deities, such as gods and goddesses. These are usually assembled into a Pantheon , along with their own mythology and rituals.... , idolatry Idolatry Idolatry is usually defined as worship of any cult image, idea, or Object , as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. It is considered a major sin in the Abrahamic religions whereas in religions where such activity is not considered as sin, the term "idolatry" itself is absent.... , and associated practices (avodah zarah Avodah Zarah *Avodah Zarah* is the name of a tractate in the Talmud, located in Nezikin, the fourth Order of the Talmud dealing with legal damages. The main topic of the tractate is laws pertaining to Jews living amongst Gentiles, including regulations about the interaction between Jews and "idolaters" , both for distancing Jews from the act of id... ), several combinations of Judaism with other religions have sprung up: Jewish Buddhism, Nazarenism Nazarene (sect) The Nazarene sect were an Early Christianity Jewish Christian sect similar to the Ebionites, in that they maintained their adherence to the Torah, but unlike the Ebionites, they accepted the virgin birth and divinity of Jesus.... , Judeo-Paganism Judeo-Paganism Jewitch or Jewish Neopaganism is a religious movement that seeks to create an earth-based religion for the Jew. It mixes principles of Judaism, Neopaganism and the Kabbalah.... , Messianic Judaism Messianic Judaism Messianic Judaism is a religious movement whose adherents believe that Jesus of Nazareth, whom they call Yeshua , is both the Death and resurrection of Jesus Jewish Messiah and their Divinity Salvation.... , Jewish Mormonism Mormonism and Judaism Latter-day Saints believe themselves to be either direct descendants of the Israelites, or adopted into it. As such, Judaism is foundational to the history of Mormonism; Jews are looked upon as a covenant people of God, held in high esteem, and are respected in the Mormon faith system.... , Crypto-Judaism Crypto-Judaism Crypto-Judaism is the secret adherence to Judaism while publicly professing to be of another faith; people who practice crypto-Judaism are referred to as "crypto-Jews".... (in which Jews publicly profess another faith and privately celebrate Judaism), and others. Until relatively recently, China China China is a Culture of China, an ancient civilization, and, depending on perspective, a national or multinational entity extending over a large area in East Asia.... had a Jewish community which had adopted some Confucian practices. Several of the Jewish Messiah Jewish Messiah Messiah In Jewish eschatology, the term came to refer to a future Jewish monarch from the Davidic line, who will be "anointed" with holy anointing oil and rule the Jewish people during the Messianic Age.... claimants (such as Jacob Frank Jacob Frank Jacob Frank was an 18th century Jewish religious leader who claimed to be the reincarnation of the self-proclaimed messiah Sabbatai Zevi and also of King David.... ) and the Sabbateans came to mix Cabalistic Kabbalah Kabbalah is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mysticism aspect of Judaism. It is a set of esoteric teachings that are meant to explain the relationship between an infinite, eternal and essentially unknowable Creator deity with the finite and mortal universe of His creation.... Judaism with Christianity and Islam. Roman world The Romans Rome Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some .... , identifying themselves as common heirs to a very similar civilization, identified Greek deities Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the Ancient Greece concerning their List of Greek mythological figures#Immortals and Greek hero cult, Cosmology#Metaphysical cosmology, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices.... with similar figures in the Etruscan-Roman tradition Roman mythology Roman mythology, or more appropriately, Latin mythology, refers to the mythology beliefs of the Italic people inhabiting the region of Latium and its main city, Rome.... , though without usually copying cult practice Cult (religious practice) In traditional usage, the cult of a religion, quite apart from its sacred writings , its theology or mythologys, or the personal faith of its believers, is the totality of external religious practice and observance, the neglect of which is the definition of impiety.... s. (For details, see Interpretatio graeca Interpretatio graeca *Interpretatio graeca* is a Latin term for the common tendency of ancient Greek writers to equate foreign divinities to members of their own pantheon.... .) Syncretic god God God is a deity in theism and deism religions and other belief systems, representing either the sole deity in monotheism, or a principal deity in polytheism.... s of the Hellenistic period found also wide favor in Rome: Serapis Serapis Serapis was a Syncretism Hellenistic-ancient Egypt god in classical antiquity. His most renowned temple was at Alexandria,. Under Ptolemy I of Egypt, efforts were made to integrate Egyptian religion with that of their Hellenic rulers.... , Isis ISIS ISIS is an industry standard interface for technologies, developed by Pixel Translations in 1990 .ISIS is an open standard for scanner control and a complete image-processing framework.... and Mithras, for example. Cybele Cybele Cybele , was the Phrygian deification of the Earth Mother. As with Greek Gaia , or her Minoan civilization equivalent Rhea , Cybele embodies the fertile Earth, a goddess of caverns and mountains, walls and fortresses, nature, wild animals .... as worshipped in Rome essentially represented a syncretic East Mediterranean goddess Goddess A goddess is a female deity. Often deities are part of a polytheism system that includes several deities in a pantheon .Common associations of goddesses are the Earth goddess, the Mother Goddess, Love goddess, and the hearth goddess, reflecting historical gender roles.... . The Romans imported the Greek god Dionysus Dionysus In classical mythology, Dionysus or Dionysos , is the God of wine, the inspirer of ritual madness and ecstasy, and a major figure of Greek mythology, and one of the twelve Olympians, among whom Greek mythology treated Dionysus as a late arrival.... into Rome, where he merged with the Latin mead god Liber, and converted the Anatolian Sabazios Sabazios Sabazios is the nomadic horseman and sky father god of the Phrygians and Thracians. In Indo-European languages, such as Phrygian language, the '-zios' element in his name derives from dyeus, the common precursor of 'deus' and Zeus.... into the Roman Sabazius. The degree of correspondence varied: Jupiter makes perhaps a better match for Zeus Zeus Zeus in Greek mythology is the king of the gods, the ruler of Mount Olympus and the god of the sky father and List of thunder gods. His symbols are the thunderbolt, eagle, bull , and oak.... than the rural huntress Diana does for the feared Artemis Artemis In Greek mythology, Artemis was the daughter of Zeus and Leto, and the twin sister of Apollo. She was the Hellenic goddess of forests and hills, child birth/virginity/fertility, the hunt and was often depicted as a huntress carrying a bow and arrows..... . Ares Ares In Greek mythology, Ares is the son of Zeus and Hera. Though often referred to as the Twelve Olympians God of warfare, he is more accurately the god of bloodlust, or slaughter personified: "Ares is apparently an ancient abstract noun meaning throng of battle, war."... does not quite match Mars. The Romans physically imported the Anatolian goddess Cybele Cybele Cybele , was the Phrygian deification of the Earth Mother. As with Greek Gaia , or her Minoan civilization equivalent Rhea , Cybele embodies the fertile Earth, a goddess of caverns and mountains, walls and fortresses, nature, wild animals .... into Rome from her Anatolian cult-center Pessinos in the form of her original aniconic archaic stone idol Idolatry Idolatry is usually defined as worship of any cult image, idea, or Object , as opposed to the worship of a monotheistic God. It is considered a major sin in the Abrahamic religions whereas in religions where such activity is not considered as sin, the term "idolatry" itself is absent.... ; they identified her as Magna Mater and gave her a matronly, iconic image developed in Hellenistic Pergamum. Likewise, when the Romans encountered Celt Celt Celts , is a modern term used to describe any of the European peoples who spoke, or speak, a Celtic languages. The term is also used in a wider sense to describe the Modern Celts of those peoples, notably those who participate in a Celtic culture.... s and Teutons, they mingled these peoples' Northern gods with their own, creating Apollo Sucellos (Apollo the Good Smiter) and Mars Thingsus (Mars of the war-assembly), among many others. In the Germania Germania (book) The *Germania* , written by Tacitus around 98, is an ethnography work on the Germanic tribes outside the Roman Empire.This work survived only in one single manuscript that was found in Hersfeld Abbey, Holy Roman Empire and brought to Italy in 1455 where Enea Silvio Piccolomini, the later Pope Pius II, first examined and analyzed it, wher... , the Roman historian Tacitus Tacitus Publius Cornelius Tacitus was a Roman Senate and a historian of the Roman Empire. The surviving portions of his two major works—the Annals and the Histories —examine the reigns of the Roman Emperors Tiberius, Claudius, Nero and those that reigned in the Year of the Four Emperors.... speaks of Teutonic worshippers of Hercules Heracles In Greek mythology, Heracles or Herakles meaning "glory of Hera", or "Glorious through Hera" Alcides or Alcaeus " was a hero, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, foster son of Amphitryon and great-grandson of Perseus.... and Mercury Mercury (mythology) In Roman mythology, Mercury was a messenger, and a god of trade, profit and commerce, the son of Maia Maiestas, also known as Ops, the Roman version of Cronus, and Jupiter .... ; most modern scholars tentatively identify Hercules as Thor Thor Thor is the red-haired and bearded god of thunder in Germanic mythology and Germanic paganism, and its subsets: Norse paganism, Anglo-Saxon paganism and Continental Germanic mythology.... and Mercury as Odin Odin Odin , is considered the chief ?sir in Norse paganism. Homologous with the Anglo-Saxons Woden and the Old High German Wotan, it is descended from Proto-Germanic Wodanaz or Wodanaz.... . Christianity Nascent Christianity Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... appears to have emerged from many Jewish and pagan cultural elements, at least partially, whilst discarding theologically or morally incompatible elements. Note for example the strong connection between the thought of St. Augustine and Neoplatonic Neoplatonism Neoplatonism is the modern term for a school of religious and mystical philosophy that took shape in the 3rd century AD, founded by Plotinus and based on the teachings of Plato and earlier Platonism.... thought; and St. Thomas Aquinas' many citations of "The Philosopher" (Aristotle Aristotle Aristotle was a Greeks philosopher, a student of Plato and teacher of Alexander the Great. He wrote on many subjects, including physics, metaphysics, Poetics , theater, music, logic, rhetoric, politics, government, ethics, biology and zoology.... ). Most scholars agree with this syncretism in principle. Medieval scholasticism Scholasticism Scholasticism was the dominant form of theology and philosophy in the Western Europe in the Middle Ages, particularly in the 12th, 13th, and 14th centuries.... engaged in prolonged and bitter debate over the place of pre-Christian classicism within the official Church teachings. Open Theists Open theism Open theism is a Christian theology movement that has developed within evangelicalism and post-evangelical Protestantism Christianity as a response to certain ideas that are related to the synthesis of Greek philosophy and Christian theology.... (a subset of Protestant Evangelicals) assert that Christianity Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... by the 3rd and 4th centuries had incorporated Greek Philosophy Greek philosophy Greek philosophy focused on the role of reason and inquiry. Many philosophers today concede that Greek philosophy has shaped the entire Western thought since its inception.... into its understanding of God. Syncretism did not play a role when Christianity split into eastern and western Catholicism Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its Theology and doctrines, its Catholic liturgy, Ethics, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole.... rites during the Great Schism East-West Schism The East-West Schism, or the Great Schism, divided medieval Christendom into Eastern and Western branches, which later became known as the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Roman Catholic Church, respectively.... . It became involved however with the rifts of the Protestant Reformation Protestant Reformation The Protestant Reformation was a Christian reform movement in Europe. It is thought to have begun in 1517 with Martin Luther's Ninety-Five Theses and may be considered to have ended with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648.... , with Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus was a Netherlands Renaissance humanist and Roman Catholic Church Christian theology. His scholarly name Desiderius Erasmus Roterodamus comprises the following three elements: the Latin noun desiderium ; the Greek adjective ???s???? meaning "desired", and, in the form Erasmus, also the name of a St.... 's readings of Plutarch. In 1615 David Pareus David Pareus Dr. David Pareus was a Germany Protestant theology and reformer.Pareus studied from the age of fourteen in Hirschberg. His father then disinherited him because of the opinions that David formed during his studies.... of Heidelberg Heidelberg Heidelberg is a city in Baden-W?rttemberg, Germany. As of 2006, over 140,000 people live within the city's area. The town of Heidelberg is an administrative district of its own.... urged Christians to a "pious syncretism" in opposing the Antichrist Antichrist The Antichrist is one who fulfills Biblical prophecies concerning an adversary of New Testament view on Jesus' life while resembling him in a deceptive manner.... , but few 17th-century Protestants discussed the compromises that might affect a reconciliation with the Catholic Church: Johann Hülsemann Johann Hülsemann Johann H?lsemann was a Germany Lutheran theologian. He is known as one of the most prominent literary opponents of Georgius Calixtus in the Syncretism#Syncretism in Christianity.... , Johann Georg Dorsche and Abraham Calovius Abraham Calovius Abraham Calovius was a Lutheran theologian, and was one of the champions of Lutheran orthodoxy in the 17th century.He was born in Mohrungen in the Duchy of Prussia.... (1612–1685) opposed the Lutheran Lutheranism Lutheranism is a major branch of Western Christianity that identifies with the teachings of the sixteenth-century Germans Reformer Martin Luther.... Georg Calisen "Calixtus" Georgius Calixtus Georgius Calixtus or Calisen was a Germany Lutheranism theologian.Calixtus was born in Medelby, Schleswig. Beginning in 1609, he travelled for four years in Germany, Belgium, England, and France.... (1586–1656) of the University of Helmstedt University of Helmstedt The University of Helmstedt, official Latin name: Academia Julia , was a university in Helmstedt in the Duchy of Brunswick that existed from 1576 until 1810.... for his . (See: Syncretistic Strife.) The modern celebrations of Christmas Christmas Christmas , also referred to as Christmas Day, is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that commemorates the birth of Jesus. The day marks the beginning of the larger season of Christmastide, which lasts Twelve Days of Christmas.... (as celebrated in the northern European tradition, originating from pagan Yule Yule Yule or Yule-tide is a List of winter festivals that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic peoples as a Germanic paganism religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christianity festival of Christmas.... holidays), Easter Easter Easter is the most important religious feast in the Christianity liturgical year.Christians believe that Jesus was Resurrection of Jesus from the dead three days after his Crucifixion of Jesus, and celebrate this resurrection on Easter Day or Easter Sunday , two days after Good Friday.... (as celebrated in the eastern European tradition, with the incorporation of spring fertility rite Fertility rite Fertility rites are religious rituals that reenact, either actually or symbolically, sexual acts and/or reproductive processes. As with the sacrifices of humans which many scholars think that ancient peoples made to ensure good fortune , fertility rites are a variety of sympathetic magic in which the forces of nature are to be influenced by... s) and Halloween Halloween Halloween is a holiday celebrated on October 31. It has roots in the Celtic mythology of Samhain and the Christian holy day of All Saints. It is largely a Secularity celebration, but some Christians and Paganism have expressed strong feelings about its religious overtones.... exemplify details of Christian/pagan syncretism. Earlier, the elevation of Christmas as an important holiday largely grew out of a need to replace the Saturnalia Saturnalia Saturnalia is the festival with which the Romans commemorated the dedication of the temple of the god Saturn , which was on 17 December. Over the years, it expanded to a whole week, to 23 December.... , a popular December festival of the Roman Empire. Roman Catholicism in Central Central America Central America is a central geography region of the Americas. It is the southernmost, isthmus portion of the North American continent, which connects with South America on the southeast.... and South America South America South America is the southern continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere.... has integrated a number of elements derived from indigenous and slave cultures in those areas (see the Caribbean and modern sections); while many African Initiated Church African Initiated Church An African Initiated Church is a Christian denomination started in Africa, by Africans, and not by missionaries from another continent.... es demonstrate an integration of Christian and traditional African beliefs. In Asia the revolutionary movements of Taiping Taiping Taiping meaning "peace", may refer to:Taiping , the largest of the Spratly Islands controlled by the Republic of China Taiping, Perak, a town in the state of Perak, Malaysia... (19th-century China) and God's Army God's Army (revolutionary group) God's Army is an armed revolutionary group that opposes the military government of Burma and advocates a doctrine based on a mixture of Christianity and animism.... (Karen Karen people The Karen , self-titled Pwa Ka Nyaw Po or Kayan, and also known in Thailand as the Kariang or Yang, are an ethnic group in Burma and Thailand.... in the 1990s) have blended Christianity and traditional beliefs. Traditional Catholics nonetheless often argue against "cafeteria Catholicism", or the act of "picking and choosing" what one wants to believe or practice. One can contrast Christian syncretism with contextualization Contextualization Contextualization is the process of assigning meaning, either Meaning or as a means of Meaning_#Meaning_as_internal_interpretation the environment within which an speech or Action is executed.... or inculturation Inculturation Inculturation is a term used in Christianity, especially in the Roman Catholic Church, referring to the adaptation of the way Church teachings are presented to non-Christian cultures, and to the influence of those cultures to the evolution of these teachings.... , the practice of making Christianity relevant to a culture. Syncretistic Strife of the 17th century The phrase "Syncretistic Strife" may refer to the theological quarrel provoked by the efforts of Georg Calixt and his supporters to secure a basis on which the Lutherans could make overtures to the Roman Catholic and the Reformed Churches. It lasted from 1640 to 1686. Calixt, a professor at Helmstedt University of Helmstedt The University of Helmstedt, official Latin name: Academia Julia , was a university in Helmstedt in the Duchy of Brunswick that existed from 1576 until 1810.... , had through his travels in England England native_name =\|conventional_long_name = England\|common_name = England\|image_flag = Flag of England.svg\|image_coat = England COA.svg\|symbol_type = Royal Coat of Arms... , the Netherlands Netherlands The Netherlands is a country that is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It is a parliamentary democratic constitutional monarchy. The Netherlands is located in North-West Europe, and bordered by the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east.... , Italy Italy Italy , officially the Italian Republic , is a country located on the Italian Peninsula in Southern Europe and on the two largest islands in the Mediterranean Sea, Sicily and Sardinia.... , and France France France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France.... , through his acquaintance with the different Churches and their representatives, and through his extensive study, developed a more friendly attitude towards the different religious bodies than the majority of his contemporary Lutheran theologians. While the latter firmly adhered to the "pure doctrine," Calixt tended not to regard doctrine as the one thing necessary for a Christian, while in doctrine itself he did not regard everything as equally certain and important. Consequently, he advocated unity between those who agreed on the fundamental minimum, with liberty as to all less fundamental points. In regard to Catholicism, he would have (as Melanchthon once would have) conceded to the pope Pope The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church and head of state of Vatican City. The current pope is Pope Benedict XVI, who was elected April 19, 2005 in Papal conclave, 2005.... a primacy human in origin, and he also admitted that one might call the Mass Mass (liturgy) The Mass is the Eucharistic celebration in the Latin liturgical rites of the Roman Catholic Church. The term is used also of similar celebrations in Old Catholic Churches, in the Anglo-Catholic tradition of Anglicanism, and in some largely High Church Lutheranism Lutheranism regions, including the Scandinavian and Baltic states countries.... a sacrifice. On the side of Calixt stood the theological faculties of Helmstedt University of Helmstedt The University of Helmstedt, official Latin name: Academia Julia , was a university in Helmstedt in the Duchy of Brunswick that existed from 1576 until 1810.... , Rinteln Rinteln Rinteln is a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the banks of the Weser river above the Porta Westfalica. Population: 28,500.... , and Königsberg University of Königsberg The University of K?nigsberg was the university of K?nigsberg, East Prussia. It was founded in 1544 by Albert, Duke of Prussia, and was commonly known as the Albertina.... ; opposed to him stood those of Leipzig University of Leipzig The University of Leipzig , located in Leipzig in the Free State of Saxony, Germany, is one of the oldest University in Europeand currently the List_of_universities_in_Germany#Universities_by_age university in Germany.... , Jena, Strasburg University of Strasbourg The University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France, is the largest university in France, with 43,000 students and over 4,000 researchers.... , Giessen University of Giessen The University of Gie?en is officially called *Justus Liebig-Universit?t Gie?en* after its most famous member, Justus von Liebig, the founder of modern agricultural chemistry and inventor of artificial fertiliser.... , Marburg, and Greifswald. Abraham Calov in especial opposed Calixt. The Elector of Saxony, for political reasons, opposed the Reformed Church, because the other two secular elector Prince-elector The Prince-Electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of Imperial election the Holy Roman Emperors.... s (Palatine and Brandenburg) were "reformed," and were getting more and more the advantage of him. In 1649 he sent to the three dukes of Brunswick, who maintained Helmstedt as their common university, a communication in which he voiced all the objections of his Lutheran professors, and complained that Calixt wished to extract the elements of truth from all religions, fuse all into an entirely new religion, and so provoke a violent schism. In 1650 Calov became a professor at Wittenberg, and he signalized his entrance into office with a vehement attack on the Syncretists in Helmstedt. An outburst of polemical writings followed. In 1650 the dukes of Brunswick answered the Elector of Saxony that the discord should not be allowed to increase, and proposed a meeting of the political councillors. Saxony, however, did not favour this suggestion. An attempt to convene a meeting of theologians was not more successful. The theologians of Wittenberg and Leipzig now elaborated a new formula, condemning ninety-eight heresies of the Helmstedt theologians. This formula (consensus) was to be signed by everyone who wished to remain in the Lutheran Church. Outside Wittenberg and Leipzig, however, it was not accepted, and Calixt's death in 1656 ushered in five years of almost undisturbed peace. The strife broke out afresh in Hesse-Kassel Hesse-Kassel The Landgraviate of Hessen-Kassel or Hesse-Cassel was a Reichsfrei principality of the Holy Roman Empire that came into existence when the Landgraviate of Hesse was divided in 1567 upon the death of Philip I, Landgrave of Hesse.... , where Landgrave Landgrave Landgrave was a title only used in the Holy Roman Empire and later on by its former territories. The title refers to a count who had feudal duty directly to the Holy Roman Emperor.... William VI William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel William VI, Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel , known as William the Just, was Landgrave of Hesse-Kassel from 1637 to 1663.... sought to effect a union between his Lutheran and Reformed subjects, or at least to lessen their mutual hatred. In 1661 he had a colloquy held in Kassel between the Lutheran theologians of the University of Rinteln Rinteln Rinteln is a small town in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is located on the banks of the Weser river above the Porta Westfalica. Population: 28,500.... and the Reformed theologians of the University of Marburg. Enraged at this revival of the syncretism of Calixt, the Wittenberg theologians in vehement terms called on the Rinteln professors to make their submission, whereupon the latter answered with a detailed defence. Another long series of polemical treatises followed. In Brandenburg-Prussia the Great Elector (Frederick William I) forbade (1663) preachers to speak of the disputes between the Evangelical bodies. A long colloquy in Berlin (September 1662 to May 1663) led only to fresh discord. In 1664 the elector repeated his command that preachers of both parties should abstain from mutual abuse, and should attribute to the other party no doctrine which was not actually held by such party. Whoever refused to sign the form declaring his intention to observe this regulation, was deprived of his position (e. g. Paul Gerhardt Paul Gerhardt Paul Gerhardt was a Germany hymn writer. He is commemorated as a hymnwriter in the Calendar of Saints of the Lutheran Church on 26 October with Philipp Nicolai and Johann Heermann.... , writer of religious songs). This arrangement was later modified, in that the forms were withdrawn, and action took place only against those who disturbed the peace. The attempts of the Wittenberg theologians to declare Calixt and his school un-Lutheran and heretical Heresy Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief, especially a religion, that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief.... were now met by Calixt's son, Friedrich Ulrich Calixt, The latter defended the theology of his father, but also tried to show that his doctrine did not so very much differ from that of his opponents. Wittenberg found its new champion in Ægidius Strauch, who attacked Calixt with all the resources of learning, polemics, sophistry, wit, cynicism, and abuse. The Helmstedt side was defended by the celebrated scholar and statesman, Hermann Conring Hermann Conring Hermann Conring was a German intellectual. He made significant contributions to the study of medicine, politics and law.Descended from Lutheran clergy on both sides of his family, second-youngest of ten children, Conring showed early promise as a student.... . The Saxon princes now recognized the danger that the attempt to carry through the "Consensus" as a formula of belief might lead to a fresh schism in the Lutheran Church, and might thus render its position difficult in the face of the Catholics. The proposals of Calov and his party to continue the refutation and to compel the Brunswick theologians to bind themselves under obligation to the old Lutheran confession therefore remained unimplemented. On the contrary, the Saxon theologians were forbidden to continue the strife in writing. Negotiations for peace then resulted, with Duke Ernst the Pious of Saxe-Gotha Saxe-Gotha Saxe-Gotha was a short-lived duchy in today's Thuringia, Germany.File:Schloss Friedenstein Gotha.JPGIt was established in 1640, when Wilhelm, Duke of Saxe-Weimar created a subdivision for his younger brother Ernest I, Duke of Saxe-Gotha.... especially active towards this end, and the project of establishing a permanent college of theologians to decide theological disputes was entertained. However, the negotiations with the courts of Brunswick, Mecklenburg, Denmark, and Sweden remained as fruitless as those with the theological faculties, except that peace was maintained until 1675. Calov Abraham Calovius Abraham Calovius was a Lutheran theologian, and was one of the champions of Lutheran orthodoxy in the 17th century.He was born in Mohrungen in the Duchy of Prussia.... then renewed hostilities. He now attacked not only Calixt, but also and particularly the moderate John Musæus of Jena. Calov succeeded in having the whole University of Jena (and after a long resistance Musæus himself) compelled to renounce syncretism. But this was his last victory. The elector renewed his prohibition against polemical writings. Calov seemed to give way, since in 1683 he asked whether, in the view of the danger which France then constituted for Germany, a Calixtinic Syncretism with "Papist Papist Papist is a term, usually disparaging or an anti-Catholic slur, referring to a member of the Roman Catholic Church. It was coined during the English Reformation to indicate that a Christian's loyalties were to the Pope, rather than to the anti-papal Church of England.... s" and the Reformed were still condemnable, and whether in deference to the Elector of Brandenburg and the dukes of Brunswick, the strife should not be buried by an amnesty, or whether, on the contrary, the war against syncretism should be continued. He later returned to his attack on the syncretists, but died in 1686, and with his death the strife ended. The Syncretist Strife had the result of lessening religious hatred and of promoting mutual forbearance. Catholicism Roman Catholic Church The Roman Catholic Church, officially known as the Catholic Church is the world's largest Christianity Ecclesia , representing over half of all Christians and one-sixth of the world population.... thus benefited, as Protestants came to better understand and appreciate it. In Protestant theology it prepared the way for the sentimental theology of Pietism Pietism Pietism was a movement within Lutheranism, lasting from the late 17th century to the mid-18th century and later. It proved to be very influential throughout Protestantism and Anabaptist, inspiring not only Anglicanism priest John Wesley to begin the Methodism, but also Alexander Mack to begin the Schwarzenau Brethren movement.... as the successor of fossilized orthodoxy Lutheran Orthodoxy Lutheran orthodoxy was an era in the history of Lutheranism, which began in 1580 from the writing of the Book of Concord and ended at the Age of Enlightenment.... . Islam Some scholars regard Islam as incorporating syncretically from other religions, particularly Judaism Judaism Judaism is a set of beliefs and practices originating in the Hebrew Bible , as later further explored and explained in the Talmud and other texts.... , Christianity Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... , and Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism Zoroastrianism is the religion and philosophy based on the teachings ascribed to the prophet Zoroaster, after whom the religion is named. The term Zoroastrianism is in general usage, essentially synonymous with Mazdaism, i.e., the worship of Ahura Mazda, exalted by Zoroaster as the supreme divine authority.... . Muslims do not regard this as syncretism, as they see Islam as a completion of divine revelations from Jewish and Christian prophets. It is a fundamental tenet of Islamic faith to believe in the consistency of message in the revelations from one God through many messengers to their people (Quran 2:285) and claims to be the revitalization of the original pure teaching of Allah Allah Allah is the standard Arabic language word for God. While the term is best known in the Western world for its use by Muslims as a reference to God, it is used by Arabic-speakers of all Abrahamic faiths, including Christians and Jews, in reference to "God".... . In traditional Islamic belief, the revelations in the Bible and Torah, over time, eventually became corrupted because of the lack of written manuscripts, serial translations from one language to another, or simply forgotten. Druze religion The Druze Druze The Druze are a religious community found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel and in the Palestinian territories whose traditional religion is said to have begun as an offshoot of Islam, but is unique in its incorporation of Gnosticism, Neoplatonism and other philosophies, similar to other followers of Ismaili Shi'a Islam.... s integrated elements of Ismaili Ismaili Ismailism is a branch of the Islam, and is the second largest part of the Shia Islam community, after the mainstream Twelvers . The Ismaili get their name from their acceptance of Ismail bin Jafar as the divinely appointed spiritual successor to Jafar al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kazim, younger bro... Islam Islam Islam is a Monotheism, Abrahamic religion originating with the teachings of the Prophets of Islam Muhammad, a 7th century Arab religious and political figure.... with Gnosticism Gnosticism Gnosticism refers to diverse, syncretistic religious movements in antiquity consisting of various belief systems generally united in the teaching that humans are divine souls trapped in a Nature created by an imperfect god, the demiurge; this being is frequently identified with the Abrahamic God, and is contrasted with a superior entity, ref... and Platonism Platonism Platonism is the philosophy of Plato or the name of other philosophical systems considered closely derived from it. In a narrower sense the term might indicate the doctrine of Platonic realism.... . Their practice of disguising themselves as followers of the dominant religion around them makes it difficult to distinguish belief from simulated belief. Barghawata The Barghawata kingdom followed a syncretic religion inspired by Islam (perhaps influenced by Judaism)with elements of Sunni, Shi'ite and Kharijite Islam, mixed with astrological and heathen traditions. Supposedly, they had their own Qur'an Qur'an The Qur?an is the central religious text of Islam. Muslims believe the Qur?an to be the book of divine guidance and direction for mankind, and consider the original Arabic text to be the final revelation of God.... in the Berber language comprising 80 suras under the leadership of the second ruler of the dynasty Salih ibn Tarif Salih ibn Tarif was the second king of the Berghouata, and proclaimed himself a prophet of a new religion. He appeared during the caliphate of Hisham ibn Abd al-Malik in 744 AD.... who had taken part in the Maysara uprising. He proclaimed himself a prophet. He also claimed to be the final Mahdi Mahdi According to the Shia and Sunni versions of the Islamic eschatology the Mahdi is the prophesied redeemer of Islam who will stay on earth seven, nine, or nineteen years before the coming of the day, Qiyamah .... , and that Isa ISA Isa may refer toIsa Miranda, Italian actressIsha Upanishad, A Hindu religious textIsa , a 2004 album by Enslaved.Isa , a local variation of a Jota .... (Jesus Jesus Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation .... ) would be his companion and pray behind him. Christianity The Christian Christian A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism#Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus and interpreted by Christians to have been prophesied in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.... origination from the teaching of a Jewish-born and raised individual, Jesus of Nazareth, may be considered a form of syncretism. Christianity, like all major world religions, has adopted doctrinal stances, practices and observances which are derived from other, sometimes earlier religious traditions. The Greek Dionysys, for example, was considered a twice-born god, and many Greek heroes such as Hercules were said to have been born from the supreme god (in this case Zeus) and a human woman. Bahá'í Faith The Bahá'ís Bahá'í Faith The 'Bah?'? Faith' is a monotheism religion founded by Bah?'u'll?h in nineteenth-century Persian Empire#Persia and Europe , emphasizing the spiritual unity of all humankind.... follow Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'u'lláh Bah?'u'll?h , born M?rz? usayn-`Al? Nuri , was the founder of the Bah?'? Faith. He claimed to be the prophetic fulfilment of B?bism, a 19th-century outgrowth of Shia Islam, but in a broader sense claimed to be a Manifestation of God referring to the fulfilment of the eschatology expectations of Islam, Christianity, and other major rel... , a prophet whom they consider a successor to Muhammad Muhammad Muhammad Patronymic#Arabic Abd Allah ibn Abd al Muttalib , is the founder of the Major religious groups of Islam and is regarded by Muslims as a Rasul and prophet of , the last and the greatest law-bearer in a series of prophets.... , Jesus Jesus Jesus of Nazareth , also known as Jesus Christ, is the central figure of Christianity and is revered by most Christian churches as the Son of God and the Incarnation .... , Moses Moses Moses is a Hebrew Bible Hebrews religious leader, lawgiver, prophet, to whom the Mosaic authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed. Also called Moshe Rabbeinu in Hebrew , he is the most important prophet in Judaism, and also an important prophet of Christianity, Islam, the Bah?'? Faith, Rastafari movement, Chrislam and many ot... , Buddha Gautama Buddha Siddhartha Gautama was a Spirituality teacher in the northern region of the Indian subcontinent who founded Buddhism. He is generally seen by Buddhists as the Supreme Buddhahood of our age.... , Zoroaster Zoroaster Zoroaster or Zarathushtra , also referred to as Zartosht , was an ancient Iranian peoples prophet and religious poet. The hymns attributed to him, the Gathas, are at the liturgical core of Zoroastrianism.... and others. This acceptance of other religious founders has encouraged some to regard the Bahá'í religion as a syncretic faith. However, Bahá'ís and the Bahá'í writings explicitly reject this view. Bahá'ís consider Bahá'u'lláh's revelation an independent, though related, revelation from God. Its relationship to previous dispensations Dispensationalism Dispensationalism is a Protestant evangelical theology and biblical hermeneutics framework for understanding the overall flow of the Bible. Rooted in the writings of John Nelson Darby, the term derives from the concept of a "dispensation" or administration referring to a series of chronologically successive dispensations that emphasize certa... is seen as analogous to the relationship of Christianity to Judaism. They regard beliefs held in common as evidence of truth, progressively revealed by God throughout human history, and culminating in (at present) the Bahá'í revelation. Bahá'ís have their own sacred scripture, interpretations, laws and practices that, for Bahá'ís, supersede those of other faiths. Caribbean religions and cultures The process of syncretism in the Caribbean Caribbean The Caribbean is a region consisting of the Caribbean Sea, its islands , and the surrounding coasts. The region is located southeast of the Gulf of Mexico and Northern America, east of Central America, and to the north of South America.... region often forms a part of cultural creolization. (The technical term "Creole Creole peoples The term *Creole* and its cognates in other languages ? such as *crioulo, criollo, cr?ole, kriolu, criol, kreyol, kriulo, kriol, krio, kreol, etc.... " may apply to anyone (regardless of race or ethnicity) born and raised in the region.) The shared histories of the Caribbean islands include long periods of European Imperialism Imperialism Imperialism* has two meanings; one describing an action and the other describing an attitude.#Action: Imperialism is the practice of extending the power, control or rule by one country over areas outside its borders.... (mainly by Spain Spain Spain or the Kingdom of Spain , is a country located in Southern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula.The Spanish constitution does not establish any official denomination of the country, even though Espa?a , Estado espa?ol and Naci?n espa?ola are used interchangeably.... , France France France , officially the French Republic , is a country whose Metropolitan France is located in Western Europe and that also comprises various Overseas departments and territories of France.... , and the United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom , the UK or Britain,is a sovereign state located off the northwestern coast of continental Europe.... ) and the importation of African slaves (primarily from Central and Western Africa Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area.... ). The influences of each of the above interacted in varying degrees on the islands, producing the fabric of society that exists today in the Caribbean. The Rastafari movement Rastafari movement The Rastafari movement is a monotheism, Abrahamic religions, new religious movement that accepts Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia, the former Emperor of Ethiopia, as the incarnation of God, called Jah or Jah Rastafari.... , founded in Jamaica Jamaica Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. It is about south of Cuba, and west of the island of Hispaniola, on which Haiti and the Dominican Republic are situated.... , syncretizes vigorously, mixing elements from the Bible Bible The Bible is the central religious text of Judaism and Christianity. The exact Books of the Bible is dependent on the religious traditions of specific denominations.... , Marcus Garvey Marcus Garvey Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., Order of National Hero , was a publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, Black Nationalist, Pan-Africanist, and orator. Marcus Garvey was founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League .... 's Pan Africanism movement, Hinduism Hinduism 'Hinduism' is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal dharma", by its practitioners.... , and Caribbean culture. Another highly syncretic religion of the area, vodou, combines elements of Western African, native Caribbean, and Christian Christianity Christianity is a Monotheistic religion #Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus as New Testament view on Jesus' life.... (especially Roman Catholic) beliefs. See the modern section for other Caribbean syncretisms. Indian traditions Hinduism Hinduism 'Hinduism' is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal dharma", by its practitioners.... , Buddhism Buddhism Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal.... and Jainism Jainism Jainism is one of the oldest Indian religions that originated in India. Jains believe that every soul is divine and has the potential to achieve God-consciousness.... in ancient India have made many adaptations over the millennia, assimilating elements of various diverse religious traditions. The Mughal Mughal Empire The Mughal Empire was a Muslim imperial power of the Indian subcontinent which began in 1526, ruled most of the Indian Subcontinent by the late 17th and early 18th centuries, and ended in the mid-19th century.... emperor Akbar, who wanted to consolidate the diverse religious communities in his empire, propounded Din-i-Ilahi Din-i-Ilahi The Din-i Ilahi , was a syncretism religious doctrine propounded by the Mughal Empire emperor Akbar the Great intended to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects.... , a syncretic religion intended to merge the best elements of the religions of his empire. Sikhism Sikhism Sikhism , founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab region, is the Major religious groups organized religion in the world.... blends many elements of Hinduism Hinduism 'Hinduism' is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal dharma", by its practitioners.... ,the reason for this is that Guru Nanak was a Hindu, before he had his own followers,which then formed Sikhism Sikhism Sikhism , founded on the teachings of Guru Nanak and ten successive Sikh Gurus in fifteenth century Punjab region, is the Major religious groups organized religion in the world.... . The Hindu Hinduism 'Hinduism' is the predominant religion of the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as , a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal dharma", by its practitioners.... teaching of Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar , also known by his spiritual name, Shrii Shrii Anandamurti, was an Indian philosopher, author, social revolutionary, poet, composer and linguistics.... as embodied in the socio-spiritual organization Ananda Marga Ananda Marga Ananda Marga, officially known as Ananda Marga Pracharaka Samgha meaning "the samgha for the propagation of the path of ananda" is a "social and spiritual movement" founded in Jamalpur, Bihar, India in 1955 by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar , known by his spiritual name of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti.... brings together the disparate branches of yoga for inner development, an ancient theory of social motivity and change Social cycle theory Social cycle theories are one of the earliest social theories in sociology. Unlike the theory of social evolutionism, which views the evolution of society and human history as progressing in some new, unique direction, sociological cycle theory argues that events and stages of society and history are generally repeating themselves in cycles.... , a theory of human and non-human welfare and intuitive insights into science with the aim to increase welfare on the planet. Other modern syncretic religions Recently-developed religious systems that exhibit marked syncretism include the New World New World The New World is one of the names used for the non-Eurasian/non-African parts of the Earth, specifically the Americas and Australasia. When the term originated in the late 15th century, the Americas were new to the Europeans, who previously thought of the world as consisting only of Europe, Asia, and Africa .... religions Candomblé Candomblé Candombl? is an African-originated or Afro-Brazilian religion, practiced chiefly in Brazil. The religion largely originated in the city of Salvador, the capital of Bahia.... , Vodou, and Santería Santería Santer?a is a Syncretism of Caribbean origin. Also known as Regla de Ocha, La Regla Lucumi, or Lukumi. From Spanish meaning "one who 'has', 'makes' or 'works' the spirit".... , which analogize various Yorùbá Yoruba mythology The Yor?b? religion comprises religious beliefs and practices of the Yoruba people of old before the Yoruba community encountered Islam, Christianity and other faiths.... and other Africa Africa Africa is the world's second-largest and second most-populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km? including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area.... n gods to the Roman Catholic saints List of saints This is an incomplete list of Christian saints in alphabetical order by Christian name, but if necessary by surname, the place or attribute part of name as well.... . However, the Catholic Church condemns such syncretism. Some sects of Candomblé Candomblé Candombl? is an African-originated or Afro-Brazilian religion, practiced chiefly in Brazil. The religion largely originated in the city of Salvador, the capital of Bahia.... have incorporated also Native American gods, and Umbanda Umbanda Umbanda is an Afro-Brazilian religion that blends African religions with Catholicism and Spiritism .Umbanda is related to and has many similitudes with other Afro-Brazilian religions like Candombl?, Batuque , Macumba, Quimbanda, Xamb?, Culto aos Egungun, Culto de If?, Irmandade, Confraria, Xang? do Nordeste and Tambor de Mina, but also has... combined African deities with Kardecist spiritualism Spiritualism Spiritualism is a monotheism belief system or religion, postulating a belief in God, but the distinguishing feature is belief that spirits of the dead can be contacted, either by individuals or by gifted or trained "Mediumships", who can provide information about the afterlife.... . Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalism Unitarian Universalism is a liberal religion religion characterized by its support for a "free and responsible search for truth and meaning." Unitarian Universalists do not share a creed; rather, they are unified by their shared search for spiritual growth.... also provides an example of a modern syncretic religion. It traces its roots to Universalist Universalism Universalism refers to theological religion, theology and philosophy concepts with universal application or applicability. It is a term used to identify particular doctrines as considering of all people in their formation.... and Unitarian Unitarianism Unitarianism as a theology is the belief in the single personality of God, in contrast to the doctrine of the Trinity . It is the philosophy upon which the modern Unitarian movement was based, and, according to its proponents, is the Early Christianity of Christianity.... Christian Christian A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, a Monotheism#Christian view religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus and interpreted by Christians to have been prophesied in the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament.... congregations. However, modern Unitarian Universalism freely incorporates elements from other religious and non-religious traditions, so that it no longer identifies itself as "Christian." Universal Sufism Universal Sufism Universal Sufism is a Spirituality and universalist movement founded by Hazrat Inayat Khan early in the 20th century. The philosophy of Universal Sufism is based on Cooperation of all people and religions, and the presence of spiritual guidance in all people, places and things.... seeks the unity Cultural identity Cultural identity is the Identity of a group or culture, or of an individual as far as he or she is influenced by her belonging to a group or culture.... of all people and religion Religion A religion is an organized approach to human spirituality which usually encompasses a set of myth, symbols, beliefs and practices, often with a supernatural or transcendence quality, that give meaning to the practitioner's experiences of life through reference to a higher power or truth.... s, as well as the ability to find beauty Beauty Beauty is a characteristic of a person, Location , Object , or idea that provides a perception experience of pleasure, Value , or satisfaction.... in all things. Universal Sufis strive to "realize and spread the knowledge of Unity, the religion of Love, and Wisdom, so that the biases and prejudices of faiths and beliefs may, of themselves, fall away, the human heart overflow with love, and all hatred caused by distinctions and differences be rooted out." In Vietnam, Caodaism blends elements of Buddhism Buddhism Buddhism is a family of beliefs and practices considered by most to be a religionand is based on the teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as "The Buddha" , who was born in what is today Nepal.... , Catholicism and Kardecism. Japanese syncretists founded several new Japanese religions (such as Konkokyo Konkokyo Konkokyo , also Konko-kyo or just Konko, is a Shinshukyo of Japanese origin also regarded as a type of Sect Shinto. It is a Syncretism, henotheism and panentheistic religion, which worships God under the name of Tenchi Kane No Kami, the Golden God of Heaven and Earth.... and Seicho-No-Ie Seicho-No-Ie Seicho-No-Ie, sometimes rendered Seicho-No-Iye, is a syncretic, nondenominational, monotheistic, New Thought religion, one of the ??? Shinshukyo in Japan that have spread since the end of World War II.... ) from the latter half of the 19th century onwards. The Nigeria Nigeria Nigeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federation constitutional republic comprising States of Nigeria and one Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria.... n religion Chrislam Chrislam Chrislam, or the The Will of God Mission or Ifeoluwa Mission , is a Nigerian syncretism religion which mixes elements of both Christianity and Islam.... combines Christian and Islamic doctrines. Thelema Thelema Thelema is a philosophy of life based on the rule or law, "Do what thou wilt." The ideal of "Do what thou wilt" and its association with the word Thelema goes back to Fran?ois Rabelais, but was more fully developed and proselytized by Aleister Crowley, who founded a religion named Thelema based on this ideal.... is a mixture of many different schools of belief and practice, including Hermeticism Hermeticism Hermeticism is a set of philosophy and Religion beliefs based primarily upon the Hellenistic Egyptian Pseudepigrapha attributed to Hermes Trismegistus who is the representation of the congruence of the Egyptian god Thoth and the Greek Hermes.... , Eastern Mysticism Mysticism Mysticism is the pursuit of communion with, Unio Mystica with, or conscious awareness of an ultimate reality, divinity, Spirituality, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight.... , Yoga Yoga Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in both Buddhism and Hinduism.... , 19th century libertarian philosophies (e.g. Nietzsche), occultism, and the Kaballah, as well as ancient Egyptian and Greek Greek mythology Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the Ancient Greece concerning their List of Greek mythological figures#Immortals and Greek hero cult, Cosmology#Metaphysical cosmology, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices.... religion. Examples of strongly syncretist Romantic and modern movements with some religious elements include mysticism Mysticism Mysticism is the pursuit of communion with, Unio Mystica with, or conscious awareness of an ultimate reality, divinity, Spirituality, or God through direct experience, intuition, or insight.... , occultism, theosophy Theosophy Theosophy is a doctrine of religious philosophy and metaphysics originating with Madame Blavatsky . In this context, theosophy holds that all religions are attempts by the "Mahatma" to help humanity in evolving to greater perfection, and that each religion therefore has a portion of the truth.... , modern astrology Astrology Astrology is a group of systems, traditions, and beliefs which hold that the relative positions of astronomical object and related details can provide useful information about personality, human affairs, and other terrestrial matters.... , Neopaganism Neopaganism Neopaganism or Neo-Paganism is an umbrella term used to identify a wide variety of new religious movement, particularly those influenced by pre-Christian "Paganism" beliefs of Europe.... , and the New Age New Age New Age is a decentralized western culture social movement and new religious movement that seeks universality Truth and the attainment of the highest individual human potential.... movement. Cultures and societies Enlightenment The modern, rational non-pejorative connotations of syncretism date from Denis Diderot Denis Diderot Denis Diderot was a French philosopher and writer. He was a prominent figure during the Age of Enlightenment and is best known for serving as chief editor and contributor to the Encyclop?die.... 's Encyclopédie Encyclopédie *Encyclop?die, ou dictionnaire raisonn? des sciences, des arts et des m?tiers* was a general encyclopedia published in France between 1751 and 1772, with later supplements and revisions in 1772, 1777 and 1780 and numerous foreign editions and later derivatives.... articles: Eclecticisme and Syncrétistes, Hénotiques, ou Conciliateurs. Diderot portrayed syncretism as the concordance of eclectic sources. Modern syncretic social and cultural movements Other forms of syncretism not directly related to religion appear in the modern world as well: thus one can sometimes speak of cultural and/or social syncretism. Japanese culture after World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a Participants in World War II, including all of the great powers, organised into two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II and the Axis powers.... and the moderate tendencies within Neo-Tribalism Neo-Tribalism Neotribalism is the ideology that human beings have evolved to live in a tribe, as opposed to a modern, society, and thus cannot achieve genuine happiness until some semblance of tribal lifestyles has been re-created or re-embraced.... may serve as examples. The eclectic aspects of postmodernism Postmodernism Postmodernism literally means 'after the modernist movement'. While "modern" itself refers to something "related to the present", the movement of modernism and the following reaction of postmodernism are defined by a set of perspectives.... represent an important contemporary example of cultural syncretism observable in much of the Western world Western world The term Western world, the West or the Occident can have multiple meanings dependent on its context . Accordingly, the basic definition of what constitutes "the West" varies, expanding and contracting over time, in relation to various historical circumstances.... . The socio-spiritual movement Ananda Marga Ananda Marga Ananda Marga, officially known as Ananda Marga Pracharaka Samgha meaning "the samgha for the propagation of the path of ananda" is a "social and spiritual movement" founded in Jamalpur, Bihar, India in 1955 by Prabhat Ranjan Sarkar , known by his spiritual name of Shrii Shrii Anandamurti.... , which originated in India India India, officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and outlying territories by total area country by geographical area, the List of countries by population country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world.... in 1955, stems from a syncretic approach to the different strands of yoga Yoga Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India. The word is associated with meditative practices in both Buddhism and Hinduism.... , as propounded by its founder P.R. Sarkar. It has as its stated purpose "to help individuals achieve complete self-realization Self-realization Self-realization may refer to:Atman jnana, the Hindu concept that knowledge that one's self is identical with BrahmanPsychosynthesis, an original approach to psychology that was developed by Roberto Assagioli... and to build a social structure Social structure Social structure is a term frequently used in sociology and social theory ? yet rarely defined or clearly conceptualised . In a general sense, the term can refer to:... in which the physical Body With regard to organism, a body is the integral physical material of an individual. "Body" often is used in connection with appearance, health issues and death.... , mental Mind Mind refers to the aspects of intellect and consciousness manifested as combinations of thought, perception, memory, emotion, free will and imagination, including all of the brain's conscious and unconscious cognitive processes.... and spiritual Spirituality Spirituality, in a narrow sense, concerns itself with matters of the spirit, a concept closely tied to religion and faith, transcendence , or one or more Deity.... needs of all people can be fulfilled Fulfillment Fulfilment or fulfillment may refer to:* Order fulfillment ? The activities performed once an order is received* Fulfillment house ? A company specializing in order fulfillment... ." Fiction Orange Catholic Bible Orange Catholic Bible The Orange Catholic Bible is a fictional book from the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Created in the wake of the crusade against thinking machines known as the Butlerian Jihad, the Orange Catholic Bible is the key religious text in the Dune universe and is described thus in the glossary of the 1965 novel Dune :... Zensunni Zensunni The Religions of Dune are a key aspect of the fictional setting of the Dune universe created by Frank Herbert. Many of the names of religions mentioned in the novels indicate they are blends of current belief systems, some syncretism.... Zensufi Life of Pi Life of Pi *Life of Pi* is a fantasy adventure novel written by Canada author Yann Martel. In the story, the protagonist Piscine "Pi" Molitor Patel, an Indian boy from Pondicherry, explores issues of religion, spirituality, and practicality from an early age.... New media art Roy Ascott Roy Ascott Roy Ascott is a British artist and theorist, who works with cybernetics and telematics. He is President of the Planetary Collegium.... See also Syncretism (linguistics) Syncretism (linguistics) In linguistics, syncretism is the identity of form of distinct morphology forms of a word.For example, in English language, the Nominative case and Accusative case forms of you and it are the same, whereas he/him, she/her, etc., have different forms depending on grammatical case.... Hermeneutics Hermeneutics Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation theory. Traditional hermeneutics - which includes Biblical hermeneutics - refers to the study of the interpretation of written texts, especially texts in the areas of literature, religion and law....