The Wordsworth Dictionary of Beliefs & Religions [antikvár]

Preface Belief in anything, whether it be an earth goddess or a monthly horoscope, is guaranteed to be aHen or almost incomprehensible to those who do not hold the same ideas. Yet, while it is easy to dismiss another's beliefs as irrational or misguided, it is rare to hold absolutely no personal opinion about what lies behind our existence. The variety of theories and divinities to which the question of life is attributed is endless, and has provided the source of some of the most heated conflicts in history. But on one level there is a similarity between, for example, a Carmelite nun praying before a crucifix, an Algonquin kneeling in the forest and communing with Kitshi Manitou, the Great Spirit, and a Muslim facing Mecca at the rallying chant of a muezzin. Each of these believers, obviously, would see great and possibly insurmountable differences in their worship; for a start, none of them is contacting the same spirit. But, while the varying natures of their deities cannot be lightly dismissed, not least because the essence of their gods dictates the character of their religion, all three are nevertheless witness to what some anthropologists see as humankind's natural religiosity: a need to be in touch with a superior force whose presence can be invoked, placated or challenged, and who, as a result of appropriate human responses, can influence the lives of believers. For some, particularly in more modern times, faith in the supernatural is considered primitive and, at best, a little pathetic. Paul Radin, for example, considers that religious belief stems from neurosis and insecurity, while philosophers such as Feuerbach have tried to prove that belief in the divine is simply a projection of the human need to believe that there is some design and deliberate — if obscure — order behind an otherwise inexplicably painful universe. Equally persuasive arguments, however, can be put forward by those whose experience of their god, or contact with the spirit world, convinces them beyond doubt and scepticism of the reality of their faith. Whatever an individual's personal conviction, there can be no gainsaying the influence wielded by the multitude of systems of belief, both current and past. The aim of this dictionary is to provide a sweeping and comprehensive outline of the most prevalent modern religions and ideologies. As well as these, we also look at major historical faiths, such as Ancient Near Eastern, Greek or Roman religions, whose influence is still evident in artistic, architectural or literary remains, or whose concepts have underlain subsequent religious structures. The intention behind our selection of material has been three-fold. First, to give a detailed insight into the various strands of thought and conviction that have joined together in shaping a particular creed. So, for example, within Buddhism we cover (among many other subjects) the concept of the original, primordial Buddha (Adi-Buddha), describe the content of the main Buddhist scriptures (eg Abhidharma, Agama, Heart Sutra, Lotus Sutra, Diamond Cutter Sutra), and look at various meditational techniques (eg jhana, samatha). Our second purpose has been to highlight not just the differences but also the points of similarity between faiths. So, for instance, a common concern for the