Church of All Worlds

An eclectic Neo-Pagan organization begun in 1967 by Tim Zell (also known as Otter G'Zell) and inspired by the science-fictional church in Robert Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land. Celebrating nature and worshiping the Earth Mother and her consort, the Horned God, members seek advancement of personal spiritual awareness through ritual practice, individualistic philosophy, and intense study. Their are centers or "nests" throughout the U. S. Headquartered today in Berkely, Cal, the idea for. it all began on April 7, 1962. Publish a popular New Age/Pagan magazine, Green Egg.

(See also: Church of All Worlds , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Islam

A world religion based on the teachings and life of Muhammad (570-632 AD) in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia (then Persia). Islam is the second largest world religion, and has recently become the third largest religious body in America.

Islam is composed of two major divisions - the mainstream Sunni (the largest) and the more radical Shi'ites.

The mystical tradition of Sufism includes many Sunnis and some Shi'ites.

The Arabic word Islam means Òsubmission to the will of GodÓ and a person who submits is called a Muslim.

The Quran (or, Koran), the Torah, the Psalms of the Old Testament, and the Gospel of the New Testament are regarded as holy books. However, only the Quran is considered uncorrupted.

While many Muslims exhibit tolerance towards other faiths, even today Islamic fundamentalism promotes jihad (holy war), against those of other religious and political views.

(See also: Islam , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Calvinism

A system of Christian interpretation initiated by John Calvin. It emphasizes predestination and salvation. The five points of Calvinism were developed in response to the Arminian position (See Arminianism).

Calvinism teaches:

1)    Total depravity: that man is touched by sin in all parts of his being: body, soul, mind, and emotions,

2)    Unconditional Election: that GodÕs favor to Man is completely by GodÕs free choice and has nothing to do with Man. It is completely undeserved by Man and is not based on anything God sees in man,

3)    Limited atonement: that Christ did not bear the sins of every individual who ever lived, but instead only bore the sins of those who were elected into salvation,

4)    Irresistible grace: that God's call to someone for salvation cannot be resisted,

5)    Perseverance of the saints: that it is not possible to lose one's salvation.

(See also: Calvinism , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Channeling

A New Age form of mediumship. The channeler yields control of his/her perceptual and cognitive capacities to another entity. Unlike mediumship, living beings can be channeled, as can animals and alien beings.

(See also: Channeling , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Society of Friends

Better known as Quakers, an Anglo-American pacifist sectarian movement originating in the religious confusion of the English Civil War and Commonwealth era (1640-60). George Fox (1624-91), a "seeker" discontented with both the Church of England and the Puritan and other sectarian alternatives that flourished during the period, attracted a radical group of followers through his prophetic words and deeds.

According to one tradition, Fox and his followers became known as Quakers when, refusing to swear oaths or otherwise respect the status of the law courts, they urged magistrates to tremble before God rather than the law.

More correctly known as the "Society of Friends (of Truth)," they distinguished themselves theologically from other Christians through their doctrine of the "Inward" or "Inner Light," the manifestation of the divine within each individual that, when recognized and nurtured, inevitably led to religious truth. Friends in Britain flourished despite adversity. Many were jailed for their pacifist and other nonconforming ways, while others organized their resources to alleviate these sufferings until relief came in the form of the Toleration Act of 1689. Barred from the universities and professions, they benefited from their reputation for honesty and hard work and often were successful in business.

Friends rejected hierarchy and churchly authority, organizing instead according to local weekly meetings for worship and progressively less frequent and geographically more encompassing regional meetings for governance. Weekly meetings were not led by ministers, but a clerk was present to record their proceedings. Worship was conducted in silence in a bare meeting house, with individuals speaking only when prompted by the Inner Light. The "friendly persuasion" was transplanted to the New World in 1682 by William Penn, an aristocratic convert who secured a royal land grant in payment of debts owed his family.

The Pennsylvania colony was based on Quaker principles of consensus and fair dealing in its governance; its capital, Philadelphia-"the city of brotherly love"-reflected in its name and spacious layout Penn's hopes for a peaceable society. English demands for support in the French and Indian Wars, however, led to a series of compromises and finally, in 1756, the renunciation of governmental power by the Quakers, who nevertheless continued to constitute a commercial elite in the region. Quakers in the new American nation continued to cope with the problems engendered by their pacifism, which led to suffering but also proved instrumental in securing governmental recognition of the rights of conscientious objectors.

Quakers pursued a peacemaking role by opposing both violence and the injustices that provoked it. Their Inner Light doctrine was incompatible with social inequality, so that women enjoyed equal status to men. Quakers such as John Woolman, Anthony Benezet, and, later, Levi Coffin, were active in the lateeighteenth- and early-nineteenth-century campaign against slavery. Many contemporary British Quakers also became active in reform causes. Their plain speech and dress, modified over time, were also manifestations of this egalitarianism.

Internal divisions manifested themselves early in the nineteenth century in the United States, when social and geographical divisions expressed themselves in theological forms. From 1826 to 1827 followers of Elias Hicks (1748-1830) near Philadelphia rejected the local elite's embracing of evangelical Protestant tenets and symbols, and called for a return to early Quaker practice.

Joseph John Gurney (1788-1847), an English Friend, pressed the evangelical cause further, while John Wilbur's (1774-1856) followers tried to combine the two emphases. Richmond, Indiana, emerged, in the first half of the nineteenth century, as a focus of Gurneyite settlement that was later influenced by the Holiness movement. In the twentieth century, the Philadelphia Meeting-part of the larger General Conference-became the center for Friends concerned with philanthropic and peacemaking activity, while the Friends United Meeting (Richmond, Indiana) and Evangelical Friends Alliance (Cleveland, Ohio) represented more evangelical strains. In the 1990s, Friends in the United States of various affiliations numbered in excess of one hundred thousand; this was somewhat over half of the worldwide membership, with roughly 20 percent of the remainder in Britain.

(See also: Society of Friends , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Chai

(Chinese, "fast") In Taoism, rites of fasting, repentance, or purification. The term refers to rites on behalf of the living and the dead, including exorcism, protection from illness, securing houses, and recitations for salvation. Unlike related folk rites involving animal sacrifice and alcohol, the Taoist rite stresses the offering of petitions and confessing of sins.

(See also: Chai , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Iblis

(Arabic, probably from Greek diabolos, "devil") Satan.

A complex demonic figure in Islamic religious thought, understood as the fallen angel, the tempter, and the head of the hosts of devils.

 As an angel, he pridefully refused God's command to bow down before the newly created man Adam and thus was cursed and banished from Paradise. Until the Day of Judgment Iblis will lead the legions of devils in tempting humans to do evil.

His major act of cunning was to persuade Adam and Eve to disobey God and eat of the tree of immortality in the Garden, which resulted in their consignment to earthly existence.

(See also: Iblis , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Akhenaton

(Egyptian, "he who acts effectively for the invisible solar disk")

Pharaoh of Egypt ca. 1350 to 1334 BC, often called (erroneously) the first monotheist of recorded history.

He first came to the throne as Amenhotep IV and worshiped traditional gods. However, after his fourth year, he elevated a minor deity, the Aton, i. e. , the "disk of the sun" (a form of the sun god, Re), to the position of state god of Egypt and changed his name to Akhenaton to reflect his devotion to that deity.

His pantheon consisted of a trinity that included the Aton, Akhenaton, and Nefertiti (also the name of his wife), which was the focus of popular worship. While Akhenaton was worshiped as the unique son of the Aton, Nefertiti was celebrated for her fertility. Common people were excluded from worshiping the Aton itself. Egyptians could worship only the royal couple; the couple in turn worshiped the sun disk. The new religion was maintained by Akhenaton's popular appeal as king, but it quickly passed away after his death.

Akhenaton's motives in promulgating his beliefs were political and religious, since he elevated himself to the status of a god higher than customary for an Egyptian king. Akhenaton's religion recognized both Egyptians and foreigners as equal beneficiaries of the same god, and it overturned established conventions in Egyptian language and art.

(See also: Akhenaton , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Christian

1)    (Christos) Someone who is a follower of Jesus. The followers of Jesus were first called "Christian" in Acts 11: 26 - about 42AD.

2)    (Chreestos) Someone who believes in the existence of Christ as the only begotten son of God, which term may have been used as early as 300 BC.

(See also: Christian , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Ascended Masters

Those who are believed to have reached the highest level of spiritual consciousness and have become guides in the spiritual evolution of mankind, such as Jesus and St. Germaine. Sometimes called the Great White Brotherhood.

According to many, they can supposedly communicate spiritual truths to humans through channeling or other occult techniques. Membership includes Jesus, Buddha, St. Germain (see I AM movement), Ramtha (see Knight, J. Z. ), Mafu (see Torres, Penny), Seth (see Jane Roberts), and others. (Ascended Masters

(See also: Ascended Masters , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Witchfinder

Also witch-hunters. During the witchcraft trials in Europe it was established legal procedure for specially appointed (or self-appointed) individuals to find or discover witches and bring them to trial. As fees were usually paid for such discoveries, the role of witchfinder was often highly lucrative. The most famous English witchfinder, the so-called Witchfinder General, was Matthew Hopkins, who in fourteen months (from 1645) had several hundred witches hanged - over a hundred at Bury St. Edmunds alone. His equally notorious pricker was John Steams.

(See also: Witchfinder , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Esoteric Astrology

The school of astrology that deals with the relations of our solar system and our planet to other solar systems, of the exchange of interstellar and interplanetary energies.

The Theosopohists say that people that got farthest in this respect were the Chaldeans of some 30 000 years ago. They further claim that in future individuals who acquired this knowledge in Chaldea will incarnate again and once more present mankind with the esoteric ÔastrologyÕ, thereby reviving the long-lost knowledge.

(See also: Esoteric Astrology , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Ancient Astronauts

Astronauts from other planets which allegedly visited Earth in spaceships in ancient times. This theory claims to explain Fortean mysteries and the evidence of ancient sophisticated technology, and primitive societies feats of engineering.

Ancient astronaut writers say also that Man did not evolve only from earthly beings like Adam and Eve. A misreading of Genesis leads one to believe that a second strain not from this world but from a 'heavenly source', was added to the human gene-pool (Genesis chapter

Devotees of this theory like to quote the myths and legends of ancient or primitive peoples in an attempt to justify their case. According to the folklore and mythology of many peoples, the gods gave fire and the skills of agriculture to mankind. However, this fact alone does not mean that the gods of the ancients were extraterrestrial beings, and that our ancestors were so simple minded that they could not have discovered these things by themselves.

In 1968 Erich von DŠniken published a book, Chariots of the Gods?, in which he argued the ancient astronauts theory, presenting supposedly 'proof' of his claims. Zecharia Sitchin is a more modern author who claims to translated ancient Sumerian manuscripts which tell the story of Ancient Astronauts.

(See also: Ancient Astronauts , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Infibulation

A ritual sewing or stapling together of the labia of the genitals so as to prevent sexual intercourse. A feature in women's puberty ceremonies.

(See also: Infibulation , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

The ten Sepheroth

(emanations)

• Kether. Crown - Top of Head
• Hochma. . wisdom -Right Brain
• Binah. . Understanding - Left of Brain
• Hesed. . March - Right Arm
• Pechad. . Strength- Left Arm
• Tefereth. . Beauty-Heart
• Nezah. . Victory-Right of Pelvis
• Hod. . Glory-Left of Pelvis
• Yesod. . Foundation-Genitals
•  

The sephiroth form the central image of Kabbalistic meditation, the Sephirothic Tree of Life, which describes the path of descent from the divine to the material realm, and the path of ascent to the highest level of spirituality.

Each sephirath is a level of attainment in knowledge, corresponding to energy centers in the body, and is also divided into four interlocking sections or 'Worlds', which constitute the cosmos:

• emanation (Atziluth),
• creation (Briah),
• formation (Yetzirah), and
• action or making (Assiyah).

Through contemplation and meditation, similar to Eastern yogic disciplines, the Kabbalist ascends the tree of life.

The sephirot also comprise the sacred, unknowable, and unspeakable personal name of God: YHVH (Yahweh), the Tetragrammaton. So sacred is the Tetragrammaton that other names, such as Elohim and Jehovah, are substituted in its place in scripture.

A more systematic presentation of the basic doctrine is contained in Moses Cordovero's Pardes rimmonim (Garden of Pomegranates, 1548). Kabbalah was a major influence in the development of Hasidism and still has adherents among Hasidic Jews.

The Kabbalah, with its amulets, incantations, demonology, seals, and letter and number mysticism, had a profound influence on Western magical tradition. The Tetragrammaton especially was held in great awe for its power over all things in the universe, including demons.

(See also: The ten Sepheroth , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Witchcraft

The practice of spells and magick, often involving the worship of deities or a god and/or goddess. See Wicca

(See also: Witchcraft , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Aspect

1)The particular principle or part of the God-force being worked with or acknowledged at any one time.

2)Measured relationship between planets, or planets and the ascendant or mid heaven

(See also: Aspect , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Christ

(Greek) pure, perfect, ideal, or annointed,

1)    1)The only begotten Son of God, the creator or essence of all that can be known.

2)    one of a number of pretenders to the Jewish throne in the first century.

(See also: Christ , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Ardhanariateshvara (and) Ardhanarishvara

Shiva and his Shakti united as one

(See also: Ardhanariateshvara , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Universe: from the Greek meaning "the whole thing"

The entire physical reality. This includes the physical, the astral and the spiritual There is a diversity of opinion as to whether the universe is external to God or is contained within God. Most modern New Agers believe that the universe and all reality is contained WITHIN God.

(See also: Universe , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)

Agasha Temple of Wisdom

An organization founded by channel and author William Eisen in Los Angeles, CA which teaches the universal consciousness of god, reincarnation, pyramidology, and the Ascended Masters.

(See also: Agasha Temple of Wisdom , New Age Spirituality, Body Mind and Soul)