#as for monotheism vs polytheism

[monotheistreal]

Dive into the world of Henotheism with our latest video exploration. Henotheism, a unique belief system, focuses on devotion to a single deity while acknowledging others. Join us as we unravel the origins and intricacies of Henotheism, offering a clear understanding of its place in the tapestry of religious ideologies. Subscribe for straightforward insights into Henotheism, and stay tuned for more content simplifying the complexities of faith. At Monotheist, we're dedicated to making the exploration of religious perspectives clear and engaging. #Henotheism #ReligiousBeliefs #DeityWorship #MonotheisticViews #TheologyExplained #FaithJourney #ReligiousDiversity #BeliefSystems #SpiritualInsights #UnderstandingHenotheism #OriginOfBeliefs #ExploringFaith #ReligiousIdeologies #MonotheismVsPolytheism #CulturalBeliefs #GodsAndDeities #PhilosophyOfFaith #SingularDevotion #HenotheismExploration #MonotheistChannel

[incognitopolls]

For the purposes of this poll, this is how we're using these words:

Monotheistic: I believe in a singular god or higher entity/being; OR; if a higher entity/being existed, there would only be one of them

Polytheistic: I believe in more than one gods or higher entities/beings; OR; if a higher being/entity existed, there would be more than one of them.

We ask your questions so you don’t have to! Submit your questions to have them posted anonymously as polls.

[tanadrin]

Revised version of "polytheism vs elaborateness" religion chart. I started with a list of around 150 religions, sects, denominations, philosophies, and spiritual tendencies, whittled down to 100 based on what I could find information on and what meaningful differences would actually show up in a chart like this. Dark blue is Christianity and Christian-derived tendencies; light blue is Judaism and Jewish-derived tendencies; green is Islam and Islam-influenced tendencies; purple is ancient Mediterranean polytheism and related schools of thought; red is Dharmic/Hindu-influenced schools of thought; tan is Chinese religion and philosophy; orange is new religious movements; black is other, unaffiliated religions and movements.

Obviously, "what is a religion" is a complicated topic. Some of the things on this chart might strike you more as philosophical schools (Carvaka, Stoicism), epistemological approaches (Unitarian Universalism), or different ways of slicing the same tradition. The scholarly definition of "religion" is sort of fundamentally circular, and that's not something I'm interested in trying to untangle for this entirely non-scientific exercise.

Religions etc. are scored on two axis: polytheism vs elaborateness of practice. Polytheism is a rank from zero to 11, thus:

0. Strict atheist and materialist, denying the possibility of both gods and the supernatural, e.g., Carvaka.

1. Atheist. Denies the existence of significant supernatural agents worthy of worship, but may not deny all supernatural (or psychic, paranormal, etc.) beings and phenomena (e.g., Mimamsa).

2. Agnostic. This religion makes no dogmatic claims about the existence of supernatural beings worthy of worship, and it may not matter for this religion if such beings exist (e.g., Unitarian Universalists). It does not preclude--and may actually incorporate--other supernatural, psychic, or paranormal phenomena (e.g., Scientology).

3. Deist. This religion acknowledges at least one god or Supreme Being, but rejects this being's active intervention in the world after its creation (e.g., Christian Deism). Deism is marked with a gray line on the chart, in case you want to distinguish religions that specifically care about all this God business from ones that don't.

4. Tawhid monotheist. This religion acknowledges only a single transcendent god above all other natural or supernatural beings, who is usually the creator of the universe and the ground of being, and is without parts, division, or internal distinction (e.g., Islam).

5. Formal monotheism. This religion acknowledges a single god, usually transcendent above all other natural or supernatural beings, but who may have aspects, hypostases, or distinct parts (e.g., Trinitarian Christianity). Pantheism may be considered a special case of formal monotheism that identifies the universe and its many discrete phenomena with a single god or divine force.

6. Dualism. This religion acknowledges a single god worthy of worship, alongside a second inferior, often malevolent being that nevertheless wields great power in or over the world (e.g., Zoroastrianism or Gnosticism).

7. Monolatrist. This religion or practice acknowledges the existence of many gods or divine beings worthy of worship, but focuses on, or happens to be devoted to only one of them (e.g., ancient mystery cults; pre-exilic Judaism).

8. Oligotheist. This religion worships a small group of divine beings, who may function for devotional or rhetorical purposes as a single entity (e.g., Mormonism, Smartism).

9. Monogenic polytheism/Henotheism. This religion worships many gods, which it sees as proceeding from or owing their existence to, a single underlying or overarching force or supreme god (e.g., many forms of Hinduism).

10. Heterogenic polytheism. This religion worships many gods, who have diverse origins and/or natures. Though the number of gods is in practical terms probably unlimited, gods are discrete entities or personalities, i.e., they are "countably infinite" (e.g., many polytheistic traditions).

11. Animism. This religion worships many gods which may or may not be discrete entities, and which may or may not be innumerable even in principle, i.e., they are "uncountably infinite" (e.g., many animist traditions).

What counts as a god is naturally a bit of a judgement call, as is exactly where a religion falls on this scale.

Elaborateness of practice is based on assigning one point per feature from the following list of features:

Uses vs forbids accompanied music in worship

Saints or intermediary beings accept prayers/devotion

Liturgical calendar with specific rituals or festivals

Practices monasticism

Venerates relics or holy objects

Clerics have special, elaborate clothing

Clerics have special qualificiations, e.g., must be celibate or must go through elaborate initiation/training

Elaborate sacred art or architecture used in places of worship

Sites of pilgrimage, or other form of cult centralization

Sophisticated religious hierarchy beyond the congregational level

Mandatory periods of fasting and/or complex dietary rules

Specific clothing requirements for laypeople

Specific body modifications either required or forbidden for laypeople

Liturgical language

Complex ritual purity rules

Performs sacrifice

Performs human sacrifice (or cannibalism)

Uses entheogens

Uses meditation or engages in mystical practice

Additionally, a point is taken away for austerity for each of the following features:

Forbids secular music outside worship

Claims sola scriptura tradition

Practices pacifism or ahimsa

Requires vegetarianism of all adherents

These scores are probably pretty inexact, since I am not a scholar of world religion.

This chart is not scientific, it's just a goof based on that @apricops post.

Other fun dimensions along which to chart religions might be:

Orthodoxy vs orthopraxy

Authoritarianism/control of members. This would add some much needed distinctions to Christian sects in particular, and to the new religious movements.

Elaborateness of cosmological claims. Some religions (looking at you, Buddhism) really go hog-wild here.

Social egalitarianism. Even within the same framework/tradition/philosophy, some practices differ radically on how egalitarian they are.

[writers-potion]

Aight I just remembered what I was gonna ask. I think It'll be my second ask because I do remember I submitted the same question I wanna ask months ago HAHA

Okay so, I'm writing a story that explores a lot of subjects, one of them is morality

So... How do you make a fictional religion feel "real" in a sense? Like I know there'll be shrines, temples, and stuff but I need to know more than just that.

Take your time and thank you! ✨

Writing Realistic Fictional Religion

Hi! Thank you for the question :)

Please refer to my posts about writing hateful gods and writing deities for stuff about writing gods! I'll talk more about writing religion in general here.

Religious Hierarchy

Think about how you'd want your religion to be structured:

Polytheism: the belief in many gods.

Monotheism: the belief in a single, all-powerful god.

Atheism: the belief in no gods. A belief in nothing is stil a belief.

Are there tiers of gods? (Gods above Gods)?

Is there a "Mother God" or "Father God" that must be worshipped over everything else?

How are religious leaders selected and trained?

What kind of actions (celibacy, vegetarianism) do the believers need to do in order to be a faithful person? Is there a consequence when they don't do this?

Religious Texts

The most important question a religious text should aim to answer is: where did the world (and therefore, us) come from?

Here are some story patterns you can use:

Creatio Ex Nihilo: God creates the world from nothing

Creation from Chaos: God introduced order into a chaotic world

Primal Couple: The first "couple" gives birth to the world

World Parent: A god sacrifices (a part) of their body to construct the world's elements.

Emergence: Before the current world, there existed another world. After a period of time is over, a new world emerges.

Earth-Diver: A deity sends over a person/animal, etc. to construct a world out of the barren land they've created.

This "Origin Story" will dicate the basic values that your religion thinks is the most important.

Religious Practices

You have the freedom to invent your own religious practices. When you are trying to invent one, consider:

The weather. Is the Sun in your world so blazing that all religious festivals are only held during the night?

What can you not do in the name of religion? Are you not allowed to have stuffed animals in your bed? Not eat blue stuff?

Who are the people that work the most during festivals/worship ceremonies? Are slaves exploited to prepare the feast? Are the women the only ones that works while the men sing? Are animals tortured or exploited in the process?

Sacrifices. What/when/how do you offer sacrifices?

You can also think about:

Who determines the kind of religious practices the other people have to follow?

Are the reliigous practice discriminatory and if yes, who do they benefit?

Religious Locations

Historically, religious lands have had the power to have its own rules and be protected. which will provide a good

One Location vs. Many: Is there a shrine in every home/street, or is everyone required to report to the city square every Saturday?

The Ruler's Castle: Sometimes, the king is considered to be the "son of god" and the palace is therefore the most sacred place.

One Unreachable Location: It can also be that in order to be ruly faithful, you need to visit a place that is so unreachable that people die trying.

A Moving Location: Does the god choose their new home every year?

A Constructable Location: If you draw a circle in bone ash, does the patch of land inside it become holy and no ghost can enter it? What if you lack faith and the circle construction doesn't work at a time you need it the most?

Question of Morality and Religion

While many religions preach equality and kindnes, it has been used to justify conflict and discriminate those who do not believe in it.

Does the deity promote such violence? Or is it the bad leaders?

Is the deity uncritical towards such behavior? Or do they actively step in?

Is the God falliable? Like the modern-day presidents, is the god's survival/power somehow dependent on the believers? Is that why they stay silent even when bad things are being done in their name?

Does the god favor rich people?

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[shivasdarknight]

I CANT BELIEVE THAT I ACTUALLY FORGOT ONE

Halonic Conquest: the Destruction of the Old Gods and the First Wave of Coerthan Heretics.

which is like.

yeah fuck it here's the snippet:

“Older.”  The third book was picked up and its cover shown to Melisande, one that was titled, Halonic Conquest: the Destruction of the Old Gods and the First Wave of Coerthan Heretics.  “Ishgard’s had two waves of polytheism and one wave of monotheism.  The initial was the Old Gods, the second was the Twelve.  From what I understand, the attitude towards paganistic Coerthans during this second period was ‘don’t disrespect our Gods and we won’t have an issue’.  But during the shift to Halonic worship solely, the change of doctrine demanded sole worship of Halone — as mandated by Ishgard over the region of Coerthas.  Thus the followers of the Old Gods were persecuted, chased into secrecy, and eventually became known as the original heretics.  This is…more of a history text, I guess.  Not much on theism, more about the actual persecution.”

which is obvs based on christianity's rise to prominence and why it so thoroughly wiped out polytheistic religions wherever it went

and obvs i took this angle because of my college courses, because ancient to medieval art history is like half christian religious studies, half archaeology and anthropology.

one of the batshit things i get up to - wrt xiv fanfic - is coming up with like. what academic texts might exist within the world. and without fail it's shit that i want to read and im mad at myself because THEY DONT EXIST AAAAAAAAAAaa

[bloody-arty-myths]

In the MK universe, was Polytheism vs Monotheism just the Elder Gods and the One Being trying to one-up each other? Because that sounds crazy

@theelderhazelnut My friend, I can’t stop thinking about this after reading one of your Lore posts

[oozmium]

SMTIVA Translation Compilation

Here is a masterlist of SMTIVA related translations that can be found online to ease searching. Translators will be credited appropriately.

Important note: I am NOT the translator for any of these works. I have been granted permission to link these translations by the translators themselves. Please direct your support to the following people instead: dijeh, VerdantGrove, takujiluvr, @twilightmalachite .

Character Pages / Design Notes

Nanashi | Asahi | Nozomi | Navarre | Hallelujah (+ Chiro) | Gaston | Toki

Side Stories

Nikkari | Asahi | Hallelujah | Krishna

Demon-related / Mythology Topics

Monotheism vs. Polytheism

Dagda and Celtic Mythology

Krishna and Indian Mythology

Mysticism and Satan

Medusa and Greek Mythology

Maitreya and the Concept of Salvation in Buddhism

Odin and Germanic Deities

Sukuna Hikona and the Mythology of Powers in Ancient Japan

Taotie and the Myths of China

Chironnup and Ainu Mythology

The Birth of Humans and the Birth of Gods

Napaea and Fairy Tales

Inanna and Myths of the Orient

Adramalech and Pagan Demons

Tenkai and the Edo Mandala

Shesha and Dragon Gods around the world

Siegfried and Tales of Heroes

Myth and History

Cleopatra and Egyptian Civilization

Mephisto and the Demon Summoning Sorcerer

Misc. demons + worldbuilding

MISC TRANSLATIONS

SMT IVF Post-Release Interview (04/13/16)

SMT IVF Collab Menu: PT. 1 | PT. 2

SMT IVF Seiyuu Commentary taken from blogposts on the jp website

SMT IV Seiyuu Interview taken from jp website

[lcatala]

I am coming to the realisation that there's a particular category of worldbuilding in fantasy that I really don't like, which I call "Calque Worldbuilding", which is when you've got something that is on the surface a secundary world, but is really very obviously Real Country/ies X with the names changed and some adjustments of convenience (polytheism instead of monotheism/more active roles for women/being gay is ok/magic exists) but otherwise largely the same culture and political structure, very similar history down to specific events, similar sounding language and names and you can effectively calque most of the elements of this worldbuilding neatly 1:1 to real world elements, to the point that you can often predict events in the story if you know the real world history of the place being calqued

Examples of this I can think of at the top of my head include The Poppy War (China/Japan with the opium wars, the sino-japanese war and the red-army revolution), The Unbroken (French colonial rule in Algeria), Gunmetal Gods (Abbassids and Ottomans facing western crusaders) -- which I'm trying to read right now but it's not going well, tho mostly because the prose is really not great (but the worldbuiding is not helping)

And I don't if that's just my reading but to me that feels a bit iffy, like not just in a "that's lazy" way, but even more in a "the author wanted to write fantasy in a specific historical setting but without the messy details and complexity of real history that don't lend themselves well to clear cut good vs evil narratives and simple ideological messages". People have praised the Poppy War for its allegory but I felt that it was both pretty ideologically biased in insidious ways yet liking the "bite" of alegorized thing (yeah sure your description of the fantasy equivalent of the Rape of Nanking is harrowing ... but it really feels pale and sterile compared to descriptions of the real thing or even fictionalized accounts of it or of similar events) .

An example that is NOT doing that is The Masquerade (the Traitor Baru Cormorant and sequels) where there are many recognizable elements of our world but scrambled around in such a way that you can't reliable say that this fictional country is just that real country with the name changed — so eg: The Republic of Falcrest has elements of Revolutionary France but also of Colonial Great Britain but also of the Roman Empire but also of the Ottoman Empire but also of Imperial China and in the end it's a completely original and unique culture where individual elements are familiar but the whole picture feels novel and unfamiliar, and the author can delve into a deeply complex story with messy themes breached far more deeply than the other above examples, not being prisonner of his allegory nor bound to a particular ideological narrative about it.

[triadic]

[In the Indo-Hellenic world] space predominates over time, for time is cyclical and eternal, so that the temporal world is much less real than the world of timeless forms, and indeed has no ultimate value… The world eras go down to destruction one after the other, and the most appropriate religion is therefore either polytheism, the deification of particular spaces, or pantheism, the deification of all space… For the Judaeo-Christian, on the other hand, time predominates over space, for its movement is directed and meaningful… True being is immanent in becoming, and salvation is for the community in and through history. The world era is fixed upon a central point which gives meaning to the entire process, overcoming any self-destructive trend and creating something new which cannot be frustrated by cycles of time. Hence, the most appropriate religion is monotheism, with God as the controller of time and all that happens in it. It may seem other-worldly, despising the things of this life, but its faith is tied to the future as well as the past for the world itself is redeemable, not illusory, and the Kingdom of God will claim it. Thus, it is essentially optimistic.

quoted in a review of Science in Traditional China, by Joseph Needham (p 125–126)

I had not seen this useful summary of polytheism and pantheism before. Nor really the space vs. time distinction. Worth pondering.

[gefdreamsofthesea]

I was looking at the Steam page for a game called Svarog's Dream (RPG made by a single dev, kind of janky apparently) and one review was complaining about it being preachy with Christianity vs. Slavic polytheism

The dev's response is like "I've removed Christianity from the game" (it's been replaced by generic monotheism)

Patch notes: removed Christianity

[pooma-islam]

Participating in Non-Muslim Religious Festivals: An Islamic Perspective. தமிழில்

The topic of whether Muslims are allowed to participate in non-Muslim religious celebrations, such as Christmas, is a matter of significant scholarly discussion and religious reflection in Islamic theology. Rooted in principles derived from the Qur’an and Sunnah, the issue largely revolves around the implications of participation in such festivities and the boundaries set by Islamic teachings in interfaith interactions. Based on the perspectives shared by renowned Islamic scholars and detailed interpretations of Islamic texts, this essay examines the permissibility of participating in non-Muslim religious celebrations, such as giving gifts, attending parties, or even wishing "Merry Christmas." This discussion underscores the importance of maintaining Islamic principles while fostering polite and respectful interactions with non-Muslim colleagues, neighbors, and friends.

🔘The Core of the Debate: Why Is Participation Prohibited?

At the heart of this issue lies the concept of preserving Islamic monotheism (Tawheed) and avoiding practices that may condone or support beliefs antithetical to Islam. Christmas, for example, celebrates the birth of Prophet Eesa (Jesus, peace be upon him) but is embedded with theological implications contradictory to Islamic teachings, such as the belief in Jesus as the "Son of God." By participating in or extending greetings for such celebrations, Muslims could inadvertently be seen as condoning or affirming beliefs associated with shirk (polytheism or associating partners with Allah).

The Qur’an explicitly advises steering clear of actions that could be construed as support for falsehood or transgression:“...do not help one another in sin and transgression.

And fear Allaah. Verily, Allaah is Severe in punishment.” (Surah al-Maa’idah: 2)

Renowned scholar Ibn al-Qayyim emphasized the severity of such involvement by equating congratulating non-Muslims on their religious festivals to endorsing their disbelief. He remarked that congratulating them for practices like shirk is akin to congratulating them for grave sins such as prostrating to the cross or committing heinous acts. This strict stance stems from the concern that any form of endorsement of such beliefs, even implied, exposes the individual to the displeasure of Allah.

🔘Avoiding Misunderstandings: The Role of Politeness vs. Principles

One common contention is balancing politeness and maintaining principles in interfaith interactions. Many Muslims feel uncomfortable declining to greet non-Muslims during their festivals or avoiding participation in cultural customs for fear of appearing rude or intolerant. While Islam emphasizes kindness, respect, and maintaining good relationships with people of all backgrounds, it establishes clear limitations when it comes to compromising one’s faith.

The illustrious scholar, Sheikh Ibn Uthaymeen, clarified that politeness cannot come at the expense of affirming religious falsehood. For example, non-Muslims congratulating Muslims for Eid or other Islamic celebrations is vastly different from Muslims reciprocating for non-Islamic occasions. Eid is a holiday legislated by Allah, whereas holidays like Christmas stem from innovation or deviations from the original message of Prophet Eesa (peace be upon him). As such, responding with “Merry Christmas” or participating in Christmas festivities would undermine the Islamic belief in Tawheed.

It is important to note that declining participation should be done respectfully and with explanation. Politely educating non-Muslims about Islamic beliefs—such as the rejection of the divinity of Jesus yet the simultaneous love and respect Muslims hold for him as a prophet—can serve as an opportunity for dawah (calling others to Islam).

🔘Alternatives to Participation

Rather than participate in Christmas celebrations, Muslims are encouraged to maintain cordial relationships with their non-Muslim colleagues and friends throughout the year. Islam promotes the giving of gifts and showing kindness as general virtues, not actions tied to specific religious festivals. Muslims are encouraged to give gifts during their religious holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha, or even at neutral times outside the festive season. This proactive approach helps avoid the appearance of endorsing beliefs conflicting with Islamic principles, while also fostering positive interfaith connections.

Shaikh Ibn Uthaymeen expressed that participation in non-Islamic religious functions, such as accepting invitations to Christmas parties, exchanging gifts, or organizing celebrations, is impermissible. These actions go beyond simple greetings and imply active participation in and approval of the non-Islamic religious rituals, which Islam prohibits outright. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said, “Whoever imitates a people is one of them,” further emphasizing the importance of maintaining a distinct Islamic identity.

🔘Addressing Misconceptions about Christmas

While some claim that celebrating Christmas is an acknowledgment of the birth of Prophet Eesa (peace be upon him), this interpretation does not align with Christian theological underpinnings. Christmas is not only a commemoration of Jesus’ birth but also imbued with beliefs such as the "Sonship of God" and other doctrines that Islam considers shirk. Hence, Muslims must differentiate between respect for the person of Jesus as a prophet and the rejection of Christian theological concepts associated with him.

Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) warned Muslims about attending non-Muslim religious gatherings, as these occasions are seen as times when divine wrath descends upon those involved in acts of disbelief. This demonstrates the importance of avoiding environments where shirk is actively promoted or celebrated.

🔘The Importance of Educating Others

Avoiding participation in Christmas or other non-Muslim religious activities is not merely about personal religious observance but can serve as an opportunity for dawah. Muslims living in multi-religious societies should aim to educate their colleagues, neighbors, and friends about their beliefs in a polite and thoughtful manner throughout the year. By explaining Islamic principles, such as the oneness of Allah, the concept of prophethood, and the reasoning behind refraining from certain practices, Muslims demonstrate that their decisions are principled rather than prejudiced.

This consistent education helps non-Muslims understand what to expect from their Muslim friends when religious festivals arise, preventing misunderstandings or feelings of exclusion. Establishing oneself as a practicing and principled Muslim over time fosters respect and goodwill, even when declining invitations or greetings tied to religious festivities.

🔘Conclusion

In conclusion, while Islam commands kindness and fairness towards non-Muslims, especially in interfaith relations, it also sets firm boundaries when it comes to practices that could dilute or compromise the belief in Allah’s oneness. Participating in or endorsing non-Muslim religious festivals like Christmas—whether through greetings, gifts, or attendance—not only contradicts Islamic principles but could also imply condoning beliefs that Islam profoundly rejects. Instead, Muslims should focus on nurturing respectful relationships year-round, promoting mutual understanding, and using such moments as opportunities for dawah. This approach enables Muslims to uphold their faith while fostering harmony in diverse societies. As always, the guiding principle remains: Allah knows best.

முஸ்லிம்கள் முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மத விழாக்களில் பங்கேற்பது: ஒரு இஸ்லாமிய பார்வை

முஸ்லிம்கள் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் போன்ற முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மத விழாக்களில் பங்கேற்க அனுமதிக்கப்படுகிறார்களா என்ற கேள்வி இஸ்லாமிய தத்துவத்தில் முக்கியமான பண்டிதர் விவாதம் மற்றும் மத சிந்தனையின் பொருள் ஆகும். குர்ஆன் மற்றும் சுன்னாவில் இருந்து பெறப்பட்ட கொள்கைகளை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டு, இந்த விவகாரம் பெரும்பாலும் இவ்விழாக்களில் பங்கேற்பதன் விளைவுகள் மற்றும் மதங்களிடையே உள்ள தொடர்புகளில் இஸ்லாமிய போதனைகள் அமைத்துள்ள எல்லைகளைச் சுற்றி மையமாகிறது. புகழ்பெற்ற இஸ்லாமிய பண்டிதர்கள் பகிர்ந்த பார்வைகள் மற்றும் இஸ்லாமிய உரைகளின் விரிவான விளக்கங்களை அடிப்படையாகக் கொண்டு, இந்த கட்டுரை கிறிஸ்துமஸ் போன்ற முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மத விழாக்களில் பங்கேற்பதற்கான அனுமதியை ஆராய்கிறது, பரிசுகளை வழங்குதல், விருந்துகளில் பங்கேற்பது அல்லது “மெர்ரி கிறிஸ்துமஸ்” என்று வாழ்த்துதல் போன்றவை. இந்த விவாதம் முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத சக ஊழியர்கள், அண்டை வீட்டார் மற்றும் நண்பர்களுடன் மரியாதையான மற்றும் மரியாதையான தொடர்புகளை வளர்க்கும் போது இஸ்லாமிய கொள்கைகளை பராமரிப்பதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை வலியுறுத்துகிறது.

🔘விவாதத்தின் மையம்: பங்கேற்பது ஏன் தடைசெய்யப்பட்டது?

இந்த விவகாரத்தின் மையத்தில் இஸ்லாமிய ஒரே கட���ுள் நம்பிக்கையை (தவ்ஹீத்) பராமரிப்பது மற்றும் இஸ்லாமுக்கு முரணான நம்பிக்கைகளை அனுமதிக்கக்கூடிய அல்லது ஆதரிக்கும் நடைமுறைகளைத் தவிர்ப்பது ஆகியவை உள்ளன. கிறிஸ்துமஸ், உதாரணமாக, தீர்க்கதரிசி ஈசாவின் (ஈசா, அவருக்கு அமைதி உண்டாகட்டும்) பிறப்பை கொண்டாடுகிறது, ஆனால் “கடவுளின் மகன்” என்ற நம்பிக்கையைப் போன்ற இஸ்லாமிய போதனைகளுக்கு முரணான தத்துவார்த்த விளைவுகளுடன் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவ்விழாக்களில் பங்கேற்பதன் மூலம் அல்லது வாழ்த்துக்களை நீட்டிப்பதன் மூலம், முஸ்லிம்கள் தவறுதலாக ஷிர்க் (பொலிதீயிசம் அல்லது அல்லாஹ்வுடன் கூட்டாளிகளை இணைத்தல்) உடன் தொடர்புடைய நம்பிக்கைகளை அனுமதிப்பதாக அல்லது உறுதிப்படுத்துவதாகக் கருதப்படலாம்.

குர்ஆன் தவறாகவோ அல்லது மீறலாகவோ கருதப்படக்கூடிய செயல்களைத் தவிர்க்கத் தெளிவாக அறிவுறுத்துகிறது: “… பாவம் மற்றும் மீறலில் ஒருவருக்கொருவர் உதவாதீர்கள். அல்லாஹ்வை பயப்படுங்கள். நிச்சயமாக, அல்லாஹ் கடுமையான தண்டனையாளர்.” (சூரா அல்-மாஇதா: 2)

புகழ்பெற்ற பண்டிதர் இப்ன் அல்-கய்யிம், முஸ்லிம் அல்லாதவர்களை அவர்களின் மத விழாக்களில் வாழ்த்துவது அவர்களின் நம்பிக்கையை ஆதரிப்பதற்கு சமமாக இருப்பதை வலியுறுத்தினார். ஷிர்க் போன்ற நடைமுறைகளுக்காக அவர்களை வாழ்த்துவது, சிலுவைக்கு வணங்குதல் அல்லது கொடூரமான செயல்களைச் செய்வது போன்ற பெரிய பாவங்களுக்கு வாழ்த்துவது போன்றது என்று அவர் கூறினார். இவ்வாறு கடுமையான நிலைப்பாடு, இவ்வாறு நம்பிக்கைகளை ஆதரிக்கும் எந்தவொரு வடிவமும், மறைமுகமாக இருந்தாலும், அல்லாஹ்வின் அதிருப்திக்கு உட்படுத்தும் என்ற கவலையிலிருந்து வருகிறது.

🔘தவிர்க்க வேண்டிய தவறான புரிதல்கள்: மரியாதை மற்றும் கொள்கைகள்

ஒரு பொதுவான கருத்து, மதங்களிடையே தொடர்புகளில் மரியாதையை பராமரிப்பது மற்றும் கொள்கைகளை பராமரிப்பது ஆகியவற்றை சமநிலைப்படுத்துவது. பல முஸ்லிம்கள், அவர்களின் விழாக்களில் முஸ்லிம் அல்லாதவர்களை வாழ்த்த மறுப்பது அல்லது கலாச்சார பழக்கங்களில் பங்கேற்பதைத் தவிர்ப்பது குறித்து, மரியாதையற்றவையாக அல்லது சகிப்புத்தன்மையற்றவையாக தோன்றுவதற்கான பயத்தால், துன்பப்படுகிறார்கள். இஸ்லாம், அனைத்து பின்னணியிலுள்ள மக்களுடன் நல்ல உறவுகளை பராமரிப்பதை வலியுறுத்தினாலும், ஒருவரின் நம்பிக்கையை சமரசம் செய்யும் போது தெளிவான வரம்புகளை நிறுவுகிறது.

புகழ்பெற்ற பண்டிதர் ஷேக் இப்ன் உத்தய்மீன், மரியாதை மத நம்பிக்கைகளை உறுதிப்படுத்துவதற்காக வரக்கூடாது என்று தெளிவுபடுத்தினார். உதாரணமாக, முஸ்லிம் அல்லாதவர்கள் முஸ்லிம்களை ஈத் அல்லது பிற இஸ்லாமிய விழாக்களுக்கு வாழ்த்துவது, முஸ்லிம்கள் முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத நிகழ்ச்சிகளுக்கு பதிலளிப்பது மிகவும் மாறுபட்டது. ஈத், அல்லாஹ்வால் சட்டப்படுத்தப்பட்ட ஒரு விடுமுறை, ஆனால் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் போன்ற விடுமுறைகள், தீர்க்கதரிசி ஈசாவின் (அவருக்கு அமைதி உண்டாகட்டும்) அசல் செய்தியிலிருந்து புதுமை அல்லது விலகல்கள் ஆகியவற்றிலிருந்து தோன்று��ின்றன. எனவே, “மெர்ரி கிறிஸ்துமஸ்” என்று பதிலளிப்பது அல்லது கிறிஸ்துமஸ் விழாக்களில் பங்கேற்பது தவ்ஹீத் மீது இஸ்லாமிய நம்பிக்கையை பாதிக்கும்.

பங்கேற்பதை மறுப்பது மரியாதையாகவும் விளக்கத்துடனும் செய்யப்பட வேண்டும் என்பதைக் கவனிக்க வேண்டும். முஸ்லிம் அல்லாதவர்களுக்கு இஸ்லாமிய நம்பிக்கைகளை மரியாதையாகக் கல்வி கொடுப்பது - இயேசுவின் தெய்வீகத்தை நிராகரிப்பதைப் போன்றவை, ஆனால் அவரை தீர்க்கதரிசியாக நேசிக்கும் மற்றும் மரியாதை செய்யும் முஸ்லிம்களின் ஒரே நேரத்தில் காதல் மற்றும் மரியாதை - தாவா (மற்றவர்களை இஸ்லாமுக்கு அழைப்பது) ஒரு வாய்ப்பாக இருக்கலாம்.

🔘பங்கேற்பதற்கான மாற்று வழிகள்

கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாட்டங்களில் பங்கேற்பதற்குப் பதிலாக, முஸ்லிம்கள் தங்கள் முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத சக ஊழியர்கள் மற்றும் நண்பர்களுடன் ஆண்டின் முழு காலமும் நல்லுறவுகளை பராமரிக்க ஊக்கப்படுத்தப்படுகிறார்கள். இஸ்லாம் பரிசுகளை வழங்குதல் மற்றும் பொது நற்குணங்களாக அன்பைக் காட்டுவதை ஊக்குவிக்கிறது, குறிப்பிட்ட மத விழாக்களுடன் தொடர்புடைய செயல்களாக அல்ல. முஸ்லிம்கள் தங்கள் மத விடுமுறைகளான ஈத் அல்-பித்ர் மற்றும் ஈத் அல்-அதா போன்றவற்றில் அல்லது பண்டிகை காலத்திற்கு வெளியே நடுநிலையான நேரங்களில் பரிசுகளை வழங்க ஊக்கப்படுகிறார்கள். இந்த முன்முயற்சி, இஸ்லாமிய கொள்கைகளுக்கு முரணான நம்பிக்கைகளை ஆதரிப்பது போன்ற தோற்றத்தைத் தவிர்க்க உதவுகிறது, மேலும் நேர்மறை மதங்களிடையே நல்லுறவுகளை வளர்க்கிறது.

ஷேக் இப்ன் உத்தய்மீன், கிறிஸ்துமஸ் விருந்துகளுக்கு அழைப்புகளை ஏற்குதல், பரிசுகளை பரிமாறுதல் அல்லது கொண்டாட்டங்களை ஏற்பாடு செய்தல் போன்ற முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மத நிகழ்ச்சிகளில் பங்கேற்பது அனுமதிக்கப்படாதது என்று தெரிவித்தார். இந்த செயல்கள் எளிய வாழ்த்துக்களைத் தாண்டி, முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மத சடங்குகளில் செயல்பாட்டில் பங்கேற்பதையும், ஒப்புதலையும் குறிக்கின்றன, இது இஸ்லாம் முழுமையாகத் தடை செய்கிறது. தீர்க்கதரிசி முஹம்மது (அவருக்கு அமைதி உண்டாகட்டும்) கூறினார், “யார் ஒரு மக்களைப் பின்பற்றுகிறாரோ அவர் அவர்களில் ஒருவராக இருக்கிறார்,” இது தனித்துவமான இஸ்லாமிய அடையாளத்தை பராமரிப்பதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை மேலும் வலியுறுத்துகிறது.

🔘கிறிஸ்துமஸ் குறித்த தவறான கருத்துக்களைத் தீர்க்குதல்

சிலர் கிறிஸ்துமஸ் கொண்டாடுவது தீர்க்கதரிசி ஈசாவின் (அவருக்கு அமைதி உண்டாகட்டும்) பிறப்பை ஒப்புக்கொள்வதாகக் கூறினாலும், இந்த விளக்கம் கிறிஸ்தவ தத்துவார்த்த அடிப்படைகளுடன் ஒத்துப்போவதில்லை. கிறிஸ்துமஸ், இயேசுவின் பிறப்பை நினைவுகூரும் நிகழ்வாக மட்டுமல்லாமல், “கடவுளின் மகன்” மற்றும் இஸ்லாம் ஷிர்க் என்று கருதும் பிற கொள்கைகளுடன் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. எனவே, முஸ்லிம்கள் இயேசுவை தீர்க்கதரிசியாக மதிப்பது மற்றும் அவருடன் தொடர்புடைய கிறிஸ்தவ தத்துவார்த்த கருத்துக்களை நிராகரிப்பது ஆகியவற்றுக்கு இடையில் வேறுபாடு காண வேண்டும்.

உமர் இப்ன் அல்-கத்தாப் (அவருக்கு அல்லாஹ்வின் மகிழ்ச்சி உண்டாகட்டும்) முஸ்லிம்களுக்கு முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மதக் கூட்டங்களில் பங்கேற்பதைப் பற்றி எச்���ரித்தார், ஏனெனில் இந்த சந்தர்ப்பங்கள், நம்பிக்கையின்மை செயல்களில் ஈடுபடுபவர்களுக்கு தெய்வீக கோபம் இறங்கும் நேர��ாகக் கருதப்படுகின்றன. ஷிர்க் செயலில் ஊக்குவிக்கப்படும் அல்லது கொண்டாடப்படும் சூழல்களைத் தவி��்ப்பதன் முக்கியத்துவத்தை இது காட்டுகிறது.

🔘மற்றவர்களை கல்வி கொடுப்பதின் முக்கியத்துவம்

கிறிஸ்துமஸ் அல்லது பிற முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மத நடவடிக்கைகளில் பங்கேற்பதைத் தவிர்ப்பது, தனிப்பட்ட மதக் கடமைகளைப் பற்றியது மட்டுமல்ல, தாவா (மற்றவர்களை இஸ்லாமுக்கு அழைப்பது) ஒரு வாய்ப்பாக இருக்கலாம். பல மதங்கள் உள்ள சமூகங்களில் வசிக்கும் முஸ்லிம்கள், ஆண்டின் முழு காலமும் தங்கள் சக ஊழியர்கள், அண்டை வீட்டார் மற்றும் நண்பர்களுக்கு தங்கள் நம்பிக்கைகளை மரியாதையாகவும் சிந்தனையுடனும் விளக்க முயற்சிக்க வேண்டும். அல்லாஹ்வின் ஒருமை, தீர்க்கதரிசனம் என்ற கருத்து மற்றும் சில நடைமுறைகளைத் தவிர்ப்பதற்கான காரணம் போன்ற இஸ்லாமிய கொள்கைகளை விளக்குவதன் மூலம், முஸ்லிம்கள் தங்கள் முடிவுகள் கொள்கைமிக்கவை தவிர முன்னுரையற்றவை அல்ல என்பதை காட்டுகின்றனர்.

இந்த நிலையான கல்வி, மத விழாக்கள் எழும்பும் போது தங்கள் முஸ்லிம் நண்பர்களிடமிருந்து என்ன எதிர்பார்க்க வேண்டும் என்பதை முஸ்லிம் அல்லாதவர்களுக்கு புரிந்துகொள்ள உதவுகிறது, தவறான புரிதல்கள் அல்லது விலக்கப்பட்ட உணர்வுகளைத் தவிர்க்கிறது. மத விழாக்களுடன் தொடர்புடைய அழைப்புகள் அல்லது வாழ்த்துக்களை நிராகரிக்கும் போதும், நேர்மறையான மற்றும் கொள்கைமிக்க முஸ்லிமாக தன்னை நிறுவுவது மரியாதையும் நல்லெண்ணமும் வளர்க்கிறது.

🔘முடிவுரை

முடிவில், இஸ்லாம், குறிப்பாக மதங்களிடையே நல்லுறவுகளில், முஸ்லிம் அல்லாதவர்களிடம் அன்பும் நியாயமும் கட்டளையிடுகிறது, இது அல்லாஹ்வின் ஒருமை நம்பிக்கையை நீக்கவோ அல்லது சமரசம் செய்யவோ முடியாத நடைமுறைகளுக்கு உறுதியான எல்லைகளை அமைக்கிறது. கிறிஸ்துமஸ் போன்ற முஸ்லிம் அல்லாத மத விழாக்களில் பங்கேற்பது அல்லது ஆதரிப்பது - வாழ்த்துகள், பரிசுகள் அல்லது பங்கேற்பதன் மூலம் - இஸ்லாமிய கொள்கைகளுக்கு முரணானது மட்டுமல்ல, இஸ்லாம் ஆழமாக நிராகரிக்கும் நம்பிக்கைகளை ஆதரிப்பதாகவும் இருக்கலாம். இதற்கு பதிலாக, முஸ்லிம்கள் ஆண்டின் முழு காலமும் மரியாதையான உறவுகளை வளர்க்க, பரஸ்பர புரிதலை ஊக்குவிக்க மற்றும் தாவா வாய்ப்புகளாக இந்த தருணங்களைப் பயன்படுத்த கவனம் செலுத்த வேண்டும். இந்த அணுகுமுறை, முஸ்லிம்கள் தங்கள் நம்பிக்கையை நிலைநிறுத்துவதற்கும், பல்வகைமிக்க சமூகங்களில் ஒற்றுமையை வளர்க்கவும் உதவுகிறது. எப்போதும் வழிகாட்டும் கொள்கை: அல்லாஹ் சிறந்ததை அறிவார்.

[berandomness]

Monotheism VS polytheism is a mindset. A way of thinking more than any actual pantheon of gods.

[rosiewitchescottage]

Animism vs Polytheism vs Monotheism

A great explanation for why it makes sense to me to combine Faith in Jesus with the far, far older idea that we now call Animism. 

In all my explorations around faith, Jesus has never abandoned me. So he’s a given.

But when I look at the rest of Creation, I find that it’s impossible for me to put faith in Jesus in one box and Nature in another.

I love sacred buildings, art, music, literature. But as someone here so wisely said

‘God is the Artist, Nature is the Art’ (I’m not sure if that’s word for word, But I have the gist of it.)

Whatever special relationship we have with God, the rest of Creation is His/Her work just as much. And He declared it all to be ‘Good’.

Praise from God isn’t to be taken lightly, I’d say.

We were given a job as stewards. And we should be carrying out our work with respect and love for our fellow Beings.

That’s it, ‘Beings’. 

Creation/Nature isn’t just something that looks pretty and is useful. The world around us is as alive as we are.

It’s been a belief for much of human history that all these Beings, from our beloved pets to ‘creepy crawlies’, from our magnificent planet home, to rocks, lakes, the sky, the sun, weather and seasons, not only share with us in having life, but also in having ‘ Life Force’.

Of course other creatures won’t have a soul with the same ‘layers’ as that of the human, the most complex animal of all. 

But, if humanity has for so long seen ‘Life Force’ as belonging to all Creation, then I’m going to work on the assumption that there’s something in it.

As was said in Dr Jordan Peterson’s series about The Book of Exodus, when they got to The Ten Commandments.

We can respect and honour our fellows in Creation, whilst saving Worship for The Creator, alone.

[mahakaliastrology]

9th House Saturn transit update 15 February 2024

- crisis of faith and direction.

- The urge to elevate or “do something” with my life. Feeling like I was stuck with the direction as to my life.

- Long travel. I spent 6 months in India volunteering. Found the culture differences difficult and frictions led me to feel some sort of uncanny valley affect and develop an appreciation for my own culture.

- Started dating someone from a different race, culture and religion. We had friction as to goals in life, and cultural differences led to communication issues. We both spoke a different kind of English. Sometimes I felt we were too different and being seen together as two different people from completely different cultures would affect my reputation (natal Saturn in 10)

- My bf is Hindu and I am from a Muslim background. Due to the uprise of Hindu nationalism, he would occasionally criticise Islam, which would offend me, even though I didn’t find myself identifying with the religion, I still somehow felt it was an attack on my identity (natal Saturn conjunct Moon which is my ASC ruler). My bf is a writer, writing a trilogy about Lord Shiva at the time.

- Due to India travel and Hindu boyfriend, I challenged with the idea of polytheism vs monotheism which I grew up on. I was raised to believe idolatry was the biggest sin and now that idea was being challenged. Hinduism is very different. I found myself quite closed off and résistent to a lot of concepts from Hinduism. Found the practices of having dolls in temples ‘immature’ and the whole God culture in India a bit too money orientated and cult like.

- Despite so much instinctive rejection of Indian and Hindu culture and difficulties assimilating, I found their humility and humbleness admirable. I found followers of Abrahamic religions and those in my hometown, London, to be unbearably arrogant and self-righteous which was a complete turn off from my own country. Being humble felt more attractive and respectable.

- Felt like I had no direction. Remunerating over whether I wanted to do a TEFL and teach in Asia or go back to the UK and study a masters. Struggling to pick a topic to study for Masters. Whether I wanted to continue my chosen career path despite having the struggles i had and choosing to quit in the first place, although I needed the security. Felt like my options were limited. The world no longer felt like my oyster.

- Despite having some spiritual encounters in the past and it building my faith in god through hard times, I started to question how useful this was and if it was mature to base big decisions on superstitions. At the same time, spiritualism drove me a bit crazy and led me to make impractical and crazy choices in my life because I was relying too much on superstitions to direct my life. Likewise, I needed spiritualism to add colour and meaning to my life. Life was more beautiful with empathy, compassion, beauty and dreamy spiritualism (Pisces), which I felt was precious but dying

- Felt like I needed guidance, a career counsellor or something to help direct my life, but feeling like there was nobody out there. Mother being my ultimate authority figure (my natal Saturn conjuncts my Moon in 10H), I felt like she was the only respectable guidance out there, despite having rebelled against her advices so much because of how she would limit my life.

[angelellipsis-devilofdots]

i'll absolutely try my best! it's a lot so it's definitely important to do research as well

paganism usually comes in the form of polytheism, incorporating the gods of different pantheons such as greek, norse, egyptian, roman, celtic, slavic, etc. you can worship as many gods as you want, even across pantheons as you so choose. however, some pagans are non-theistic and don't believe in the gods - rather, they just worship nature itself and focus on spirituality (i am not non-theistic so apologies if any of this is incorrect!). both paths or anything in between are very valid!

there's a lot of pagan subcultures such as wicca, druidry, shamanism, and more. doing research on anything and everything is always a great idea, but before practicing yourself, always make sure it's not a closed practice. cultural appropriation is sadly pretty normalized or overlooked in the pagan community, so it's important not to get involved in that to avoid being disrespectful.

some pagans practice witchcraft - it's common, but not all do, of course. you can find a lot of resources and books on witchcraft for purchase online or at a local library; i don't have a list of recommendations on hand but you can definitely find some online. common forms of witchcraft in paganism include astrology (including magic based on the lunar cycles), tarot cards, oracle cards, crystal usage, etc.

i'm new to paganism myself (converted in december of 2023) so here's where i started:

i did research on pagan deities and tried to see which one(s) i felt most connected to. this happened to be the norse goddess freyja, and i ended up researching the whole norse pantheon and norse mythology and then decided it was what i felt called to

i saved prayers that i liked, so i light candles and say prayers to freyja and the other deities i worship

it was right around yule, so i researched holidays. i watched videos on youtube, looked up articles about ancient practices vs modern practices, etc

i started collecting crystals, jewelry of pagan or spiritual symbols, and extra candles, many of these as gifts from others

i did a lot of research and just wrote shit down. get yourself a journal, it's a great way to stay organized. i wrote (and still write) about deities and mythology, witchcraft and spirituality, and so on

here are some important things to research as a new pagan:

history

pagan deities

offerings (and disposing of offerings)

different pantheons

holidays (the wheel of the year)

non theism, soft theism, polytheism, monotheism

animism

pre-christian practices

modern pagan celebrations and rituals

closed vs open practices

divination

local natural occurrences (bird migrations, seasonal weather, climate change impact, bug hibernations, etc)

spiritual psychosis (an issue that's scarily normalized in the pagan community - so this is really important to learn about and educate yourself on to recognize the signs)

and more; other pagans, tell me if i missed any!

and, if you're interested in witchcraft:

closed vs open practices

grounding and meditation

herbal correspondences

bath rituals

spell jars / spell bags

history of witchcraft

moon phase meanings

deity work

sigils and runes

enchanting objects

color correspondences

divination

and more; other witches, tell me if i missed any!

so sorry if this is overwhelming! this is just scratching the surface; i didn't want to infodump a ridiculous amount unwarranted. i hope this helps you, whether or not you decide to become pagan, and feel free to ask questions 💞

i need to renew my faith in religion and ive been thinking about become pagan, does anybody on here care to educate me on it some more? id LOVE to hear about it from someone first hand, along with doing my own research