Divinity

Though distant in subject, structure and narrative voice, these two novels, Herman Melville‘s Moby-Dick and Toni Morrison‘s Beloved, share unexpected common ground. Both are remarkable for their breathtaking poetic treatment of suffering, brutal exploitation and killing. Both weave their narrative fabric in the rich territory where the struggle for survival overlaps with a desperate will to break barriers. And both, somehow, amidst the carnage, create an opening through which reaches the presence of the divine.

Convenors: Nausikaä El-Mecky & Ruby Guyatt
Panellists: Yohana Junker, Deja Newton, Santiago Zabala, Ruby Guyatt & Nausikaä El-Mecky

This interdisciplinary panel explores a darker intersection of ecology and spirituality: eco-fascism – an ideology and movement which often combines elements of white supremacism, Norse ideology and mysticism, and climate activism.

Eco-fascism today mystically combines historical and contemporary political and spiritual ideologies and aesthetics in complex ways. Eco-fascism is locally-rooted and nostalgic for an imagined racial and/or cultural pure past or “utopic” future. Whilst often emerging as a local phenomenon, eco-fascism is also entangled with global politics.

This panel on eco-fascism examines particular eco-fascist expressions by tracing how their historical and global narratives reveal the movement’s spiritualities, by approaching the spirituality of eco- fascism through the prism of theology, environmental studies, history, activism, philosophy and visual culture.

35 Sonnets belongs to the metaphysical stage of the English poetry of Fernando Pessoa and constitutes the final phase in the personal growth process of the reader; previously having gone through the erotic-sexual stage (constituted by Epithalamium), the affective-moral stage (Antinous), the intellectual stage (Inscriptions) and the spiritual stage (Mad Fiddler). In this final stage, amidst the didacticism of Hermetic-Pessoan philosophy, the author uses the traditional metaphysical themes, following the tradition of the Shakespearean sonnet. However, the Pessoan innovation resides in the originality of the Pessoan neologism and in the novel point of view that each poem adopts. Its originality reaches the syntax; the linguistic games  of "light and soul" allows us to elucidate a unique perspective in contemporary Western poetry; that is, the visual perspective of the intangible. Without having to resort to obvious metaphors or similes, Fernando Pessoa manages to glimpse the Universal Consciousness, inherent to every man, and leads us towards the Divine Promise. The Pessoan metaphysics are not a cry to the resignation of the solitary sailor, but are a new Song of Songs of spiritual ecstasy, before the ancient knowledge of the sages, able to reveal their own divinity.

Volume 14 of The New Melchizedek Bible
(the bible of all known religious writings in chronological order)

The book appears to be a memorial to President Lincoln.  Apparently written by Civil War vets and feminists. 

The text renumbered quite well!  Turned out real nice. 

Also edited for clarity, with suggestion of certain words thought to have been omitted.

Sri Aurobindo is a great Indian poet and philosopher. His "Urvasie" is a brilliant symbolic love poem. Urvasie is the companion nymph of Pururavus. She is a manifestation of splendour. She and Pururavus are two physical emanations in human forms inhabited by the same secret-self or Nature. It is the pilgrimage of the Self in quest of the alter-self.

Within a literary ontology, YHWH in the Hebrew Bible is technically also a fictional entity or object. In Hebrew Bible scholarship, a variety of philosophical issues surrounding fiction have received sustained and in-depth attention. However, the mainstream research on these matters tends to focus on the philosophical foundations of or backgrounds to a particular literary theory, rather than on metaphysical puzzles as encountered in the philosophy of fiction proper. To fill this gap, the present article seeks to provide a meta-theoretical overview of the main contemporary philosophical perspectives on the metaphysics of fictional objects. Three views (and their sub-currents) are discussed, namely possibilism, (neo-)Meinongianism and (literary) creationism. Each view’s theory is introduced and critically appropriated with reference to what is implied to be an answer to the question of what exactly the biblical character YHWH can meaningfully be said to be in the context of the metaphysics of fictional objects. In this way, the present study also goes beyond the traditional concern with the nature of God in Old Testament theology.

A word-by-word explanation of the translation of the so-called creation hymn of Rigveda. The translation is very different from traditional ones.

As I demonstrate, the hymn has been completely misunderstood by previous translators.

The hymn has nothing to do with the origin or creation of the Universe. It is in fact, simply a prayer to God.

This paper examines evidence of Jesus’ divinity as documented in Scripture. Jesus’ divinity is established by His divine authority, His unique Sonship, His being the object of worship, belief, and faith, His miracles, His divine titles, His omniscience and foreknowledge, His ability to forgive sins, His role as judge, the interchangeability of His name with God’s, His omnipotence, and specific assertions of His divinity.

The focus of this paper is the concept of Interiority in Islamic spiritual journey to Metaphysics through analyzing 'Adhkār al-Tarbiya' ritual; it is the initiation of Murids' (the followers) into journey to the highest order of divinity, being the goal of Murids. However, the details of the al-Tarbiya rituals are the same for everyone, the experience reported varied from individual to another. The bottom line is that, they share the same common moderate sense of existence, believing that it is the way to unlock the secret of universal divine unity. The paper applied qualitative research methodology and subcase study design. The paper explored at first-hand level and presented the case of Tijjāniyah followers that experienced Adhkār al-Tarbiya and its influence on their life. The study made attempt to answer the philosophical question of human psycho-spirituality through exploring Adhkār al-Tarbiya of Tijjāniyah tradition. The study concluded that spiritual journey from Tijjāniyah tradition does a serious impact in producing a balanced individual with connection to the metaphysical world in his life perfectly.

Jesus speaks three words - or sayings - to Thomas in a moment of revelation, and when his comrades urge Thomas to reveal them he issues a warning: "If I tell you one (...) you will stone me (...)"

Which are these words that have such a profound impact?

The 'where' can be disclosed already; they're right in the text where they have been hiding in plain sight all along, for two millennia

The essays in Reading the Gospel of John’s Christology as Jewish Messianism: Royal, Prophetic, and Divine Messiahs seek to interpret John’s Jesus as part of Second Temple Jewish messianic expectations. The Fourth Gospel is rarely considered part of the world of early Judaism. While many have noted John’s Jewishness, most have not understood John’s Messiah as a Jewish messiah.

The Johannine Jesus, who descends from heaven, is declared the Word made flesh, and claims oneness with the Father, is no less Jewish than other messiahs depicted in early Judaism. John’s Jesus is at home on the spectrum of early Judaism’s royal, prophetic, and divine messiahs .

A través de siete apartados se analiza la cronología de Star Wars, el contexto histórico-social que la determina y cómo se evidencia en la saga. También por qué se puede considerar Star Wars como un mito moderno y cómo refleja el viaje del héroe. Son estudiados aspectos religiosos que gira alrededor del concepto de la Fuerza, los aprendizajes biopedagógicos, la interculturalidad manifiesta en la saga y los elementos que ésta posee para que se desarrolle un nuevo camino espiritual llamado jedismo.
Abstract Through seven sections the chronology of Star Wars, the historical and social context that determines it and how is evident in the saga are analyzed. Also in which way Star Wars is a modern myth and how the hero's journey is reflected. Eeligious aspects that revolves around the concept of the Force, the biopedagogy learning, interculturalism manifested in the saga and the elements that this series of films has to develop a new spiritual path called jedism are studied.

A fresh and original translation from Sanskrit of the dashrajnya hymn (hymn 7.18 of Rig Veda) describing this defining battle between Aryan king Sudas and his Aryan as well as non-Aryan foes. The decisive battle led to the uprooting of many tribes from the Sapta Sindhu area.

Many existing beliefs are shown to be merely due to misunderstandings. Further, it is shown that the existing translations fall well short of the true meaning.
For example, no Matsya tribe was involved in this battle.

This paper focuses on the conceptualization of the term שֵׁם־קָדְשִׁי (shem
qodeshi) and its desecration or contamination in the context of the book of Ezekiel, with the purpose of attaining the following: 1) to determine the meaning of words shem qodeshi and its equivalent in Ezekiel in light of the person-namereputation relationship in the Ancient Near East and the Hebrew Bible; 2) to understand the nature of the desecration and how the vindication of  shem qodeshi is found in Ezekiel; 3) to study the statement "it's not because of you (...) but because of shem qodeshi" in the context of Ezekiel 20:1-44 and 36:16-38 in order to understand its harmonization with the character of God; 4) to provide an overview of the relationship between shem qodeshi, its desecration and vindication, and the influence it has on the nations around Israel and over Israel itself. In this study the biblical text is analyzed from a synchronic perspective, taking it in its canonical context and in its final form. Since it is basically a literature search, primarily based on biblical commentaries available, and some non-exhaustive
grammatical and etymological analysis, this study makes a contextual analysis of the pericopes of Ezekiel 20:1-44 and 36:16-38 in order to seek the understanding of the meaning of the expression shem qodeshi and also the statements that are relevant.

This paper focuses on the Pentecostal Movement in Nigeria, and how the different forms and shape it has assumed is making it difficult for practicing Christians to actually preach the authentic message of the Gospel of Christ. From the interviews conducted, there were indications that Pentecostal churches in Nigeria are a mix of the good, bad and ugly. There are also indications, that pastors that preaches the authentic message of salvation through Christ will have few members willing to listen to them. The increasing poverty, ignorance, hunger and disease, unemployment, alienation, exploitation, oppression and dispossession (widows, orphans), aftermath of war and unrest, since Nigerian independence have been blamed for the culpability of Christians to messages of prosperity and divine healing by Pentecostal pastors in Nigeria. The need to improve the situation was obvious. Though, this will take a longer time to achieve on a larger scale, because of the developed organizational structure that shows resemblance to modern management styles in modern corporate entities that are now found in many Nigerian Pentecostal churches. However, there is the need to continually sensitize Nigerian Christians on the true values of Christianity.

Este tratado está íntimamente vinculado con el estudio del Santuario Celestial en relación con el Santuario Terrenal. El sacerdocio levítico debe ser comprendido como un tipo del sacerdocio de Nuestro Señor Jesucristo en los cielos, algo que estudiaremos parcialmente en este tratado. Veremos bajo la luz del sacerdocio levítico una sombra de las cosas celestiales y nos permitirá comprender mejor una de las doctrinas distintivas más importantes de la Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día: el Santuario Celestial.

Sería deseable que usted se asegurara de haber ya estudiado el tratado sobre El Santuario Celestial que antecede a este, ya que muchos de los asuntos que aquí trataremos están basados en conceptos que hemos expresado en dicho estudio.

Las ideas actuales sobre sacerdocio y algunos ritos bien conocidos, que las personas en general tienen, requieren ser desaprendidos para comprender el sacerdocio levítico y el Sacerdocio de Cristo en los cielos. Aunque habrá puntos comunes con nuestros conceptos actuales, las diferencias son mayores y requieren una mente abierta para percibir las diferencias.

Se consulta manuscritos, Tárgumes y Padres de la iglesia de primeros siglos (120 citas); se hace análisis exegético de 10 pasajes y se revisa más de 20 en Anexos. Herramienta para evangelizar a arrianistas, judíos y para todo aquel que dude de la deidad del Señor.

The divine status of Moula Abi Abdillah Al Imam al-Husain (as) is beyond imagination due to our limitations of Ma’arif and strength of understanding. The Imam of Ahl al-Bayt (as) is an embodiment of “Al Mawjud al-Awwal” (the First Existent). Likewise, the blessings attached with the Imam also have a divine nature. Turbah – Khak’i Shifa is the gift of Moula al-Husain (as) to his Shias hence they consume it for Shifa from all diseases and even use it for Hifazat from the Afaat (tribulations) and fears of the Duniya and A’akhirah. It is Wajib upon all Mumineen to learn the Ad’ab (manners) to use this sacred gift. The following study opens new vistas of Ma’arif (sacred wisdom) to the seekers of Sacred Literature.

Parmi les actes fondateurs d’une colonie grecque on retrouve, en divers lieux, les traces d’une déification du cours d’eau « bienfaiteur » de la cité. Cet élément, vital pour ces populations venues de la mer, s’y retrouve ainsi « sacralisé » au travers d’une personnification de la source, du ruisseau, de la rivière ou du fleuve qui arrose leur ville. Platon proposait, lui-même, de « donner l’appellation d’un fleuve, d’une source ou de divinités locales » à la nouvelle cité. Dans les monnayages on découvre, parfois, la présence de ce dieu-fleuve « local » dès l’époque archaïque. C’est cependant au Ve siècle av. n. è. que l’on recense le plus de données propres à ce phénomène qui se poursuivra cependant bien au-delà.
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In his extant letters and speeches, Emperor Constantine often referred to God. However, these references were seldom theological elaborations on the concept of God. Instead, they were usually limited to the use of certain ambiguous titles of God. Accordingly, this article examines the emperor’s concept of God with the help of the so-called title-theology. Arguably, Constantine’s understanding of God developed from inclusive “pagan” henotheism to a qualified Christian monotheism, yet so that it retained the promise of accommodating various views of God. Vagueness in theological matters served the purpose of establishing the widest possible religious consensus in the Roman Empire. At the same time, this calculated vagueness also enabled different interpretations of Constantine’s theological utterances and perhaps contributed indirectly to the Trinitarian controversies within the Christian church. A comparison between Constantine’s concepts of God and that of Nicaea shows both a significant agreement and the existence of different underlying incentives.

Abstract

The earliest Christians—all of whom were Jews—spoke of the Holy Spirit as a feminine figure. The present article discusses the main proof texts, spanning the ‘Gospel according to the Hebrews’ to a number of testimonies from the second century. The ancient tradition was, in particular, kept alive in East and West Syria, up to and including the fourth century Makarios/Symeon, who even influenced ‘modern’ Protestants such as John Wesley and the Moravian leader Count von Zinzendorf. It is concluded that, in the image of the Holy Spirit as woman and mother, one may attain a better appreciation of the fullness of the Divine.

While the study of the New Testament use of the Old Testament has received much attention in the last decades, this discipline has not generally had much bearing on translation. In this article I use Paul’s use of Isaiah 28:11–12 in 1 Corinthians 14:21 in order to shed light on the cryptic saying of Isaiah 28:10 and 13. Presupposing that Paul draws from the immediate context of Isaiah 28:11–12, I suggest that the rhetorical effect of Paul’s quotation is stronger if Isaiah 28:10 (and 13) is interpreted to represent an incomprehensible sequence of syllables, like a minority of English version do. Starting in the Old Testament, the most likely meaning of Paul’s quotation in its original context is determined. The focus then turns to 1 Corinthians 14:20–25, as various views are presented and considered successively. The discussion concludes by explaining the rhetorical effect that Paul’s quotation would have made upon the Corinthian believers and why the minority view of Isaiah 28:10 and 13 might be the most likely.

What is the relationship between Mizrahi feminism and Israeli ultranationalism? What is the relevance of gender justice activism to the 2014 Gaza War and Israel’s foreign policy?

Wrapped in the Flag of Israel Second Edition examines neoliberal bureaucracy in the Global South using feminist critical race theories. It interrogates the relationship between the State of Israel and its Mizrahi single mothers who are at the forefront of Mizrahi feminism. It also presents a model of bureaucracy as divine cosmology that preempts the agency of disenfranchised Mizrahim who are Israel’s demographic majority. Mizrahi protests fall flat when the Israel-Palestine conflict dominates the headlines. While most studies of neoliberal bureaucracy employ a Foucauldian or Marxian lens, this book illustrates how Israeli bureaucracy draws on a theological essence that fuses religion, gender, and race into the foundations of citizenship. It sets out to understand why Mizrahi mothers remain loyal to a state that injures them though its bureaucratic system.

The extensive Afterword to the Second Edition connects intra-Jewish racial and gendered dynamics to the 2014 Gaza War. It tracks sequences that began with social protest and ended with elections that bolstered Israel’s political right. In between came bloodletting between the IDF, the Palestinian Authority, and Israel’s neighboring Arab states. The 2014 Gaza War was a watershed, but not only in the Israel-Palestine conflict. Under the smokescreen of war, Israel accelerated neoliberal economic reform. The first victims of this restructuring were Mizrahi single mothers. Palestinians, however, would pay the highest price for Israel’s Mizrahi-Ashkenazi rift.