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4.7

Common component- messiahs/saints

The 3rd literal implication of the word religion by definition is the requirement for there to have been some history of contact between the supernatural being/force or beings/forces and certain human beings. After all, there can by definition be no covenant if there has been no relationship and no relationship without contact.

By definition of the 2nd literal implication, "lord" and "subject", contact is typically considered to be at the prerogative of the God(s), not the other way around. Therefore human beings who have been contacted by a particular religion's God(s) are traditionally venerated as special human beings, chosen by God(s). The words Christos ("anointed one"), Prophet ("interpreter, spokesman of the will of a God(s)") and Messiah ("anointed one") and many other labels have been placed on these people that various religions believe were the chosen messengers of the God(s).

Because of the obvious importance religions place on messages from their particular God(s), all religions have relied on certain "signs" and systems to sort between "true" messages and "false" messages. Typically, this has operated under only four methods:

· trial- the testing of a messenger by some previous criteria to seek the invocation of divine intervention to their aid, thus establishing their credibility;

· prophecy- the forward projection by an established credible source of future signs by which a true messenger may be identified; and

· birthright/bloodline- the belief that certain bloodlines have been chosen in perpetuation to "lead" and instruct the people on the message of the relevant religion's God(s).

· Possession/position of holy objects- the belief that certain objects are endowed with divine power and that those in legitimate possession position automatically become the mouthpiece of the message (e.g. traditional priest castes, emperors etc.).

Most religions have employed all four methods in some manner throughout their history.

Sons of God

One of the most common phrases used to describe primary messiahs who are also deemed saviour's (founders of a religion) are "sons of god". In the case of christianity, this phrase has been altered to "only son of god".

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