you are here: > Self > 4. Religion and SELF
 
4.17
Universal religious positive instruments of power
 
  As mentioned, apart from negative instruments of power, religions have developed positive instruments of power to encourage certain behaviour in supporters.  
  Divine ethereal gifts  
  Powerful instruments of power of religions are those that religions state are divine gifts to individual followers. As mentioned, the three historically most powerful concepts in this category are o the gift of human life o the gift of soul (spark of the divine) o the gift of divine inspiration (sometimes considered possession) and o the promise of everlasting life.  
  Inherent in each and every living thing is the desire to live and the avoidance of death. Humans especially naturally fear the concept of physical death and fear the unknown and seemingly finality of death. Those religions that have been able to develop instruments of power offering the hope of everlasting life have been the most successful religions by far over the last 2000 years.  
  The hope of everlasting life and the resurrection form arguably the most important instruments of power for the Christian Churches and explain in large part its phenomenal success as a religion over the past 2000 years.  
  Divine Wisdom  
  As we have discussed many times now, it is a natural feature of human existence to question our purpose, our direction and relationship with the world. As we will discuss in more detail in Chapter 9 (A new understanding of our Ancestors) it was the beliefs and instruments of power of the oldest religions of humanity that all knowledge (technical, astronomical, social structure, building, farming and spiritual) originally came from the God(s).  
  Divine Healing  
  The ability to heal has been one of the most powerful and sought after gifts of humans in every age. People with the "healing gift" have been sought after by kings, Queens and even Popes throughout the ages. In tribal village life, healing is a major positive instrument of power of the witch doctor.  
  While physical healing continues to be an instrument of power more often abused by charlatans and outright frauds, there have nonetheless been enough apparent incidences of divine healing in each and every religion to provide support to this instrument.  
  One of the smartest creations has been the Christian concept of divine spiritual healing- the "healing of the soul" through the gift of absolution (forgiveness). This concept has been extremely attractive to many men and women throughout the centuries eager to cleanse themselves and heal. The christian ceremony provided at the point of death is still one of the most sought after acts even for people previously agnostic until that point.  
  There is something luring and attractive about the concept of spiritual peace and healing, even if the body remains physically ill and failing. To this day, divine spiritual healing is considered one of the most attractive instruments of power for those religions that offer it.  
  Sacred Objects  
  Sacred objects have been powerful positive instruments of power since the beginning of civilization of humanity. Objects including the crown of a King, the clothes that they wear, the instrument (rod) that they hold and the orb instrument are ancient in conception.  
  Sacred objects include sacred texts and even the bones of venerated saints. For centuries, sacred objects have been the physical reminders of divine power and many millions of people direct their attention to these objects places strategically in shrines throughout the wall more so than the intangible concepts.  
  One of the oldest and most sacred symbols of religion is the sacred "rod of power" (thyrsus in Greek) used as both an initiating tool and a weapon.  
  Sacred Symbols  
  Since the beginning of civilization, there are certain geometric and non-geometric symbols considered so sacred, that sometimes they have not been permitted to be drawn. The sacred symbols of the oldest religions, pentagrams, star of david, the cross, the swastika, the aom are just a few.  
  Sacred symbols have also included the symbols of seals of various Gods and cities, the crests of certain officials and kings. probably the oldest symbols apart from those identifying the Gods, have been those of the ancient astrological charts of the Sumerians and Sth American civilizations symbolizing the zodiac.  
  Sacred Locations  
  All religions have locations considered as their most sacred. Surprisingly, many locations are considered sacred by many religions, often for different regions. The most celebrated of religious centres for 3 great religions (Judaism, Christianity and Islam) is Jerusalem.  
  In Lebanon, the site Baalbek was considered one of the most sacred sites for Roman, Greek, and Pagan times. In Sth America, similar sites are consider holy of holies.  
  Sacred Words  
  Religions even possess powerful instruments of power through words. As words are the means by which the divine communicates to humanity, many religions have regarded certain words as the most sacred of all. Some even believe that the most sacred of all should not be pronounced ( as in ancient Jewish tradition).  
  Sacred Sounds  
  Sacred sounds are intimately linked to sacred words. the sound OM, is considered one of the most sacred sounds of all time.  
  Sacred Rituals  
  The ability to ward off evil through rituals have also been considered power instruments of power. Rituals are considered in themselves to be powerful instruments. In the Christian ceremony the mass is considered a sacred object in itself, as do the Jews believe in the Passover meal as a sacred moment in its own right.  
   
 
<<Back       Continue>>
 

Copyright © 2010 UCADIA. All rights reserved.