Jinn, oni, and demons are entities which have some overlapping features, but key differences as well. I speculate that some of the overlaps occurs due to cross-cultural contact, specifically regarding jinn and demons since Islam and Christianity cross-pollinated certain concepts. Even before Islam emerged, early Christians in the deserts might have had contact with the myth of the jinn. The oni emerge from a unique cultural and religious framework, but even so, some similarities can be identified with the use of Kripal’s toolbox.
First, jinn, which were part of the Arab mythology well before Islam emerged, are believed to be spirits of smoke and fire. These beings are believed to interact with the human world, changing form if desired, and
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For example, according to tradition oni can interact with the human realm, for better or for worse, moving freely between the realm of the dead and the living without the need for human intervention (such as a necromancer). The oni can be male or female, although the female oni is perceived to be particularly vengeful and jealous. The female oni, the shikome is often portrayed as ugly, which might reflect the perceived worse qualities of women in the Japanese culture. Much like the jinn and demons, the oni are believed to have the power of shape-shifting. One unique aspect of the oni is the belief that angry oni can influence the natural elements and conjure violent storms and natural catastrophes. Thus, rituals have developed to avert the wrath of these angry oni. Another unique aspect of the oni is found in the Buddhist tradition, where oni are also portrayed as protective forces. One practice that emerged from this belief was the carving of oni into wood and hanging these carving above doorways for good luck. Another example of the positivity associated with oni is the belief that meditation can transform an evil oni into a good oni. Thus, much like Christianity and Islam, the demon is used an exemplar for proper religious
...s themselves, much like the Dineh. Through their art, the Walbiri communicate with their ancestors, and become united with the Dreamtime, much like the Dineh. When a tjurunga, the residences of the spirits, is touched, a physical connection is made with the supernatural. This contact causes the perpetuation of both humans and spirits (Anderson, 65). This example of contagion in the Walbiri culture illustrates the importance of the relationship between mortals and the holy spirits and art. The Walbiri philosophy that through art humans can transcend and come into direct contact with the Eternal Dreamtime and their ancestors is further exemplified by this act of contagion.
...e… One sheep costs half a danaq and a lamb costs a tussuj.” (al-Andalusi, 64). Both Ibn Fadlan and al-Andalusi deviate from these topics often, but Ibn Fadlan primarily concentrates on the rituals of a culture and al-Andalusi mainly focuses on a culture’s resources.
The Art Institute of Chicago houses a sculpture that epitomizes Shingon Buddhism in Japan. Born from an influence of Chinese esoteric Buddhism and the Indian God Shiva, the deity Fudo Myo-o, or “The Immovable One”, is one of the most important figures in Japanese Buddhism. The deity first appears in the Heian Period during the ninth century and is made to help followers of Buddhism with any adversity faced. During the Kamakura Period from the 12th-14th centuries the figure of this guardian king developed into a more realistic sculptural form. Fudo Myo-o is unique to the Shingon Buddhism of Japan with qualities that distinguish him from most any other deity, qualities that embody his vicious compassion, wisdom, and wrath.
The Buddhist clerics believed that Aoi was possessed by evil spirits. Therefore the clerics tried to use poppy seeds in order to help Aoi. The Tale of Genji by Murasaki Shikibu states “Curiously, she still felt unlike herself, and her clothing reeked of poppy seeds. To allay her misgivings she tried washing her hair and changing, but the smell lingered until she came to look on herself with horror….” The poppy seeds are supposed to get rid of the evil spirits that are possessing Aoi. According to Norma Field, “Poppy seeds are used in the rites of exorcism, and their scent on her person confirms her suspicion of her spirit’s mischief”. The poppy seed ritual however did not work and Aoi passed away after giving birth to her son. Aoi was cremated by the Buddhist clerics and her family received an urn with Aoi’s ashes in it. According to Murasaki Shikibu, “Such losses strike often enough, but no doubt because Genji had known so few – perhaps only one – he was consumed in his bereavement by the fires of longing”. Buddhists believed in the cycle of rebirth; therefore Buddhists perform rituals of cremation. In Murasaki Shikibu’s Tale of Genji, the chapter called Heart - to - Heart shows a picture of Buddhist clerics performing a ritual of cremation. During the cremation ritual, the Buddhist burns the dead bodies in the fire which creates ashes of the
Sixth century Arabia, the home of Muhammad, the founder of Islam, was a place of rich cultural diversity. Prior to the rise of Islam, the majority of those living in Arabia were polytheists (Donner, 29). They worshipped various deities, such as astral gods or their own ancestors, with settled societies developing more complex religious practices that involved a single creator god with many intermediary gods (Aslan, 6). The Ka’ba, a site of religious pilgrimage in the city of Mecca that would become central to the Islamic faith, contained three hundred sixty idols representing the many gods recognized throughout the peninsula (Aslan, 3-4). The belief of most sedentary Arabs in one higher god with possible lesser gods existing as well is known as henotheism (Aslan, 8). By the time of Muhammad’s birth, henotheism was widespread in Arabian towns and cities (Aslan, 8)...
Shaman are known in many cultures, but are identified by different names: healers, spiritual healers, medicine men, angakok, ganga, mulogo, witch doctors and warlords, just to name a few. However, this does not mean that all Shamans will hold the same beliefs, they may be good or evil, but they do receive their paranormal powers in many forms, some receive them thru visions or trances. Shamanism is humanity's oldest form of relationship to the Spirit. But it is not a religion. Given the various traditions of Native American people, shamanism takes in a diverse range of methods for collecting knowledge.
Islam has a deep history, beginning with ideas originating before Muhammad and spanning to the present day. Before Islam, the Bedouin people’s faith contained a belief in supreme beings alongside animism. They also put a large emphasis on ancestor worship (Swartz 15). Some groups...
Every ancient society and civilization has creation myths that were passed down and keep alive throughout the passing of time by word of mouth. These myths are the world’s oldest stories and are vital to these cultures because they explain their beginnings and give purpose to their existence. By analyzing and interpreting different creation myths it becomes easier to understand different cultures and their connections and relationships with heir beliefs and god(s).
Each and every culture follows a certain set of distinct practices that are distinct and specific to each individual culture. The common Western perception of Japan's ambiguous practices stems from the extreme difference in views correlated with the widespread lack of knowledge concerning the ancient culture steeped in tradition. Japan's widely Buddhist population is known for their calm acceptance of death as a part of life. One particular, perplexing cultural practice is the tradition of writing jisei, or "death poetry" when on the verge of death. A thorough understanding of Japanese Death Poems provides an explicitly accurate depiction of the Japanese attitude towards death and the Zen Buddhist philosophy that helped form this attitude.
Onryo are grudging and vengeful spirits (27). These spirits come about when they are not properly buried or remembered and cause great unhappiness (27). The belief is that onryo can only be calmed by prayer (27). According to traditional belief, however, thirty-three or fifty years must pass for the spirit to find rest (27). The Japanese believed that when the spirits would find peace they either became hotoke which means “buddha” or sorei, “ancestor go...
As human beings, we are designed to belive in something. Although the belief in a higher power or religion is diverse, many theologies share common themes. “The Epic of Gilgamesh” and the Hebrew book of “Genesis” are seemingly polar opposites. Christianity, demonstrated in Genesis, is monotheistic, and the Hebrews base their faith on their relationship with God. On the other hand, Sumerian philosophy, found in Gilgamesh, is polytheistic, and the Sumerian people base their theology on fear. Ancient polytheistic literature forms an archetypical pattern of the mortals trying desperately to please the gods. A mortal’s entire existence rests in the hands of the sometimes childish gods. In spite of this, these two stories
However much Islam and Christianity would seem to share common ground, the discussion is not complete without noting the parallels between this two that have taken center stage. Some of the remarkable differences as they try to answer deep life complexities arise in the areas of religious practices by both their adherents and the clergy (Dorothy 13-28). “There is also a stark contrast to the belief system subscribed to, means of salvation, scriptures”. The most prominent difference present concerns the belief of life after death and practices of depicting the metaphysical
The compare and contrast concepts of Inanna 's and Marduk 's are not exclusive to Sumerian or Babylonian myth. Several cultures have varying ideology about religion and creation; upon close inspection, one can see the similarities. Upon reading the story of Inanna, you can see how she transformed from a young woman to a beautiful goddess displaying her sexuality for all to see. This transformation is manifest in the use of symbolisms to display this myth.
At the first glance, Islam and Christianity appear to have nothing in common, however; as you go beyond the surface, they appear to have many similarities such as their beliefs of God, their beliefs of life after death, their holy scriptures, and their prayers. These religions, although two entirely different beliefs, share a similar origin. Like many other religions, they both claim to be the one and only true way to God. In order to truly see and understand their similarities, one must date back to the rise and birth of Christianity and Islam. Throughout the course of this essay, I will compare the many facets that show the alikeness between these two growing religions.
Kenneth Jost. 2005. “Understanding Islam.” Annual Editions: Anthropology 11/12, 34th Edition. Elvio Angeloni. New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.