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Which is the religion where you pay a lot of money and you get a special piece of string to wear that shows how cool and mystical you are? The gnostic question reminded me of that. They study ancient Hebrew texts. Madonna was into that last year. Maybe it is gnosticism.
And then there's Zoroastrianism. Was that a choice? And there are no Anglicans?
LOL ellie!!! Trust me when I tell you that Gnosticism has nothing to do with string.
I don't know what the string thing is, but maybe someone else can answer that.
Gnosticism is approximately as old as Christianity, but has some beliefs that make it pretty unacceptable to most Christians, because they're very fundamental. They're pretty controversial too. But totally fascinating...I mean there's a whole lineup of scriptures and gospels.
Nope, no Anglicans--they appear to be a dying breed! Or they are born-again! No Congregationalist either, I suspect!
On second thought, several people may have just come in as Protesters!
Zoroastrianism--well, frankly I think I might have met one person who even knew how to spell it. Another lost or losing belief, but the basis of many others. Perhaps those people are living in the outskirts of Turkey.
I know nothing about strings, but the Gnostics are something I wish I knew more about in modern terms. Rather a competitive group back in 22 A.D.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ellie
Which is the religion where you pay a lot of money and you get a special piece of string to wear that shows how cool and mystical you are? The gnostic question reminded me of that. They study ancient Hebrew texts. Madonna was into that last year. Maybe it is gnosticism.
And then there's Zoroastrianism. Was that a choice? And there are no Anglicans?
Which is the religion where you pay a lot of money and you get a special piece of string to wear that shows how cool and mystical you are? The gnostic question reminded me of that. They study ancient Hebrew texts. Madonna was into that last year. Maybe it is gnosticism.
And then there's Zoroastrianism. Was that a choice? And there are no Anglicans?
I actually did think of Zoroastrianism but because, as ontheroad says, it appears to be such an isolated belief, I decided it would best fall into the category of "Other, not listed".
Kabbalah would fall into the general category of "Jewish", I'd think; just the Amish would fall into 'Other, not listed' although it is a Christian religion (and because, obviously, no Amish are likely to be sitting at a computer voting in polls on City-Data! )
Also, I felt that simply making one single category for "Christian" wouldn't be nearly as informative or interesting as breaking down the results more specifically.
Kabbalah isn't a religion but a study. It has been taken on by many outside of the Jewish faith because of its mystical implications and its association with secrets. Secrets held by the informed, so to speak. Not only has it been studied by scholars, and non-scholars, it has begun to be included in such practices as tarot and astrology. One reason, I imagine, this has happened is because of its emphasis on numbers--their sound and significance in religious documents.
Just some surmise!
Quote:
Originally Posted by windflower
I actually did think of Zoroastrianism but because, as ontheroad says, it appears to be such an isolated belief, I decided it would best fall into the category of "Other, not listed".
Kabbalah would fall into the general category of "Jewish", I'd think; just the Amish would fall into 'Other, not listed' although it is a Christian religion (and because, obviously, no Amish are likely to be sitting at a computer voting in polls on City-Data! )
Also, I felt that simply making one single category for "Christian" wouldn't be nearly as informative or interesting as breaking down the results more specifically.
Ah yes, secrets. Still I'm skeptical of any religion or other society that you are expected to pay money to join.
When I was young and extremely bohemian in costume I had a huge spool of thick red string, some of which I kept tied around my ankles and wrists for months at a time.
Either I was an unknowing initiate or the modern Kabbalists stole my idea.
I have no investment, financial or spiritual, in Cabala or Kabbalah, but if a few folks (I checked the internet) like Madonna, and others in her group, distort the basic tenets of a study, it isn't a fact--but just that, a distortion of a serious practice among a particular sect within Judaism--Hasidim.
Money and kabbalah are not a practice among the religious. This is some new pass into the "unknown" created by the known.
You'd be hard pressed to find any Jewish man (women were forbidden to study) who is involved in a public group on the subject!
I have no investment, financial or spiritual, in Cabala or Kabbalah, but if a few folks (I checked the internet) like Madonna, and others in her group, distort the basic tenets of a study, it isn't a fact--but just that, a distortion of a serious practice among a particular sect within Judaism--Hasidim.
Money and kabbalah are not a practice among the religious. This is some new pass into the "unknown" created by the known.
You'd be hard pressed to find any Jewish man (women were forbidden to study) who is involved in a public group on the subject!
That's exactly why I was poking fun.
I have a huge respect, based on the little I know, of the Jewish community's acceptance of scholarship, questioning, and analysis of their belief system. I can't carry this discussion further for fear of waking the mob in the dayroom, so no more joking and playing with this subject today.
Sorry, my serious academic side didn't realize you were joking--but for those that knew little or nothing about Kabbalah, perhaps one more myth is destroyed.
Quote:
Originally Posted by ellie
That's exactly why I was poking fun.
I have a huge respect, based on the little I know, of the Jewish community's acceptance of scholarship, questioning, and analysis of their belief system. I can't carry this discussion further for fear of waking the mob in the dayroom, so no more joking and playing with this subject today.
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No Congregationalist either, I suspect!
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