Search

[German Version] I. Religious Studies – II. Ancient Near East and Old Testament – III. Greco-Roman Antiquity – IV. The Milieu of Modern Alternative Religions I. Religious Studies An omen (Lat. omen, related semantically to prodigium, “portent,” and auspicium [ oblativum], “[spontaneous] divination from the flight of birds”) is a phenomenon that is interpreted as a portent (Premonition) of an important event, mostly negative but sometimes positive; unlike oracles, omens are not sought deliberately. Often they involve encounters with an…

[German Version] I. History of Religion – II. Philosophy of Religion – III. Dogmatics I. History of Religion Lat. emanatio, “outflow,” translation of Gk ἀπορροή/ἀπόρροια ( apórrhoḗ/apórrhoia), a keyword and figure of thought in the doctrinal structure of Gnosis/Gnosticism (in Irenaeus's Lat. trans. emissio: Haer. II 13.1–14.1 etc.). ¶ Probably inspired by Platonic thought, in the 3rd to 1st century bce Wis 7:25 calls wisdom an “emanation of the glory of the Almighty.” The image of the water that flows out of a spring …

[German Version] I. Religious Studies Voluntary promises to do something, either materially or ideally, in order to obtain the support of a divinity or ¶ some other metaphysical effects, are known as vows. Intended as an agreement in partnership with the gods ( do ut das, not always strictly), they are found worldwide as prominent forms of expressing partnership with the divine. They are to be distinguished from texts accompanying thankofferings for earlier gifts (notably in the Lat. ex voto or V[otum] S[olvit] L[ibens] M[erito]). They are made at times of personal or coll…