...associated with origins, the afterlife and the ‘Yggdrasil’ forms a framework for the ancient religion which identifies the principle beliefs held amongst the Norsemen. One of the principal beliefs in the Nordic Religion is the ‘world tree’ or ‘Yggdrasil’, which is the centre of their universe which held nine different realms within its branches. Each realm is situated at different areas of the tree and is carried by three main roots. The first, top root went to Asgard (heaven) which is the home Gods dwell in. The second root went down to Jotunheim, located in the middle where Middle-Earth is situated within (land of mortals), also belonging to dwarves and giants. The last root went down to Niflheim and Musepellheim, located at the bottom that reaches into the underworld Hel, ‘home’ of the dead who are forever perished and tormented. Thus Yggdrasil is a principal belief as it held together earth, heaven and hell by its roots and is the place dependent of numerous gods that are paramount beliefs to the Nordic religion. Furthermore, the Ancient Nordic Religion is a polytheistic religion meaning its beliefs in various pagan gods. They followed many gods and this belief was pursued through idolatrous sacrifice and mystery plays. The main deities were the gods, goddesses and giants. The deities were the centre of their faith because they all have a particular authority over a...
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...Despite having the exact same ratio of god to giant “blood” running through him as the rest of the gods in Asgard, he is not of equal status to any of them. Loki himself fathers three monster creatures, the “Midgard serpent, the wolf Fenrir, and Hel.” While he maintains an allegiance with the Aesir gods during some of the time prior to Ragnarok, somehow in the mythic future of Norse mythology, he aligns himself with the monsters. According to John Lindow, Loki was “the enemy of the gods in the far mythic past… and reverts to this status as mythic future approaches and arrives,” with a particularly ambiguous mythic present. (Lindow...
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...and thinkers of the city rule from the giant skyscrapers while the laborers work under harsh conditions for long hours beneath the ground. In Metropolis, technology is portrayed to be evil and invasive. Technology has affected every part of the city. Every building seems to be modern except for the home of Rotwang, the inventor. His house is described as a “strange house, overlooked by the centuries.” On his front door is an upward pentagram. One meaning the Pentagram is believed to have is that it’s a protection against evil. The five point Pentagram each stands for the things that “contribute to life and are a part of us.” The top point of an upward Pentagram represents the spirits. The other points represent four elements: air, water, earth and fire. The spirit being at the top above the elements symbolizes the spirits rule over matter or the mind ruling limbs. It is a sign of rightness;...
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...two certainties in life death and taxes” and it’s true no matter what you pay your way in this world and death always follows you waiting to strike. The one we will probably never know is what does he or she look like. Whether it be a cloaked black figure hanging over you or the feeling of ice as every hair on body stands erect the Grim Reaper comes in many forms. For the people of Mexico, it’s the patron saint of death Saint Muerte, for the Scandinavian in Norse mythology death was personified as Hel, the goddess of death who rules over the realm of Hel. This essay will be exploring different personifications and representations of death during different time periods and how different artists use different techniques to depict death. The triumph of death - Pieter Bruegel the Elder, 1562...
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...associated with origins, the afterlife and the ‘Yggdrasil’ forms a framework for the ancient religion which identifies the principle beliefs held amongst the Norsemen. One of the principal beliefs in the Nordic Religion is the ‘world tree’ or ‘Yggdrasil’, which is the centre of their universe which held nine different realms within its branches. Each realm is situated at different areas of the tree and is carried by three main roots. The first, top root went to Asgard (heaven) which is the home Gods dwell in. The second root went down to Jotunheim, located in the middle where Middle-Earth is situated within (land of mortals), also belonging to dwarves and giants. The last root went down to Niflheim and Musepellheim, located at the bottom that reaches into the underworld Hel, ‘home’ of the dead who are forever perished and tormented. Thus Yggdrasil is a principal belief as it held together earth, heaven and hell by its roots and is the place dependent of numerous gods that are paramount beliefs to the Nordic religion. Furthermore, the Ancient Nordic Religion is a polytheistic religion meaning its beliefs in various pagan gods. They followed many gods and this belief was pursued through idolatrous sacrifice and mystery plays. The main deities were the gods, goddesses and giants. The deities were the centre of their faith because they all have a particular authority over a particular force of nature, for example the god Freyr is the...
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...through Jesus, without directly showing it to them like many times prior, by raising Jesus from the dead. To emphasize this, “because He has appointed a day on which, He will judge the world in righteousness by the Man whom He has ordained. He has given assurance of this to all by raising Him from the dead.” Christ had mentioned several times that his death and resurrection would be the one thing to give to the sinful and unbelieving world God made for them. Such as, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” Further explaining that he knew he would be able to come back with ease. Foreknowing one’s own death is common in most Mythologies, but none knew of it like Jesus. They certainly didn’t perceive them coming back alive after three days either; much less escape where they were. It wasn’t likely they would have that foreknowledge at the time they went to the Underworld. More so them waiting to be rescued of some sort because they weren’t that powerful to escape or all knowing like God or Odin. In example of that, is when...
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...complete emptiness. The Norse creation begins with a darkness, emptiness combined with a fieriness of Muspell, where nothing can grow. In Genesis the first book in the Holy bible, the earth was dark, empty, formless matter. It began when the Spirit of God covered the waters to prepare and perform his most creative work. God spoke and his creation was formed. (Genesis 1979) On the first day, "God created the light and separated the light from the darkness, calling light "day" and darkness "night". On the second day, "God created an expanse to separate the waters and called it "sky". On the third day, "God created the dry ground and gathered the waters, calling the dry ground "land," and the gathered waters, "seas”. God also created the plants, flowers, trees, and grasses on day three. On the fourth day, "God created the sun, moon, and the stars to give light to the earth and to govern and separate the day and the night". These also serve to mark the years, days, and seasons. On the fifth day, "God created every living creature of the seas and every winged bird, blessing them to multiply and fill the waters and the sky with life". On the sixth day, "God created the animals on the earth”. Then God created man in his own image, both male and female, and instructed them to multiply and replenish the earth (Genesis 1: 27-28). He made them rulers over the...
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...Both of these creation myths start with an emptiness where conflict and chaos eventually develop. The Genesis crearion is between God, nothing, blackness, emptiness, loneliness, and the need to create something. The Norse creation is between the dark cold realm of Niflheim, within the emptiness of Ginnungagap, and the fiery realm of Muspell, where nothing can grow. There are nine classifications of creation myths, which most include more than one motif. The Genesis cosmogonies applies both ex nihilo, and deus faber motifs. The story begins with the ex nihilo myth, which God creates the light, the dark, the sun, the moon, the earth, the stars, plants, animals, birds, and fish, within six days out of nothing. This account is told in Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament. Then God creates a man, Adam, in his own image from the dust of the earth and breathes life into him. When God realizes it is not good for man to be alone, he causes a deep sleep to come upon Adam. Then he takes a rib from Adams side and forms a woman. Therefore, combining deus faber (the "maker-God") with ex nihilo motifs. The Norse creation myths combines secretion, sacrifice, and accretion/conjunction motifs. It combines fire and ice in a random conjoining of elements. The myth begins with Muspells warm breath meeting with Nieflheim, the frost of the arctic, and causing the ice to melt. The results produces water droplets that come to life, creating Ymir, the evil giant. As this giant sleeps, the...
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...out to create earth. They killed Ymer and constructed oceans from his blood, soil from the skin and muscle, vegetation from the hair, clouds from the brain and the skull, supported by four dwarves, hold the sky. Inhabiting this newly created land known as Midgard, the first man and women, Ask and Embla, were created from tree trunks. A fence surrounded Midgard to protect mankind from the remaining Giants. Principal Beliefs of the Norse Religion The beliefs of the Nordic religion were divided into two main categories: the belief in pagan gods and belief in other supernatural forces. The supernatural forces were made up of “landvættir” and “náttúruvættir”. The Landvættir are spirits of the land in Norse mythology, they protect and promote the flourishing of the specific places where they live, which can be as small as a rock or a corner of a field or as large as a section of a country. Náttúruvættir is the spirit of nature. The Gods and Goddesses were responsible for different aspects of life and physical existence. However, the Gods were believed to of been in a constant struggle against the giants living in Jötunheimar (the Giants’ Land). Amongst them there were various monsters, such as the Miðgarðsormur (the Middle Earth Serpent), and Fenrisúlfur (the Monster Wolf). In the end, the giants united in an enormous campaign against the gods. There followed a great battle in which most of the gods fell and the giant Surtr (the fire giant) burned down the entire earth. But after the...
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...begin with an empty void where chaos or conflict develops. The Norse myth narrates a conflict between the fiery realm of Muspell and the dark, cold realm of Niflheim within the emptiness called ginnungagap and where nothing could grow. The Genesis conflict was between God and nothing, loneliness, and the need to create something beautiful. There are specifically nine classifications of creation myths and many employ more than one motif. Genesis cosmogonies apply both the deus faber and ex nihilo motifs. The story often considered the ex nihilo myth, meaning "out of nothing" is the account in the first book of the Old Testament, Genesis, of God's creation in six days by speaking into existence light and darkness, sun and moon, stars and earth, plants and animals, and birds and fish. God then generates Adam in His image from the dust and breathes life into him and Eve was formed from one of Adam's ribs, therefore combining deus faber (the "maker-God") with ex nihilo motifs. The Nordic creation myths tend to combine accretion/conjunction, secretion, and sacrifice motifs. It features the blending of fire and ice in a random joining of elements. When the warm breath of Muspell meets the frost of arctic Nieflheim, ice melts and the resulting water drops come to life, creating the evil giant Ymir. As the giant sleeps, sweat from his armpits creates the first man and woman. These other giants grow to despise Ymir and the creation story continues with the slaying and...
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...The Olympians Zeus - Roman name: Jupiter or Jove. The sky-god Zeus rules Mount Olympus. His weapon is the thunderbolt, and his bird is the eagle. The central figure of the myths, Zeus epitomizes their complexity. At times he is divine and represents a pure, eternal sense of justice; at other times, he is capricious and cruel. Hera - Roman name: Juno. Zeus’s wife and sister, Hera is a very powerful goddess known mostly for her jealousy. She is often vicious and spiteful, and it is usually Zeus’s infidelity that incites her. Many unfortunate mortals endure hardships by provoking Hera’s wrath. Poseidon - Roman name: Neptune. The god of the sea, Poseidon is Zeus’s brother and second only to him in power. Poseidon holds a decade-long grudge against Odysseus. The often cruel and unpredictable violence of the seas is assumed to be a result of his anger. Hades - Roman name: Pluto. The brother of Zeus and Poseidon, Hades rules the underworld, the realm of the dead, with his wife, Persephone. Pallas Athena - Roman name: Minerva. Usually just called Athena, this goddess emerges from Zeus’s head fully-grown and armed. Associated with war, cleverness, and wit, it is no surprise that she favors Odysseus. Athena is the goddess of Wisdom, Reason, and Purity and is chaste, like Artemis and Hestia. Phoebus Apollo - Usually just called Apollo. A son of Zeus and Leto and Artemis’s twin, he is the god of Light and Truth, the master of Poetry and Music, and the god of Archery. His Oracle...
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...prepared for delivery at the Friday, 4 April 1986, Priesthood Leadership Meeting, was delivered in part by President Benson. The complete text is printed here at his request. My dear brethren, what a thrilling sight it is to look out over this body of priesthood leadership and to know how many thousands of Saints you serve and how much dedication and faithfulness you collectively represent! There is no other body anywhere in the world today that meets for the same righteous purpose as does this group, nor is there any other group— political, religious or military—that holds the power that you do here tonight. We live in a day of great challenge. We live in that time of which the Lord spoke when he said, “Peace shall be taken from the earth, and the devil shall have power over his own dominion.” (D&C 1:35.) We live in that day which John the Revelator foresaw when “the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.” (Rev. 12:17.) The dragon is Satan; the woman represents the Church of Jesus Christ. Satan is waging war against the members of the Church who have testimonies and are trying to keep the commandments. And while many of our members are remaining faithful and strong, some are wavering. Some are falling. Some are fulfilling John’s prophecy that in the war with Satan, some Saints would be overcome. (See Rev. 13:7.) The prophet Lehi also saw our day in...
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...|Aspects of Women's Spirituality in Tending to the Dying | |By Leslene della-Madre | |s Page | | | | | |For many of us, death is something we would rather not think about. Why is this? Why do we not want to understand the deepest mystery of | |life? Why are we so afraid to die? These are some of the questions that beckoned me on a journey to learn about the true nature of death, | |resulting in a recently published book, Midwifing Death: Returning to the Arms of the Ancient Mother, weaving together knowledge about how| |our pre-patriarchal ancestors viewed life and death with modem stories telling how the sacred passage of death and dying can be midwifed | |in grace, love and beauty, which are all aspects of the sacred feminine in women's spirituality--the oldest spirituality on the planet. | |What I have discovered, or rather, uncovered, from the forgotten realms of our ancestors...
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...The importance of culture – myths, symbols, arts, science, history. The real question is whether the culture can influence the way we think and experience the world. Clearly we have to realize that the culture is something that lies within us, around us, and is an integral part of our being. It defines the way we treat others and ourselves. Culture forms an important element of social life of a man. It gives the individuals or groups the feelings of unity with the group. What exactly is culture, anyway? Term "culture" is based on a term used by the Ancient Roman orator Cicero in his Tusculanae Disputationes, where he included a cultivation of the soul or “cultura animi” using an agricultural metaphor for the development of a philosophical soul, understood theologically as the highest possible ideal for human development. In Latin “culture” is “cultus agri”, which is crop land, in other words, a subjugation of nature by a man. The meaning of this phrase developed gradually, from its simplicity to a more complex form. It includes everything that has been ever made by a particular group of people, independently of a material world (architecture, clothes) but also a spiritual one. Just a single person simply cannot create culture, so we can talk about the beginnings of culture from the moment when our ancestors started to form groups. Originally culture was passed on as thoughts and ideas, but then with invention of symbolism also art and science. It is permanent but also constantly...
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...edu/ceremonies.html) Druids “A servant of the truth, or wise man.” Anonymous We mostly tend to remember druids as religious figures. A classic vision of a Druid is a forest priest. The word Druid, itself is rooted in trees. The word is “dru” which means oak, sometimes rowan or hazel; and “Wid”, or “Vid” in Sanskrit, means “wisdom” to “know” or to “see”. These words show the Proto-Aryan roots of both the Celtic and Sanskrit languages. They venerated the tree as a symbol of unity between water earth and sky. They were said to demonstrate reverence for specific types of trees like the oak and rowan. This recalls our very ancient beginnings; when trees were an acknowledged source of sustenance, a protection from predators, and even the symbolic boundary with the Divine. Druids believed in the eternal nature of the Soul and saw living spirit in all forms of creation. God wedded with Maya. Rituals were performed to honor nature and to build a bond between God, and the souls of men and the earth. Like many shamans Druids were skilled with herbalism and holistic remedies.” (http://www.ehow.com/about_5402033_history-druids.html) Very little is known about the ancient druids in literature. They were somewhat secretive, mystical and left no written accounts of themselves. We are left with later descriptions by Greek, Roman, and medieval Irish writers, and there are very few Druidic images. They have been called sorcerers, healers, seers, and professionals. Pliny the Elder, a Roman historian...
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