Section 3: Critical Terms or Terms to be Critical of

“Metaperson”, “metahuman”

An academic term that is inclusive of everyone in the pantheon.

Meta = beyond and not human but human-like attributes

Abstract divine

Abstract, ambiguous, transcendent (divinities beyond normal human comprehension)

Immaterial (divinities do not have a definite physical form)

Impersonal (not a personified god with divine consciousness)

Passive, nonactive, not willful (do not/need not to, directly act in the world or care)

Not a conscious, active creator/deity

Personal divine

Pantheon

A collection of all the divinities, which could include ghosts, angels, animals, spirits, ancestors, etc.

Sometimes, these lines become blurry (“Is a demon a divinity?”), making some lesser-known divinities be neglected or ignored by scholars.

Animism

“Personhood” of things

This is what animates the material, often having the spirit

Axial Age

A cultural revolution of human history around 2500 years ago

The translation of divinity from an immanent presence in human activity to a transcendental “other world”

Most people for most of known history have considered “metapersons” constant and decisive elements in human affairs

Most societies have supernatural agents that get overlooked, like seasons, cycles, life, death, etc.

The world is full of immanent presence (agriculture, hunting, fertility, politics)

Transcendent shift

What were some emergent religions of the Axial Age?

Judaism

Christianity

Hinduism

Buddhism

Deification, divinization

There is a blurred gap between the human and the divine, that is less familiar and ambiguous.

It begs the question of “Is this figure a bit more human? More divine? Both?”.

We see this example be applied to Jesus.

Is death necessary to achieve deification?

It depends.

There are examples of living gods, like the Dalai Lama, Pharaohs. Japanese emperors, etc.

Dalai Lama

An example of a living god, seemingly has achieved deification or the transformation to someone who is divine.

Nature (deities as weather, elements, environment)

Agne = God of fire

Baal = God of thunder, rain, fertility

Zennya Ryuo = Female dragon king

Kamikaze = God of wind

Who do Japanese farmers pray to for rain, agriculture, etc.?

Dragons, as they live in the water

Cosmology (deities as time/space)

Lord Shiva = Lord of End of Time (Hinduism)

Janus = The Roman god of beginnings

Human life-cycle and profession (deities as birth, death, marriage)

Shiva = Hindu god of death and dying

Buddhist Goddess of Mercy = safe childbirth

Asclepius and Hygeia = Greek deities of medicine

Ebisu = kami of fishermen

Daikoku = kami of wealth

Inari = kami of fertility, rice, foxes

Human perfection and transcendence (deities as kings)

Omnipotent (all-powerful), omniscient (all-knowing), undying (immortal)

Salvation

Vishnu = benevolent rule

Why is a snake used for the sign in hospitals?

The Greeks believed it is a sign of rebirth and thought they whisper secrets.

Vishnu

A Hindu god associated with benevolent rule

Responsible for maintaining dharma (cosmic order) and protecting good from evil

Well-known for his avatars

Inari

A female Shinto deity of fertility, rice, foxes

Sometimes, she is depicted as a fox

Farmers would pray to her for good crops.

Brahman

Karma

Rebirth and samsara

The self/soul

Atman

An-atman

Moksha

Nirvana

Karma

Action

Hinduism

It is embedded in your soul

It sticks with you, and propels rebirth

Samsara

A constant, endless cycle of birth, life, death, and rebirth.

Females cannot achieve enlightenment as they are; have to be a man.

What part of the self is reborn?

The bits and pieces of a material self that has no tangible meaning.

Becomes a product of causes and conditions

“Atman”, “An-atman”

“Self” “Non-self”

Moksha, nirvana

“Release” from samsara, “Extinction”

To escape samsara, you can achieve moksha

To achieve moksha, you have to attain a type of unity with the divine.

Tat Tvam Asi

Thou art that

“You are that”

A Sanskrit phrase

Tat means Brahman, Tvam means Atman, Asi means state of being or identity

The phrase explains that the Self (Atman) is fundamentally identical to the ultimate, singular reality (Brahman), rather than it being separate or isolated entities.

Yin-yang

Represent the Daoist idea of basic cosmological division

The dots represent the interlocking

Competing but complementary forces

Balanced yet interlocked forces

Correlative patterns of existence (Divination, as horoscopes, fortune telling, tea leaves reading, etc.)

Yin

Dark

Passive

Resting

Contraction

Female

Moon

Water

Cold

Yang

Bright

Active

Moving

Expansion

Male

Sun

Fire

Heat

Monism

The view that all existence shares a single, unified oneness or essential reality

Hinduism is an example of this view.

Dualism

The view that all of existence is split into two principles, realms, worldviews, etc.

Yin-yang is an example of this view.

Dao

Central Daoist concept

“Way”, “path”, “course”

Pan-Asian religious influence: Shinto, Confucianism, Buddhism, etc.

Buddha

A more complex example of a deity

Theistic vs non-theistic? They can be both.

There are 2 branches: Theravada and Mahayana

Some religions may want him to human, as it is better for the image of spirituality, an attribute about Buddhism.

Thus, making definitions about the ______ and Buddhism can create conflicts.

Mahayana

A branch in Buddhism

The Buddha can be presented human and a deity.

Korea, Japan, China, etc.

Theravada

A branch in Buddhism

The Buddha is represented as a human

Laos, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, etc.

Lilith

Jewish mythology deity

Adam’s first wife in the Hebrew Bible

Relationship did not work because she was defiant, and wanted to be on “top” during intercourse.

Izanami

Japanese mythology

Izanagi’s wife

_______ births a leech after procreation with Izanagi. As a result, it represents that men should always be in charge of the procreation.

Creation Story in Japanese Mythology

Izanagi uses a spear to stab a hole from the skies, while Izanami stands and watches on the side. This creates one of the first and oldest islands in Japan.

Once pierced, there is fluid at the end of the spear. This shows that only a man is in charge of procreation.

Once the first island is created, they go down to the island to procreate. This leads to Izanami birthing a leech. These results happen because it is said that Izanami started the act of lovemaking. Since a leech was birthed, it represents that females should not initiate any part in the procreation, but instead should be submissive.

As a result, this story is a cosmic warning, that men should always be the leader.

Androcentrism

The male as a universal norm

Man represents spiritual integrity, while female represents defilement

Male body is the standard in achieving spiritual perfection

An example of this term is: the Buddha

Sex vs. gender

Sex is a noun, and is the word given to you assigned at birth, while gender is a social classification.

dao

A “path” or teaching

Dao de jing or “The Book of the Way”

A foundational Daoist book that explains how to live in harmony with the Dao (“Way”)

Lakshmi

Hindu goddess of fertility and wealth

An eternal consort of Vishnu

Central deity in Diwali

Linga

An abstract representation or symbol of the Hindu deity Shiva.

The vertical clyndrical symbol represents Shiva’s static, formless male consciousness.

Bhakti

Sanskrit word for devotional worship towards a God, an enlightened being, an ultimate reality, etc.

Public Durga festival in India demonstrating ____

Patriarchy

Disproportionately male control

Sexism

A system of oppression that disadvantages women - bell hooks

Misogyny

Unfounded hate for women

There are sacred sites where women are not allowed due to their impure bodies

A blood taboo is evident in Japanese media, especially through the media.

Pure Land

Buddhist heaven

Original Sin

A problematic condition of human existence through Christianity

Adam and Eve

Early Christians understood Jesus’ sacrifice as a path to salvation

First Noble Truth

Death as a symptom of impermanenc

Life is Suffering

Shiva

Can be portrayed through linga

Married to Parvati, Father of Ganesha

Lord of Dance

Durga

Slayer of the Buffalo Demon

Depicted as a motherly figure and a warrior, often riding a tiger

Kami

Anything that inspires awe or wonder is ____

Shinto means The Way of the ____

Ebisu, Daikoku, Inari have names, faces, personalities, emotions, while some ____ do not.

This shows the diversity of metapersons.

A rope on a rock can identify _____