Nearly every religious tradition conceptualizes beings intermediate between mere humanity and ultimate reality.
Christianity
Three divine persons.
The Mother of God, angels, saints.
The Sanatana Dharma (Hinduism)
Brahman.
Gods.
The Buddha Dharma (Buddhism)
The Cosmic Buddha/emptiness/Nirvana/the Clear Light of the Void.
Buddhas and Bodhisattvas.
Gods, demons, ghosts, human beings and animals are all on the Wheel.
Taoism
The Tao.
The Taoist Trinity, lesser gods.
9 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
Well, to be fair to Adzel, Poul Anderson may have wanted to use the aside about St. George simply to interject a touch of humor into the story. We both know PA like to insert lighter moments into his works.
And orthodox Christianity believes God is One, even if the divine nature has three Persons in the one Godhead. And the most glorious of the saints is indeed the BVM. I recall one truly striking line from Dante's DIVINE COMEDY about how God both loves and reveres the eyes of the BVM.
I'm a bit surprised you didn't include any comments about Confucian views about God, often called "Heaven" or "the Emperor Above" in the ANALECTS and other major Confucian and ancient Chinese texts.
Sean
Sean,
I don't know enough about Confucianism.
Paul.
Sean,
I am watching SMALLVILLE, Season 1, episode 2. Lex has just given Clark a lead box supposedly made from the armor of St George.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
Understood, what you said about Confucianism. I've seen comments people like John Wright comparing Confucianism to our Stoicism. Because both systems of thought have several ideas in common.
Ummmmm, whoever wrote the script for SMALLVILLE erred, because armor would not be made from a metal as soft as lead. Now I'm doing some Adzel like quibbling! (Smiles)
Sean
Sean,
I imagine that God hears prayers whether they are addressed to Him through historical or mythological saints.
Paul.
Of course I agree, Paul!
Sean
Sean:
Maybe the line about the lead is supposed to be LEX making an error? Or posing some kind of test for Clark, because Lex is supposed to be smarter than would make a mistake of that nature....
David,
It is just Lex quoting the story or legend.
Paul.
Kaor, DAVID!
Hmmm, Lex Luthor either making a mistake or testing Clark Kent? The latter would seem to make the most sense.
Sean
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