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Alon Goshen-Gottstein
This lecture provides an introduction to the place of the holy person in Judaism. The lecture explores the topic linguistically, historically, as well as phenomenologically. It begins with a discussion of the Biblical terminology used for saints, the two terms tzadik and hasid. The tzadik and hasid achieve this stature based primarily on their adherence to an objective, quantifiable, standard of behavior, whether codified in the covenant (Torah), or outside the covenantal relationsh... More>>
Abdul Aziz Satchedina
This lecture provides an introduction to the definition and role of the saint in the Islamic tradition. It explores the topic linguistically, historically, as well as phenomenologically. The very concept of sainthood as it is seen in other traditions, namely a spiritual elite which has a special relationship to God and, in some cases, possesses supernatural powers, is a relatively late development is Islam. The terminology for such a relationship does not even exist in any of... More>>
Steven Goodman
This lecture provides a basic introduction to Buddhism. The lecturer explains Buddhism through the spiritual biography of the person who became known as the Buddha. A detailed, poignant description is given of the Buddha's early life as a member of the sheltered upper class and his discovery of the tragic paradoxes of human existence. He discovers illness, old age, and death, but also meets a holy man who seems to live his life in a serene way despite these built-in tragedies of ... More>>
Satti Khanna
The lecture is a description of the 15th century poet Kabir, both through the eyes of the lecturer, and through the eyes of those Hindu believers who relate to him as an incarnation of God. The lecturer uses slides to take us on a guided tour of the city of Benares, where Kabir lived. We hear descriptions of the people bathing in the holy waters of the Ganges, and the workers in the weaver's quarter, where Kabir came from. Then we are taken to the shrine of Kabir, the headquart... More>>
Sidney Griffith
The lecture concerns itself with the two different categories of saints in the Christian tradition, martyrs and confessors. It explores these two categories both from an historical and theological perspective. The martyrs were the first types of holy people to be venerated in the early Christian community, as they were seen as emulating the martyrdom of Jesus. There was even a tendency among the early believers to strive to be martyrs. A confessor is a person who acknowle... More>>
Barry Levy
This lecture is actually an analysis of the historical development of the relationship of Judaism to the Bible. Levy takes us through six periods of Jewish history, and outlines how each period perceived the Biblical text. He shows how until the modern period, the emphasis was on showing how the Bible was relevant to the particular concerns of the society. Thus, the Hellenists retold the Bible in light of Greco-Roman values, and the Rabbinic Midrashim deal creatively with problems in... More>>
At the outset of his presentation, Khanna makes the point that there is not much interest in spirituality in contemporary North Indian fiction. The dominant concern of North Indian literature for the past hundred years has been the striving for social justice. This ideal of social justice frequently looks very critically at the traditional Hindu society and at the social caste divisions it has maintained. What results from this is a very critical view of traditional relig... More>>
Aziz Sachedina
This lecture is an historical and phenomenological analysis of the evolution of the concept of sainthood within Islam. It is clear that originally Mohammed was not seen as a mystical teacher. His human aspect was emphasized, and any distinction between Mohammed and other human beings is denied except in the area of divine revelation. The primary purpose of divine revelation is the religious law, and not the revelation of divine secrets or the ability to predict the future. The ... More>>
This lecture is an explanation of the Buddhist sacred texts and different categories of saints, emphasizing the Sanskrit terminology. It also delves into the Buddhist philosophy relevant to the understanding of these categories. The sacred Buddhist texts are divided into three parts: the sutras, the actual talks given by the Buddha, the advice he gave on matters of conduct, and the notes on these texts. There is also a vast literature of commentaries to these texts. Yet, the dh... More>>
This lecture discusses the way in which the images of Biblical heroes were adapted in later Jewish literature to conform to the contemporary religious ideals. The Biblical story of Esther presented very serious problems to rabbinic Judaism because of her relationship with King Ahasuerus. The Talmud, and later rabbinic literature, in some cases reinterpreted and reshaped the story of Esther to preserve her image as a heroine. In other cases, her behavior was rationalized to just... More>>
Nachman El Haddad
This is not a lecture. Rabbi Nachman El Haddad describes the organization in which he is active called "Derech Tzaddikim", "The Paths of the Righteous". In response to questions, he also explains his own spiritual path of Breslov Hassidism. Rabbi El-Haddad speaks in Hebrew, and is translated by Alon Goshen-Gottstein. The organization is involved in three projects: 1) Locating and renovating the graves of different Hassidic masters in the Ukra... More>>
The spiritual journey of the Sufi mystic is described in terms of practices, such as Koranic recitation, piety, virtue, and conceptual analysis. The status of the wali is given to a holy person by the general public and is manifest in the relationship between a wali and his students. The tension between the "ulama", or Muslim jurist, and the "sheik", as Sufi mystic is also discussed. Aziz Sachedina... More>>
Rabbinic theology is described here as cosmically oriented, and rabbinic thought as associative, nonsystematic, and hermeneutical. Hassidic literature returned to these early forms, especially midrash, and developed an image of the Tzaddik as a figure of cosmic significance, divine association, and later as a master of Torah. Incarnational theology viewed the Tzaddik as the aleph of adam, a man-God, and as the presence of Moses in each generation. This theology is associated wi... More>>
The tombs of early Christian martyrs and confessors became the first churches in which Christian liturgies were said, and fostered the practices of veneration of saints and pilgrimage to these shrines. Miracles are always associated with saints in the Christian tradition, and early pilgrims brought back portraits or even vials of lamp oil from shrines. This lecture also traces the development of monasticism after Roman persecution of Christians ended, and describes early mystical and... More>>
In contrast to their legal status, women's spirituality plays an important part in Shi'te and Sufi cultures, and women pilgrims are most closely connected with shrines. Women are venerated as saints, especially Fatima (with other members of the Prophet's family). Shi'ite beliefs about saints are very similar to those of Catholic Christians: Saints are associated with miracles, and are available for intercession. The moving personal story of the lecturer, his spiritual path, and the e... More>>
In Roman Catholic and Orthodox theologies, Mary is venerated as theotokos, translated as "Mother of God", (meaning that Jesus is God). This title was bestowed by the Council of Epheses in 431 CE, and brought objections from Nestorian Christians. These objections appeared again and were an important part of the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century. The hagiography associated with Mary is traced from Justin Marty's depiction of Mary as a replacement for the Eve of Genes... More>>
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