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Difference between revisions of "Divination"
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==Forms of divination== | ==Forms of divination== | ||
Many forms of divination have been used throughout history, with the oldest relying on signs from the natural world, such as earth, air, fire, and water. As civilization and technology progressed, new types of divination were discovered and implemented. Many of these persist in the present day. Some of the oldest forms of divination are: | Many forms of divination have been used throughout history, with the oldest relying on signs from the natural world, such as earth, air, fire, and water. As civilization and technology progressed, new types of divination were discovered and implemented. Many of these persist in the present day. | ||
Some of the oldest forms of divination are: | |||
* [[Aeromancy]] ([[air (element)|air]], wind, or clouds) | * [[Aeromancy]] ([[air (element)|air]], wind, or clouds) | ||
* [[Geomancy]] ([[earth (element)|earth]] or dirt) | * [[Geomancy]] ([[earth (element)|earth]] or dirt) | ||
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==Early Christian Europe== | ==Early Christian Europe== | ||
[[File:Urim and Thummim.png|400px|thumb|The [[Urim and Thummim]] stones used by early Jewish priests]] | [[File:Urim and Thummim.png|400px|thumb|The [[Urim and Thummim]] stones used by early Jewish priests]] | ||
The divination method of casting lots ([[Cleromancy]]) was used by the remaining eleven disciples of Jesus in Acts 1:23-26 to select a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Therefore, divination was arguably an accepted practice in the early church. However, divination became viewed as a [[pagan]] practice by Christian emperors during ancient Rome. | The divination method of casting lots ([[Cleromancy]]) was used by the remaining eleven disciples of [[Jesus Christ]] in Acts 1:23-26 to select a replacement for Judas Iscariot. Therefore, divination was arguably an accepted practice in the early church. However, divination became viewed as a [[pagan]] practice by Christian emperors during ancient Rome. | ||
In 692 the Quinisext Council, also known as the "Council in Trullo" in the Eastern Orthodox Church, passed canons to eliminate pagan and divination practices. Fortune-telling and other forms of divination were widespread through the Middle Ages. In the constitution of 1572 and public regulations of 1661 of Kur-Saxony, capital punishment was used on those predicting the future. Laws forbidding divination practice continue to this day. | In 692 the Quinisext Council, also known as the "Council in Trullo" in the Eastern Orthodox Church, passed canons to eliminate pagan and divination practices. Fortune-telling and other forms of divination were widespread through the Middle Ages. In the constitution of 1572 and public regulations of 1661 of Kur-Saxony, capital punishment was used on those predicting the future. Laws forbidding divination practice continue to this day. | ||
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==Criticism== | ==Criticism== | ||
Divination has long been criticized. In the modern era, it has been dismissed by the scientific community and skeptics as being superstition; experiments do not support the idea that divination techniques can actually [[Clairvoyance|predict the future]] more reliably or precisely than would be possible without it. In antiquity, it was attacked by philosophers such as the Academic skeptic Cicero in ''De Divinatione'' and the Pyrrhonist Sextus Empiricus in ''Against the Astrologers''. The satirist, Lucian, devoted a witty essay to Alexander the false [[prophet]]. | Divination has long been criticized. In the modern era, it has been dismissed by the scientific community and skeptics as being superstition; experiments do not support the idea that divination techniques can actually [[Clairvoyance|predict the future]] more reliably or precisely than would be possible without it. | ||
In antiquity, it was attacked by philosophers such as the Academic skeptic Cicero in ''De Divinatione'' and the Pyrrhonist Sextus Empiricus in ''Against the Astrologers''. The satirist, Lucian, devoted a witty essay to Alexander the false [[prophet]]. | |||
[[Category:Divination]] | [[Category:Divination]] | ||
[[Category:Featured Articles]] | [[Category:Featured Articles]] | ||