RELS 131 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Upanishads, Greco-Roman Mysteries, A Prophet

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Religious Studies
• Course: RELS 131
• Professor: Forough Jahanbakhsh

Document Summary

The presence in the physical world of spirits that interact with humans in various ways. Sky considered the home of the greatest deities power of storms, sun, stars, and planets may have contributed to this. Highest level in the heavens, above the clouds and stars holds the highest deity (king of heaven, sky father, Under the earth dark and hidden places, spirits of serpents or reptilian monsters evil. Earth in between; intermediate level where humans live. Certain places around the world where humans feel the presence of some unusual energy/power. Special respect set apart from everyday world. Mountains, hilltops = closest to the deities. Animals killed for food should be respected because they are associated with spirits. Body parts of animals have been used as power objects to help contact the spirits of these animals magical properties protect against evil spirits. Deceased ancestors can play a role in guiding their living family members (the mexican day of the dead)