Scripture

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Scriptures are sacred texts used by religious communities to invoke a deeper connection with the divine, to foster communal identity, and to guide spiritual practice. Many religions and spiritual movements believe that their scriptures are wholly divine or inspired in origin. Monotheistic religions often view their sacred texts as the "Word of God" or divine revelation.

In the English language, the term scripture is used to describe any religion's sacred text as in Hindu scriptures, Jewish scriptures, etc. but when capitalized, in English literature, the word Scriptures generally refers to the sacred texts of the Bible, also referred to as Holy Scripture.

Historically, the Rigveda of Hinduism was likely composed between roughly 1500–1300 B.C.E., making it one of the world's oldest religious text. The oldest portions of the Zoroastrian Avesta are believed to have been transmitted orally for centuries before they found written form, and although widely differing dates for Gathic Avestan (the language of the oldest texts) have been proposed, scholarly consensus floats at around 1000 B.C.E. (roughly contemporary to the Brahmana period of Vedic Sanskrit). the first printed scripture for wide distribution to the masses was The Diamond Sutra, a Buddhist scripture, printed in the year 868 C.E.

Attitudes towards Scripture

Attitudes to sacred texts differ. Some religions make written texts widely freely available, while others hold that sacred secrets must remain hidden from all but the loyal and the initiate. Most religions promulgate policies defining the limits of the sacred texts and controlling or forbidding changes and additions. Translations of texts may receive official blessing, but an original sacred language often has de facto, absolute or exclusive paramouncy. Some religions make texts available gratis or in subsidised form; others require payment and the strict observance of copyright.

References to scriptures profit from standardisation: the Guru Granth Sahib (of Sikhism) always appears with standardised page numbering while the Abrahamic religions and their offshoots appear to favour chapter and verse pointers.

Hierographology

Hierographology (Greek ιερος, hieros, "sacred" or "holy", + γραφος, graphos, "writing", + λογος, logos, "word" or "reason") (archaically hierology) is the study of sacred texts.

Increasingly, sacred texts of many cultures are studied within academic contexts, primarily to increase understanding of other cultures, whether ancient or contemporary. Sometimes this involves the extension of the principles of higher criticism to the texts of many faiths. It may also involve a comparative study of religious texts. The hierographology of the Qur'an can be particularly controversial, especially when questioning the accuracy of Islamic traditions about the text.

Scripture in the Eastern Religions

Sūtra (सूत्र) (Sanskrit) or Sutta (Pāli) literally means a rope or thread that holds things together, and more metaphorically refers to an aphorism (or line, rule, formula), or a collection of such aphorisms in the form of a manual. It is derived from the verbal root siv-, meaning to sew (these words, including English to sew and Latinate suture, all derive from PIE *syū-). In Hinduism the 'sutras' form a school of Vedic study, related to and somewhat later than the Upanishads. They served and continue to act as grand treatises on various schools of Hindu Philosophy. They elaborate in succinct verse, sometimes esoteric, Hindu views of metaphysics, cosmogony, the human condition, moksha (liberation), and how to maintain a blissful, dharmic life, in a cosmic spin of karma, reincarnation and desire.

In Buddhism, the term "sutra" refers generally to canonical scriptures that are regarded as records of the oral teachings of Gautama Buddha. In Chinese, these are known as ching. These teachings are assembled in the second part of the Tripitaka which is called Sutra Pitaka. There are also some Buddhist texts, such as the Platform Sutra, that are called sutras despite being attributed to much later authors.

The Pali form of the word, sutta is used exclusively to refer to Buddhist scriptures, particularly those of the Pali Canon.

List

Below is a list of sutra]]s, organized alphabetically under the broad categories of Hinduism and Buddhism.

Sutras primarily associated with Hinduism

Vedanga

  • Shiksha (phonetics)
  • Chandas (metrics)
  • Vyakarana (grammar)
    • Ashtadhyayi (Panini), discussing grammar
  • Nirukta (etymology)
  • Jyotisha (astronomy)
  • Kalpa (ritual)
    • Srauta Sutras, performance of sacrifices
    • Smarta Sutras
      • Grhya Sutras, covering domestic life
      • Samayacarika or Dharma Sutras
        • Sulba Sutras, architecture of sacrificial area

Vedanta

Hindu philosophy

  • Yoga Sutras
  • Nyaya Sutras
  • Vaisheshika Sutras
  • Purva Mimamsa Sutras

Kamashastra

  • Kama Sutra, written by Vatsyayana, the sutra of kama (sensual gratification), explains sexual positions.

Sutras primarily associated with Buddhism

See: Buddhist texts

Other Sutras

  • Smokey the Bear Sutra, Written by American poet Gary Snyder (b. 1930) in 1969, which presents 20th century environmental concerns and convictions in the form of a Buddhist sutra. It is widely available on the internet due to the author's grant of free reproduction of the text. See Wikisource - Smokey the Bear Sutra.


Important Scriptures in the World's Religions

The following list provides a sample of some key scriptures from the various world religions:

Bahá'í Faith

  • The Kitáb-i-Aqdas
  • Kitáb-i-Íqán
  • and many other writings including ones from other faiths

Buddhism

  • The Tipitaka or Pali canon
  • Chinese Buddhist canon
  • Tibetan Buddhist canon

Christianity

  • The Bible (also referred to as the Holy Writ).Below is a table of books of Judeo-Christian Scripture, organized by the churches who hold these books to be scriptural.
THE BOOKS OF JUDEO-CHRISTIAN SCRIPTURE
Segment Names Jewish Roman Catholic Greek Orthodox Protestant LDS Traditional Author
The Law (Torah) Genesis Genesis Genesis Genesis Genesis Moses
Exodus Exodus Exodus Exodus Exodus Moses
Leviticus Leviticus Leviticus Leviticus Leviticus Moses
Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers Numbers Moses
Deuteronomy Deuteronomy Deuteronomy Deuteronomy Deuteronomy Moses
The Prophets (Nevi'im):
The Former (Earlier) Prophets Joshua Joshua Josue Joshua Joshua Joshua
Judges Judges Judges Judges Judges Samuel
* Ruth Ruth Ruth Ruth Samuel or Nathan
I Samuel I Samuel I Kings I Samuel I Samuel Samuel, then Gad or Nathan
II Samuel II Samuel II Kings II Samuel II Samuel Samuel, then Gad or Nathan
I Kings I Kings III Kings I Kings I Kings Jeremiah
II Kings II Kings IV Kings II Kings II Kings Jeremiah
* I Chronicles I Paralipomenon I Chronicles I Chronicles Ezra
* II Chronicles II Paralipomenon II Chronicles II Chronicles Ezra
* Ezra Ezra Ezra
* Nehemiah II Esdras Nehemiah Nehemiah Nehemiah and Ezra
* Esther Esther Esther Esther Mordecai
* Job Job Job Job Job or Elihu
* Psalms Psalms Psalms Psalms David
* Proverbs Proverbs Proverbs Proverbs Solomon
* Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes Solomon
* Song of Songs Canticle of Canticles Song of Solomon Solomon
The Later Prophets: Isaiah Isaiah Isaias Isaiah Isaiah Isaiah
Jeremiah Jeremias Jeremiah Jeremiah Jeremiah Jeremiah
* Lamentations Lamentations Lamentations Lamentations Jeremiah
Ezekiel Ezekiel Ezechiel Ezekiel Ezekiel Ezekiel
* Daniel Daniel Daniel Daniel Daniel
The Twelve: Hosea Hosea Osee Hosea Hosea Hosea
Joel Joel Joel Joel Joel Joel
Amos Amos Amos Amos Amos Amos
Obadiah Obadiah Abdias Obadiah Obadiah Obadiah
Jonah Jonah Jonas Jonah Jonah Jonah
Micah Micah Micheas Micah Micah Micah
Nahum Nahum Nahum Nahum Nahum Nahum
Habakkuk Habakkuk Habacuc Habakkuk Habakkuk Habakkuk
Zephaniah Zephaniah Sophonias Zephaniah Zephaniah Zephaniah
Haggai Haggai Aggeus Haggai Haggai Haggai
Zechariah Zechariah Zacharias Zechariah Zechariah Zechariah and Jeremiah
Malachi Malachi Malachias Malachi Malachi Malachi or Isaiah
The Writings (Ketuvim) Psalms Psalms
Proverbs Proverbs
Job Job
Song of Songs
Ruth Ruth
Lamentations Lamentations
Ecclesiastes Ecclesiastes
Esther Esther
Daniel Daniel
Ezra Ezra
Nehemiah Nehemiah
I Chronicles I Chronicles
II Chronicles II Chronicles
Oral Law Mishnah Moses
Tosefta
Rabbinical Commentary Midrash Halakha
Midrash Aggada
Talmud
Gemara
Meforshim
Zohar Simeon ben Yohai
Deuterocanonical Apocrypha Tobit Tobias (Tobit)
Judith Judith
Wisdom Book of the Wisdom of Solomon
Baruch Baruch
I Machabees I Machabees
II Machabees II Machabees
Additions to Esther Additions to Esther
Sirach Ben Sirach
Prayer of Azariah (added as additional text in Daniel; not a separate book) Prayer of Azariah (added as additional text in Daniel; not a separate book)
Book of Susanna (added as additional text in Daniel along with Bel and the Dragon; not a separate book) Book of Susanna (added as additional text in Daniel along with Bel and the Dragon; not a separate book)
Psalm 151
1 Esdras
2 Esdras
3 Maccabees
4 Maccabees
Psalms of Solomon
Odes
Letter of Jeremiah
Prayer of Manasseh
New Testament Matthew Matthew Matthew Matthew Apostle Matthew
Mark Mark Mark Mark Apostle John Mark
Luke Luke Luke Luke Apostle Luke
John John John John Apostle John ben Zebadiah
Acts of Apostles Acts of Apostles Acts Acts Apostle Luke
Romans Romans Romans Romans Apostle Paul
1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians 1 Corinthians Apostle Paul
2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians 2 Corinthians Apostle Paul
Galatians Galatians Galatians Galatians Apostle Paul
Ephesians Ephesians Ephesians Ephesians Apostle Paul
Philippians Philippians Philippians Philippians Apostle Paul
Colossians Colossians Colossians Colossians Apostle Paul
1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians 1 Thessalonians Apostle Paul
2 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians 2 Thessalonians Apostle Paul
1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy 1 Timothy Apostle Paul
2 Timothy 2 Timothy 2 Timothy 2 Timothy Apostle Paul
Titus Titus Titus Titus Apostle Paul
Philemon Philemon Philemon Philemon Apostle Paul
Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews Hebrews Apostle Paul
James James James James Apostle James Adelphos
1 Peter 1 Peter 1 Peter 1 Peter Apostle Simon Peter
2 Peter 2 Peter 2 Peter 2 Peter Apostle Simon Peter
1 John 1 John 1 John 1 John Apostle John ben Zebadiah
2 John 2 John 2 John 2 John Apostle John ben Zebadiah
3 John 3 John 3 John 3 John Apostle John ben Zebadiah
Jude Jude Jude Jude Apostle Jude Thomas
Revelation Apocalypse Revelation Revelation Apostle John ben Zebadiah
Restorationist Works Book of Mormon Prophet/Editor Mormon
Doctrine & Covenants Joseph Smith
Book of Moses Moses
Book of Abraham Abraham

Mormonism:

      • The Book of Mormon
      • The Pearl of Great Price
      • The Doctrine and Covenants
    • in Spiritism:
      • The Spirits Book
      • The Book of Mediums
      • The Gospel According to Spiritism
      • Heaven and Hell
      • The Genesis According to Spiritism

Falun Gong

  • The Zhuan Falun

Hinduism

File:Bhagvad Gita.jpg
The Bhagvad Gita is Lord Krishna's counsel to Arjuna on the battlefield of the Kurukshetra.

Islam

  • The Qur'an (the holy book of Islam)
  • Ahadith (sayings and doings of the Islamic prophet Muhammad)
  • These Holy Sciptures are considered other books sent by God to mankind, but were either lost or corrupted.
    • Suhuf-i-Ibrahim (The Scrolls of Abraham)
    • The Tawrat (The Torah of Moses)
    • The Zabur (The Psalms of David)
    • The Injil (The Gospel of Jesus)

Jainism

  • Tattvartha Sutra

Judaism]* The Hebrew Bible (Tanakh)

-Talmud (Mishna and Gemara) -Zohar

Mandaeanism

  • The Ginza Rba

Manichaeism

  • The Arzhang

New Age religions Various New Age religions may regard any of the following texts as inspired:

  • Course in Miracles
  • Conversations with God
  • Oahspe
  • The Urantia Book

Rastafari movement]* The Bible

  • the Holy Piby
  • the Kebra Negast
  • The speeches of Haile Selassie I
  • Royal Parchment Scroll of Black Supremacy

Samaritanism

Sikhism

Taoism

  • The Tao-te-ching
  • The I Ching
  • The Chuang Tzu

Unification Church

  • Divine Principle
  • Wolli Hesul (Explanation of the Divine Principle)
  • Wolli Kangron (Exposition of the Divine Principle)

Zoroastrianism

  • The Katha (The Gathas of Zarathushtra)
  • Primary:
    • The Avesta collection of texts:
      • The Yasna, the primary liturgical collection, includes the Gathas.
      • The Visparad, a collection of supplements to the Yasna.
      • The Yashts, hymns in honor of the divinities.
      • The Vendidad, describes the various forms of evil spirits and ways to confound them.
      • shorter texts and prayers, the five Nyaishes ("worship, praise"), the Sirozeh and the Afringans (blessings).
  • Secondary:
    • The Dēnkard (middle Persian, 'Acts of Religion'),
    • The Bundahishn, (middle Persian, 'Original Creation')
    • The Mainog-i-Khirad (middle Persian, 'Spirit of Wisdom')
    • The Arda Viraf Namak (middle Persian, 'The Book of Arda Viraf')
    • The Zartushtnamah (modern Persian, 'Book of Zoroaster')
    • The Sad-dar (modern Persian, 'Hundred Doors', or 'Hundred Chapters')
    • The Rivayats (modern Persian, traditional treatises).
  • For general use by the laity:
    • The Zend (lit. commentaries), various commentaries on and translations of the Avesta.
    • The Khordeh Avesta, a collection of everyday prayers from the Avesta.

External links

References
ISBN links support NWE through referral fees

  • Monier-Williams, Monier. (1899) A Sanskrit-English Dictionary. Delhi:Motilal Banarsidass. p. 1241


External links


See also

External links

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