Agnosticism / Atheism: What's Hot Now: Hasidism

Agnosticism / Atheism: What's Hot Now These articles that had the largest increase in popularity over the last week // via fulltextrssfeed.com

Hasidism Feb 6th 2012, 11:07 Hasidism Back to Last Page >     Glossary Index>  Related Terms • mysticism • Lubavitchers   Definition: Hasidism comes from the Hebrew word hasid, which means "pious." The Hasidism we know today was founded in the middle of the 18th century by a cabbalist named Israel Baal Shem Tov (1700-1760), later known as the "Besht". Early on, it attracted a following both among uneducated and scholarly Jews in Eastern Europe and the Ukraine. The movement both filled spiritual needs among people and provided a creative outlet for their spiritual beliefs. Hasidism is extremely orthodox, requiring people to adhere to every basic doctrine and principle in traditional Jewish belief and practice. Nevertheless, it has a strong mystical element which emphasizes personal communion with God. Thus, mysticism is not an esoteric position for a few ascetic monks, but is instead an integral part of the community of believers. Not everyone welcomed the coming of Hasidism, especially the traditional authorities like the rabbis. Between the growing influence of Hasidic authorities (Zaddikim) who served as intermediaries between the people and God and the stress on salvation coming through faith rather than works and study of the Torah, the position of rabbis was threatened. This movement which originated in the 18th century was not the first "hasidic" movement in Jewish history. Another group of Jews who called themselves hasidim arose in the 2nd century BCE in reaction to the repressive measures enacted by Antiochus IV after he invaded and took over Jerusalem. Events of this era were the context for the writing of the Book of Daniel. Today there are about forty different ultra-Orthodox Jewish groups who count themselves as part of the Hasidic movement. They include the Satmar, Ger, Bobov, Belz and the Lubavitchers. Also Known As: none Alternate Spellings: Chasidism Common Misspellings: none Related Resources: What is Theism? What is the difference between monotheism and monolatry? Between pantheism and panentheism? How about between animism and shamanism? Or theism and deism? What the heck is henotheism? For that matter, what is and is not a religion? What is Religion? A system of human beliefs, ideals and practices which is harder to define than it may at first appear. Back to Last Page >     Glossary Index>

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