Supernatural, Syncretism, Tautology, Teleology, Temperance

Word Definitions

ver. : 01 November 2008

The meaning of: supernatural, syncretism, tantra, tautology,
teleology, temperance, theologoumenon ?

Home > Spiritual Word Meanings > Supernatural and Syncretism

What Is Supernatural?

supernatural: beyond or above nature; that which is not from the observable, tangible or measurable universe, especially regarding divine things /beings /actions /realms. Related words are mystical and metaphysical. On the one hand, many think 'supernatural' simply means there's no known explanation for it -- yet. They use 'supernatural' the way some people speak of "the God of the Gaps", as a stopgap measure until somebody finds a reasonably-reasonable 'answer'. Others use 'supernatural' to describe just about anything that happens a little strangely. Those people are prone to superstition, syncretism, and lifestyle fictions, or need to have a handy place to fix the blame; send in the supernatural, so they don't have to admit they don't know.

A Christian view of the supernatural is that the material and supernatural realities are either fully continuous or have a bazillion contact points. The ancients described this combo as 'seen and unseen'. God functions in both parts of this reality. Since God actually walked the material realm as a material being (Jesus), our material side of reality is moved by the Divine, and we can no longer speak of the 'supernatural' as a separate realm. The supernatural is another side of the same world.

You can also find 'supernatural' in the dictionary, through means which are not at all supernatural.

What Is A Tautology?

Tautological and circular thinking [ < Greek tautologos (redundant, repeated without need) < to- + auto- + logos ('the same word').]

When philosophers and theologians get to do enough thinking or talking, they eventually run themselves in a circle. It doesn't usually mean that's the way it really is, it just means that either (a) they've tripped over a paradox; or (b) words and thoughts have just simply run their course on the matter. They've bumped their brains on the ceiling of a mystery, but don't want to admit it, so they keep talking. It's when two different things are described as being the same, or when reasoning runs in a circle. Either they've 'proven' the equality of unequal things, or they're doing the philosophical equivalent of dividing by zero. One can only climb out of this rut by getting practical -- when thoughts are stuck, do.

For instance, some liturgical specialists have talked so thickly about how the Spirit makes us do what we do in worship that they forget there's actual people in worship. They are a very, very small step from the circular idea of Christ the puppeteer making worshippers tell Him how great He is : God praising Godself. Or, take Meister Eckhart, the spiritual philosopher, who stated that God is enjoying the Godself in all things. A god like that is a self-obsessed, vain and egotistical character, who probably thinks this song is about him. The Bible bears witness to a very different God : a suffering servant, a bestower of blessings, the Other-For-Others who sent the stern 'tough love' words of the Prophets, a God who in all things is enjoying those who are other. God does not love just whatever of God is in you. God loves whatever of you that's in you. God is loving, and often but not always 'enjoying', all things and all creatures both for what they are and for what they can become.

You can also check for 'tautology' the dictionary - repeat as often as you like, though you only need it once.

What Is Syncretism ?

syncretism: The blending of one religion/philosophy/worldview with others. The concept seems honest enough: adding in the ideas you deem are the best from other religions. But to add such mysteries together well, it takes someOne a whole lot bigger than you. It doesn't fit. Syncretisms are as if someone takes a pile of weakly- or un-related religious and philosophical ideas, stories, and symbols, then dumps all of them together into a sink, adds water, and stirs. The result is about as spiritually enlightening as drinking dish water. There are things to learn from other faiths - matters of practice and culture, or disciplines, or concepts Christianity has overlooked from its own tradition. But it's not the same as bringing out the blender to create a new syncretism. There is a reality that lies behind Christianity, namely, Christ. To fudge on Jesus is to be false about God. This makes syncretism a rather serious wrong.

tantra :

1. what you have to cope with when you're taking care of two or more young children;
2. Hindi sayings about practices which lead one to enlightenment. But if you can figure out what the tantra have to do with daily living, you must already be very enlightened.

What Is Teleology ?

teleology [ < Greek teleios (complete, finished)]. When looking at something's 'teleology', we're trying to find out what leads it to wherever it goes to when it's done. It can be thought of as its purpose, or as its destination, or as result. When Jesus said on the cross, "it is finished", it was 'teleological' -- this moment was the purpose of his life, his culmination, what a life such as his led to, and also (what would ordinarily be called) its end or completion, in death. Christians believe the teleological surprise, that the end isn't the end, that there was and is more to come afterward. Christians believe that time as we know it has a teleology, an end or purpose, namely to bring us back into the arms of the One beyond time, the One who is never finished yet always complete, the One who will complete us. Everything Christians do in faith is done to further that purpose.

You can also check for 'teleology' in the dictionary.

What Is Temperance ?

temperance [ < Latin temperare (to stabilize by adding something to modify it) < tempus (season)] doing things in moderation; not being at a fevered emotional pitch; responding in a measured and reasonable manner; done with self-restraint and modesty.

Where is temperance found? :

• in diplomacy.
• where people listen.
• where people turn the other cheek.
• in the way a team works together.
• lovers when they deal with each other's differences.

Where is temperance absent?

• at many soccer games.
• in the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
• among drivers in traffic jams.
• in on-line chat centers, many blogs, and some Facebook pages.
• in troubled, argumentative courtships or marriages.
• talk radio.
• in most personal discussions about religion or politics.

Temperance is one of the seven classic virtues, and also a spiritual practice which reflects the spiritual fruit of self-control. It is being in enough control of our lives that we can dedicate it to God, rather than the pursuit of addictions or excess or whatever someone else is coaxing us into craving. An absence of temperance leads to death, injustice, fear, and loss of control. A system of law is, among other things, a way for people in a society to be temperate with each other when dealing with injustices and with people who can't be trusted. They trust the temperate responses of law in part because they know that doing otherwise would create far more injustice by creating a spiral of rising vengeance. Without temperance, we do extreme and unloving actions to each other, which cause other extreme and unloving actions to happen, and so on, until it reaches someone who is determined to be temperate. In some traditions, 'temperance' has meant refusing to drink alcohol (as in the US temperance movement to ban alcoholic drink). The Christian works to encourage (in a temperate way) moral awareness so that people of the faith, and hopefully others, will choose not to do wrong.

In the Revelation passages against the Laodicean church, it says God will spit them out because they are lukewarm. This is not about temperance, but about indifference and lack of caring.

You can also see what the dictionary says about 'temperance'. But do it in moderation.

What Is a Theologoumenon?

A theologoumenon [ < Greek ] is an informed, valid theological opinion that is not a matter of doctrine or dogma but is shaped by them. It's often used about arguments in a theological dispute where both sides are orthodox in belief. We know enough for God to save us, but we don't even come close to knowing everything, and we can't satisfy our curiosity about every matter. However, hard thinking does lead down a certain set of paths instead of others. Scripture does not teach us when Christ will return, so all theories on that subject are at best theologoumena, at usual useless drivel, and at worst heresy and deliberate lies.

This word is not one that would or should be used by anyone outside of a seminary. For the rest of us, the word leaves us confused and the point gets lost in the mists. Or maybe someone's trying to hide something.

You can also check other sources for the meaning of theologoumenon, but you won't find it in most dictionaries. That's how jargon-ish the word is -- it's not really an English word at all, but a pure lift from Greek. So please use your own native tongue instead.