RELIGIOSOPHY! CONTRA RELIGIOLOGY BEYOND RELIGION/RELIGIOUS STUDY

Somebody needs to discuss the sensitive issue of Religion/Religious Studies in the world today.

I do not know if I am that somebody but it has been on my mind for years now so I will put whatever is on my mind out there.

First of all I wish to state that I never quite understood and came to terms with the underlying principle of Religion Studies. This may seem like a lame proposal on my part but what I mean is that the Study of Religion is still a relatively new subject in the field of academia but seems to have a confused basis/foundation.

Much of Religion/Religious Studies throughout the world has its basis in Theology and the outside perspectives of notable theorists from various other fields (psychologists, philosophers, economists, sociologists etc.). There are not many Religion/Religious Study professionals with substantial independence of their own.

Then there is the problem of the name: Religion / Religious Studies. Some institutes prefer either one or the other but surely it is time to evolve this subject into an academic subject that may even regard some respect some day? This is why I propose the title: Religiosophy.

I may be jumping the gun a bit with a title such as this but does it not already sound much more substantial than Religion / Religious Studies? With 'Religiosophy' my interpretation would be 'the reflection of wisdom' or the 'wisdom of reflection'. This interpretation is open for change.

I jumped a step after the term 'Religiology' and straight to Religiosophy with the intention of presenting the Study of Religion more than a mere 'study' but an active engagement as an involved philosopher of the sacred. 

I saw a gap in the market of Religion /Religious Studies and that is the lack of active occupation in the field. Why Study Religion? It is merely an academic subject that promotes more academic research? This saddens me because I am not a solely academic creature (haunting the night libraries like a werewolf of speciality).

Further I wish to state that Religiosophy must superimpose all Theology institutes within universities within the near future. I am not challenging the goodwill of Theology just the intellectual importance of it within the academia. If a university hosts a faculty of Theology is it not then promoting a solely monotheistic reverence? Surely the 21st century university has entered a combined nature of secularism and pluralism? I would like to think so. With the advent of a Religiosophy contra Theology would propose an active academic approach to the study of religion, the religious, and religiosity from a 'scientific' perspective. This scientific perspective is more the perspective of promoting a seeking for the truth which benefits the world and its inhabitants equally.

This is also why I promote a Religiosophy contra Religiology as stepping into the future of developing wizards of religious wisdom that is both credible in the world of science and the mystery of the mind and mysticism.

Within Theology a person can study to become a Pastor, Missionary, Missiologist, Pastoral Counselor, Old Testament Expert, New Testament Expert, or a Theologian. What can a Religion / Religious Studies student become? Well, a Religion / Religious Studies student simply becomes a Religion / Religious Studies scholar.

With an adoption of a Religiosophy the student firstly has the option of becoming a Religiosophist (i.e. a wizard of sacred wisdom). The I propose that the student can shape his / her interest and enter a variety of occupations such as a Pilgrimage Travel Journalist, a Psychonautic Shaman, a Sacred Vision Artist, a Neurophysics Yogi, a Cyber Intelligence Meditator and so forth... you see where I am going with this? It is a bit out there but I wish to express the freedom possible in such a field.

Well, think about it... this is potentially the academic study and occupational vocation of the future. 

A Rise and Call of the Shamanic

The rise of shamanic elements in the world today is equally a growth of shamanic 'calling' (vocation).

It seems that latent shamans / mages / sages / magickians / wizards / witches / crones / druids / bards / ovates / tantrikas / yogis and so forth are coming out of the wood-work (the hypothetical cosmic closet).

No doubt, this 'shamanic' initiate is as old as MAN, it is simply an observation of the time that compels me to make this statement (both in compliment to my own stirrings and what is witnessed around the world).

In South Africa we are finding more and more white South Africans turning to the traditional shamanistic beliefs (the Sangomas and the Inyangas).

My own spiritual background is with Buddhism and remains so but I am finding my path adopting more traditional and magickal means (of service).

I am currently training under the Grey School of Wizardry as an Apprentice Wizard and consider this on par with the old traditional shaman 'schools'. To be a Wizard is certainly to be one who is responsible for keeping the wisdom of the world alive and protected.

The 'calling' seems to be very specific, for example: even though I live in South Africa and have a great appreciation for the Sangomas and Inyangas of the various tribes and traditions I have not had strong calling to any of these yet; but I do have a strong ancestral karma with the Celtic / Scandinavian / Germanic traditions.

The post of Wizard is also open to the variety available but (as my Buddhist teachers note) it is imperative to maintain your chosen practice and keep it so.

What is the rise of the shaman all about? This is what I am asking here, not to present an answer but maybe to stimulate a thought. With the coming of great paradigm change come the custodians of the mind and world to keep the peace and clean the mess.

The shaman has always been an 'in-betweener' and an adept in the patterns of reality. There is no difference between the shaman and the wizard to me, but I would say that the wizard is a shaman and more.

I hesitate to refer to this blog as 'A Rise and Call of the Wizard' because the patterns in the world show a greater leaning to the traditional shamanic post. In time the Wizard will can-can out the elaborate wardrobe.

Where conventional science draws more towards theories of infinite chance and probability the shaman steps back into the spotlight; because these are the province of magick and the deep mind.

This is all talk but certain ideas take certain appearances and if we were to credit early Greek philosophers, or later German and French philosophers with a certain heritage of magick as wizards of the time then many will consider this silly madness (which is should be - a wizard should never be boisterous about his/her role).

Well, if you are reading this and something feels familiar to you or that voice gets a bit louder then maybe you have what it takes to be the local shaman - but know, this is no easy path and indeed requires much sacrifice, commitment and responsibility.

I wish you well on your journey!

;)