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In theology, divine light (also called divine radiance or divine refulgence) is an aspect of divine presence perceived as light during a theophany or vision, or represented as such in allegory or metaphor.
Light has always been associated with a religious and philosophical symbolic meaning, considered a source of not only physical but metaphysical illumination, as a metaphor for the revelation of a truth hidden in the shadows.
The value of light often recurs in history of philosophy, especially Neoplatonic, in the course of which it is understood both as a structural component of every being, including physical ones, and as a metaphor of spiritual light.
Types and terms
The term "light" has been widely used in spirituality and religion, such as:
- An Nūr – Islamic term and concept, referenced in Surah an-Nur and Ayat an-Nur of the Quran.
- Inner light – Christian concept often associated with Quaker doctrine.
- Jyoti or Jyot – a holy flame that is lit with cotton wicks and ghee or mustard oil. It is the prayer ritual of devotional worship performed by Hindus offer to the deities. Jyoti is also a representation of the divine light and a form of the Hindu goddess Durga shakti.
- Ohr Ein Sof – in Rabbinic Judaism and Kabbalah, meaning the "Infinite Light."
- Prakāśa – An Indic concept found in Buddhism and Hinduism which is related to the nature of consciousness
- Tabor Light – the uncreated light revealed to the apostles present during the Transfiguration of Jesus; also experienced as illumination on the path to theosis in Eastern Orthodox theology during theoria, a form of Christian contemplation.
Buddhism
See also: Enlightenment in Buddhism and Luminous mindBuddhist scripture speaks of numerous Buddhas of light, including a Buddha of Boundless Light, a Buddha of Unimpeded Light, and the Buddhas of Unopposed Light, of Pure Light, of Incomparable Light, and of Unceasing Light.
Christianity
Further information: Light of the WorldIn the book of 1 John 1:5, it says "God is light" which means that God is part of the system that provides light to the whole universe. God created light, Genesis 1:3 and is light.
Bible commentators such as John W. Ritenbaugh see the presence of light as a metaphor of truth, good and evil, knowledge, and ignorance. In the first Chapter of the Bible, Elohim is described as creating light by fiat and seeing the light to be good.
Eastern Orthodoxy
In the Eastern Orthodox tradition, the Divine Light illuminates the intellect of man through "theoria" or contemplation. In the Gospel of John, the opening verses describe God as Light: "In Him was life and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:5)
In John 8:12, Christ proclaims "I am the light of the world", bringing the Divine Light to mankind. The Tabor Light, also called the Uncreated Light, was revealed to the three apostles present at the Transfiguration.
Quakers
Quakers, known formally as the Religious Society of Friends, are generally united by a belief in each human's ability to experience the light within or see "that of God in every one". Most Quakers believe in continuing revelation: that God continuously reveals truth directly to individuals. George Fox said, "Christ has come to teach His people Himself." Veronika Koller explains liberal Quakers also see light as a revelation: "Quakers need to be open to 'a new light', i.e. continuing revelation". Friends often focus on feeling the presence of God. As Isaac Penington wrote in 1670, "It is not enough to hear of Christ, or read of Christ, but this is the thing – to feel him to be my root, my life, and my foundation..." Quakers reject the idea of priests, believing in the priesthood of all believers. Some express their concept of God using phrases such as "the inner light", "inward light of Christ", or "Holy Spirit". A core belief of Quakers is, "all can be saved, through the direct relationship established by God in Christ with ‘every that cometh into the world ’ ". Quakers first gathered around George Fox in the mid-17th century and belong to a historically Protestant Christian set of denominations.
Hinduism
In Hinduism, Diwali—the festival of lights—is a celebration of the victory of light over darkness. A mantra in Bṛhadāraṇyaka Upaniṣad (1.3.28) urges to God: "from darkness, lead us unto light". The Rig Veda includes nearly two dozen hymns to the dawn and its goddess, Ushas.
Sant Mat
See also: Surat Shabd YogaIn the terminology of Sant Mat, light and sound are the two main expressions of God.
Manichaeism
See also: World of Light and Ziwa (Aramaic)Manichaeism, the most widespread Western religion prior to Christianity, was based on the belief that God was, literally, light. From about 250-350 CE, devout Manichaeans followed the teachings of self-proclaimed prophet Mani. Mani's faithful, who could be found from Greece to China, believed in warring kingdoms of Light and Darkness, in "beings of light," and in a Father of Light who would conquer the demons of darkness and remake the earth through shards of light found in human souls. Manichaeism also co-opted other religions, including Buddhist teachings in its scripture and worshiping Jesus the Luminous who was crucified on a cross of pure light.
Among the many followers of Manichaeism was the young Augustine, who later wrote, "I thought that you, Lord God and Truth, were like a luminous body of immense size, and myself a bit of that body." When he converted to Christianity in 386 CE, Augustine denounced Manichaeism. By then, Manichaeism had been supplanted by ascendant Christianity.
Manichaeism's legacy is the word Manichaean—relating to a dualistic view of the world, dividing things into either good or evil, light or dark, black or white.
Neoplatonism
See also: Divine illuminationIn On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians, Iamblichus refers to the divine light as the manifestation of the gods by which divination, theurgy, and other forms of ritual are accomplished.
Zoroastrianism
Light is a core concept in Iranian mysticism. The root of this thought lies in Zoroastrian beliefs, which define the supreme God, Ahura Mazda, as the source of light. This essential attribute is manifested in various schools of thought in Persian mysticism and philosophy. Later, this notion was dispersed across the entire Middle East, shaping the paradigms of religions and philosophies emerging in the region. After the Arab invasion, this concept was incorporated into Islamic teachings by Iranian thinkers, the most famous of them being Shahab al-Din Suhrawardi, the founder of the illumination philosophy.
See also
References
- Painton Cowen (2006). "The Rose Window, splendor and symbol". The Art Book.
- ^ "La matefisica della luce" (in Italian).
- ^ Watson, Bruce (2016). Light: A Radiant History from Creation to the Quantum Age. London and NY: Bloomsbury Press. Bibcode:2016lrhc.book.....W.
- "Light as Metaphor of Truth (Forerunner Commentary)". Bible Tools. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
- 'Intellect' in Glossary page 432, The Philokalia, The Complete Text Volume 4, translated by Palmer, Sherrand and Ware, published 1995 Faber and Faber.
- Gregory Palamas. Declaration of the Holy Mountain In Defence of Those who Devoutly Practise a Life of Stillness. Text 4 (Philokalia, Volume 4)
- Fox, George (1903). George Fox's Journal. Isbister and Company Limited. pp. 215–216.
This is the word of the Lord God to you all, and a charge to you all in the presence of the living God; be patterns, be examples in all your countries, places, islands, nations, wherever you come; that your carriage and life may preach among all sorts of people and to them: then you will come to walk cheerfully over the world, answering that of God in every one; whereby in them ye may be a blessing, and make the witness of God in them to bless you: then to the Lord God you will be a sweet savour, and a blessing.
- George Fox (1694). George Fox: An Autobiography (George Fox's Journal). Archived from the original.
- ^ Koller, Veronika (2017-01-01). "The light within: Metaphor consistency in Quaker pamphlets, 1659–2010". Metaphor and the Social World. 7 (1): 5–25. doi:10.1075/msw.7.1.02kol. ISSN 2210-4070.
- "Isaac Penington to Thomas Walmsley (1670)". Quaker Heritage Press.
- Muers, Rachel (2022-08-10). "Quaker Theology". St Andrews Encyclopaedia of Theology.
- "Religions - Hinduism: Diwali". BBC. 2010-10-20. Retrieved 2011-11-08.
- Kirpal Singh (1999). Naam or Word. Blaine, WA: Ruhani Satsang Books. ISBN 0-942735-94-3
- Iamblichus (2003). On the Mysteries of the Egyptians, Chaldeans, and Assyrians (in Greek and English). Society of Biblical Literature. p. 167. ISBN 978-1-58983-058-5.