Religious text

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The Rigveda (Vedic chant) manuscript in Devanagari, a scripture of Hinduism, dated 1500–1000 BCE. It is the oldest religious texts in any Indo-European language.
Greek Old and New Testament
Holy Quran
- National Museum, New Delhi

Religious texts, including scripture, are texts which various religions consider to be of central importance to their religious tradition. They often feature a compilation or discussion of beliefs, ritual practices, moral commandments & laws, ethical conduct, spiritual aspirations, and admonitions for fostering a religious community.

Within each religion, these sacred texts are revered as authoritative sources of guidance, wisdom, and

divine revelation. They are often regarded as sacred or holy, representing the core teachings and principles that their followers strive to uphold.[1][2][3]

Authority of religious texts

The relative authority of religious texts develops over time and is derived from the ratification, enforcement, and its use across generations. Some religious texts are accepted or categorized as canonical, some non-canonical, and others extracanonical, semi-canonical, deutero-canonical, pre-canonical or post-canonical.[4]

"Scripture" (or "scriptures") is a subset of religious texts considered to be "especially authoritative",

sacred because of the belief in some theistic religions such as the Abrahamic religions that the text is divinely or supernaturally revealed or divinely inspired, or in non-theistic religions such as some Indian religions they are considered to be the central tenets of their eternal Dharma
. In contrast to sacred texts, many religious texts are simply narratives or discussions pertaining to the general themes, interpretations, practices, or important figures of the specific religion.

In some religions (e.g.

In

wahy) delivered through Muhammad[15] that make up the primary sources of Islamic law and belief/theology.[16][17] However sects of Islam differ on which hadiths (if any) should be accepted as canonical (see Criticism of hadith
).

Religious texts also serve a ceremonial and liturgical role, particularly in relation to sacred time, the liturgical year, the divine efficacy and subsequent holy service; in a more general sense, its performance.[citation needed]

Etymology and nomenclature

According to Peter Beal, the term scripture – derived from "scriptura" (Latin) – meant "writings [manuscripts] in general" prior to the medieval era, then became "reserved to denote the texts of the Old and New Testaments of the Bible".

sacred
" to denote religious texts.

Some religious texts are categorized as canonical, some non-canonical, and others extracanonical, semi-canonical, deutero-canonical, pre-canonical or post-canonical.

Synod of Laodicea, mention both the terms "canonical" and "non-canonical" in the context of religious texts.[23]

History of religious texts

One of the oldest known religious texts is the

mythological figures and themes of interaction with the divine.[28] The Rigveda, a scripture of Hinduism, is dated 1500 BCE. It is one of the oldest known complete religious texts that has survived into the modern age.[29][30]

There are many possible dates given to the first writings which can be connected to Talmudic and Biblical traditions, the earliest of which is found in scribal documentation of the 8th century BCE,[31] followed by administrative documentation from temples of the 5th and 6th centuries BCE,[32] with another common date being the 2nd century BCE.[32] Although a significant text in the history of religious text because of its widespread use among religious denominations and its continued use throughout history, the texts of the Abrahamic traditions are a good example of the lack of certainty surrounding dates and definitions of religious texts.

High rates of mass production and distribution of religious texts did not begin until the invention of the printing press in 1440,[33] before which all religious texts were hand written copies, of which there were relatively limited quantities in circulation.

See also

References

  1. ^ Charles Elster (2003). "Authority, Performance, and Interpretation in Religious Reading: Critical Issues of Intercultural Communication and Multiple Literacies". Journal of Literacy Research. 35 (1): 667–670., Quote: "religious texts serve two important regulatory functions: on the group level, they regulate liturgical ritual and systems of law; at the individual level, they (seek to) regulate ethical conduct and direct spiritual aspirations."
  2. ^ Eugene Nida (1994). "The Sociolinguistics of Translating Canonical Religious Texts". TTR: Traduction, Terminologie, Rédaction. 7 (1). Érudit: Université de Montréal: 195–197., Quote: "The phrase "religious texts" may be understood in two quite different senses: (1) texts that discuss historical or present-day religious beliefs and practices of a believing community and (2) texts that are crucial in giving rise to a believing community."
  3. S2CID 144691132
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  5. ^ Charles Elster (2003). "Authority, Performance, and Interpretation in Religious Reading: Critical Issues of Intercultural Communication and Multiple Literacies". Journal of Literacy Research. 35 (1): 669–670.
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  7. ^ a b The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica (2009). Scripture. Encyclopaedia Britannica.
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  10. ^ Eugene Nida (1994), The Sociolinguistics of Translating Canonical Religious Texts, vol. 7, pp. 194–195
  11. JSTOR 1464202
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  14. ^ Qazi, M. A.; El-Dabbas, Mohammed Saʿid (1979). A Concise Dictionary of Islamic Terms. Lahore, Pakistan: Kazi Publications. p. 65.
  15. ^ a b Brown, Rethinking Tradition in Modern Islamic Thought, 1996: p.7
  16. ^ Abou El Fadl, Khaled (22 March 2011). "What is Shari'a?". ABC Religion and Ethics. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  17. ^ "What is the Difference Between Quran and Sunnah?". Ask a Question to Us. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
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  30. ^ "The Yahwist". Contradictions in the Bible. 23 December 2012. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
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  32. ^ "The History Guide". www.historyguide.org. Retrieved 6 December 2016.

Further reading

External links