Posted on 03/02/2021 7:11:36 PM PST by ebb tide
VATICAN CITY (ChurchMilitant.com) - Pope Francis will be the first pontiff in history to pray with members of a syncretistic sect who worship a "fallen angel" depicted as a peacock and identified with the Devil.
An Iraqi Catholic looks forward to welcoming Pope Francis
The Yezidis — persecuted to the point of genocide by the Islamic State (ISIS) as "Devil worshippers" — will participate in the pope's Saturday interreligious service in Ur with Muslims, Mandaean-Sabeans and members of Iraq's other religious communities.
While the mainstream media and some religious scholars vigorously reject the "sensational epithet" of "Devil worshippers" as a "term used both by unsympathetic neighbors and fascinated westerners," recent scholarship explains how the Yezidi deity — the Peacock Angel — simultaneously embodies "both god and demon."
Yezidism blends elements of Zoroastrianism, Manichaeism, Gnosticism, Christianity, Sufism and Islam, adopting a "holy trinity" comprising of the Peacock Angel, Sheikh 'Adi (founder of the proto-Yezidi religion) and Sultan Yezid or Êzî (the Umayyad caliph Yazid ibn Mu'awiya).
The Peacock Angel (Malak-Tāwūs) is the chief deity of the Yezidi holy trinity, while 'Adi and Êzî are deified versions of their historical counterparts. On the one hand, the peacock symbolizes grandeur and magnificence, but it conjures pride and passion on the other. This makes it a fitting embodiment of both god and demon at the same time.
Iranian-born Armenian Prof. Garnik S. Asatrian from Yerevan State University and Prof. Victoria A. Arakelova from the RAU Institute of Oriental Studies, Armenia, agree that Yezidis have been persecuted "as pagans, heretics or Devil-worshippers" because of their "religious idiosyncrasy."
In Yezidism, Satan as the angelic head is only temporarily overthrown as a punishment, but, in time, becomes a recipient of mercy.Tweet
However, in their monograph The Religion of the Peacock Angel: The Yezidis and Their Spirit World, Asatrian and Arakelova argue that Yezidism is "monotheistic," despite the "minor deities of the Yezidi pantheon" (including spirits and demons) because its "component deities" are "unambiguous manifestations of the one god worshipped by adherents."
The Armenian scholars explain how Yezidis regard Malak-Tāwūs — a sort of demiurge Peacock Angel — as "the fallen angel expelled from paradise for disobedience to the will of god," as in the biblical and Islamic traditions.
In Yezidism, however, Satan as the angelic head is only "temporarily overthrown as a punishment, but, in time, becomes a recipient of mercy," and, in Yezidi mysticism, Satan is "eventually exonerated or his deed not regarded as sin in any way," they stress.
The esoteric Yezidis, like Sufis, "accept evil as one of the necessary principles of creation, 'unjustifiably' condemned by the dogmatic religions, without which it is impossible to comprehend the source of energy per se," Asatrian and Arakelova explain.
Yezidis pray at the world's largest Peacock Angel temple in Armenia
Speaking on condition of anonymity, a Rome-based Eastern Catholic scholar of oriental studies told Church Militant he regarded the "papal interreligious service as an abomination and a scandal to persecuted Catholics and Orthodox Christians in Iraq."
Lamenting that "the West stood silent while countless Yezidi women were raped and held as sex slaves," the scholar nevertheless agreed that "political correctness in the academy and the genocide against Yezidis prevents the truth from being told about the 'demonic' aspects of Yezidism."
Scholars of the ancient Near East recognize that one community's demon is another community's deity.Tweet
"Scholars of the ancient Near East recognize that one community's demon is another community's deity," the academic remarked, holding up a copy of the magisterial Dictionary of Deities and Demons in the Bible (DDD).
"On a purely academic level, the biblical figure of Satan is regarded as a development from that of a public prosecutor in the book of Job to a full-fledged evil entity Jesus confronts in the gospels," the scholar observed.
Oriental studies scholar explaining the evolution of Satan
"Not until post-exilic times in intertestamental literature, with the rise of dualism and the concept of the Devil, did the word begin to display the meaning 'evil demon in league with the Devil' and take on an entirely negative connotation," he noted, quoting from the DDD.
He added that a major obstacle in deciphering Yezidi beliefs is that the so-called holy books of the Yezidis — Kitēbā Jalwa (Book of Revelation) and Mashafē Raš (Black Book) — are considered late forgeries, "although still definitely reflecting the genuine religious and folk tradition."
According to the Black Book, Malak-Tāwūs has seven "avatars" as angels who assist and accompany him: Azrail, Dardail, Israfil, Mikail, Jabrail, Shamnail and Turail.
A Yezidi legend describes the fall of Malak-Tāwūs ("that particle of endless light") in a manner resembling the casting out of Lucifer from Heaven. While most people spat on, jeered and beat the fallen angel, the Yezidis — "kind people, pure in heart" — "recognized and welcomed" Malak-Tāwūs, fearing not what God or other people would say.
One version of the legend, narrated to British intelligence officer Edward Soane by Yezidis in Tiflis, has Satan "reinstated in Heaven" after "weeping sufficient tears in seven vessels to quench the seven hells of his 7,000 years' exile."
"In any case, the mythological concept of the expelled deity, the fallen angel, having deep roots in the Near Eastern traditions, is particularly brightly manifested in Islamic mysticism," Asatrian and Arakelova argue, defending the role of Malak-Tāwūs in Yezidism.
I am reminded of the Septuagint version of Psalm 96:5, which says that 'all the gods of the nations are demons.'Tweet
For Yezidis, even uttering the word "Satan" (šayṭān) is taboo. Words sounding similar to šayṭān like šatt (estuary) and qaytān are substituted by synonyms as the Black Scripture instructs: "Neither is it permitted to us to pronounce the name of Satan (because it is the name of our god), nor any name resembling this, such as Kitan, Sharr, Shatt."
"Looking at the relevant literature, I don't have a problem, as an academic, concluding that Yezidis are demon worshippers," the oriental studies scholar told Church Militant, adding, "As a Catholic who believes in ... Holy Scripture, I am reminded of the Septuagint version of Psalm 96:5, which says that 'all the gods of the nations are demons' and St. Paul's warning to the Corinthians: 'What pagans sacrifice they offer to demons and not to God.'"
Ping
Pope Soros.
He couldn’t be more open about his contempt for the church.
The ImPopester keeps topping himself.
Words fail me.
“Words sounding similar to šayṭān like šatt (estuary) and qaytān are substituted by synonyms as the Black Scripture instructs: “Neither is it permitted to us to pronounce the name of Satan (because it is the name of our god), nor any name resembling this, such as Kitan, Sharr, Shatt.””
In addition to being demonic, they’re full of Shatt. It is disgusting but not surprising that Pope Pachamama would worship the Enemy Below alongside them.
Next month he’ll break bread with the Golden Calf Cult in Peru.
Frankie is a wild and crazy guy!
In all fairness, saying that Yezidis are “devil worshipers” is theologically difficult, because it uses the Judeo-Christian understandings of what Satan is and represents. However, the Yezidis don’t engage in what either Jews or Christians would call Satanic behavior.
In other words, it is an extrapolation of things, like saying that those who admire Santa Claus are devil worshipers, because Santa is an anagram of Satan; or those who celebrate Easter are pagans, because they worship the Easter rabbit.
However, this being said, the Yezidis are one of the more persecuted people around. Technically since the 10th Century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Persecution_of_Yazidis
Whether the Pope should involve himself with them is another matter.
A false prophet’s job is to encourage people to worship the devil.
That Pope seems to always try to go where no apostle has gone before.
I really wonder if it is a case of narcissism rather than trying to be all inclusive what he seems to think he is doing.
What Freud would make of him.
The nicest thing I can say about them is if ISIS hates ‘em they can’t be all bad.
WTAF
If there was any doubt thst the Pope is an Anti-Christ, this should put your mind at ease.
The Vatican under the command of Pope Francis is busy rebuking ownership of firearms for personal protection and supressing followers of the pre Vatican 2 liturgy form including the latin mass But when it comes to other forms of mono theistic beliefs such as the One World Abu Dhabi Movement. Francis refuses to say one word disclaiming and decrying what practice adherents of the Islam code Sharia not only claim, but truly believe that God has authorized them to any evil means using force or decption used to convert is justified as well as kill those who refuse to submit to their version of Gods will .
That religion is a pot luck stew of a bunch of different crap. Demons, devils, peacocks, oh and yeah God too. Let’s just worship them all!
Like playing the field in craps.
Makes sense that the heretic fake pope would join in. Maybe he’s hoping they worship him as a demon too. Pope Pagan the Santerian.
The Peacock Angel is a Watcher.
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