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Nuevo Diccionario De Religiones, Denominaciones Y Sectas Nuevo Diccionario de Religiones, Denominaciones y Sectas Marcos Antonio Ramos A la memoria de Jaime Santamaría. A Domingo Fernández Suárez. En acción de gracias a Odón Betanzos Palacios y Rolando Amador López. Como homenaje en el centenario de Gonzalo Báez Camargo, «Pedro Gringoire» (1899-1983). Prefacio Estas cosas y muchas otras, que hacen temblar a la humanidad, yo las he visto por mis propios ojos, y apenas me atrevo a contarlas. Fray Bartolomé de las Casas La presente obra guarda necesariamente alguna relación con más de veinticinco años de trabajo en la enseñanza de la historia de la iglesia, religiones comparadas y la historia de las religiones. Pero a través de esos años hemos visto surgir una serie de nuevos movimientos y de organizaciones que aún no se han descrito en diccionarios ni en obras similares y que empiezan a penetrar el mundo de las ideas así como las creencias de las diferentes feligresías. Por otra parte, algunas obras de gran importancia son demasiado extensas, o dedican mucha atención a alguna organización en particular, revelando cierto grado de subestimación a valiosos grupos organizados más recientemente. Con este esfuerzo intentamos hacer una modesta contribución a la tarea de dar a conocer aquellos movimientos sobre los que poco se conoce, a la vez que nos proponemos comentar solo los datos que nos parecen suficientes para identificar con claridad a los mismos. En el Nuevo diccionario de religiones, denominaciones y sectas también concedemos alguna atención a los llamados cultos sincréticos; no solo por factores puramente coyunturales, sino porque forman parte del acervo cultural y religioso de varios países. En una obra anterior, Historia de las religiones (Editorial Playor, Madrid, 1989), tuvimos muy presente que en estas materias no se puede pasar por alto el estudio científico y objetivo de las diferentes formas de religiosidad, independientemente de las ideas que el autor pueda profesar. En el diccionario hemos tratado de mantenernos dentro de esas normas, pero reconocemos que, en el caso de algunos movimientos creados recientemente, solo se dispone de información dispersa e incompleta. En cuanto a algunos grupos de la Nueva Era y a viejas manifestaciones del esoterismo y el ocultismo, resulta curioso que ciertos léxicos y diccionarios no aporten demasiada luz, lo cual pudiera originarse en la naturaleza misma de tales movimientos. La riqueza de datos confiables acerca de las religiones universales y de las iglesias cristianas establecidas en numerosos países contrasta con esa situación. Ahora bien, al abordar estos temas, prescindimos hasta donde ha sido posible del vocabulario más erudito. Tampoco ofrecemos aquí un estudio pormenorizado de las religiones que exigen un estudio profundo y especializado. Nos hemos limitado a ciertos datos fundamentales acerca del origen, creencias, características y situación actual de esos movimientos. Por ejemplo, en el caso de organizaciones de tipo evangélico, solo mencionamos las creencias que las diferencian de otros grupos parecidos. En este diccionario nos dedicamos exclusivamente a lo que ofrece su título, es decir, a religiones, denominaciones y sectas. No hemos incluido artículos biográficos, ni estudios doctrinales, cuya gran utilidad reconocemos. Para ello se dispone en la actualidad de excelentes materiales, entre ellos recomendamos el Diccionario de historia de la iglesia (Editorial Caribe, Miami, 1989) y otras obras importantes incluidas en la bibliografía de este libro. Nos parece oportuno mencionar las palabras autorizadas de Servipalli Radhakrishnan, ex presidente de la India y uno de los principales historiadores de la religión: «Un mundo nuevo no puede permanecer como una masa confusa de necesidades e impulsos, ambiciones y actividades sin control o dirección por parte del espíritu. El mismo vacío creado por las supersticiones y creencias que han sido abandonadas nos llama a llenarlo con lo espiritual». Si aplicáramos la intención general de esta cita extraída de su obra Religiones orientales y pensamiento occidental (Oxford University Press, Londres, 1989) al ambiente actual de los países de habla española, apreciaríamos la trascendencia de seleccionar bien los mejores medios dentro del mundo de la religión. Solo un estudio equilibrado y cuidadoso podrá enriquecer nuestra cultura, conducta y estilo de vida, a la vez que contribuirá a ratificar la sana doctrina recibida de nuestros mejores maestros. Marcos Antonio Ramos A A.M.O.R.C. Movimiento rosacruz. Se trata de las siglas de Anticus Mysticus Ordo Rosae Crucis u Orden Antiguo y Místico Rosacruz. La fundación de este movimiento en Estados Unidos se remonta a 1909. Su fundador norteamericano fue Spencer Lewis y se han extendido a muchos países mediante la distribución de literatura y la organización de logias o grupos de estudio. Es una versión moderna de los antiguos rosacruces. El interés en la Nueva Era les ha proporcionado la oportunidad de resurgir con mayor fuerza. (→ ROSACRUCES.) ABADÍA DE THELEMA Movimiento con rituales de magia negra. Parece originarse en las enseñanzas del escritor ocultista inglés Aleister Crowley (1875–1947). Algunos estudiosos relacionan la Abadía con el satanismo y el erotismo mágico. (→ ARGENTEUM ASTRUM.) ABAKUÁ, SOCIEDAD SECRETA Véase SANTERÍA Y OTROS CULTOS AFROCUBANOS. ABECEDARIANOS Sector reformista. Grupo de anabautistas radicales alemanes del siglo XVI conocidos por sus visiones y éxtasis así como por su rechazo a la erudición. Llegaron a considerar el conocimiento humano (incluso el ABC) como intrascendente. Solo aceptaban las Sagradas Escrituras y la inspiración del Espíritu Santo. Algunos eruditos consideran «abecedarianos» a Nicholas Storch y los profetas de Zwickau. ABELIANOS (También se les conoce como «abelistas» o «abelonianos».) Secta herética vinculada a los maniqueos y gnósticos. Sostenían que Abel, hijo de Adán, se abstuvo de engendrar hijos. Era digno de imitar para evitar traer criaturas pecaminosas al mundo. Aunque aceptaban el matrimonio preferían adoptar hijos y practicar el celibato. En la antigüedad, el movimiento tuvo muchos seguidores en la diócesis de Hipona, al Norte de África. ABHAYAGIRI VASINAH Escuela de budismo. Otros budistas consideraban a este grupo como de carácter herético. Sus seguidores intentaron el estudio simultáneo del budismo Mahayana e Hinayana. A esta escuela se le ha dado el nombre del Abhayagiri, un monte de Sri Lanka (antiguo Ceilán), donde el movimiento tenía su sede. (→ BUDISMO.) ABISINIA, IGLESIA DE Iglesia nacional. El cristianismo en una forma organizada parece haber penetrado en Etiopía (Abisinia) alrededor del año 330 mediante Frumencio, procedente de Tiro, quien llegó a ocupar un cargo en la administración local. Sin embargo, algunos cristianos pudieron haber vivido allí desde el primer siglo. La Iglesia de Abisinia ha tenido tradicionalmente estrechas relaciones con la Iglesia Copta de Egipto. En Abisinia se ha logrado la independencia eclesiástica y se han conservado usos judíos como la circuncisión de niños, la observancia del sábado, etc. Como en el caso de los coptos, la teología es la del → MONOFISISMO. El obispo primado es el «abuna» y ya no es nombrado por el patriarca o papa copto de Alejandría. (→ COPTA, IGLESIA.) ABRAHAMITAS Secta siria fundada en el siglo IX por Ibrahim o Abraham de Antioquía. Negaba la divinidad de Cristo. ABRAHAMITAS Secta checa formada a fines del siglo XVIII que se creía integrada por simpatizantes de Juan Hus, pero cuyo énfasis era el deísmo y la observancia religiosa que Abraham practicaba antes de circuncidarse. ABSTINENTES Sectas de la antigüedad que muchos eclesiásticos acusaban de practicar la hechicería y la magia. Luchaban contra la mundanalidad de algunas iglesias cristianas. Su influencia «gnóstica» era evidente, ya que entendían que la materia es intrínsecamente mala. Promovían el ascetismo, prohibían el matrimonio y comer carne, y se sometían a vigilias, ayunos y constantes oraciones. Entre sus líderes principales se encontraba Prisciliano. Su mayor desarrollo ocurrió en los siglos III y IV en el sudoeste de Europa. ACACIANOS Secta de la antigüedad. Seguidores de Acacio de Cesarea (no confundirlo con Acacio de Constantinopla), un discípulo de Eusebio de Cesarea, su predecesor en esa sede episcopal. Sus ideas eran → ARRIANAS. Se atenían a la fórmula de que el Hijo es semejante (homoios) al Padre, adoptada en el Concilio de Seleucia y que contaba con el apoyo de los llamados → HOMOIANOS y de la secta acaciana. Su actividad tuvo lugar en el siglo IV. ACOSMISMO Creencia de algunos hindúes. Según esta teoría solo Dios existe y todo lo demás es apariencia. ACTUALISMO Secta religiosa cuyas creencias se relacionan con la salud física y la conciencia cósmica, mediante lo cual es posible unirse a un dios que es padre y madre al mismo tiempo. Consideran que cada ser humano es divino. Su sede radica en Valley Center, California. ACUARIENSES (Del griego hydroparastatas, que significa los que abogan por el agua.) Sectas de la antigüedad. Pensadores cristianos como Cipriano y Agustín los consideraban herejes. La más conocida era la de los «encratistas». Promovían el uso del agua en vez del vino en la Cena del Señor. Taciano el Sirio fue uno de sus líderes más conocidos. ACUÁTICOS Secta religiosa cubana. Pequeña secta con algunos centenares de partidarios en Cuba. Creen en los poderes sanadores y espirituales del agua, objeto de veneración entre ellos. ADAMITAS Secta gnóstica. Sus miembros eran conocidos entonces como los «adamiani». Algunos historiadores los señalan
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