The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (2398 page)

Synagogue, The Great
.

Jewish institution mentioned in the
Mishnah
. According to
Avot
, ‘the men of the Great Synagogue’ lived between the time of the
prophets
and the time of the
rabbis
. Most scholars date the period from the time of
Ezra
, and the Great Synagogue was probably a representative body which met from time to time to pass resolutions.

 
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Synanon Foundation
.

A
new religious movement
. It was established in California in 1958 by Charles E. Dederich as a voluntary association of reforming alcoholics, soon developing into a therapeutic community for the treatment of narcotic addicts, and then into Social Movement and Alternative Society, a commune, with successful business operations and substantial real-estate holdings. In 1977 the Board of Directors proclaimed the Synanon Religion, with the so-called reconciliatory principle as its central tenet. Another important proposition is that individuals evolve by contributing to the community.

 
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(Gk.). In E. Churches, a brief account of, or homily on, the life of a saint or the significance of a feast. The Greater Synaxarion is a liturgical book used in those churches, which contains short accounts of saints or feasts appointed to be read in the daily office.

 
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(Gk., ‘assembly’). In the early church, the service consisting of lessons, psalms, prayers, and sermon, probably derived from the worship of the
synagogue
. It was later joined to the
eucharist
.

 
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(Gk., explained by Plutarch with reference to the Cretans who, while habitually at odds with each other, closed ranks in the face of a common enemy). The amalgamation of religious beliefs and practices in such a way that the original features of the religions in question become obscured. The word has thus taken on a pejorative sense, derived from H. Usener who translated it (1898) as
religionsmischerei
, not so much a mixing as a confusing. The term is now usually used of those who are accused of abandoning a historic faith and practice in pursuit of some ecumenical religion which transcends the boundaries of existing religions. Despite this dismissive sense, all religions are syncretistic in the sense of absorbing and incorporating elements of other religions and cultures as they encounter them.

 
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(Gk., perhaps from
synteresis
, ‘spark of conscience’). In Christianity, human knowledge (innate) of the first principles of moral behaviour. It is distinguished from conscience (although the two are sometimes used interchangeably) because the latter involves, not a basic intuition, but a judgement. In mystical theology, synderesis is the centre of the soul where mystical union occurs.

 
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