The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (358 page)
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Beatific vision
.
.
The vision of God granted to the redeemed in
heaven
. The term is used mainly in Catholic theology where it was the subject of much debate in the later Middle Ages. In Islam, the vision of God is the culminating experience of the rewarded in heaven, though the impossibility of seeing God directly is usually defended by affirming that a general manifestation of God is interpreted in the forms of habitual devotion.
heaven
. The term is used mainly in Catholic theology where it was the subject of much debate in the later Middle Ages. In Islam, the vision of God is the culminating experience of the rewarded in heaven, though the impossibility of seeing God directly is usually defended by affirming that a general manifestation of God is interpreted in the forms of habitual devotion.
Beatitudes
.
.
Promises of blessing, and specifically the sequence of eight or nine sentences beginning ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit’ in Jesus'
Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5. 3–11). The version in Luke's ‘sermon on the plain’ (6. 20–2) is shorter with more marked contrast of present and future.
Sermon on the Mount
(Matthew 5. 3–11). The version in Luke's ‘sermon on the plain’ (6. 20–2) is shorter with more marked contrast of present and future.
Beautiful Names of God
(in Islam)
:
(in Islam)
:
Becket, Thomas à, St
(
c.
1117–70).
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
and
martyr
. A friend of Henry II, who appointed him chancellor in 1154 and, despite his protestations, archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, Thomas almost immediately came into conflict with the king over Henry's claim to judge ‘criminous clerks’, and, receiving little or no support from the other English
bishops
, he had to flee abroad in 1164. An apparent reconciliation was achieved in 1170, but in a fit of temper Henry expressed the wish to be rid of the archbishop (according to tradition, ‘Will no one revenge me of the injuries I have sustained from one turbulent priest?’), and four of his knights took him at his word: they murdered Thomas in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 Dec. He was canonized three years after his death (feast day, 29 Dec.), and his tomb rapidly became a centre of pilgrimage.
c.
1117–70).
Archbishop
of
Canterbury
and
martyr
. A friend of Henry II, who appointed him chancellor in 1154 and, despite his protestations, archbishop of Canterbury in 1162, Thomas almost immediately came into conflict with the king over Henry's claim to judge ‘criminous clerks’, and, receiving little or no support from the other English
bishops
, he had to flee abroad in 1164. An apparent reconciliation was achieved in 1170, but in a fit of temper Henry expressed the wish to be rid of the archbishop (according to tradition, ‘Will no one revenge me of the injuries I have sustained from one turbulent priest?’), and four of his knights took him at his word: they murdered Thomas in Canterbury Cathedral on 29 Dec. He was canonized three years after his death (feast day, 29 Dec.), and his tomb rapidly became a centre of pilgrimage.
Bede, St, ‘the Venerable’
(
c.
673–735).
English scholar. He spent his life as a monk at Jarrow in Northumbria. His most important work is the
Ecclesiastical History of the English People
, a main source for early English history, and also for an understanding of spiritual life at the time. In 1899 he was made a
Doctor of the Church
. Feast day, 27 May.
c.
673–735).
English scholar. He spent his life as a monk at Jarrow in Northumbria. His most important work is the
Ecclesiastical History of the English People
, a main source for early English history, and also for an understanding of spiritual life at the time. In 1899 he was made a
Doctor of the Church
. Feast day, 27 May.
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