The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (1874 page)

Projection
.

The theory that God and gods are merely objectifications of human needs, ideals, or desires. With few exceptions, the theory in modern Western thought forms part of reductionistic accounts of
theistic
belief. These accounts are in general built on the thought of L.
Feuerbach
and K.
Marx
, on the one hand, or of S.
Freud
and the psychoanalytic school, on the other.
In Eastern religions, projection takes on a different and more fundamental significance. In Hinduism, it implies the basic ignorance (
avidy
) which superimposes reality on to
Brahman
, as though appearances have independent existence.
In Buddhism, the projection of reality on to the unreal world of appearance arises equally from ignorance; and in
Mah
y
na
, especially Ch’an/
Zen
, it involves a failure to realize that all appearances are equally empty of self (
nyat
).

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

see
MU‘TAZILITES
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Promised Land
.

The land promised to the Jewish
patriarch
, Abraham. The phrase does not appear in scripture, though ‘land of promise’ refers in Hebrews 11. 9 to the faith of Abraham.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

see
DEVIL'S ADVOCATE
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search