The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (291 page)

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Augustinians
.

Augustinian or
Austin Friars
, a Christian religious order drawn together from disparate orders of hermits in 1256. It was based on the Rule of St
Augustine
, with a constitution drawn from the
Dominicans
. The Rule (
Regula Sancti Augustini
) appears to have been drawn up by one of Augustine's followers, perhaps during his lifetime. Among those adopting the Rule were
Canons
Regular, Premonstratensians, and
Dominicans
. The Rule was also adopted by Orders for women (e.g. the Augustinians of the Assumption of Mary, known as Assumptionists, Bridgettines, Salesian Sisters, and Ursulines).

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Aulén, G.
:

see
ATONEMENT
;
CHRISTUS VICTOR
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

AU
:

see
O
.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Aumbry
.

A recess in the wall of a church or sacristy in which sacred items (and sometimes the
reserved Sacrament
) are kept.

 
Back
  -  
 
New Search

Aum Shinrikyo
,
Supreme Truth Movement
.

A Japanese syncretistic movement, with a strong eschatological emphasis. Under its leader, Asahara Shoko, to whom dedication as to a guru was required, it became notorious in 1995 because of its claimed association with two attacks using poison gas on a random population. The second of these, on the Tokyo subway, killed or injured hundreds of people. The members of the movement believed that the end of the world cycle was due in 1997; in preparation for the end, new recruits were required to demonstrate their loyalty by arduous programmes of self-denial—including nearstarvation. Its main headquarters were near Mount Fuji (
Fujisan
), an association which has linked the movement (inappropriately) with the older Shinrikyo. Shinrikyo was founded by Sano Tsunihiko (1834–1906), who had belonged to Ontakekyo, one of the mountain worship cults. Shinrikyo, while being eclectic, is nevertheless conservative: it worships
Amaterasu
and the
kojiki
deities, it emphasizes loyalty to emperor and family, and it requires participation in rituals as well as the practice of kado (flower meditation: see
IKEBANA
) and
chad
(tea ceremony). Shinrikyo has given rise to at least four break-away groups, but none of a radical, ‘end of world’ kind.