The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions (786 page)

BOOK: The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions
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Fish
.
As a Christian symbol, its use goes back to 2nd-cent. writers. The symbol itself may be derived from the acrostic spelling of
ichthus
(Gk., ‘fish’) from the Gk. first letters of ‘Jesus Christ, God and Saviour’.
Fisher, John, St
(1469–1535).
Bishop
of Rochester and
martyr
. Though himself a severe critic of standards in the Church, he was a vigorous opponent of
Lutheranism
. He was eventually imprisoned for refusing to take the oath attached to the Act of Succession on the grounds that it contained an admission of royal supremacy over the Church in England. He was made a
cardinal
in 1535. He was executed on 17 June that year, and canonized 400 years later. Feast day, 22 June.
Fi
ra
(Arab.). An important term in Islamic doctrine about humans and their moral constitution as creatures of God's creation. The pivotal passage is Qur’
n 30. 30. Most exegesis takes fi
ra to mean human nature as designed and intended for ‘religion’—understood as Islam. But some take fi
ra to mean Islam itself.
Five animals
(Taoist exercises)
:
Five auspicious moments
(Jain)
:
see TRI
AL
.

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