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Encyclopediaasceticismasceticism (uset'isizum) [key], rejection of bodily pleasures through sustained self-denial and self-mortification, with the objective of strengthening spiritual life. Asceticism has been common in most major world religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Christianity: all of these have special ascetic cults or ascetic ideals. The most common ascetic practice is fasting, which is used for many purposes—to produce visions, as among the Crow; to mourn the dead, as among various African peoples; and to sharpen spiritual awareness, as among the early Christian saints. More extreme forms have been flagellation (see flagellants) and self-mutilation, usually intended to propitiate or reach accord with a god. Asceticism has been associated with taboo in many non-Western societies and in such well-developed religions as Zoroastrianism and Manichaeism. See Essenes; fakir; hermit; Rechabites. See W. J. Sheils, ed., Monks, Hermits and the Ascetic Tradition (1985). The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2007, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. More on asceticism from Infoplease:
- Rechabites - Rechabites Rechabites , in the Bible, a family that practiced asceticism. Organized by Jonadab, who ...
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- The Owl and the Nightingale - Owl and the Nightingale, The Owl and the Nightingale, The, Middle English poem written probably by ...
- Muhammad Abduh - Muhammad Abduh Muhammad Abduh 1849–1905, Egyptian Muslim religious reformer. His encounter in ...
- Saint Benedict of Aniane - Benedict of Aniane, Saint Benedict of Aniane, Saint, c.750–821, French abbot who became a ...
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