grgr (34): orphism

[David Morris]

>From: lorentzen-nicklaus at t-online.de (Lorentzen / Nicklaus)
>
>  "orpheus puts down harp" (754)

http://encarta.msn.com/find/Concise.asp?ti=03EEC000

Orphism, in classical religion, mystic cult of ancient Greece, believed to 
have been drawn from the writings of the legendary poet and musician 
Orpheus. Fragmentary poetic passages, including inscriptions on gold tablets 
found in the graves of Orphic followers from the 6th century BC, indicate 
that Orphism was based on a cosmogony that centered on the myth of the god 
Dionysus Zagreus, the son of the deities Zeus and Persephone. Furious 
because Zeus wished to make his son ruler of the universe, the jealous 
Titans dismembered and devoured the young god. Athena, goddess of wisdom, 
was able to rescue his heart, which she brought to Zeus, who swallowed it 
and gave birth to a new Dionysus. Zeus then punished the Titans by 
destroying them with his lightning and from their ashes created the human 
race. As a result, humans had a dual nature: the earthly body was the 
heritage of the earth-born Titans; the soul came from the divinity of 
Dionysus, whose remains had been mingled with that of the Titans.

According to the tenets of Orphism, people should endeavor to rid themselves 
of the Titanic or evil element in their nature and should seek to preserve 
the Dionysiac or divine nature of their being. The triumph of the Dionysiac 
element would be assured by following the Orphic rites of purification and 
asceticism. Through a long series of reincarnated lives, people would 
prepare for the afterlife. If they had lived in evil, they would be 
punished, but if they had lived in holiness, after death their souls would 
be completely liberated from Titanic elements and reunited with the 
divinity.

http://www2.cybernex.net/~mhodges/west/dionysianism.htm

Ultimately Orphism developed into a theological refinement of the Bacchic 
religion.  At first it was strongly persecuted by Bacchic priests.  But 
eventually it became established within the Bacchic system.
Orphic teachings that began to come forth over time had much in common with 
Hinduism and Buddhism (perhaps from mutual Aryan roots).  Orphism held a 
sense of dualism about human existence: 1) the earthly or physical existence 
(derived from the Titans) and 2) the heavenly or spiritual existence 
(derived from Zagreus or Bacchus or Dionysius).

Within Orphism, earthly life was seen only as a merciless round of pain and 
trouble (product of evil).  Though we humans belong to the heavens, to the 
stars (as semi-gods), we are also bound to life by a cycle of death and 
rebirth.  The goal of life: escape from earthly existence and release to 
eternal life.

But the fate for most folks was really not escape--but rather a period of 
death (and torment) and then rebirth--according to the merit of one's 
earthly deeds.

Thus Orphism held much concern about the after-life.  It included 
instructions on how to enter the after-world.  Likewise, it sought to reform 
Bacchic or Dionysian worship in order to increase one's spiritual 
nature--and diminish the portion of one's physical being so as to become one 
with Bacchus (or Dionysus).  As with Aryan Hinduism (or its offspring 
Buddhism), Orphism was designed to attain release of the devotee from the 
cycle of rebirths.

Orphism, as a worship or religious form also had various kinds of purity 
rituals designed to help the devotee avoid certain types of contaminating 
influences.  Thus the most rigorous practitioner avoided animal food (as 
with the Hindus) except for sacrificial rituals.  Further, despite its 
connection with wild Dionysianism, the Orphic devotee took wine only as a 
sacramental act--as a symbol indicative of the mystical enthusiasm of one 
who sought union with the god Bacchus--or Eros!

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