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#REDIRECT [[Religious text]]
{{otheruses}}
'''Scripture''' is that portion of literature deemed authoritative for establishing instructions ''within'' any of a number of specific religious traditions, especially the [[Abrahamic religions]].<ref>
John Miller and Aaron Kenedi, ''God's Breath: Sacred Scriptures of the World'', (New York: [[Marlowe & Company]], 2000).</ref>
Such bodies of writings are also sometimes known as the [[Biblical canon|canon]] of scripture. They are often associated with the belief that they were either given directly, or otherwise [[Divine inspiration|inspired]], by God, or associated with other kinds of [[Epistemology|direct access]] to [[absolute truth]]. As such, the term ''scripture'' is more specific than ''[[religious text]]'', which scholars apply even to [[Mythology|mythological]] and [[Cult (religious practice)|ritual]] texts from ancient religions, where records of their authority (or [[heresy]]) have not survived.<ref>
Paul Dundas expresses the opinion that,
"In recent years there has been a welcome attempt on the part of historians of religion to dissociate sacred texts from the concept of 'scripture' in its literal sense, so common in conventional accounts of the great west Asian monotheistic traditions, of 'written word' enshrined in some kind of totally fixed canon."
''The Jains'', ([[Routledge]], 1992), p. 53.</ref>

==Comparisons==

Investigations by [[scholars]] of [[comparative religion]] determine the different reasoning that lies behind why various [[traditions]] determine some writings to be scripture and others not.<ref>William P. Lazarus and Mark Sullivan. ''Comparative Religion for Dummies.'' John Wiley and Sons Ltd, United States, 2008</ref><ref>[http://www.religionfacts.com/religion/quotes.htm What is religion?]</ref>

This can be illustrated by the documentation of the [[Ancient Egypt|Egyptian]] cult of [[Aten]],<ref>[http://www.philae.nu/akhet/history6.html A history of "The Short-lived Cult of Aten"]</ref> which lasted less than a generation (ca 1350–1335 BC), having been suppressed as heresy. The Nicene Creed<ref>[http://www.creeds.net/ancient/nicene.htm The Nicene Creed]</ref> is an early Christian description of their beliefs. However, although this is clearly a religious text and is still highly valued by Christians today, it is not considered scripture<ref>[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/scripture Definition of "scripture"]</ref> because it is not among the sacred writings of either the Old or New Testaments. Scriptures are religious texts, the [[truth]] of which is received by believers in some traditions based only [[faith]] or [[belief]], in that faith is belief in the trustworthiness of a written/spoken [[idea]] that has not been proven.<ref>[http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/faith Definition of faith]</ref>
However, in the Abrahamic traditions especially, but also in others, the scriptures include documentation of events, and reasoned arguments, so the concept of faith is understood to be based on objective and verifiable facts, not merely "blind trust".

==Examples==
[[File:Kitabaqdas-d.jpg|thumb|right|100px|The Aqdas, used by Bahais]]

===In Hinduism===
[[File:Vyasa.jpg|left|250px|thumb|Vyasadeva wrote down Vedas around 5 thousand years (when this [[Kali-Yuga]] began)]]
* The [[Vedas]]
* 108 [[Upanishads]]
* [[Vedanta]] (essence of Vedas)
* [[Puranas]], including [[Srimad Bhagavatam]] (commentary on Vedanta by [[Vyasa]]deva)
* [[Mahabharata]], including [[Bhagavad Gita]]
* [[Ramayana]] (by [[Valmiki]])

===In Sikhism===
* The [[Guru Granth Sahib]]
===In the [[Bahá'í Faith]]===
* [[Kitáb-i-Aqdas|The Aqdas]]

===In Islam===
[[File:FirstSurahKoran (fragment).jpg|thumb|The Quran, used by Muslims]]
* The [[Qur'an]] (also spelled, Koran)

===In [[Judaism]] ===
[[File:Berakhot2a.jpg|thumb|The Talmud, used by Jews]]
* The [[Tanakh]]
It is actually the 'TNK' which is vocalised as 'TaNaK'. The TaNaK is the shortened form of the Torah (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers & Deuteronomy), Neviim ('Neviim' is the plural form of the word 'Prophet') and Ketuvim (meaning 'Writings'). It is believed by the Jews that the TaNaK is authored by God through the writings of men.

===In [[Catholicism]]===
* The [[Bible]] (including the [[Deuterocanonical books]])

===In [[Protestantism]]===
[[File:BiblenCh ubt.jpeg|thumb|The Bible, used by Christians]]
* The [[Bible]] (various versions, most exclude [[Deuterocanonical books]])

===Latter-day saints (Mormons) and some derived sects===
====Books====
* The Bible ([[King James version]]), both testaments.
** There is a [[Joseph Smith]] translation, counted as scripture, but not officially used.
* [[The Book of Mormon]]
* [[The Doctrine and Covenants]]
* [[The Pearl of Great Price]]

====Documents====
* [[The Family: A Proclamation to the World]]
====Music====
* Occasionally, some of the hymns (including at least one found in ''Hymns'', 1985—no. 292) are deemed as scripture, teaching doctrines not necessarily taught elsewhere first<ref>''Hymns'', 1985, no. 292, verse 3</ref>.

====Living scripture====
* Latter-day saints believe in continuing scripture that may manifest itself in numerous ways, including directly from the Holy Ghost to ordained servants of God<ref>See [http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/68/2-4#2 Doctrine and Covenants 68:2–4]</ref>.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.adherents.com/adh_influbooks.html Major Scriptures, Religious Texts and Influential Books]
* [http://www.sacred-texts.com/index.htm Sacred Texts]
* [http://www.unification.net/ws/ World Scriptures]

{{Poetry of different cultures and languages}}
{{religion topics}}
{{History of religions}}
{{Philosophy topics}}
{{Fiction writing}}

[[Category:Religious texts]]
[[Category:Religious terminology]]

[[es:Escritura sagrada]]
[[fr:Saintes Écritures]]
[[it:Sacra Scrittura]]
[[ru:Священное Писание]]
[[uk:Святе Письмо]]

Latest revision as of 00:23, 13 January 2011

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