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	== See also ==		== See also ==
	~~{{Portal\|Religion}}~~
	* [[Confederation\|Confederacy]]		* [[Confederation\|Confederacy]]
	* [[Conflation]]		* [[Conflation]]

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{{Short description|Assimilation of two or more originally discrete religious traditions}}
{{About|the religious term|the linguistic term|Syncretism (linguistics)|the political term|Syncretic politics}}
{{More citations needed|date=July 2015}}
[[File:Pluto Serapis and Persephone Isis Heraklion museum.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|The gods [[Persephone]]-[[Isis]] and [[Pluto (mythology)|Pluto]]-[[Serapis]], an example of [[Ancient Greek religion|Greco]]-[[Ancient Egyptian religion|Egyptian]] syncretism]]
'''Syncretism''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|s|ɪ|ŋ|k|ɹ|ə|t|ɪ|z|əm}} is the combining of different beliefs and various [[school of thought|schools of thought]]. Syncretism involves the merging or [[Religious assimilation|assimilation]] of several originally discrete [[tradition]]s, especially in the [[theology]] and [[mythology]] of [[religion]], thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an [[Inclusivism|inclusive]] approach to other faiths. Syncretism also occurs commonly in expressions of art and culture (known as [[eclecticism]]) as well as politics ([[syncretic politics]]).

==Nomenclature==
The English word is first attested in the early 17th century,<ref>The ''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]'' first attests the word ''syncretism'' in English in 1618.</ref> from [[New Latin|Modern Latin]] {{lang|la|syncretismus}}, drawing on [[Ancient Greek|Greek]] {{lang-grc|[[:wikt:συγκρητισμός|συγκρητισμός]]|synkretismos|labels=none}}, supposedly meaning "Cretan federation", but this is a spurious etymology from the naive idea in [[Plutarch]]'s 1st-century AD essay on "Fraternal Love (Peri Philadelphias)" in his collection ''[[Moralia]]'' (2.490b). He cites the example of the [[History of Crete|Cretans]], who compromised and reconciled their differences and came together in alliance when faced with external dangers. "And that is their so-called ''Syncretism'' [Union of Cretans]". More likely as an etymology is sun- ("with") plus kerannumi ("mix") and its related noun, "krasis," "mixture."

[[Erasmus]] probably coined the modern usage of the Latin word in his {{lang|la|[[Adagia]]}} ("Adages"), published in the winter of 1517–1518, to designate the coherence of [[dissenter]]s in spite of their differences in theological opinions. In a letter to [[Melanchthon]] of April 22, 1519, Erasmus specifically adduced the Cretans of Plutarch as an example of his adage "Concord is a mighty rampart".

== Social and political roles ==
[[File:Elephant-shaped column brackets at Lahore Fort.jpg|thumb|upright|The use of elephant-shaped column brackets in buildings of the [[Lahore Fort]] reflects [[Hindu temple architecture|Hindu influences]] on Mughal Architecture during the reign of [[Akbar]]. Islam forbids [[Aniconism in Islam|representation of living figures]].]]
Overt syncretism in folk belief may show cultural acceptance of an alien or previous tradition, but the "other" cult may survive or infiltrate without authorized ''syncresis''. For example, some [[conversos]] developed a sort of [[Cult (religious practice)|cult]] for martyr-victims of the [[Spanish Inquisition]], thus incorporating elements of [[Catholicism]] while resisting it.

The [[Kushite]] kings who ruled Upper Egypt for approximately a century and the whole of Egypt for approximately 57 years, from 721 to 664 BCE, constituting the [[Twenty-fifth Dynasty of Egypt|Twenty-fifth Dynasty]] in [[Manetho#Aegyptiaca|Manetho's ''Aegyptiaca'']], developed a syncretic worship identifying their own god [[Dedun]] with the Egyptian [[Osiris]]. They maintained that worship even after they had been driven out of Egypt. A temple dedicated to this syncretic god, built by the [[Kingdom of Kush|Kushite ruler]] [[Atlanersa]], was unearthed at [[Jebel Barkal]].{{sfn|Kendall|Ahmed Mohamed|2016|pp=34 & 94}}{{sfn|Török|2002|p=158}}

Syncretism was common during the [[Hellenistic]] period, with rulers regularly identifying local deities in various parts of their domains with the relevant god or goddess of the [[Greek Pantheon]] as a means of increasing the cohesion of their kingdom. This practice was accepted in most locations but vehemently rejected by the [[Jews]], who considered the identification of [[God in Judaism|Yahweh]] with the Greek [[Zeus]] as the worst of blasphemy. The [[Roman Empire]] continued the practice, first by the identification of traditional Roman deities with Greek ones, producing a single [[Classical mythology|Greco-Roman pantheon]], and then identifying members of that pantheon with the local deities of various Roman provinces. Allegedly, an undeclared form of syncretism was the transfer of many attributes of the goddess [[Isis]], whose worship was widespread in the [[Later Roman Empire]], to the Christian [[Virgin Mary]]. Some religious movements have embraced overt syncretism, such as the case of [[Shinbutsu-shūgō|melding Shintō beliefs into Buddhism]] or the supposed amalgamation of Germanic and Celtic [[Christianity and Paganism#Pagan influences on Christianity|pagan views]] into [[Early Christianity#Spread of Christianity|Christianity]] during its spread into Gaul, Ireland, Britain, Germany and Scandinavia. In later times, Christian missionaries in [[North America]] identified [[Manitou]], the spiritual and fundamental life force in the traditional beliefs of the [[Algonquian people|Algonquian groups]], with the [[God of Christianity]]. Similar identifications were made by missionaries at other locations in the Americas and Africa whenever they encountered a local belief in a Supreme God or Supreme Spirit of some kind. {{Citation needed|date=December 2020}}

Indian influences are seen in the practice of [[Shi'i Islam]] in [[Trinidad]]. Others have strongly rejected it as devaluing and compromising precious and genuine distinctions; examples include post-[[Babylonian captivity of Judah|Exile]] [[Second Temple Judaism]], [[Islam]], and most of [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Christianity.{{explain|date=June 2017}}{{citation needed|date=June 2017}}

Syncretism tends to facilitate coexistence and unity between otherwise different cultures and world views ([[intercultural competence]]), a factor that has recommended it to rulers of multiethnic [[empire|realms]]. Conversely, the rejection of syncretism, usually in the name of "[[piety]]" and "[[orthodoxy]]", may help to generate, bolster or authenticate a sense of uncompromised [[cultural identity|cultural unity]] in a well-defined minority or majority.

== Religious syncretism ==
{{main|Religious syncretism}}
{{Further|Hellenistic religion|Hellenistic Judaism|Christian influences in Islam|Iranian religions#Medieval period}}
{{seealso|New religious movements}}
[[File:Statue of the god Anubis.jpg|thumb|upright=0.8|The god [[Hermanubis]], an example of [[Ancient Greek religion|Greco]]-[[Ancient Egyptian religion|Egyptian]] syncretism]]
[[File:Taranis Jupiter with wheel and thunderbolt Le Chatelet Gourzon Haute Marne.jpg|thumb|upright=0.6|left|The god [[Taranis]]-[[Jupiter (mythology)|Jupiter]], an example of [[Ancient Roman religion|Romano]]-[[Ancient Celtic religion|Celtic]] syncretism]]
Religious syncretism is the blending of two or more religious [[Belief#Collective belief|belief systems]] into a new system, or the incorporation into a religious tradition of beliefs from unrelated traditions. This can occur for many reasons, and the latter scenario happens quite commonly in areas where multiple religious traditions exist in proximity and function actively in a culture, or when a culture is conquered, and the conquerors bring their religious beliefs with them, but do not succeed in entirely eradicating the old beliefs or (especially) practices.

Religions may have syncretic elements to their beliefs or history, but adherents of so-labeled systems often frown on applying the label, especially adherents who belong to "revealed" religious systems, such as the [[Abrahamic religions]], or any system that exhibits an [[exclusivism|exclusivist]] approach. Such adherents sometimes see syncretism as a betrayal of their pure truth. By this reasoning, adding an incompatible belief corrupts the original religion, rendering it no longer true. Indeed, critics of a syncretistic trend may use the word or its variants as a disparaging epithet, as a charge implying that those who seek to incorporate a new view, belief, or practice into a religious system pervert the original faith. Non-exclusivist systems of belief, on the other hand, may feel quite free to incorporate other traditions into their own. Keith Ferdinando notes that the term "syncretism" is an elusive one,<ref>{{cite book|chapter-url= http://www.missiology.org.uk/pdf/cotterell-fs/15_ferdinando.pdf|url= https://books.google.com/books?id=BlqxOQAACAAJ|chapter= Sickness and Syncretism in the African Context|author= Ferdinando, K.|title= Mission and Meaning: Essays Presented to Peter Cotterell|editor1= Antony Billington|editor2= Tony Lane|editor3= Max Turner|publisher= Paternoster Press|year= 1995|isbn=978-0853646761}}</ref> and can apply to refer to substitution or modification of the central elements of a religion by beliefs or practices introduced from elsewhere. The consequence under such a definition, according to Ferdinando, can lead to a fatal "compromise" of the original religion's "integrity".<ref>
{{cite book
| last1 = Ferdinando
| first1 = Keith
| chapter = Sickness and Syncretism in the African Context
| editor1-last = Billington
| editor1-first = Antony
| editor2-last = Turner
| editor2-first = Max
| editor2-link = Max Turner (theologian)
| title = Mission and Meaning: Essays Presented to Peter Cotterell
| year = 1995
| url = https://missiology.org.uk/pdf/cotterell-fs/15_ferdinando.pdf
| publisher = Paternoster Press
| publication-date = 1995
| page = 272
| isbn = 978-0853646761
| access-date = 2018-06-30
| quote = The Christian faith is inevitably assimilated in terms of the existing structures of thought of its adherents, whatever their culture. Nevertheless, there are points at which the worldview of any people will be found to be incompatible with central elements of the gospel; if conversion to Christianity is to be more than purely nominal, it will necessarily entail the substantial modification of the traditional worldview at such points. Where this does not occur it is the Christian faith which is modified and thus relativised by the worldview, and the consequence is syncretism. [...] The term 'syncretism' [...] is employed here of the substitution or modification of central elements of Christianity by beliefs of practices introduced from elsewhere. The consequence of such a process is fatally to compromise its integrity.
}}
</ref>

In modern [[secularism|secular]] society, religious innovators sometimes construct new faiths or key tenets syncretically, with the added benefit or aim of reducing inter-religious discord. Such chapters often have a side-effect of arousing jealousy and suspicion among authorities and ardent adherents of the pre-existing religion. Such religions tend to inherently appeal to an inclusive, diverse audience. Sometimes the state itself sponsored such new movements, such as the [[Living Church]] founded in [[Soviet Russia]] and the [[German Evangelical Church]] in [[Nazi Germany]], chiefly to stem all outside influences.

== Cultures and societies ==
{{Main article|Moral syncretism}}
According to some authors, "Syncretism is often used to describe the product of the large-scale imposition of one alien culture, religion, or body of practices over another that is already present."<ref>Peter J. Claus and Margaret A. Mills, ''South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia'': (Garland Publishing, Inc., 2003).</ref> Others such as [[Jerry H. Bentley]], however, have argued that syncretism has also helped to create cultural compromise. It provides an opportunity to bring beliefs, values, and customs from one cultural tradition into contact with, and to engage different cultural traditions. Such a migration of ideas is generally successful only when there is a resonance between both traditions. While, as Bentley has argued, there are numerous cases where expansive traditions have won popular support in foreign lands, this is not always so.<ref>Jerry Bentley, ''Old World Encounters: Cross-Cultural Contacts and Exchanges in Pre-Modern Times'' (New York: Oxford University Press, 1993), viii.</ref>

===Din-i Ilahi===
[[File:Jesuits at Akbar's court.jpg|thumb|upright|Akbar the Great holding a court discussing Theology]]

In the 16th century, the [[Mughal Empire|Mughal emperor]] [[Akbar]] proposed a new religion called the [[Din-i Ilahi]] ("Divine Faith") that was intended to merge some of the elements of the religions of his empire and thereby reconcile the differences that divided his subjects.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dīn-i Ilāhī {{!}} Indian religion|url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Din-i-Ilahi|access-date=2021-02-25|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Roy Choudhury | first =Makhan Lal | date =1997 | orig-year =First published 1941 | title =The Din-i-Ilahi, or, The religion of Akbar | edition =4th | location =New Delhi | publisher =Oriental Reprint | isbn = 978-81-215-0777-6 }} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/912757835 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/911397953 cite #2 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref> Din-i Ilahi drew elements primarily from [[Islam]] and [[Hinduism]] but also from [[Christianity]], [[Jainism]], and [[Zoroastrianism]]. More resembling a [[personality cult]] than a religion, it had no sacred scriptures, no priestly hierarchy, and fewer than 20 disciples, all hand-picked by Akbar himself. It is also accepted that the policy of ''sulh-i-kul'', which formed the essence of the Dīn-i Ilāhī, was adopted by Akbar as a part of general imperial administrative policy. ''Sulh-i-kul'' means "universal peace".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/804548/why-putting-less-mughal-history-in-school-textbooks-might-not-be-a-bad-idea|title=Why putting less Mughal history in school textbooks may be a good idea}} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/912757835 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/911397953 cite #12 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/finding-tolerance-in-akba_b_3031746|title=Finding Tolerance in Akbar, the Philosopher-King| date=10 April 2013 }} {{verify source |date=September 2019 |reason=This ref was deleted Special:Diff/912757835 by a bug in VisualEditor and later restored by a bot from the original cite located at Special:Permalink/911397953 cite #13 - verify the cite is accurate and delete this template. [[User:GreenC bot/Job 18]]}}</ref>

=== During the Enlightenment ===
The modern, rational non-pejorative connotations of syncretism arguably date from [[Denis Diderot]]'s ''[[Encyclopédie]]'' articles: ''Eclecticisme'' and ''Syncrétistes, Hénotiques, ou Conciliateurs.'' Diderot portrayed syncretism as the concordance of eclectic sources. Scientific or legalistic approaches of subjecting all claims to [[critical thinking]] prompted at this time much literature in Europe and the Americas studying non-European religions such as Edward Moor's ''[[The Hindu Pantheon]]'' of 1810,<ref>{{cite book|title=Hindu Art|first=T. Richard|last=Blurton|publisher=Harvard University Press|page=94}}</ref> much of which was almost evangelistically appreciative, embracing spirituality and creating the space and tolerance in particular [[disestablishmentarianism|disestablishment of religion]] (or its stronger form, official secularisation as in France) whereby believers of [[spiritualism]], [[agnosticism]], [[atheism|atheists]] and in many cases more innovative or pre-Abrahimic based religions could promote and spread their belief system, whether in the family or beyond.

== See also ==
{{Portal|Religion}}
* [[Confederation|Confederacy]]
* [[Conflation]]
* [[Cultural appropriation]]
* [[Cultural assimilation]]
* [[Multiculturalism]]
* [[Multiple religious belonging]]
* [[Religious pluralism]]

== Notes ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite EB1911|wstitle=Syncretism |volume=26 |short=x}}
* {{cite book |last=Assmann |first=Jan |author-link=Jan Assmann |title=Moses the Egyptian: The Memory of Egypt in Western Monotheism |publisher=Harvard University Press|year=1997 |isbn=978-0-674-58738-0 }}
* {{cite book |last=Assmann |first=Jan |author-link=Jan Assmann |chapter=Translating Gods: Religion as a Factor of Cultural (Un)Translatability |editor-last=de Vries |editor-first=Hent |title=Religion: Beyond a Concept |year=2008 |publisher=Fordham University Press |isbn=978-0823227242 }}
* HadžiMuhamedović, Safet (2018) [http://www.berghahnbooks.com/title/HadziMuhamedovicWaiting ''Waiting for Elijah: Time and Encounter in a Bosnian Landscape'']. New York and Oxford: Berghahn Books.
* HadžiMuhamedović, Safet (2018) [https://journals.sub.uni-hamburg.de/ethnoscripts/article/view/1233/1121 "Syncretic Debris: From Shared Bosnian Saints to the ICTY Courtroom"]. In: A. Wand (ed.) ''Tradition, Performance and Identity Politics in European Festivals'' (special issue of ''Ethnoscripts'' 20:1).
* Cotter, John (1990). ''The New Age and Syncretism, in the World and in the Church''. Long Prairie, Minn.: Neumann Press. 38 p. ''N.B''.: The approach to the issue is from a conservative Roman Catholic position. {{ISBN|0-911845-20-8}}
* {{cite book |last=Pakkanen |first=Petra |title=Interpreting Early Hellenistic Religion: A Study Based on the Mystery Cult of Demeter and the Cult of Isis |year=1996 |publisher=Foundation of the Finnish Institute at Athens |isbn=978-951-95295-4-7 }}
* {{cite book |last=Smith |first=Mark S. |author-link=Mark S. Smith |title=God in Translation: Deities in Cross-Cultural Discourse in the Biblical World |year=2010 |orig-year=2008 |publisher=Eerdmans |isbn=978-0-8028-6433-8 }}

==External links==
{{Wiktionary}}
*{{Commons category-inline}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Syncretism| ]]

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