Agency Dictionary
Syncretic
adjectivePronunciation: /sɪnˈkrɛt.ɪk/
In Portuguese: Sincrético
Spirituality & Myth
Culture & IdentityWhat does “Syncretic” mean?
Characterized by the fusion or combination of different forms of belief, cultural practices, or theological doctrines.
Etymology
An adjective of the family of syncretism. Syncretism comes from Modern Latin syncretismus, from Greek synkrētismos, traditionally explained as "union of Cretans", from syn, "together", and Krētes, "Cretans", for the way the communities of Crete were said to set aside their quarrels to face a common enemy. That explanation is old but not certain. The sense extended to the blending of different beliefs or practices into one system.
Usage note
Most common in discussions of religion, where it describes the merging of different traditions, as in Afro-Brazilian syncretic faiths. Also used in linguistics and cultural studies.
Synonyms
- eclectic
- blended
- hybrid
Word family
- syncretism
- syncretize
- syncretist
Concepts
- Religious SyncretismReligious syncretism is the blending of disparate religious traditions, theological symbols, and cultural practices into a cohesive new spiritual framework. It…
- Santo DaimeSanto Daime is a Brazilian syncretic religion founded in the 1930s in the state of Acre by Mestre Raimundo Irineu Serra. It integrates Amazonian plant medicine with folk…
Source editions
Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.
Words of the same theme
- Rebirthnoun
- A new beginning after a period of decline or destruction, used in mythology to describe the cyclical return to life after death. In Archetype.0, rebirth is the defining characteristic of both the Bennu and the Phoenix.
- shogunatenoun
- A feudal military dictatorship in Japan, headed by a shogun, in which loyalty and honour were central to its operation. The system was exclusive to Japan and did not exist in other Asian nations.
- Synchronicitynoun
- The simultaneous occurrence of events that appear meaningfully related yet lack a direct causal connection.
- Self-immolationnoun
- The deliberate destruction of oneself, typically by fire. In Archetype.0, self-immolation is the voluntary act by which the phoenix builds a nest of fragrant spices and woods, ignites itself and is consumed by the flames.
- Immortalitynoun
- The quality of being immune to permanent death, living or enduring beyond a single lifespan. In Archetype.0, immortality is one of the five semiotic attributes of the Phoenix: the flames are not an end but a transition, an essential phase of its immortal existence.
- Monoclenoun
- A single eyeglass lens designed to correct or enhance vision in one eye, held in place by the facial muscles around the eye socket.
- Mjolnirnoun
- In Norse mythology, the hammer of the god Thor, forged by dwarfs and known for its short handle. It is the weapon with which he defends gods and humans.
- samurainoun
- A member of the warrior class of feudal Japan, bound by codes of loyalty and honour, who served under the shogunate system. In the article, the samurai class is one of the two groups with access to Noh theatre.
- Agapenoun
- A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.
- Alchemistnoun
- A practitioner of alchemy, seeking to transmute base metals into noble elements and discover a universal cure.
- Androgynenoun
- A mythical primordial being uniting male and female characteristics in a single unified body.
- Aûsunoun
- An Old Tupi noun denoting love, affection, friendship, or benevolent regard.
Also from these editions: terms
- Chacronanoun
- The tropical shrub Psychotria viridis whose leaves provide dimethyltryptamine in the preparation of ayahuasca.
- Decoctionnoun
- The process of extracting soluble chemicals and active compounds from tough plant materials by continuous boiling in water.
- Entheogenicadjective
- Relating to or possessing the capacity to induce religious, spiritual, or sacred altered states of consciousness.
- Hinarionoun
- A consecrated book or collection of received spiritual hymns sung in rhythm to structure and guide ceremonies in Santo Daime.
- Jagubenoun
- The woody liana Banisteriopsis caapi native to the Amazon rainforest, containing beta-carbolines that inhibit MAO enzymes.
- Macerationnoun
- The softening or mechanical breaking down of plant tissues and fibers by pounding, soaking, or steeping.
- Miracaonoun
- A vivid visual, symbolic, or spiritual visionary experience occurring during the peak effects of an ayahuasca ceremony.
- Neuroplasticadjective
- Relating to or exhibiting the structural and functional adaptiveness of neural networks within the brain.
- Pan-Amazonianadjective
- Encompassing, spanning, or characteristic of the entire geographic and cultural territory of the Amazon basin.
- Rezonoun
- A formal spiritual prayer or spoken invocation chanted to inaugurate, direct, or conclude a traditional sacred gathering.
- Serotonergicadjective
- Related to, producing, or activated by the neurotransmitter serotonin or its corresponding receptors.
Also from these editions: concepts
- Amanda VicentiniAmanda Vicentini is the author of a work on the theology of Santo Daime cited in Research.2 of the Agency editorial, an edition published only in Portuguese. The edition…
- Antônio CostaAntônio Costa is a figure in the origin story of Santo Daime as told in Research.2 of the Agency editorial, an edition published only in Portuguese. The edition presents…
- Raimundo Irineu SerraRaimundo Irineu Serra, known as Mestre Irineu, was the Brazilian religious leader who founded the Santo Daime, a religion born in Acre that uses ayahuasca as its…
- Sebastião Mota de MeloSebastião Mota de Melo, known as Padrinho Sebastião, was a Brazilian religious leader of the Santo Daime. Research.2, an edition about ayahuasca published only in…
- AyahuascaAyahuasca is an ancestral Amazonian psychoactive brew prepared through the decoction of Banisteriopsis caapi vine and Psychotria viridis leaves. It produces profound…
- EntheogenAn entheogen is a psychoactive substance used in sacred, religious, or spiritual rituals to induce divine or transcendent experiences. The term was coined in 1979 to…
- EthnopharmacologyEthnopharmacology is an interdisciplinary scientific field evaluating the biological and therapeutic properties of natural preparations developed by traditional cultures…
- FeitioFeitio is the traditional sacred production process through which ayahuasca or Daime is prepared from jagube vine and chacrona leaves. It encompasses strenuous collective…
- NeuroplasticityNeuroplasticity is the brain's inherent capacity to reorganize its structure and functional pathways in response to experience, learning, or biochemical stimulation. It…
- Pan-Amazonian ShamanismPan-Amazonian shamanism is an archaic cosmological and spiritual continuum shared across dozens of diverse indigenous nations inhabiting the Amazon River basin. It…
- Psychedelic-Assisted TherapyPsychedelic-assisted therapy is a clinical treatment modality combining controlled doses of psychoactive compounds with professional psychotherapeutic preparation and…
- Purgative HealingPurgative healing is an ethnomedical process wherein physical vomiting, perspiration, and diarrhea are interpreted as therapeutic purifications of toxic somatic and…