芬兰-乌戈尔宗教

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关於居住在斯堪的那维亚半岛北部、西伯利亚波罗的海地区和中部欧洲的芬兰-乌戈尔诸民族前基督教时期的宗教信仰与仪式。现存民族包括了萨米人(拉普人)、芬人、爱沙尼亚人、匈牙利人、彼尔姆人和窝瓦芬人。这些民族因地理环境和文化上的差异,使得他们的宗教信仰也有很大的不同。「精灵潜水采土造地」的神话是流传最广的芬兰-乌戈尔民族的创世之说,上帝命令精灵潜入海水中,取来沙砾,上帝用这些沙砾就成了这个地球;另一个神话则说「世界来自一个大卵」。天帝和地母是两个最重要的神。日常生活是由守护神负责;它们「统治」一方或「据有」一地,诸如一个文化范畴(如一个家庭),一处自然区域(如森林或湖泊)或一种自然现象(如火或风)。芬兰-乌戈尔诸民族亦敬奉祖先。宗教权威人士有巫师或卜者、献祭祭司、寺庙管家、职业泣妇、婚礼司仪。仪式举行地点有家祠和在林地筑以围栏的公祭场地,也有沿着放牧通路两边设置的「献祭石堆」。

Finno-Ugric religion

Pre-Christian belief systems of the Finno-Ugric peoples, who lived in northern Scandinavia, Siberia, the Baltic region, and central Europe. Surviving Finno-Ugric groups include the Sami (Lapps), Finns, Estonians, and Magyars. The geographic and cultural diversity of these peoples led to the evolution of varying religious beliefs. The most common Finno-Ugric creation myth is the earth-diver myth, in which the devil is forced to dive into the sea and gather sand, from which God forms the earth. Another myth tells of the creation of the world from a cosmic egg. The chief deities usually included a sky god and an earth mother. While the major gods were remote, there were guardian spirits at hand to regulate daily life; they resided in households, natural sites such as lakes and forests, and natural phenomena such as wind or fire. Ancestor worship was practiced. Religious functionaries included shamans, sacrificing priests, guardians of the sanctuary, professional weeping women, and performers of wedding ceremonies. Cult centers ranged from home sanctuaries to sacred groves and sacrificial stones.