Relic

:For other uses of the term relic, see disambiguation at Relics

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The word relic comes from the Latin reliquiae ('remains') and there are many pre-Christian instances of some bone or other part of the corpse, or some intimately associated object, carefully preserved with an air of veneration as a tangible memorial. The preservation of relics is a primitive instinct, and it is associated with shamanism as well as many other developed religious systems besides that of Christianity. Relics are an important aspect of Buddhism and Hinduism. In some denominations of Christianity, a relic is an object of religious veneration, especially a piece of the body or a personal item of a saint. A shrine that houses a relic is called a reliquary.

Related Topics:
Primitive - Instinct - Shamanism - Christianity - Buddhism - Hinduism - Denominations - Religious - Veneration - Body - Saint - Shrine - Reliquary

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