Syncretism

<p><b>Syncretism</b> <a title="Help:IPA for English" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English">/</a><a title="Help:IPA for English" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English#Key">ˈsɪŋkrətɪzəm</a><a title="Help:IPA for English" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA_for_English">/</a> is the combining of different, often seemingly contradictory beliefs, while melding practices of various <a title="School of thought" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School_of_thought">schools of thought</a>. Syncretism involves the merger and <a title="Analogy" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Analogy">analogizing</a> of several originally discrete <a title="Tradition" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tradition">traditions</a>, especially in the <a title="Theology" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theology">theology</a> and <a title="Mythology" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mythology">mythology</a> of <a title="Religion" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion">religion</a>, thus asserting an underlying unity and allowing for an <a title="Inclusivism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inclusivism">inclusive</a> approach to other faiths. Syncretism also occurs commonly in expressions of arts and culture (known as <a title="Eclecticism" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eclecticism">eclecticism</a>) as well as politics (<a title="Syncretic politics" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syncretic_politics">syncretic politics</a>).</p>