supreme truth
Noun: 1. A specific, proper noun referring to a terrorist organization: "Supreme Truth" is the English name for Aum Shinrikyo, a Japanese doomsday cult and terrorist group. The group's stated goal was to take over Japan and then the world. It was founded in 1987 and syncretized elements of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Christianity. It is infamous for carrying out the 1995 sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway.
- Noun:
- The cult known as Supreme Truth was responsible for one of the most serious terrorist attacks in Japan's history.
- Investigations into Supreme Truth revealed a complex organization with ambitions of societal collapse.
- Historical Reference: The term is almost exclusively used in historical, political, or criminological contexts to refer specifically to the Aum Shinrikyo organization and its activities. It is not used in a general philosophical or religious sense in common English discourse.
- Aum Shinrikyo (n): The original Japanese name of the organization, often used interchangeably with "Supreme Truth" in English-language reports.
- Aleph (n): The name adopted by the group after 2000, following a pledge to renounce violence.
- Cult (n): A general term for a religious group with unorthodox beliefs, often under a charismatic leader, which can be used to describe the nature of Supreme Truth.
- Terrorist organization (n): The classification under which Supreme Truth is listed by several governments.
- Aum Shinrikyo
- The Aum cult
It is critical to understand that "Supreme Truth" in this context is a proper noun and the official English name of a specific group. It does not carry its literal, philosophical meaning (i.e., the highest or ultimate truth) when used in this sense. In general English, the phrase "supreme truth" (not capitalized) can refer to a fundamental philosophical or religious principle, but the capitalized form "Supreme Truth" almost invariably refers to this organization.
- a terrorist organization whose goal is to take over Japan and then the world; based on a religion founded in 1987 that combines elements of Buddhism with Christianity
- in 1995 Aum members released deadly sarin gas on a Tokyo subway train