(ש"ע) כפרה, כיפור

n. reparation, amends, penance, redress

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Noun
1. compensation for a wrong; "we were unable to get satisfaction from the local store"
(synonym) expiation, satisfaction
(hypernym) damages, amends, indemnity, indemnification, restitution, redress
(derivation) expiate, aby, abye, atone
2. the act of atoning for sin or wrongdoing (especially appeasing a deity)
(synonym) expiation, propitiation
(hypernym) redemption, salvation
(hyponym) reparation, amends
(derivation) repent, atone

(n.)
Satisfaction or reparation made by giving an equivalent for an injury, or by doing of suffering that which will be received in satisfaction for an offense or injury; expiation; amends; -- with for. Specifically, in theology: The expiation of sin made by the obedience, personal suffering, and death of Christ.
  

(n.)
Reconciliation; restoration of friendly relations; agreement; concord.
  

Atonement Reconciliation brought about by a re-formation of the lower, so that it may become at one with the higher. Hence a number of Occidental mystics refer to the processes of atonement involving the foregoing idea as at-one-ment. In its best sense atonement means the becoming at one between the human ego and its spiritual counterpart, where the life or vitality of the lower personal man is offered up as a sacrifice, willing and utterly joyful, to the higher self. Thus the life which the hierophant is enjoined to offer is not his physical life, but the undesirable and imperfect life of his lower self, the selfish personality. The custom of sacrificing helpless animals -- a custom protested against by Gautama Buddha in particular -- is but an instance of the way in which lofty spiritual teachings or initiatory ceremonies can degenerate into repellent or cruel rites. Nevertheless, "the atonements by blood -- blood-covenants and blood transferences from gods to men, and by men, as sacrifices to the gods -- are the first keynote struck in every cosmogony and theogony; soul, life and blood were synonymous words in every language . . . The mystic meaning of the injunction, 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have not life in yourselves' [John 6:53] . . . [has] to be interpreted with the help of three keys -- one opening the psychic door, the second that of physiology, and the third that which unlocks the mystery of terrestrial being, by unveiling the inseparable blending of theogony with anthropology" (BCW 8:181-2).
to be continue "Atonement2"