contemplativemendacious = given to or characterized by falsehood or deception or divergence from absolute truth
animus = 1. basic attitude or governing spirit 2. usually prejudiced and often spiteful or malevolent ill will 3. an inner masculine part of the female personality in the analytic psychology of C.G.Jung (Kunstler wrote about the current "mood of political animus" of Islamic nations and I think he meant meaning #2)
recondite = 1. hidden, concealed 2. difficult to comprehend, deep 3. obscure, little known
fungible = being of such a nature that one part or quantity may be replaced by another part or equal quantity in the satisfaction of an obligation (oil, wheat and lumber are ~ commodities)
ummah = Islamic community or nation, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ummah
hermetic = 1. occult, abstruse, recondite 2. airtight 3. isolated, reclusive, solitary 4. relating to Hermes Trismegistus and Gnostic teachings of 1st 3 centuries AD---this must be some interesting dude if all these meanings relate to him--Greek god?--According to legend Hermes Trismegistus is said to have provided the wisdom of light in the ancient mysteries of Egypt. "He carried an emerald, upon which was recorded all of philosophy, and the caduceus, the symbol of mystical illumination. Hermes Trismegistus vanquished Typhon, the dragon of ignorance, and mental, moral and physical perversion."
gnosticism = late pre-christian or early christian thought & practice distinguished by the notion that matter is evil and emancipation comes through gnosis
gnosis = esoteric knowledge of spiritual truth essential to salvation
