Religion Terms

Syncretic religion

religion that combines elements of two or more different belief systems, ie Umnanda blends Catholicism and reverence for souls of Indians/Wisemen/historical brazilian figures

secularism

a doctrine that rejects religion; indifference to or rejection of organixed religious affiliations and ideas

Christianity

A monotheistic, universalizing religion based on the teachings of Jesus Christ and of the Bible as sacred scripture

Islam

A monotheistic, universalizing religion that includes belief in Allah as the sole deity and in Muhammad as his prophet, who is completing the work of earlier prophets of Judaism and Christianity

Confucianism

A Chinese value system and ethnic religion emphasizing ethnics, social morality, tradition and ancestor worship

Denomination

A division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body

Pilgrimage

A journey to holy site

Branch

A larger and fundamental division within a religion

Missionary

An individual who helps to diffuse a universalizing religion

Taoism

Based on the teachings of Lao-szu in approximately 550 BCE blends spiritual harmony with Confucianisms social suty . 20 million followers, mostly in China, Taiwan and SE Asia

Polytheism

Belief in many gods (voodoo)

IntERfaith boundaries

Boundary between faiths

IntRAfaith

Boundary within a faith

Theocracy

Form of gov. in which god ir a deity is recognized as the supreme civil ruler, the gods or deitys laws being interpreted by the ecclesisastical (church) authorities. Government run by religious leaders/

Baha'i

Monotheistic religion founded in 1860s Persia by Bahallah. 5 million followers-- about 40% live in india. God manifests himself in many prophets and forms and through many religions

Sikhism

Monotheistic religion founded in the 1500s in india by Guru Nanak Dev. Fifth largest religion with 23 million followers

Judaism

Monotheistic, ethnic religion first developed moth the Hebrew people of the ancient Near East; its determining conditions include descent from Israel , the Torah and tradition

Proselytic religion

Religion that actively seeks new members and aims to convert all mankind ((Christianity)

Ethnic Religion

Religion that is identified with a particular ethnic or tribal group and that does not seek new converts

Orthodox Religions

Religions that emphasize purity of faith and are not open to blending with elements of other belief systems

Universalizing religion

Religiont that attempts to be global, to apeal to all people, whereever they may live in the world, not just to those of one culture or location. Ie.--Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam. Involved in missionary worl and conversion.

Atheist

Someone who denies the existence of a god

Ecotheology

Study of the interrelationship between religion and nature; study of the role of religion in habitat modification and attitudes toward it

Monotheism

The belief in one god (christianity and islam)

Teleology

The belief system (doctrine) if evidence of purpose or design in the universe; this provides proof of a Designer

Animism

The belief that all natural objects and the universe itself have souls; Native American, Wicca, Shinto

Fundamentalism

The interpretation of every word in the sacred texts as literal truth; strict adherence to basic principles of a religion

Contact Conversion

The spread of religious beliefs by personal contact; a form of contagious diffusion

Buddhism

The teachings of Siddhartha Gautama that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct, widow and meditation releases a person from desire and suffering and leads to rebirth

Sunni/Shia

Two main branches within Islam (85%-90% in the first; 10-15% in the second)

sacred spaces

a area recognized by individuals or groups as worthy of special attention as a site of special religious expierences or beliefs

Religion

a personal or institutionalized system of worship and faith in a sacred and divine

sect

a relatively small group that has broken away from an establishmed denomination

Shintoism

indegenous beliefs and religous practices in Japan Has no founder, scripture or creed. Polythesistic and animistic with beliefs in ancient gods. The kami is the mysterious force of nature. Worship at shrines.

Diaspora

the dispersion of Jews around the world beginning in 70 AD