world religions deck 1-20

a priori

Reasoning that comes to conclusions before experience and evidence

Andrew Lang

Former student of Edward B. Tylor that eventually disagreed with Tylor's Animistic Theory after significant reports of belief in Original Monotheism emerged from tribal people from all inhabitable continents

animism

Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a spirit and conscious life.

cult

a religious organization that is largely outside a certain tradition

dharmic/karmic religions

Religions, such as Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, that are all similar in that they all have dharma & karma, but they each have different definitions of them

doctrine

A belief, principle, or teaching

Edward B Tylor

Cultural anthropologist & scholar known for Animism Theory, which had 4 phases. The theory said that religion evolved from souls to polytheism to monotheism to science

Enlightenment era

Period stretching from the late 17th century through the end of the 18th century. Sometimes called the Age of Reason. Science flourished during this time and many philosophers placed great faith in the powers of reason and human capability. During this time David Hume provided his reasons why miracles do not exist.

exclusivism

Belief that one's own tradition is the only true religion and that others are invalid

fairmindedness

The willingness to seek truth openly and humbly by honoring multiple perspectives, including those that challenge our own.

inclusivism

The belief that there is truth in all religions, but some parts are false in some of them

Messianic religions

Religions that believe that someone extremely powerful is going to come back to our crazy situations and restore order; people's end-time hopes are placed in the Messiah

mystical religions

Religions in which salvation/deliverance takes place when peoterm-7ple exclude all awareness of one's existence, sensations, thoughts, and surroundings; people become one with the divine.

pluralism

The belief that all religions are different paths up the same mountaintop; all religions are equally true

salvation

The goal/purpose of a religion

Sigmund Freud

Austrian psychologist who is known for saying religion provides a psychological crutch or wish fulfillment for those who believe in it

syncretism

A blending of beliefs and practices from different religions into one faith

theology of religions

The discipline of theological studies which provides a way to view the meaning and value of religions as a whole

Vivekananda

The first great missionary representative of Hinduism on the global stage from the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in 1893.

Wilhelm Schmidt

Popularized the initial findings of Andrew Lang (Original Monotheism) who disagreed with Edward B Tylor (Animistic Theory) and took Lang's research to another level by publishing 12 books and 4,000+ pages to provide further evidence