Religious Studies Final

Ahimsa

The principle of nonviolence toward all living beings, central to Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism.

Atman

The eternal soul or self in Hindu philosophy, considered the essence of an individual that transcends physical existence.

Bhagavad Gita

A sacred Hindu scripture, part of the Mahabharata, presenting a conversation between Krishna and Arjuna on duty, devotion, and righteousness.

Karma

The law of cause and effect, where a person's actions (good or bad) determine their future experiences.

Krishna

A major deity in Hinduism, regarded as an avatar of Vishnu and a central figure in the Bhagavad Gita.

Puja

A ritual worship in Hinduism involving offerings to deities, performed at temples or home altars.

Ramayana

An epic Hindu scripture narrating the life of Rama, his devotion to dharma, and his quest to rescue his wife Sita.

Bodhisattva

A being who seeks enlightenment not only for themselves but for all sentient beings, central to Mahayana Buddhism.

Dukkha

The Buddhist concept of suffering, dissatisfaction, or unsatisfactoriness inherent in life.

Nirvana

The ultimate goal in Buddhism, representing liberation from the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth (samsara) and freedom from suffering.

Pure Land

A Mahayana Buddhist concept of a heavenly realm created by the merits of Amitabha Buddha, where practitioners aim to be reborn.

Sangha

The Buddhist community of monks, nuns, and lay practitioners devoted to the teachings of the Buddha.

Tripitaka

The 'Three Baskets,' a collection of Buddhist scriptures that include teachings, rules for monastic life, and philosophical discourses.

Upaya

Skillful means or methods used by Buddhist teachers to guide others toward enlightenment.

Zazen

Seated meditation, a central practice in Zen Buddhism focused on mindfulness and self-realization.

Kashrut

Jewish dietary laws governing permissible (kosher) food and preparation methods.

Mitzvah

A commandment in Jewish law; often refers to a good deed or religious duty.

Rosh Hashanah

The Jewish New Year, marking the beginning of the High Holy Days and a time of reflection and repentance.

Talmud

A central text of Rabbinic Judaism containing interpretations and discussions of the Torah.

Torah

The foundational Jewish text, comprising the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, and central to Jewish law and teachings.

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement, the holiest day in Judaism, dedicated to fasting, prayer, and repentance.

Zionism

A movement advocating for the establishment and support of a Jewish homeland in the historic land of Israel.

Atonement

The reconciliation between humanity and God, often through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ in Christian theology.

Baptism

A Christian sacrament symbolizing purification and initiation into the faith, often through water immersion or sprinkling.

Crucifixion

The execution of Jesus on the cross, central to Christian beliefs about redemption and salvation.

Eucharist

A sacrament commemorating the Last Supper, where bread and wine are consecrated and consumed.

Evangelicals

Christians emphasizing the authority of Scripture, personal conversion, and spreading the gospel.

Nicaea

Refers to the Council of Nicaea (325 CE), which established key Christian doctrines, including the Nicene Creed.

Reconciliation

A sacrament or act of restoring a right relationship between individuals and God, often involving confession.

Sacrament

A religious rite considered to impart divine grace, such as baptism or the Eucharist.

Hajj

The pilgrimage to Mecca, required at least once in a lifetime for Muslims who are physically and financially able.

Jihad

Struggle or striving in the path of Allah; often refers to both personal spiritual effort and, in some contexts, defense of the Muslim community.

Mecca

The holiest city in Islam, the birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, and the location of the Kaaba.

Salat

The ritual prayer performed five times a day by Muslims, one of the Five Pillars of Islam.

Sawm

Fasting during the month of Ramadan, abstaining from food, drink, and other physical needs during daylight hours.

Shahadah

The declaration of faith in Islam, stating 'There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is His Messenger.'

Ummah

The global Muslim community bound together by faith and shared beliefs.

Zakat

The practice of almsgiving or charitable donation, typically calculated as a percentage of a Muslim's wealth.

Alienation

A concept from Marxist theory describing the estrangement individuals feel from society, work, or their essence due to capitalist systems.

Anomie

A sociological concept introduced by Émile Durkheim, describing a state of normlessness or social instability caused by a breakdown of values.

Bourgeoisie

The capitalist class in Marxist theory, owning the means of production and exploiting the working class (proletariat).

Collective Consciousness

Durkheim's idea of shared beliefs, values, and norms that unify a society.

Collective Effervescence

A Durkheimian term describing the energy and unity people experience during shared rituals or gatherings.

Ideology

A set of ideas or beliefs, often used in social theory to describe systems that justify power structures.

Kin Selection

A biological theory suggesting that behaviors favoring the survival of relatives increase an individual's genetic fitness.

Proletariat

The working class in Marxist theory, exploited by the bourgeoisie in a capitalist society.

Reciprocal Altruism

A concept in evolutionary biology where individuals help others with the expectation of future assistance.

Superego

In Freudian psychology, the part of the psyche representing internalized moral standards and conscience.

Totem

A symbolic object or animal revered by a group, often representing shared identity or spiritual significance.

Virtue Signaling

The act of expressing moral or political values, often to gain social approval or display alignment with a group.