RELS 110 Final Exam Practice Flashcards

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the RELS 110 Final Exam Study Guide, including major world religions, women's roles, religious art, music, and perspectives on violence.

Great Schism

An $11th$ century split between the Orthodox and Roman Catholic branches of Christianity.

Protestant Reformation

A $16th$ century split between Protestant and Roman Catholic branches of Christianity.

Guru Nanak

The founder of Sikhism who lived in the $16th$ century.

Hijab

Muslim women's modest clothing worn to cover private parts; the word itself means "cover."

Burqa

An Islamic garment that covers a Muslim woman's entire body and face.

Polygamy

A practice where the Qur'an allows a man to have up to $4$ wives if he treats each equally.

Triple talaq

A traditional Islamic divorce practice where a divorce is finalized after a man says "I divorce you" $3$ times.

Islamic feminism

A movement arguing the Qur'an reflects $7th$ century Arabian views and should be reinterpreted for women's rights.

Salat leadership

The traditional rule that a woman is not allowed to lead prayer if a man is present; women must pray behind men or in a separate room.

Laws of Manu

A Hindu scripture from the $2nd$ century BCE stating women must never act independently and should worship their husband like a God.

Sati

The practice of a Hindu woman burning herself to death after her husband's death so the husband and children can achieve Moksha.

Devi

A loving and fierce goddess worshipped by many Hindus.

Amma

A Hindu woman guru known as the "Hugging Saint."

Orthodox Judaism

The most traditional branch of Judaism which uses Hebrew in worship and follows strict Sabbath rules.

Conservative Judaism

A branch of Judaism using a mixture of traditional and modernized practices, mostly using Hebrew.

Reform Judaism

The most modernized branch of Judaism which uses local languages and does not follow strict Saturday rules.

Mehitzah

A physical barrier used to separate men and women in Orthodox Jewish worship services.

Minyan

The minimum number of people needed for a Jewish service; in Orthodox Judaism, women do not count toward this number.

Vajrayana Buddhism

A branch followed mostly in Tibet that uses Tantrism to visualize becoming united with a deity.

Vajra

A metal object used in Vajrayana rituals that symbolizes a lightning bolt.

Mandala

An art form used in meditation that symbolizes the interconnectedness of all beings.

Mudra

A symbolic hand gesture used in images of Buddhas to communicate Buddhist principles.

Enso

A circle symbolizing emptiness that is popular in Zen Buddhism.

Iconoclastic Controversy

A historical period where Orthodox leaders wanted to end the use of icons due to concerns over idolatry.

Stations of the Cross

A series of images in Roman Catholicism showing Jesus' final days to encourage personal imitation.

Ulrich Zwingli

A Protestant leader who removed all art from churches due to concerns about idolatry.

Shia Islam

A branch comprising about $10\%$ of Muslims who believe Ali should have led after Muhammad's death.

Aniconism

The religious principle of avoiding images of spiritual beings and humans.

Calligraphy

The popular Islamic art form of beautiful writing, especially of Qur'anic verses.

Cantillation

The musical chanting of the Jewish Bible.

Nigunim

Music in Hasidic Judaism that uses nonsense sounds instead of words to create an emotional connection with God.

Second Vatican Council

A gathering of Catholic leaders in the $1960s$ to modernize the church, including using local languages and musical instruments beyond the organ.

Larry Norman

The individual considered to be the founder of Christian Rock.

Sufism

An interpretation of Islam emphasizing God's love and a close personal relationship with God through chanting or spinning.

Qawwali

A style of music popular in Sufism with lyrics that praise God or honor Muhammad.

Wiccan Rede

The principle in Wicca stating people are free to do anything except what harms others.

Kami

Shinto deities, of which thousands exist, many connected to the natural world.

Kojiki

A Shinto scripture describing the origin of Japan and stories about the Kami.

Syncretism

The practice of following two or more religions, such as practicing Shinto and Buddhism together.

Gitche Manitou

The "Great Spirit" and creator of everything in the Ojibwe religion.

Medicine Wheel

A symbol representing the harmony of everything in the world, especially the Four Directions.

Nanabozho

A trickster deity who appears in many Ojibwe stories.

Spirit Journey

A $4-day$ journey a spirit makes after death to a peaceful afterlife realm.

Guru Granth Sahib

The Sikh scripture considered a living authority after the lineage of the $10$ human gurus.

Seva

Action performed by Sikhs to help others.

Khalsa

A group of Sikh warriors created to defend against religious persecution.

Just War Theory

The theory that war is allowed if it has (1) just cause, (2) is a last resort, and (3) maintains noncombatant immunity.

Ahimsa

The principle of non-violence followed by many Hindus.

Bhagavad Gita

A Hindu scripture describing a war where Krishna tells Arjuna he must fight because it is his religious duty.

Jihad

A term meaning "to work hard," which can refer to internal spiritual struggle or defensive fighting.

Wahhabi Islam

An exclusivistic interpretation of Islam followed by most Islamists.

Haile Selassie

The emperor of Ethiopia whom Rastas believe was the $2nd$ coming of Jesus.

Babylon

A Rastafarian term referring to white-controlled Western society.

Zion

A Rastafarian term referring to Ethiopia as the promised land.

Wallace Fard

The man who the Nation of Islam teaches was God appeared on earth.

Dr. Yacub

A scientist who, according to the Nation of Islam, genetically created white people as an evil race.

Christian Identity

An interpretation of Christianity founded by Wesley Swift that emphasizes white supremacy.

Loa

Deities in Vodou that influence everyday life, such as Papa Legba or Ezili Danto.

Mambo

A woman who serves as a religious leader in Vodou.

Concealed churches

Secretly held services during the era of enslavement where all worshippers and the preacher were enslaved people.

Spirituals

Songs sung in concealed churches declaring that God will punish slaveholders and free the enslaved.