Judaism
The religion of the Ancient Hebrews and Jews, based on a covenant with God.
Covenant
An agreement between the Jews and God, promising peace and prosperity with the coming of the Messiah.
Jerusalem
The main economic center for Jews, housing the Temple, the central place of worship.
Pharisees
A Jewish sect focused on implementing God's will and known for their debates over the Torah.
Sadducees
A Jewish sect from priestly families that cooperated with Roman authorities to maintain the status quo.
Essenes
A Jewish sect that withdrew from society to live in monastic isolation, preparing for the Messiah.
Zealots
A politically oriented Jewish group advocating for violent rebellion against Roman rule.
Roman Rule
Established in 63 BCE when Pompey conquered Palestine, leading to harsh taxes for Jews.
Council of Nicaea
The 325 CE assembly that formulated the Holy Trinity and affirmed Jesus' dual nature.
Holy Trinity
The Christian belief in one God existing in three distinct personas:The Father, The Son, and The Holy Spirit.
Salvation
The belief that humans require deliverance from sin, achieved through Jesus' sacrificial death.
Revelation
The divine transmission of knowledge to humanity, inviting communion with God.
Old Testament
The collection of 39 books known as the Tanak, foundational to Jewish and Christian beliefs.
New Testament
The 27 books written by Jesus' followers, detailing his life, teachings, and the early church.
Gospels
Four accounts (Matthew, Mark, Luke, John) that portray Jesus' life and teachings.
Acts of the Apostles
A New Testament book detailing the early church's formation and spread.
Letters from the Apostles
Correspondence offering guidance to early Christians, including 13 from Paul.
The Bible
A sacred text integral to Christian life, guiding ethical decisions and rituals.
Ten Commandments
Divine laws given to Moses, summarizing the relationship between humanity and God.
Beatitudes
Teachings encouraging virtues such as love, social justice, and peacemaking.
Prayer
A fundamental form of personal address to God, emphasizing communication and relationship.
Lordās Prayer
The most famous traditional prayer in Christianity, taught by Jesus.
Lectio Divina
A method of prayerful reading of Scripture involving reading, meditation, prayer, contemplation, and action.
Taize
A communal prayer practice from an ecumenical religious order founded in 1940.