Lecture Notes on Religious Texts

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about religious texts and concepts.

Transliteration

Writing a word using the alphabet of a different language.

Biblia

A Greek word meaning 'books'.

Codex

An early type of book, made of sheets of paper or parchment folded and sewn together.

Scriptures

Another term for the Bible, meaning 'the things that are written'.

Literacy rates

The percentage of people who can read and write.

Scribes

Professional writers or copiers of texts.

Manuscript

A book, document, or piece of music written by hand rather than typed or printed.

Literary monument

A written work that is considered important and lasting, like a historical building.

Prophecy

A prediction of what will happen in the future, often believed to be from God.

Distinguishes

What makes something different or special from others.

Composition

The way something is put together or created.

Fluency

The ability to speak or write a language easily and well.

Grammatical constructions

The way words are arranged to form sentences according to the rules of a language.

Cohesiveness

The quality of forming a united, consistent, or logical whole.

Pentateuch

The first five books of the Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy), which are considered to be from Moses's time.

Mosaic in origin

Referring to something that originated with Moses.

Independent poetic units

Separate poems that stand on their own.

Exile in Babylon

A historical period when many Jewish people were forced to live in Babylon.

Disciples

Followers of a teacher or leader.

Distinct forms

Different versions or types of something.

Millennium-and-a-half-long

A period of 1,500 years.

Pseudonymous

Written under a false name.

Amanuensis

A person who writes down what another person dictates or says, like a secretary.

Dictate

To speak words to someone who writes them down.

Epistles

Letters, especially long and formal ones. In the Bible, many of St. Paul's writings are called epistles.

Circulating

Being passed around or distributed.

Extant manuscripts

Surviving copies of old texts that were written by hand.

Ascribed

Attributed to; believed to be written by.

Compiled

Gathered and put together.

Eyewitness sources

People who saw events happen and can tell about them.

Thesis

A theory or idea that is proposed and can be argued for.

Hypothetical

Based on a guess or theory, not necessarily real.

Affirmation

A statement or sign that something is true.

Supernatural

Beyond what is natural or explainable by natural laws; often associated with miracles.

Miraculous events

Events that are believed to be caused by a divine power and cannot be explained by natural laws.

Scientific rationalism

A way of thinking that uses scientific methods and reason to understand the world, often questioning things that seem supernatural.

Dissection

The process of breaking something down into smaller parts for closer examination.

Ahistorical

Not concerned with or related to history; not based on historical fact.

Coalesced

Came together to form one mass or whole.

Tracts

Short pamphlets or leaflets, often on religious or political subjects.

Inerrant

Without error or fault.

Foibles

Small weaknesses or strange habits.

Polarized

Divided into two sharply contrasting groups or opinions.

Pejorative

A word or expression that shows disapproval or makes something sound bad.

Historicity

The quality of being historically true or real.

Reconciled

Made compatible or consistent; made to agree.

Sola Scriptura

A Latin phrase meaning 'Scripture alone,' a Protestant belief that the Bible is the sole infallible rule for faith and life.

Infallible

Incapable of making mistakes or being wrong.

Refute

To prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false.

Congruence

Agreement or harmony.

Supersedes

Takes the place of; replaces.

Preeminent

More important or better than all others.

Magisterium

The teaching authority of the Roman Catholic Church.

Discursive

Moving from subject to subject; not staying on one topic.

Propositions

Statements or assertions that express a judgment or opinion.

Theological doctrines

Religious beliefs or principles.

Inferences

Conclusions reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.

Testify

To give evidence or proof.

Torah

The first five books of the Hebrew Bible; also refers to Jewish law.

Pitted against

Placed in opposition to.