Thematic Studies

Chastity

The practice of refraining from extramarital or all sexual intercourse. It is often linked with maintaining purity and moral integrity.

Stewardship

The belief that humans have a duty to take care of the Earth and its resources, acting as caretakers on behalf of God.

Dominion

The concept that humans have been given authority over the Earth and its creatures, often interpreted as a responsibility to rule and manage it wisely.

Sanctity of Life

The belief that life is sacred and has intrinsic value because it is created by God. This principle often influences religious views on issues like abortion and euthanasia.

Euthanasia

The practice of intentionally ending a life to relieve pain and suffering. It can be voluntary, where the person consents, or non-voluntary, where the person is unable to consent.

Revelation

The act by which God makes Himself and His will known to humans. This can occur through sacred texts, prophets, or personal religious experiences.

Theodicy

An attempt to justify the goodness and omnipotence of God in the face of the existence of evil and suffering in the world.

Just War Theory

A doctrine that outlines the conditions under which war can be morally justified, including just cause, legitimate authority, right intention, probability of success, last resort, and proportionality.

Pacifism

The belief that any form of violence or war is unjustifiable and that all disputes should be settled by peaceful means.

Retribution

A principle of punishment where the offender is made to suffer in proportion to the harm they caused, often seen as a form of moral vengeance.

Deterrence

The idea that punishment should be severe enough to discourage the offender and others from committing similar crimes.

Reform

The aim of punishment to change offenders and rehabilitate them into law-abiding citizens, focusing on their moral and personal development.

Reconciliation

The process of restoring broken relationships, which often involves forgiveness, confession, and making amends.

Social Justice

The concept of fair and just relations between individuals and society, including the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges.

Discrimination

The unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the grounds of race, age, gender, or religion.

Human Rights

The basic rights and freedoms that belong to every person in the world, from birth until death, including the right to life, liberty, and personal security.

Contraception

Methods or devices used to prevent pregnancy. Religious views on contraception vary widely, from acceptance to prohibition.

Zakat

In Islam, a form of almsgiving and one of the Five Pillars, it is a religious obligation for Muslims to donate a portion of their wealth to charity.

Tzedakah

In Judaism, the concept of charity and justice, emphasizing the obligation to help those in need.

Tikkun Olam

A Jewish concept meaning "repairing the world," emphasizing social action and justice.

Khalifah

In Islam, the term for stewardship, refers to humans as caretakers of the Earth entrusted by Allah.

Genesis

The first book of the Bible, which includes the creation story and forms the basis for Judeo-Christian beliefs about the origin of the world.

Big Bang Theory

A scientific theory about the origin of the universe, stating that it began from a singular point and has been expanding ever since.

Evolution

A scientific theory explaining the diversity of life on Earth, stating that species have evolved over millions of years through natural selection.

Bal Tashchit

A Jewish law prohibiting unnecessary destruction, including the waste of resources and harm to animals.

First Cause Argument

A philosophical argument for the existence of God, stating that everything has a cause, and there must be a First Cause (God) that is not caused by anything else.

Moral Argument

An argument for the existence of God based on the existence of moral laws, suggesting that a moral lawgiver (God) must exist.

General Revelation

The idea that God reveals Himself through nature, reason, and conscience, available to all people.

Special Revelation

The idea that God reveals Himself through specific events, scriptures, and personal experiences.

Free Will Defense

A theodicy that argues evil exists because God gave humans free will, and they sometimes choose to do evil.

Soul-Making Theodicy

A theodicy that suggests suffering and evil exist to develop human souls and virtues, making them more morally and spiritually mature.

Miracle

An extraordinary event that is believed to be caused by divine intervention, often seen as a sign of God's power and presence.

Scripture

Sacred texts considered authoritative and inspired by God, such as the Bible, Quran, and Torah.

Zina

An Islamic term for unlawful sexual intercourse, including premarital and extramarital sex.

Nikah

An Islamic marriage contract that outlines the rights and responsibilities of the husband and wife.

Mahr

A mandatory payment, in the form of money or possessions paid by the groom to the bride at the time of marriage in Islam.

Ketubah

A Jewish marriage contract that outlines the husband's responsibilities to his wife.