Religion S2

Göbekli Tepe

Ancient ritual site in Turkey (~11,000 years old); oldest known place of worship; built before farming, showing religion predated civilization.

Akhenaten

18th Dynasty Egyptian pharaoh who promoted monotheism through worship of Aten (sun disk); moved capital to Akhetaten; art became elongated and naturalistic.

Atenism

Akhenaten's monotheistic worship of the sun disk; suppressed after his death; shows religion and power can conflict.

Ancient Egyptian religion

Polytheistic system centered on gods like Ra and Osiris; focused on afterlife and mummification; temples symbolized divine order.

Pharaoh

Seen as divine intermediary between gods and people; reinforced political and spiritual unity.

Prophet Muhammad

Founder of Islam (born c.570 CE, Mecca); received Qur'an revelation; led early Muslim community.

Five Pillars of Islam

Five core duties in Islam: Shahadah (faith), Salah (prayer), Zakat (charity), Sawm (fasting), Hajj (pilgrimage).

Shahadah

Public declaration of faith: "There is no god but Allah, and Muhammad is his messenger."

Salah

Five daily prayers; physical and spiritual discipline that embodies submission to God.

Zakat

Charitable giving; redistributes wealth and promotes social justice.

Sawm

Fasting during Ramadan; builds empathy and self-control.

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca; unites Muslims worldwide; promotes equality before God.

Mosque

Sacred space for Islamic worship; oriented toward Mecca; emphasizes unity, purity, and submission.

Mihrab

Niche in a mosque wall indicating the qibla (direction of Mecca); focuses prayer orientation.

Minaret

Tower used for the call to prayer; symbolizes the reach of Islam and communal gathering.

Dome (Islamic architecture)

Hemisphere roof representing the heavens; improves acoustics; reinforces sense of divine presence in mosques.

Courtyard (Sahn)

Open central area in a mosque used for gathering and reflection; often includes a fountain for ablution (ritual washing).

Qibla wall

Wall in a mosque facing Mecca; contains the mihrab; organizes communal orientation toward God.

Calligraphy

Decorative writing of Qur'anic text; form of worship avoiding figurative imagery.

Arabesque

Geometric floral pattern symbolizing divine infinity and perfection.

Islamic architectural principles

Symmetry, geometry, and proportion reflect unity (tawhid) and transcendence of God.

Great Mosque of Córdoba (Spain)

Famous Islamic structure blending Roman, Visigothic, and Islamic features; horseshoe arches and red-and-white voussoirs express cultural exchange.

Dome of the Rock (Jerusalem)

Islamic shrine built 691 CE; octagonal plan, gold dome; site of Prophet Muhammad's Night Journey; expresses link between heaven and earth.

Hagia Sophia (Istanbul)

Built as Byzantine church (537 CE), converted to mosque (1453); immense dome on pendentives; symbol of divine light and cultural transformation.

Alhambra (Granada, Spain)

Islamic palace with intricate stucco, calligraphy, and gardens; reflects paradise imagery and harmony between art and nature.

Christian architecture

Focuses on altar, cross-shaped floor plans, stained glass, and verticality representing reaching toward God.

Church

Christian sacred space centered on the altar and Eucharist; expresses incarnation and community.

Basilica plan

Early Christian rectangular layout adapted from Roman civic halls; long nave and apse focused on altar.

Cruciform plan

Cross-shaped layout of many cathedrals symbolizing Christ's sacrifice and the intersection of heaven and earth.

Nave

Long central aisle of a church leading toward the altar; represents spiritual journey toward God.

Altar

Central feature of Christian churches where Eucharist is celebrated; symbol of Christ's sacrifice.

Choir and transept

Spaces near altar used for clergy and singers; enhance liturgy and symbolism of the cross.

Gothic Cathedral

Medieval Christian architecture characterized by pointed arches, ribbed vaults, and stained glass; emphasizes divine light and transcendence.

Flying buttress

External support allowing taller walls and larger windows in Gothic cathedrals; symbol of faith supporting the Church.

Rose window

Circular stained-glass window symbolizing perfection and the Virgin Mary; filters divine light into sacred colour.

Chartres Cathedral

Example of Gothic architecture; stained glass and vertical design lift eyes toward heaven; embodies theology of light.

Renaissance church architecture

Used domes, perspective, and classical balance (e.g., St Peter's Basilica); symbolized harmony between human reason and divine order.

St Peter's Basilica (Vatican)

Designed by Bramante and Michelangelo; central dome represents heaven; combines grandeur and devotion.

Baroque church architecture

Emphasized drama, movement, and emotion to engage worshippers; reflected Counter-Reformation zeal.

Modern church architecture

Uses minimalism and light to express openness and inclusivity; examples include Le Corbusier's Ronchamp Chapel.

Sacred space

A location set apart for divine encounter and worship; designed to inspire reverence.

Sacred art

Art created for devotion; uses form, content, and context to convey faith.

Form

Physical features and design of an artwork or building (line, colour, shape, texture, structure).

Content

The subject or meaning conveyed by an artwork or building.

Context

Historical, cultural, and theological setting of an artwork or architecture.

Symbolism

Use of images, colours, or forms to represent divine ideas or beliefs.

Faith expression

Visible action or object that reveals belief in the divine (e.g., art, ritual, architecture).

Imam

Islamic prayer leader who guides worship in the mosque.

Caliph

Historical successor to Muhammad; combined political and religious leadership.

Pope

Leader of the Catholic Church; spiritual successor to Saint Peter.

Comparative sacred space

Mosques emphasize orientation and unity; churches emphasize incarnation, story, and sacrament.

Architecture as theology

Buildings embody belief systems: verticality = transcendence, symmetry = order, light = divine presence.

Religion and power

Religion often shapes and is shaped by political authority (e.g., Akhenaten, Caliphates, Papacy).

Cultural exchange in architecture

Religious buildings adapt local materials and styles, creating hybrid sacred art (e.g., Córdoba, Hagia Sophia).

Pilgrimage architecture

Structures like Mecca's Kaaba or Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre built to guide and host pilgrims; symbolize journey of faith.

Mysticism in architecture

Design evokes contemplation and inner experience (e.g., quiet cloisters, Sufi lodges, minimalist mosques).

Rumi

13th-century Sufi poet; explored divine love and mystical union with God; represents Islamic spirituality.

Hildegard of Bingen

12th-century Christian abbess, composer, and mystic; saw visions of divine light; wrote sacred music.

Mysticism

Direct, personal experience of the divine through prayer, poetry, or music.

Digital faith

Use of digital technology to express and share faith; includes online worship, social media, and religious apps.

Carlo Acutis

Modern Catholic teen known for digital evangelization; created website cataloguing Eucharistic miracles.

Digital missionaries

People who spread religious messages online; use ethical strategies to promote compassion and truth.

AI in religion

Artificial Intelligence used in preaching, prayer apps, and sacred art; raises authenticity and ethical issues.

Religious ethics in media

Calls for honesty, respect, and avoidance of misinformation in digital faith spaces.

Cultural exchange

Interaction between religions and societies influencing art, architecture, and practice.

Sacred music

Religious songs and chants that express devotion and create spiritual atmosphere.

Gregorian chant

Monophonic Christian chant used in early liturgy; promotes meditation and unity.

Qur'anic recitation

Melodic reading of Qur'an; central devotional act in Islam emphasizing God's word.

Tawhid

Islamic belief in the oneness of God; foundation of all Islamic theology.

Incarnation

Christian belief that God became human in Jesus Christ; foundation of Christian art and worship.

Pilgrimage

Ritual journey to a sacred site; expresses devotion and communal faith.

Ethical communication

Using truth, compassion, and respect when spreading faith messages, especially online.

Art and theology

How visual forms reflect and teach religious ideas (e.g., light as symbol of divine presence).

Gobekli Tepe significance

Suggests religion unified people before agriculture; first architectural expression of faith.

Egyptian afterlife belief

Death as journey to eternal life; mummification and tomb art express hope for immortality.

Christian art evolution

Shift from symbolic medieval art to realistic Renaissance forms showing divine beauty.

Islamic art evolution

From simple ornament to complex geometry; avoids idols but reveals divine perfection.

Faith and technology

Technology as new medium for worship, outreach, and moral discussion.