Nature of Religion and Belief

Flashcards covering key concepts, definitions, and characteristics related to the nature of religion and belief.

Worldview

A way of thinking that provides structure, meaning, purpose, and guidance for life.

Dualistic

Belief in two opposing principles (e.g., good vs. evil) dominating the universe.

Existential

Life lacks inherent meaning; individuals must create their own.

Immanence

Divine power or presence that is contained within or remains within the boundaries of the world, mind, or person.

Transcendence

Existence or experience beyond physical or normal limits.

Incarnation

The belief, especially in Christianity, that God took human form in Christ.

Incorporeal

Spiritual, non-physical existence.

Nirvana

The cessation of suffering, desire, and rebirth in some Eastern religions.

Omnipotent

All-powerful nature of God.

Omnipresent

The ability of God to be present everywhere simultaneously.

Omniscient

All-knowing; the quality of knowing everything.

Reincarnation

The rebirth of a person’s essence after death in a new body or form.

Semitic

Ethnic group from the Middle East, including Jews, Arabs, and others.

Supernatural

Forces or realities beyond natural laws, often associated with religious belief.

Agnostic

A person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God.

Atheist

A person who disbelieves or lacks belief in the existence of God or Gods.

Humanist

A rationalist outlook or system of thought attaching prime importance to humans rather than divine or supernatural matters.

Monotheist

Belief or doctrine that there is only one God.

Nihilist

A person who believes that their life is meaningless and rejects all religious and moral principles.

Pantheist

A doctrine which identifies God with the universe or regards the universe as a manifestation of God.

Panentheist

The belief or doctrine that God is greater than the universe and includes and interpenetrates it.

Polytheist

The belief or worship of more than one God.

Theist

A person who believes in the existence of God or Gods, specifically a creator who intervenes in the universe.

Animism

The belief in a supernatural power that organizes and animates the material universe.

Dynamic and Living Religion

A religion that is ever-changing and characterized by energy, ambition, new ideas, and practical achievements.

Ethics

Explicit, philosophical and/or religious reflection on moral beliefs that clarifies what is right and wrong.

Sacred Texts and Writings

Central oral and/or written texts and stories that convey spiritual truth.

Beliefs and Believers

Sustained by beliefs and believers; unique to religious traditions.

Rituals and Ceremonies

Enactments or systems of actions that have beginnings, middles, and ends, linked to superbeings.