Religions Review Terms

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and definitions related to various religions, including Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, and Filipino Folk Religiosity.

Religion

System of beliefs, rituals, and practices that relate humans to the sacred or divine.

Sacred

What is considered holy, divine, or spiritually significant.

Profane

Ordinary, non-sacred aspects of life.

Ritual

Formalized religious actions performed to express belief or devotion.

Myth

Sacred narrative explaining origins, meaning, or divine truths.

Doctrine

Official teachings of a religion.

Theology

Systematic study of God or the divine.

Spirituality

Personal experience of the sacred or divine presence.

Syncretism

Blending of different religious traditions into one lived system.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods.

Folk Religiosity

Lived, everyday expression of religion embedded in culture and experience.

Animism

Belief that nature and objects have spiritual essence.

Anito / Diwata

Indigenous spiritual beings or nature spirits.

Babaylan

Pre-colonial spiritual leader, healer, and ritual specialist.

Albularyo

Traditional folk healer using herbs, prayer, and ritual.

Usog

Illness believed to result from spiritual imbalance or energy transfer.

Kulam

Witchcraft or harmful spiritual manipulation.

Sumpa

Curse or spiritual consequence of wrongdoing.

Pakikipagkapwa

Shared identity and relational self with others.

Hiya

Sense of shame or social propriety guiding behavior.

Utang na Loob

Debt of gratitude influencing social and moral obligations.

Millenarian Movements

Religious groups expecting spiritual or social transformation.

Hinduism

One of the world’s oldest religions, characterized by diverse beliefs and practices.

Vedas

Sacred scriptures containing hymns, rituals, and philosophical teachings.

Dharma

Moral duty, ethical order, and cosmic law.

Karma

Law of moral cause and effect.

Samsara

Cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Moksha

Liberation from samsara and union with ultimate reality (Brahman).

Brahman

Ultimate, infinite reality in Hindu philosophy.

Atman

Inner self or soul.

Yoga

Spiritual discipline or path toward liberation.

Buddhism

Religion and philosophy based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama (Buddha).

Buddha

"The Awakened One."

Four Noble Truths

Core teaching on suffering and its cessation.

Dukkha

Suffering or unsatisfactoriness of life.

Eightfold Path

Path to end suffering through ethical conduct, meditation, and wisdom.

Nirvana

Liberation from suffering and cycle of rebirth.

Karma (Buddhism)

Intentional actions that shape future existence.

Meditation (Dhyana)

Mental discipline for insight and awareness.

Islam

Monotheistic religion founded on submission to Allah.

Allah

Arabic term for God in Islam.

Qur’an

Final revealed scripture of Islam.

Sunnah

Practices and teachings of Prophet Muhammad.

Hadith

Recorded sayings and actions of the Prophet.

Tawhid

Absolute oneness of God.

Shahada

Declaration of faith.

Salat

Ritual prayer performed five times daily.

Zakat

Obligatory almsgiving/charity.

Sawm

Fasting during Ramadan.

Hajj

Pilgrimage to Mecca.

Ramadan

Sacred month of fasting and revelation of the Qur’an.

Eid al-Fitr

Festival marking the end of Ramadan.

Eid al-Adha

Festival of sacrifice commemorating Prophet Ibrahim.

Judaism

Monotheistic religion of the Jewish people rooted in covenant with God.

Torah

Sacred law and foundational scripture of Judaism.

Tanakh

Hebrew Bible (Torah, Prophets, Writings).

Talmud

Rabbinic interpretation of Jewish law.

Covenant

Sacred agreement between God and the Israelites.

Shabbat (Sabbath)

Weekly day of rest and worship.

Tzedakah

Religious obligation of charity and justice.

Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah

Coming-of-age religious ceremony.

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year.

Yom Kippur

Day of Atonement and repentance.

Passover (Pesach)

Commemoration of Exodus from Egypt.

Hanukkah

Festival of lights celebrating rededication of the Temple.