Study Guide: World Religions

A comprehensive set of flashcards covering key vocabulary words and concepts related to world religions for effective study and review.

Monotheism

The belief in a single, all-powerful God.

Polytheism

The belief in multiple gods or deities.

Reincarnation

The belief that after death, the soul is reborn into a new body.

Dharma

The moral law combined with spiritual discipline that guides one's life.

Karma

The sum of a person's actions in this and previous states of existence, viewed as deciding their fate in future existences.

Untouchables

A group of people in India formerly considered outside the caste system.

Sanskrit

An ancient language of India, the language of Hindu scripture and classical literature.

Taboo

A social or religious custom prohibiting discussion of a particular practice or forbidding association with a particular person, place, or thing.

Diaspora

The dispersion of any people from their original homeland.

Abraham

The biblical patriarch whose story is foundational to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.

Torah

The central reference of the religious Judaic tradition, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.

Talmud

The body of Jewish civil and ceremonial law and legend comprising the Mishnah and the Gemara.

Hebrew

The ancient language of the Israelites and their descendants.

10 Commandments

A set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and Christianity.

Sect

A subgroup of a religious, political, or social belief system.

Jesus

A central figure in Christianity, regarded by most Christians as the Son of God.

Trinity

The Christian Godhead as one being in three persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Persecution

Hostility and ill-treatment, especially because of race or political or religious beliefs.

Scapegoat

A person or group blamed for the wrongdoings or mistakes of others.

Sacraments

Rituals considered to have a special significance and are often seen as a means of divine grace.

Salvation

Deliverance from sin and its consequences, often seen as a fundamental goal in many religions.

Denomination

A recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church.

Arabian peninsula

A peninsula in Southwest Asia, which is the largest peninsula in the world.

“Power vacuum”

A situation in which someone or something is lacking the power to maintain order.

Muhammad

The prophet and founder of Islam, believed by Muslims to be the last of the prophets.

Mecca

A city in Saudi Arabia; the holiest city in Islam, where Muslims travel to perform Hajj.

Qur’an

The holy book of Islam, believed to be the word of God as revealed to Muhammad.

hijab

A headscarf worn by some Muslim women as a part of modest dress.

Caste System

A hierarchical structure of social classes in India.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five basic acts of worship that are considered the foundation of a Muslim's faith and practice.

Branches of Judaism

Different denominations within Judaism, including Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform.

Branches of Christianity

Subdivisions within Christianity, such as Eastern Orthodox, Protestant, and Catholic.

Sunni and Shi’a

The two main branches of Islam that have different beliefs about leadership and authority.