RELI 114: Early Christian Worship, Ritual, and Bodies - Unit Exam I Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards identifying key terms, figures, ritualizing strategies, and architectural contexts for RELI 114 Unit Exam I taught by Prof. Hugo Méndez.

Agape

referencing early Christian love feasts or communal ritual meals associated with early Christian worship.

Catechesis

The formal process of religious instruction and preparation for baptism in early Christianity.

Chrismation

An anointing ritual using consecrated oil, closely associated with baptism and post-baptismal rites.

Clericalizing

assigning to special authority figures.

Confirmation

A Western Christian ritual practice derived from post-baptismal rites whose historical origin and development are studied in RELI 114.

Deipnon

A Greek term for a formal evening meal or supper context relevant to the study of early Eucharistic meals.

Didache

An early Christian text that provides instructions on early Christian practices, rituals, and baptismal adaptations.

Dura Europas

An ancient city site containing famous early archaeological evidence of a Jewish synagogue and an early Christian house church (domus ecclesia).

Elevating

assigning sacred meanings.

Eucharist

The central Christian ritual meal originating from early shared meals and sacred celebrations.

Euergetism

The practice of high-status individuals performing public benefactions and financial patronage in Greco-Roman antiquity.

Immersion

A method of baptism involving the complete dipping or submerging of the person in water.

Infusion

A method of baptism involving the pouring of water over the head.

Kingdom of God

A central theological concept preached by Jesus and early Christians regarding God's reign and future fulfillment.

Messiah

The anointed one; a central title and concept evaluated in the context of Jewish expectations and Christian adaptations.

Mikveh

A Jewish ritual bath used for immersion and ritual purification, contrasted with Christian baptism.

Paedobaptism

The practice of infant baptism within Christian history.

Pagan

A term referring to polytheistic non-Jewish and non-Christian religious traditions and practitioners in the Greco-Roman world.

Prescribing

creating a specific mode of performance

Priene Synagogue

An archaeological site of an ancient Jewish synagogue studied as evidence for early religious spaces.

Repeating

regular and frequent performance

Ritual

A core concept of the course, referring to structured religious or social practices and ceremonies.

Ritualizing

The process of making an action or practice conform to established patterns of rituals, enhancing its significance and communal value.

Sacrament

A sacred Christian rite or sign considered an instrument of grace.

Singularizing

making rare or unique in a religious context, often referring to the act of setting apart an individual or aspect within a sacramental or ritual framework.

Situating

associating with special times and places.

Stational Eucharist

A Eucharistic practice in which liturgical gatherings move sequentially across various stations or churches in a city.

Stibadium

A semi-circular dining couch used in ancient Roman dining and banquet contexts, relevant to early Christian gathering spaces.

Stylizing

adding flair and detail

Torah

The central body of Jewish sacred law and scripture, fundamental to early Jewish and Christian relations.

Traditionalizing

A ritualizing strategy focused on framing practices as ancient or continuous with tradition.

Triclinium

A formal dining room featuring three couches in Roman houses, used as a setting for early Christian house gatherings.

Elijah

An ancient Hebrew prophet whose tradition and prophetic role are significant for understanding John the Baptist and early Christian contexts.

John the Baptist

A key prophetic figure whose baptismal practices in the Jordan River serve as a foundational background for Christian baptism.

Jesus

The central figure of Christianity whose life, teachings, and death formed the foundation for early Christian worship and rituals.

Paul

A key early Christian apostle whose letters provide early written evidence regarding Christian ritual practices, worship, and community relations with Judaism.

Tertullian

An early Christian author and theologian whose writings offer vital evidence on early baptismal practices, rituals, and Christian thought.

Constantine

The Roman emperor whose legalization and patronization of Christianity significantly altered early Christian worship, public rituals, and gathering spaces.