Classification of Spirituality – Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts and terms from the lecture notes on traditional and modern classifications of spirituality.

Transcendentalism

A philosophy that spirituality comes from self-reflection and intuition rather than reason; spirituality is felt, not explained; beliefs include the inherent goodness of humans, the corrupting influence of society, spirituality from the self, and valuing insight over logic; nature is beautiful and should be deeply appreciated.

Unitarian Universalism

A creedless religion that does not require dogma and celebrates diverse beliefs, guided by seven principles such as the inherent worth of every person, justice and compassion, acceptance and spiritual growth in congregations, free search for truth, conscience and democratic process, world peace and justice, and respect for the interdependent web of existence.

Theosophy

A movement emphasizing mystical experience and esoteric doctrine; asserts a deeper spiritual reality accessible through intuition, meditation, revelation, or other states beyond ordinary consciousness; holds that all world religions contain inner teaching and seeks higher psychic powers, with a monistic view of reality.

Anthroposophy

From Greek for 'wisdom of the human being'; emphasizes two intertwined aims—spiritual realism (expanded perception/knowledge) and ethical individualism (personal responsibility); presents an individual path of spiritual development evident in arts, social life, and practical initiatives.

World Religion

The major faiths of the world (Hinduism, Buddhism, Islam, Confucianism, Christianity, Taoism, Judaism) that differ in organization, belief systems, origin of the world, and use of sacred texts and objects.

Indigenous Religion

Religions practiced by indigenous peoples (about 6% of the world’s population) including African traditional, Chinese folk, Native American, and Australian Aboriginal beliefs; practices include witchcraft, healing rituals, shamanism, ancestor worship, and spirit possession; often linked to ethnicity and viewed as simple, primitive, or complex.

New Religious Movement (NRM)

A term for newer faiths sometimes labeled as 'cults'; NRMs are 'new' and offer innovative responses to modern conditions, often countercultural, and presented as alternatives to mainstream Western Christianity.