Understanding God in Monotheistic Religions

Incarnation

The belief that God became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ.

Resurrection

The belief that Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion.

Ascension

The belief that Jesus ascended to heaven after his resurrection, mind, body and soul

Creator

The term describing God as the originator of the universe.

Omniscient

The term describing God as all-knowing.

Omnipotent

The term describing God as all-powerful.

Omnipresent

The term describing God as present everywhere.

Benevolent

The term describing God as all-good and kind.

Eternal

The term describing God as having no beginning or end.

Transcendent

The term describing God as existing beyond the physical universe.

Immanent

The term describing God as present and active within the universe.

Shema

A central declaration of faith in Judaism, affirming the oneness of God.

Mezuzah

A piece of parchment inscribed with specific Hebrew verses, placed in a decorative case on doorposts in Jewish homes.

Kippah

A skullcap worn by Jewish men during prayer and other religious activities.

Tallit

A prayer shawl worn by Jewish men during morning prayers.

Tefillin

Phylacteries worn by Jewish men during weekday morning prayers, containing scrolls with biblical texts.

Torah

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

Contemplation

A form of prayer focused on deep reflection and connection with God.

Reflection

The practice of thinking deeply about one's faith and experiences in relation to God.

Meditation

A spiritual practice involving focused thought and contemplation to connect with God.

The Rosary

A form of prayer used in Christianity that involves the repetition of prayers and meditation on the life of Christ.

The Examen

A reflective prayer practice developed by St. Ignatius of Loyola, focusing on reviewing the day in the presence of God.

Lectio Divina

A traditional Christian practice of scriptural reading, meditation, and prayer.

Visio Divina

A form of prayer that involves meditating on visual art as a means of connecting with God.

Labyrinths

A spiritual tool used for meditation and prayer, often involving walking a winding path to reach a center.