World Religions Vocabulary

Humanism

Focus on human potential and reason rather than divine authority.

Secular

Attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis

Theology

The study of the nature of God and religious belief.

Transcendence

The idea of going beyond ordinary human experience or the material world.

Dualism

The belief in two opposing forces (good/evil, body/soul).

Karma

The principle that one’s actions influence future outcomes (often in Hinduism, Buddhism).

Dharma

Sacred duty or moral order

Enlightenment

Spiritual awakening or deep understanding

Salvation

Liberation from sin or suffering; being “saved.”

Prophet

A messenger chosen to deliver divine truth.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods or deities.

Pantheism

The belief that the divine exists in everything.

Atheism

Belief that there is no god or divine being

Agnosticism

Belief that it’s impossible to know whether the divine exists

Syncretism

The blending or combining of religious beliefs or practices

Sect / Denomination

A branch or subgroup within a larger religion.

Reformation / Schism

A split or major reform movement within a religion.

Pilgrimage

A religious journey to a sacred place

Orthodox / Heresy

Orthodox means traditional or accepted belief; heresy means belief that goes against it.

Religion

A system of beliefs, rituals, and moral codes that connect humans to the divine or the sacred.

Faith

Trust or belief in something beyond empirical proof, often related to a higher power.

Sacred

Something regarded as holy, divine, or spiritually significant.

Deity

A god, goddess, or divine being.

Doctrine

Official teachings or beliefs of a religion.

Scripture

Sacred writings considered authoritative within a faith.

Ritual

A formal, repeated practice with symbolic meaning (e.g., prayer, fasting, pilgrimage).

Worship

Acts of reverence or devotion directed toward the divine.

Afterlife

Beliefs about what happens after death.

Myth

A traditional story explaining origins, nature, or the relationship between humans and the divine