Religious Vocabulary

Faith (n.)

Complete trust or belief in something, especially without proof

Sacred (adj.)

Connected to God or dedicated to a religious purpose

Divine (adj.)

Related to a god or higher power

Worship (v.)

Show deep respect and love for a god or deity

Prayer (n.)

Communication with a god or spirit, often asking for help or giving thanks

Ritual (n.)

A religious ceremony with a set pattern of actions

Meditation (n.)

A practice of quiet thought to reach spiritual awareness

Scripture (n.)

Holy writings or sacred texts of a religion

Blessing (n.)

A prayer or act asking for God's favor and protection

Pilgrimage (n.)

A journey to a sacred place for religious reasons

Prophet (n.)

A person who speaks for God or reveals divine truth

Monotheism (n.)

Belief in only one God

Polytheism (n.)

Belief in many gods

Spirituality (n.)

A personal connection to something greater than oneself

Doctrine (n.)

A belief or set of beliefs taught by a religious group

Salvation (n.)

Saving of the soul from sin and its consequences

Sin (n.)

An action that goes against divine law or religious rules

Afterlife (n.)

Life after death in a spiritual realm

Deity (n.)

A god or goddess

Sacrament (n.)

A religious ceremony that brings spiritual grace

Temple (n.)

A building dedicated to worship or religious activities

Atheism (n.)

Belief that there is no god

Agnosticism (n.)

Belief that it is unknown or unknowable whether God exists

Clergy (n.)

Religious leaders who perform spiritual duties

Creed (n.)

A formal statement of religious beliefs

Divination (n.)

Seeking knowledge of the future through spiritual means

Sect (n.)

A group within a religion with different beliefs from the main group

Eternity (n.)

Infinite or endless time, often associated with the soul

Penance (n.)

A voluntary act to show sorrow for sin

Sacrifice (n.)

Giving up something valuable for religious reasons

Chant (n.)

A repeated song or prayer in religious worship

Mythology (n.)

A collection of myths, often explaining natural events through stories of gods

Revelation (n.)

A divine or supernatural disclosure of truth to humans

Vow (n.)

A solemn promise, often made to God

Devotion (n.)

Deep love and loyalty to a deity or religious practice

Enlightenment (n.)

A spiritual awakening or full understanding of truth

Icon (n.)

A holy image used in worship

Martyr (n.)

A person who dies for their religious beliefs

Monastery (n.)

A building where monks or nuns live and practice their religion

Synagogue (n.)

A Jewish place of worship

Mosque (n.)

An Islamic place of worship

Cathedral (n.)

A large, important Christian church

Buddhism (n.)

A religion based on the teachings of Buddha focusing on ending suffering

Christianity (n.)

A religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ

Islam (n.)

A religion based on the teachings of Muhammad and the Quran

Judaism (n.)

An ancient religion based on the covenant between God and the Jewish people

Hinduism (n.)

One of the world's oldest religions, based on many gods and spiritual traditions

Grace (n.)

Simple favor or kindness from God

Soul (n.)

The spiritual part of a person that lives beyond the body

Karma (n.)

The idea that actions cause future rewards or punishments

Spirit (n.)

The non-physical part of a person connected to life and energy

Mysticism (n.)

The belief in gaining knowledge of God through spiritual experience

Sacredness (n.)

The quality of being holy or connected to God

Asceticism (n.)

The practice of avoiding pleasure for spiritual reasons

Rebirth (n.)

Coming back to life in a new form after death

Transcendence (n.)

Going beyond normal human experience

Sanctuary (n.)

A safe, holy place

Providence (n.)

God's guidance or care over life

Anoint (v.)

To smear or rub with oil in a religious ceremony

Invocation (n.)

Calling on a god or spirit for help

Epiphany (n.)

A sudden, deep understanding of truth

Apostasy (n.)

Leaving or abandoning one's religion

Fasting (n.)

Choosing not to eat for spiritual reasons

Omniscience (n.)

The quality of knowing everything

Omnipotence (n.)

The quality of having unlimited power

Omnipresence (n.)

Being present everywhere at once

Pilgrim (n.)

A person who travels for religious reasons

Sanctify (v.)

To make something holy

Consecrate (v.)

To declare something as sacred

Redeem (v.)

To save someone from sin or evil

Meditative (adj.)

Involving deep thought or quiet reflection

Holy (adj.)

Sacred or morally perfect

Profane (adj.)

Not sacred; showing disrespect for religion

Pious (adj.)

Deeply religious or showing devotion

Awe (n.)

A feeling of wonder or fear toward something greater

Devout (adj.)

Deeply committed to religious practice

Sectarian (adj.)

Strongly supporting a particular religious group

Covenant (n.)

A sacred agreement or promise

Heresy (n.)

Belief that goes against official religious teachings

Syncretism (n.)

Mixing different religions or beliefs into one

Monastic (adj.)

Related to monks or religious living away from society

Taboo (n.)

A forbidden act in a religious or cultural system

Purgatory (n.)

A place where souls are purified before reaching heaven

Resurrection (n.)

Coming back to life after death

Atonement (n.)

Repairing a wrong or sin with God

Reverence (n.)

Deep respect and honor

Divinity (n.)

The state of being divine or god-like

Dogma (n.)

A set of religious rules accepted without question

Invocation (n.)

A prayer asking for help or presence of a divine being

Yogi (n.)

A person skilled in yoga and spiritual practices

Mantra (n.)

A sacred word or sound repeated in meditation

Pilgrimage (n.)

A religious journey to a sacred place

Sutra (n.)

A sacred Buddhist or Hindu text

Reincarnation (n.)

Being born again into a new body after death