Comprehensive Religion: Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism Key Concepts

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods or divine beings.

7 Dimensions of Religion

A theory used to analyze religions through seven parts: experiential, mythical, doctrinal, ethical, ritual, social, and material.

Experiential dimension

The personal feelings, emotions, or spiritual experiences people have in a religion.

Mythical dimension

Sacred stories that explain religious beliefs, origins, heroes, or key events.

Doctrinal dimension

The official beliefs or teachings of a religion.

Ethical dimension

The moral rules and values a religion teaches.

Ritual dimension

Repeated religious actions or ceremonies.

Social dimension

The community and organization of a religion.

Material dimension

Physical objects, places, buildings, clothing, or symbols connected to religion.

Judaism

A monotheistic Abrahamic religion centered on covenant, Torah, ethical living, worship, study, and Jewish identity/community.

YHWH / Yahweh

The Divine Name of Judaism's God.

Covenant

A sacred agreement established between God and the ancient Israelites.

Abraham

A major patriarch in Judaism, connected to the covenant and the beginning of the Israelite people.

Moses

A major prophet and leader in Judaism who led the Israelites out of Egypt.

Ten Commandments

Important moral and religious laws in Judaism, traditionally associated with Moses.

Torah

The first five books of the Bible; also understood as instruction or law.

Pentateuch

Greek term meaning 'five books'; another name for the first five books of the Bible/Torah.

Tanakh

The Hebrew Bible.

Prophets

A section of the Tanakh containing historical accounts of ancient Israel.

Writings

A diverse section of the Tanakh that includes books such as Psalms and Proverbs.

Oral Torah

Rabbinic teachings transmitted orally in antiquity that complement the written Torah.

Mishnah

A written collection from around A.D. 200 containing oral teachings formulated by earlier rabbis.

Talmud

A central Jewish text based on the Mishnah; a major source of Jewish religious law and theology.

Rabbi

A teacher of Torah or leader of Jewish worship.

Synagogue

A Jewish building for prayer, study, and community fellowship.

Ark

The box/cabinet in a synagogue that holds Torah scrolls.

Torah scroll

A handwritten scroll containing the Torah, kept in the Ark and read during worship.

Shema

Judaism's basic theological statement declaring the uniqueness/onenness of God.

Mezuzah

A small container placed on the doorpost of a Jewish home, containing words from the Shema.

Kippah / Yarmulke

A skullcap worn in synagogue or at all times by some Jews.

Tallit

A prayer shawl worn by adult men during morning prayers.

Tefillin

Black leather boxes containing the Shema, worn on the head and left arm by adult male Jews.

Yad

A pointer used when reading the Torah.

Ner Tamid

The eternal light in a synagogue, symbolizing God's constant presence.

Menorah

A Jewish lampstand/candelabrum; especially connected to Hanukkah.

Kiddush cup

A cup used at Shabbat and festival meals for blessing wine or grape juice.

Challah

Sweet braided bread eaten on Shabbat and holy days.

Challah cover

A cloth used to cover challah during Shabbat or holiday rituals.

Anti-Semitism

Hostility toward Jews and Judaism.

Diaspora

The dispersion of Jews living away from their homeland.

Holocaust

The Nazi persecution and murder of about six million Jews during World War II.

Shoah

A Hebrew term meaning 'mass destruction,' often used for the Holocaust.

Zionism

A movement committed to re-establishing/supporting a Jewish homeland.

Orthodox Judaism

Maintains that Torah is unchanging truth and Jewish life should conform closely to it.

Reform Judaism

Holds that Judaism can adapt as society changes.

Conservative Judaism

A middle position between Orthodox and Reform Judaism.

Hasidism

A pious Jewish movement that arose in 18th-century Eastern Europe.

Zaddik

The spiritual leadership figure of a Hasidic community.

Kabbalah

Jewish mysticism; teaches that God can be known with the heart.

Zohar

The most famous text of Jewish mysticism.

Maimonides

A Jewish philosopher connected to the formulation of the 13 principles of faith.

Bar mitzvah

A coming-of-age ritual celebration for a Jewish boy.

Bat mitzvah

A coming-of-age ritual celebration for a Jewish girl.

Circumcision

A Jewish ritual marking the covenant.

Huppah / Chuppah

A bridal canopy used in Jewish marriage ceremonies.

Ketubah

A Jewish marriage contract.

Kaddish

A prayer of mourning recited after burial.

Shabbat / Sabbath

The Jewish weekly day of rest, worship, and celebration.

Kosher

Food or practices that follow Jewish dietary laws.

Rosh Hashanah

Jewish New Year, observed in September/October for two days.

Days of Awe

The ten-day period of repentance and introspection beginning with Rosh Hashanah.

Shofar

A ram's horn blown especially during Rosh Hashanah.

Tashlich

A Rosh Hashanah/Yom Kippur season ritual of symbolically casting away sins.

Kapparot

An atonement ceremony practiced by some Jews during the Days of Awe, using a chicken or money symbolically connected to transferring sins and charity.

Yom Kippur

The Day of Atonement and Judaism's most important holy day; focused on repentance, confession of sin, fasting, and synagogue worship.

Passover / Pesach

An eight-day festival remembering the Exodus, when Jews were freed from bondage in Egypt under Moses.

Seder

The ordered ritual meal held at the beginning of Passover, following the Haggadah and retelling the Exodus story.

Matzo

Unleavened bread eaten during Passover to remember that the Israelites left Egypt quickly and did not have time for bread to rise.

Hanukkah

A December Jewish holiday remembering the revolt against the Greeks, the rededication of the Temple, and the miracle of oil lasting eight days.

Shammus / Shamash

The helper candle used to light the other Hanukkah candles.

Dreidel

A spinning top used in Hanukkah games.

Gelt

Money or chocolate coins often given to children during Hanukkah.

Sukkot

A Jewish festival five days after Yom Kippur, remembering the Israelites' 40 years of wandering in the desert and also celebrating harvest.

Sukkah

A temporary shelter used during Sukkot; it must have at least three walls and a roof open enough to see the stars.

Lulav

A bundle of palm, willow, and myrtle branches waved during Sukkot rituals, often with an etrog.

Etrog

A citron fruit used with the lulav during Sukkot.

Purim

A joyful holiday one month before Passover remembering how Queen Esther saved the Jewish people from execution by Haman.

Feast of Lots

Another name for Purim, referring to the lottery Haman used to choose the date for the planned massacre of the Jews.

Islam

Arabic word meaning submission or surrender to Allah.

Muslim

A believer/follower of Islam.

Allah

Arabic word for God.

Prophet

A holy person sent by God to communicate God's will.

Muhammad

God's last and greatest prophet in Islam; born in Mecca and received the Qur'an through Gabriel.

P.B.U.H.

Stands for 'peace be upon him,' written or said after Muhammad's name as a sign of respect.

Hagar

Mother of Ishmael.

Ishmael

Son of Abraham and Hagar; important figure in Islamic tradition.

Khadijah / Kadijah

Muhammad's wife.

Gabriel

The angel who revealed God's word to Muhammad over about 21 years.

Recite

What the angel Gabriel commanded Muhammad to do during the first revelation.

Night of Power and Excellence

The night when the Qur'an was first revealed to Muhammad by Allah.

Mecca

The holiest city of Islam in Saudi Arabia; Muhammad was born there and the Kaaba is located there.

Medina

The 'city of the Prophet,' where Muhammad fled in 622, became leader, and later died.

Hijra

Muhammad's emigration/flight from Mecca to Yathrib/Medina in 622; marks the start of the Islamic calendar and the founding of the Muslim community.

Ummah / Umma

The worldwide community of all Muslims.

Caliph

A 'successor' and Islamic leader after Muhammad.

Abu Bakr

Muhammad's successor and the first caliph.

Shari'a

Divine law derived from the Qur'an and Sunna, setting out how Muslims are to live.

Five Pillars of Islam

The five basic obligations of Muslims: Shahada, Salah/Salat, Zakat, Sawm, and Hajj.

Shahada

The profession of faith: witnessing that Allah is the One God and Muhammad is the messenger of God.