CHAPTER 6 —> Religion

Agnosticism

The belief that God's existence cannot be known.

Animism

Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life.

Atheism

Belief that there is no god.

Autonomous religion

A religious group which is self sufficient, meaning their interaction with other religious communities is confined to little more than loose cooperation and shared ideas. Islam and Protestant denominations can be good examples.

Religious Branch

A large and fundamental division within a religion.

Caste

A Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life, a set of rigid social categories that determined not only a person's occupation and economic potential, but also his or her position in society

Cosmogony

Stories about how the universe came into being

Denomination

A division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body.

Ethnic religion

A religion in which a person is likely to be born into, rather than convert to. Such religions usually do not have missionaries or are not seeking new believers. Judaism, Hinduism and Shinto would all be examples.

Fundamentalism

A religious movement characterized by a return to fundamental principles, usually including resistance to modernization and an emphasis on certainty through literal interpretation of scriptures.

Ghetto

During the middle Ages, a neighborhood in a city set up by law to be inhabited only by Jews; now used to denote a section of a city in which members of any minority group live because of social, legal, or economic pressure.

Hierarchical religion

A religion in which central authority exercises a high degree of control.

Missionary

A person of a particular faith that travels in order to recruit new members into the faith represented.

Monotheism

Belief in one God.

Pagan

A follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times.

Pilgrimage

Journey to a sacred place undertaken as an act of religious devotion; the purpose may be to venerate a certain saint or ask some spiritual favor, beg for a physical cure or perform an act of penance, or express thanks or fulfill a promise.

Polytheism

Belief in many gods.

Sect

A relatively small religious group that has broken away from some other religious organization to renew what it considers the original vision of the faith.

Solstice

Astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of Earth's axis is most inclined toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun's apparent position in the sky to reach its most northernmost or southernmost extreme, and resulting in the shortest and longest day of the year.

Syncretism

A blending of beliefs and practices from different religions into one faith.

Secularism

An indifference to religion and a belief that religion should be excluded from civic affairs and public education.

Universalizing religion

A belief system that espouses the idea that there is one true religion that is universal in scope. Adherents of universalizing religious systems often believe that their religion represents universal truths, and in some cases great effort is undertaken in evangelism and missionary work.

Religious toponyms

Place names based on religious influences. For example, many towns and cities have been named for Christian missions that once stood there.

Religion

A set of beliefs and practices followed by those committed to the service and worship of God.

New Testament

The second part of the Christian Bible, containing descriptions of the life and teachings of Jesus and of his early followers.

Old Testament

The forty-six books of the Bible that record the history of salvation from Creation until the time of Christ.

Confucianism

A philosophy that depends to the teachings of the Chinese philosopher Confucius. It shows the way to ensure a stable government and an orderly society in the present world and stresses a moral code of conduct.

Daoism

Chinese philosophy based on the teachings of Laozi; taught that people should turn to nature and give up their worldly concerns.

Shintoism

An ancient, indigenous religion native to Japan, characterized by veneration of nature spirits and ancestors and by a lack of formal dogma.

Zoroastrianism

A religion originating in ancient Iran. It centered on a single benevolent deity-Ahuramazda, Emphasizing truth-telling, purity, and reverence for nature, the religion demanded that humans choose sides between good and evil.

Proselytic faith

A belief system in which followers have an obligation to convert people to their religion.

Karma

An impartial force or principle of cause and effect that accounts for each person's good and bad actions and determines their position of rebirth based upon each person's actions in their previous lifetime.

Sunni

A branch of Islam whose members acknowledge the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad.

Shiite

a member of the branch of Islam that regards Ali as the legitimate successor to Mohammed and rejects the first three caliphs.

Roman Catholicism

Branch of Christianity based in Rome, Italy and led by the Pope. Largest group within Christianity, it is popular in Latin America, southern Europe and areas of Africa that used to be French, Spanish or Portuguese colonies.

Eastern Orthodoxy

Church established in the Byzantine Empire after the split from the Roman Catholic Church; Greek & Russian Orthodox Churches descend from this. Rejects the Pope.

Protestantism

A division from the Catholic church that brought up a reformation within Western Christianity by protesting against the established Roman Catholic Church. The followers were also called Lutherans.

Buddhism

A religion in which Buddha's teachings that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire and suffering ceases when desire ceases. Enlightenment obtained through right conduct, wisdom, and meditation releases one from desire, suffering, and rebirth (reincarnation).

Siddartha Guatama

Founder of Buddhism.

Sikhism

A monotheistic religion founded in northern India by Guru Nanak and combining elements of Hinduism and Islam.

Hinduism

A general term for a wide variety of beliefs and ritual practices that have developed in the Indian subcontinent since antiquity. Has roots in ancient Vedic, Buddhist, and south Indian religious concepts and practices. It spread along the trade routes to Southeast Asia.

Sharia law

It is the legal framework within which public and some private aspects of life are regulated for those living in a legal system based on Muslim principles.

Mahayana Buddhism

"Great Vehicle" branch of Buddhism followed in China, Japan, and Central Asia. The focus is on reverence for Buddha and for bodhisattvas, enlightened persons who have postponed nirvana to help others attain enlightenment.

Theravada Buddhism

"Way of the Elders" branch of Buddhism followed in Sri Lanka and much of Southeast Asia. Theravada remains close to the original principles set forth by the Buddha; it downplays the importance of gods and emphasizes austerity and the individual's search for enlightenment.

Islam

A religion based on the teachings of the prophet Mohammed which stresses belief in one god (Allah), Paradise and Hell, and a body of law written in the Quran. Followers are called Muslims.

Christianity

A monotheistic system of beliefs and practices based on the Old Testament and the teachings of Jesus as embodied in the New Testament and emphasizing the role of Jesus as savior. Currently the world's largest religion.

Judaism

A religion with a belief in one god. It originated with Abraham and the Hebrew people. Yahweh was responsible for the world and everything within it. They preserved their early history in the Old Testament.

Jainism

A religion that branched off from Hinduism and was founded by Mahavira; its belief is that everything has a soul, and its purpose was to cleanse the soul. Some were extreme aesthetics.

Sacred Places

These places hold special importance for followers of specific faiths. They may be burial grounds, temples, or other locations believed to possess holy qualities or spiritual value.

Mormonism

A term used to describe religious, ideological, and cultural aspects of the various denominations of the Latter Day Saint movement. It is practiced around the world, but is concentrated in Utah. Founded by Joseph Smith.

Five Pillars of Faith

Belief of Islam: 1. There is no God but Allah and Muhammed is his messenger 2. Pray 5 times a day 3. Give charity to the poor 4. Fast during the month of Ramadan 5. Hajj or pilgrimage to Mecca

Four Noble Truths

The central teachings of Buddhism; to live is to suffer; suffering is caused by desire; the cessation of suffering can be achieved; the solution is the Noble Eightfold Path.

Dalai Lama

Originally, a title meaning 'universal priest' that the Mongol khans invented and bestowed on a Tibetan lama (priest) in the late 1500s to legitimate their power in Tibet. Subsequently, the title of the religious and political leader of Tibet.

Communism and Religion

Communism does not allow room for religion because the government is supposed to be #1, not God. Therefore, most people in communists countries worship the government or are atheists.

(EX: China worships government. EX: Russia was atheist because the elders worshiped in secret and the younger ages were not exposed to religion, but after the fall of communism there was a religious revival)

EX: Russia was atheist because the elders worshiped in secret and the younger ages were not exposed to religion, but after the fall of communism there was a religious revival

6 day war

1967, israel attacks syria jordan and eqypt unprovoked taking out air forces, israrel wins and gets golan heights from syria, WB from jordan, and sainai peninsular and GS form egypt

Yom Kippur War

Egypt and Syria attacked Israel in October 1973 (on Yom Kippur)

Suez War

was a military attack on Egypt by Britain, France, and Israel beginning on 29 October 1956. over suez canal

lunar calendar

a calendar system based on the moon's rotation around the earth

solar calendar

A calendar system based on the earth's rotation around the sun.

5 Pillars of Islam

belief, prayer, charity, fasting, pilgrimage