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  • Ghost Dance

    • A religious movement among Native Americans initiated by the Paiute prophet Wovoka in the late 19th century.
    • Based on a prophecy that a flood would come to destroy the earth and white people, leading to a new world.
    • In this new world, Native Americans would live in harmony and be reunited with their ancestors.

  • Millennialism

    • A belief system focused on an upcoming transformative era characterized by peace and prosperity.
    • In Protestantism, there are two forms:
    • Premillennialism: Belief in Christ’s return before the millennium.
    • Postmillennialism: Belief in His return after the millennium.
    • Other movements, like the Ghost Dance, express similar millennialist themes.

  • Neoplatonism

    • A philosophical and religious system derived from Plato’s teachings about reality structured as a hierarchy.
    • Includes elements from the One (ultimate reality), Mind, and World Soul down to the material world.
    • Seeks ascent to the One through contemplation and spiritual practices.

  • Wakantanka

    • A term among the Oglala Lakota referring to sacred or divine power present in all things.
    • Similar to the Christian God but embodies a more holistic spiritual force.

  • Ancestor Worship in West Africa

    • Involves honoring ancestors believed to influence the living and remain spiritually active.
    • Practices include rituals, sacrifices, and ceremonies to maintain their presence and guidance.

  • Shaman

    • A spiritual leader who mediates between humans and the spirit world, often through healing and rituals.

  • Wakan

    • A Lakota term meaning "holy" or "sacred" related to the spiritual quality in people and natural phenomena.

  • Massachusetts Bay Colony

    • A Puritan settlement established in 1630, significant for shaping American religious and political culture.
    • Known for its emphasis on covenant community and strict moral codes.

  • Great Awakening

    • A series of 18th-century religious revivals focusing on personal faith and emotional experiences over formalized church structures.

  • Judaism - Various branches include:

    • Reform Judaism: Emphasizes ethical monotheism and modern integration.
    • Orthodox Judaism: Strict adherence to Jewish law and traditional practices.
    • Conservative Judaism: Balances tradition with modern adaptation.

  • Separatism

    • A desire for cultural or religious groups to maintain a distinct identity through political or geographic separation.

  • Zionism

    • A movement supporting a Jewish homeland in Israel.

  • Hasidim

    • Followers of Hasidic Judaism, focusing on joy, spiritual devotion, and charismatic leadership by Rebbes.

  • Talmud

    • A central text in Judaism that includes rabbinic discussions on law, ethics, and customs.

  • Azusa Street Revival

    • A significant Pentecostal revival in Los Angeles (1906-1909) that contributed to modern Pentecostalism, featuring spiritual gifts.

  • Ring Shout

    • An African American slave religious ritual involving singing, dancing, and clapping, merging African traditions with Christian worship.

  • Messianism

    • The belief in a divinely chosen leader who will bring about salvation and transformation in the world.

  • Ashkenazim

    • Jews from Central and Eastern Europe, known for Yiddish culture and traditions.

  • Sephardim

    • Jews from Spain, Portugal, North Africa, and the Middle East with distinct customs and Ladino language.

  • American Indian Religious Freedom Act

    • A law (1978) protecting Native Americans’ religious practices, access to sacred sites, and traditional ceremonies.

  • The Peyote Way

    • A religious practice involving the sacramental use of peyote by the Native American Church for spiritual insight and healing.

  • Torah

    • The most sacred text of Judaism, consisting of the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, believed to be revealed to Moses.

  • Invisible Institution

    • A term for the secret, informal worship of enslaved African Americans, blending African and Christian traditions.

  • Postpluralism

    • Recognizes religious diversity and addresses conflicts arising from differing beliefs.

  • Liberalism

    • A perspective emphasizing individual freedom and progress in religious and social matters.

  • Sacramentalism

    • The belief in the necessary and powerful role of sacraments as means of divine grace.

  • Burnt-Over District

    • Refers to western New York in the 19th century, known for intense revivalism and the birth of new religious movements like Mormonism and Spiritualism.

  • Jewish Religion / Jewish Identity

    • Encompasses the religious, cultural, and ethnic identity defined by beliefs, historical experiences, and cultural traditions.