AP Human Geography Religion Words

Activity Space

The space within which daily activity occurs.

Animistic Religion

the beleif that inanimate objects, such as hills, trees, rocks, rivers, and other elements of natural landscape, possess souls and can help or hinder human efforts on Earth

Branch

an administrative division of some larger or more complex religion

Buddhism

the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire, that suffering ceases when desire ceases, and that enlightenment obtained through right conduct and wisdom and meditation releases one from desire and suffering and rebirth

Caste System

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

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

Confucianism

The system of ethics, education, and statesmanship taught by Confucius and his disciples, stressing love for humanity, ancestor worship, reverence for parents, and harmony in thought and conduct.

Coptic Church

the ancient Christian church of Egypt

Ethiopian Church

King Ezana's conversion laid the foundations of this place

Cosmogony

A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe.

Taoism

the philosophical system that emphasizes harmony with nature, philosophical system developed by of Lao-tzu and Chuang-tzu advocating a simple honest life and noninterference with the course of natural events

Denomination

a group of religious congregations having its own organization and a distinctive faith

Diaspora

the dispersion of the Jews outside Israel

Diocese

the territorial jurisdiction of a bishop

Doctrine

teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal

Eastern Orthodox Church

one of the three major branches of christianity, the eastern orthodox church, together with the roman catholic church, a second of the three major branches of christianity, arose out of the roman empire by empereor diocletian into four governemtal regions

Elijah Mohammad

1950s - led Black Muslims and the Nation of Islam; early teacher of Malcom X; fought by the white press to teach hatred of whites

Ethnic Cleansing

the mass expulsion and killing of one ethic or religious group in an area by another ethnic or religious group in that area

Ethnic Religion

A religion with a relatively concentrated spatial distribution whose principles are likely to be based on the physical characteristics of the particular location in which its adherents are concentrated.

fundamentalism

Literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect).

Ghetto

a poor densely populated city district occupied by a minority ethnic group linked together by economic hardship and social restrictions

Hajj

the fifth pillar of Islam is a pilgrimage to Mecca during the month of Dhu al-Qadah

Hierarchical Religion

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

Indigenous Religions

originating in and characteristic of a particular region

Interfaith Boundaries

boundaries between the major religions

Islam

the religion of Muslims collectively which governs their civilization and way of life

Jihad

a holy struggle or striving by a Muslim for a moral or spiritual or political goal

Judaism

the monotheistic religion of the Jews having its spiritual and ethical principles embodied chiefly in the Torah and in the Talmud

Louis Ferrakhan

the National Representative of the Nation of Islam. He is an advocate for black interests, and a critic of American society. Farrakhan has frequently referred to Judaism as 'a gutter religion'.

Malcom X

spread ideas of black nationalism. disagreed w/ both the tactics and goals of the early civil rights movement. minister of the nation of isam. rejected his original name because it was his family's slave name

Minarets

Tower attached to a Muslim mosque, having one or more projecting balconies from which a crier calls Muslims to prayer.

Missionary

someone who attempts to convert others to a particular doctrine or program

Monotheism

belief in a single God

Muslim

a believer or follower of Islam

Orthodox

adhering to what is commonly accepted

Pagan

a person who does not acknowledge your God

Pilgrimage

a journey to a sacred place

Polytheism

belief in multiple Gods

Protestant

the Protestant churches and denominations collectively

Religion

a strong belief in a supernatural power or powers that control human destiny

Religious Extremism

religious fundamentalism carried to the point of violence

Roman Catholic Church

the Christian Church based in the Vatican and presided over by a pope and an episcopal hierarchy

Sacred Sites

place or space people infuse with religious meaning

Sect

a subdivision of a larger religious group

Secular

worldly; not pertaining to church matters or religion; temporal

Shamanism

an animistic religion of northern Asia having the belief that the mediation between the visible and the spirit worlds is effected by shamans

Shari' a laws

Arabic word meaning 'way' or 'path'. In Arabic, the collocation '�ar??at All?h' (God's Law) is traditionally used not only by Muslims, but also Christians and Jews

Shi'ite

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

Shintoism

Religion located in Japan and related to Buddhism. Shintoism focuses particularly on nature and ancestor worship.

Siddhartha

founder of Buddhism

Sunni

A branch of Islam whose members acknowledge the first four caliphs as the rightful successors of Muhammad, one of the two main branches of orthodox Islam

Universalizing Religion

A religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location.

Zionism

movement to create a Jewish nation in the middle east