ablution
washing oneself
adoration
Acknowledgment of the sovereignty of the sacred over the individual
allegory
a story, usually fictional, that makes an instructive point. Every character and incident in the story stands for or represents a reality outside the story itself
aniconic
no images", referring to traditions that do not encourage visual imagery in religion
antropodicy
In contrast to divine justice, this term refers to the justice of humanity
avatar
incarnation of a deity (hinduism)
baptism
In Christianity, the sacrament employing water for the forgiveness of sins
bar/bat mitzvah
The ceremony by which a younger person becomes a "son" (bar) or "daughter" (bat) of the commandments
bhagavad gita
the "song of the Lord"; one of the scriptures of Hinduism
bodhisattva
In Mahayana Buddhism, one who achieves enlightenment but postpones Nirvana in the interest of bringing truth to the world
canon
originally, "measuring reed"; the list of authoritative scriptures in a particular tradition
defintion of the situation
(W.I Thomas) if people define a situation as real, it is real in its consequences
--mental illness- schizophrenia
--slavery/segregation
--does perception=reality?
---at a certain level, yes
All forms of religion provide a specific "definition of the situa
dualism
The conflict between Angra and Spenta is and example of:
exegesis
the process of drawing out or interpreting the meaning of texts
exodus
The liberation of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt. Also the second book of the bible
haggadah
narrative"; sacred stories in the Jewish tradition
hierophany
the appearance of the sacred in human experience
ex: Mohammed receiving the revelation of the Qur'an from the angel Gabriel
holocaust
The Nazi destruction of European Jews under the leadership of Hitler is referred to as the _____
icon
image", in particular, visual images that mediate notions of the sacred to believers
immanence
notions of sacred reality there is less of divide between the sacred and the natural world
karma
in hinduism and buddhism, the inexorable law of cause and effect
moksha
Release or liberation from the world, especially in Hinduism
muharram
The month of memorial for the martyrdom of husayn, grandson of the prophet Muhammad
muslim
The great prophet of Judaism
myth
a narrative that focuses on sacred reality and its relationship to humanity
nirvana
the sacred reality in Buddhism; signifies the extinguishing of all desire and release from the cycle of time
parables
a story, usually fictional, in which the thrust of the story to make a particular point but in which the characters do not "stand" for realities outside the story itself
penance
Making restitution for ethical impurities in order to be fit to approach the sacred
petition
asking or begging for special favors of either spiritual or physical nature
predestination
the notion that the ultimate destiny of persons has been externally established by god; associated with election
profane
outside the temple" that which is ordinary, not sacred
Qur'an (Koran)
the holy book or sacred scripture in Islam
reincarnation
the concept that a spirit or soul "takes on" or moves from one body, one life, to another
sacred
-sets apart from everything else
-extra ordinary
-unique
-to be revered; special
-"holy"
-extremely strong positive emotional connection
samsara
The cycle of time governed by karma
Seder
Ritual meal, part of the Passover celebration
shaman
a person thought to have special, sacred powers, for example, as a medium for spirits or a healer
stupa
Burial mound for a holy person; a sacred site in Buddhism
theodicy
Cathy wants to know how her friend Jane believes in an all-powerful, all-knowing, and good God, even though there is so much unexplainable suffering and pain in the world. Another word for this "problem" of evil is ______ (which can also be defined as "di
torah
the "instruction" of God in Judaism; the first five books of the Bible
transcendence
present notions of sacred reality as "going beyond" or "standing over" ordinary existence
tripitaka
the "three baskets"; sacred scriptures in buddhism
Ahura Mazda
...
Friedrich Nietzche
Religion is the 'FEELING of absolute dependence'; the 'consciousness that the whole of our spontaneous activity comes from a source outside of us.'"
-something inside of you
-within and without
Mircea Eliade
Romanian scholar, philosopher, religious historian
W.I Thomas
if people define a situation as real, it is real in its consequences
--mental illness- schizophrenia
--slavery/segregation
--does perception=reality?
---at a certain level, yes
Elie Wiesel
Holocaust survivor that witnessed the public hanging of a young boy by the Nazis. The boy hung there in mid-air, struggling, and did not die for about thirty minutes. In the face of such horrific suffering, someone in the crowd asked, "Where is God?" Wies
S�ren Kierkegaard
of Christian faith
(but strong critic of Christianity)
Out of nothingness of life - the chaos, the disorganization, the nonsense - the individual searches and strives to find his/her own meaning/purpose
Purity of Heart
is to will one thing ...
divided min
Victor Frankl
austrian neurologist and psychiatrist as well as a holocaust survivor
linear time
Views of time; depiction of time as having a beginning, middle, and end
clinical time
Views of time; emphasizes the eternal repetition of time, as in samsara or, in some traditions, in the repetition of the change of seasons
prophetic
Emphasis on A PERSON who receives a revelation about history, life, community, events, etc.
Identified primarily with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
The prophet is the "sacred media."
EX: Moses, John the Baptist, Mohammed
sacramental
Emphasis on presence of sacred through MATERIAL REALITY; role of priests, shamans, etc. (involving ritual, elements, and so on).
Prominent in Christianity and various tribal religions.
EX: Communion/Lord's Supper; Baptism
mystical
Emphasis on a STATE OF CONSCIOUSNESS; state of being; enlightenment, etc.
Very prominent in Buddhism and Hinduism (though also present in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam).
EX: trances, meditation
appearance of the sacred
hierophany
types of rituals
Shaking hands/fist bumps
Graduates marching in/marching out
Military funerals: taps / flag folding and presented
Standing for National Anthem
Taking hat/cap off - placing hand over heart
Opposing teams meeting at mid-field for coin toss
why study religion?
1) it is a "cultural universal"
2) understand world history
3) understand our culture
4) understand ourselves