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Christianity Tradition
Key Terms and Concepts
157
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 1
12/15/2010

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Term
Confessional
Definition
approaching a religious tradition from the perspective of one of its branches, or confessions
Term
Diachronic
Definition
viewing a tradition as it develops over time
Term
Mendicant
Definition
literally, a beggar, and specifically, the religious who possessed no property and depended on others for sustenance
Term
Second Temple
Definition
the period in Jewish history between the return from the Babylonian Exile and the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E. when the Diaspora began
Term
Synchronic
Definition
Viewing a tradition at a particular period, without regard to earlier or later historical development
Term
Triumphalism
Definition
the belief that one religion is divinely destined to prevail over others
Term
Apostle
Definition
one who is sent, specifically, one of the Twelve sent out by Jesus to continue his work
Term
Diaspora
Definition
the dispersion of the Jews, especially after 70 C.E.
Term
Essene
Definition
one of a separatist ancient Jewish group which practiced rigorous asceticism and help apocalyptic and dualistic beliefs
Term
Eucharist
Definition
the ritual meal of bread and wine that unifies all believers in Jesus Christ; one of the sacraments
Term
Messiah
Definition
the anointed one, the deliverer of the Jewish people, a unique instrument of God’s redemptive work
Term
Passover
Definition
the annual Jewish festival commemorating redemption from servitude in Egypt
Term
Pharisee
Definition
a member of one of the branches of 1st century Judaism, which consisted of separatists who emphasized ritual purity
Term
Prophet
Definition
a spokesperson for God, a voice of criticism and exhortation to a people that has gone astray
Term
Rabbi
Definition
a teacher of Jewish lore and observance
Term
Sadducee
Definition
a member of one of the branches of 1st century Judaism, which emphasized written law and denied resurrection
Term
Second Exile
Definition
the dispersion of the Jews after the Roman conquest and the destruction of the Temple in 70 C.E.
Term
Apocrypha
Definition
literally “hidden”; concerning parts of the Bible not accepted as canonical, which have been kept from general access but not discarded
Term
Apostolic Fathers
Definition
the authors of a set of early Christian writings said to originate in the community around Jesus
Term
Apostolicity
Definition
authentic origins in the community of the fist apostles
Term
Aretalogy
Definition
a chronicle of a leader’s or teacher’s excellent or unique qualities; literally, a record of a person’s virtues
Term
Atonement
Definition
reconciliation between God and humanity, restoring the relationship spoiled by original sin; understood by Christians to have been achieved by Christ on the cross
Term
Canon
Definition
a fixed and authoritative set of writings
Term
Gnosticism
Definition
a branch of early Christianity which held that God had revealed human destiny only to certain peope, who shared it as a secret knowledge
Term
Grace
Definition
a gift bestowed by God on believers; usually understood as salvation
Term
Johannine
Definition
the texts (and the community) associated with the apostle John
Term
Logos
Definition
literally "word"; the mind of God in tangible form in the Incarnation; also, in Stoic philosophy, the active principle determining the world
Term
Martyrdom
Definition
witnessing to one's beliefs by voluntarily enduring punishment or death
Term
Passion
Definition
the suffering of Jesus on the cross
Term
Patristic
Definition
of the era or literature of Christianity from ca. 200 to ca. 600, the time of the Fathers (Latin, pater) of the church
Term
Synoptic
Definition
taking a general view of the whole; specifically, used to describe the first three gospels, which are structured similarly and have much content in common , and are thus able to be viewed in parallel
Term
Theologian
Definition
one who practices the craft of interpreting divine revelation and the divine-human relationship
Term
Trinity
Definition
the doctrine that God consists in three "Persons": Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
Term
Wisdom
Definition
the tradition within biblical literature that contains practical advice and insights about the nature of the world
Term
Arianism
Definition
a 4th-century heresy denying that Christ was fully divine and coexisted with the Father before time
Term
Christology
Definition
the doctrine of Christ; thought and writing about the nature and work of the second Person of the Trinity
Term
Creed
Definition
a statement of belief, often recited by a congregation as an affirmation of the commonly held faith
Term
Docetism
Definition
a 2nd-century heresy stating that Jesus only appeared to have suffered and died
Term
Heresy
Definition
a doctrine counter to the teachings of the universal church
Term
Incarnation
Definition
God taking human form in the person of Jesus
Term
Nicene Creed
Definition
the creed formulated at the Council of Nicaea in 325; it affirms the Trinity and censures Arianism
Term
Patriarch
Definition
the title for a leader of episcopal rank, mainly in the Eastern Church
Term
Polytheism
Definition
a religious system in which many deities coexist
Term
Apostolic Succession
Definition
the historical link from one of the Twelve, transmitted by Christian leaders down the generations to the present day; for churches, having been founded by or possessing a relic of an apostle
Term
Bishop
Definition
an overseer of a group of churches, with authority over clergy of individual parishes
Term
Council
Definition
an assembly, usually principally of bishops but including other clergy, for defining doctrine and disciplining those dangerous to the church
Term
Deacon
Definition
a member of the clergy charged with assisting priests and bishops, especially in charitable and material matters
Term
Deaconess
Definition
a woman charged with the care of certain members of a parish - usually the sick and the poor
Term
Diocese
Definition
a bishop's jurisdicition, comprising a number of individual churches, or parishes
Term
Heretical
Definition
adhering to teachings in conflict with those of the universal church; schismatic
Term
Orthodox
Definition
faithful to the teachings of the church; also used as the name of the Eastern Church
Term
Pallium
Definition
a band of fabric worn by the bishop of Rome and other bishops consecrated by him
Term
Pallium
Definition
a band of fabric worn by the bishop of Rome and other bishops consecrated by him
Term
Primate
Definition
the bishop of the "first" see in a national church; the chief bishop of a given people or state
Term
Apophthegmata
Definition
collections of sayings by the Desert Fathers, taken down and disseminated by their followers
Term
Ascetism
Definition
any form of self-discipline practiced for a spiritual end; often a life of strict self-denial
Term
Cenobitic
Definition
of the communal monastic life (from the Greek koinos bios, common life)
Term
Cloister
Definition
the inner colonnade of a monastery; the term is often used for the religious life generally
Term
Cluny
Definition
a monastery established in the early 10th century; it becaame the center of a network of houses seeking a return to the Benedictine ideal
Term
Desert Fathers
Definition
monks who lived in isolation in the desert; the earliest Christian hermits
Term
Eremitic
Definition
of the solitary monastic life (from the Greek eremos, desert)
Term
Lay Brother or Sister
Definition
a member of a monastic community who helps in the work of the house and shares in its religious life, taking vows of celibacy and obedience, but is exempt from the study required of monks or nuns
Term
Reform
Definition

a movement aimed at correcting the corruptions of a monastic establishment and restoring the life to its original form

 

Term
Rule
Definition
the governing document of a monastery, setting times and tasks for the community
Term
Apologist
Definition
a defender of Christian teachings, usually with philosophical arguments
Term
Canonize
Definition
to declare somebody a saint or grant special authority to a book or set of books
Term
Eschatology
Definition
that part of theology concerned with judgment and the afterlife
Term
Neoplatonism
Definition
a late-antique philosophy holding that the present material world of dividedness is on a path toward union with the One
Term
Proselyte
Definition
a convert, often one prompted by missionary efforts
Term
Synod of Whitby
Definition
a council that met in 664 and symbolically unified the English Church by fixing the date for Easter observance
Term
Immanent
Definition
dwelling within, pervading; a belief in God's immanence holds that the divine is present to human experience
Term
Lollard
Definition
a follower of John Wycliffe; any member of a loosely organized anticlerical sect in late 14th and 15th century England
Term
Nominalism
Definition
a philosophical and theological doctrine holding that individuals, and the terms denoting them, are ultimately real
Term
Realism
Definition
a philosophical and theological doctrine which teaches that only abstractions are ultimately real
Term
Secular Clergy
Definition
priesets who do not belong religious orders
Term
Stigmata
Definition
the wounds on hands, feet, and side that have marked certain holy men, among them Francis of Asisi
Term
Stigmatization
Definition
receiving the wounds that jesus bore during the Crucifixion
Term
Voluntarism
Definition
the theological position that all that exists, including the Incarnation and the church, has come about through the will (Latin, voluntas) of God
Term
Anticlericalism
Definition
popular hostility to the clergy, often in the form of satirizing their imagined gluttony and sexual habits
Term
Justification by Faith
Definition
a Reformation doctrine holding that only belief in Christ's atonement is necessary and sufficient for salvation
Term
Priesthood of all Believers
Definition
a lutheran doctrine stating that all Christians are equal before God and share a holy or "priestly" mission
Term
Sola Gratia
Definition
a doctrine which teaches that the believer is saved solely by divine means - grace - and not through any amount of human effort
Term
Sola scriptura
Definition
a theological principle that seeks to base all doctrine in scriptural revelation; it is associated with 16th centure Protestantism
Term
Absolutism
Definition
a political doctrine that grants secular rulers absolute control over religious (and other) affairs in their territories
Term
Accident
Definition
the appearance of any material thing, irrelevant to its true nature and purpose
Term
Anabaptist
Definition
a member of a Protestant sect that emerged in Germany in 1521; its adherents insisted on believers' (adult) baptism and moral purity in the community
Term
Antinominalism
Definition
the rejection of law as a norm in the Christian life, based on the idea that Christ abolished legalism
Term
Augsburg Confession
Definition
the 1530 declaration of Lutheran beliefs, presented at the Diet of Augsburg; it became the basis for later Lutheran teaching
Term
Consubstantiation
Definition
the Lutheran Eucharistic doctrine holding that bread and wine take on properties of Christ's body and blood, but still remain bread and wine
Term
Consubstantiation
Definition
the Lutheran Eucharistic doctrine holding that bread and wine take on properties of Christ's body and blood, but still remain bread and wine
Term
Hymnody
Definition
the composing and performing of hymns; in some branches of the church, an important expression of faith
Term
Marburg Articles
Definition
a set of 15 statements intended to unify Lutherans and Zwinglians in 1529; their disagreement over the Eucharist prevented concord
Term
Marburg Colloquy
Definition
the 1529 debate between Luther and Zwingli about the Eucharist; an early point of rupture withing Protestantism
Term
Sacramentarianism
Definition
the Eucharistic doctrine teaching that the bread and wine are purely symbols of Christ's body and blood
Term
Schmalkald League
Definition
a federation of Protestant states formed for protection against the Catholic Holy Roman Empire
Term
Substance
Definition
what any given thing ultimately is, beneath changeable appearances
Term
Transubstantiation
Definition
The Catholic Eucharistic doctrine holding that bread and wine are transformed into the body and blood of Christ
Term
Wittenberg Concord
Definition
the 1536 joint statement on the Eucharist by Lutheran and Reformed theologians; the accord failed soon thereafter
Term
Baroque
Definition
a 17th century cultural movement associated with Counter-Reformation Catholicism, characterized by exuberance in painting, music, and architecture
Term
Catechism
Definition
a comprehensive manual of religious instruction in question-and-answer form, usually for the young
Term
Discalced Carmelites
Definition
a reformed Spanish branch of the medieval Carmelite order with a strong devotional and mystical strain; their austerity is indicated by "discalced" (literally, "shoeless")
Term
Society of Jesus (Jesuits)
Definition
a religious order founded in 1534 by Ignatius Loyola and a band of followers; it emphasized pastoral care and "recovery" of the faithful from Protestantsim
Term
Forensic Doctrine
Definition
a view of justification associated with Lutheranism, holding that each believer is granted salvation by divine declaration and with no individual effort
Term
Jansenism
Definition
a strict form of Catholicism dominant in France in the 17th century; it emphasized a radical doctrine of original sin and the necessity for grace
Term
Pietism
Definition
a late 17th and 18th century revival within Lutheranism, characterized by extraliturgical devotions and preaching focused on love
Term
Quesnelism
Definition
a strict form of Catholicism in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, emphasizing human sinfulness and denying any goodness in human actions outside of the church
Term
Rationalism
Definition
a 17th century philosophical movement striving to limit all truth to that which can be proved deductively
Term
Skepticism
Definition
a 17th century philosophical movement questioning all beliefs and subjecting them to rational proof; also (more rarely) the denial that anything at all can be known with certainty
Term
Conversion
Definition
changing from one religion or spiritual state to another; within Christianity, making or renewing one's dedication to christ and the work of the church
Term
Great Awakening
Definition
an American revival movement of the early 18th century, stressing repentance and conversion
Term
Theocratic
Definition
divinely ruled; under theocratic governance a state is ruled by clerical authorities and its principles are determined by religious priorities
Term
Voluntary Principle
Definition
the notion that membership of a church must have an element of personal choice to be meaningful; a reaction against the imposition of any one religion by a higher authority
Term
Methodism
Definition
A denomination that grew out of revival within the Anglican Church associated with John and Charles Wesley; it focuses on emotional piety and centers around the sermon
Term
Natural Religion
Definition
in Enlightenment thought, a belief holding that nature presented sufficient evidence of the existence of God
Term
Theism
Definition
belief in the existence of God; during the Enlightenment, a view of the divine as an abastract metaphysical principle rather than a supernatural personal agent
Term
Denomination
Definition
any of the various forms or sects of Christianity
Term
Revivalism
Definition
a form of Christianity centered around waves of conversion and repentance sweeping through regions; it is characterized by passionate preaching, "tent meetings," and emotional affirmations of faith
Term
Concordat
Definition
an agreement; specifically, one between the Vaticn and a European state, identifying political and ecclesiastical jurisdictions in secular society
Term
Immaculate Conception
Definition
the Roman Catholic doctrine that the Virgin mary was free of sin even at the point of her own conception; despite long historical tradition, this was first promulgated in 1854
Term
Neo-Scholasticism (Neo-Thomism)
Definition
a theological movement originating in a late 19th century revival of the ideas of Thomas Aquinas; it was the dominant school of Catholic thought in the early 20th century
Term
Unitarianism
Definition
a movement within the Reformation that denied the doctrine of the Trinity and held that Jesus was a human servant of a unified deity; it gained ground in the United States in the 19th century
Term
Catholic Action
Definition
an early 20th century European movement empowering lay Catholics in social and educational work
Term
Confessing Church
Definition
a branch of German Protestantism during WWII which opposed Nazism and its takeover of the Christian establishment
Term
German Christians
Definition
a group of German clergy who saw in Nazism the fulfillment of nationalist ideas; collaborators who "consecrated" Nazi banners and symbols
Term
Magisterium
Definition
the teaching office of the Roman Catholic Church; the theologians and hierarchy who protect the dogmas held by the Catholic faithful
Term
Neo-Orthodoxy
Definition
a 20th century Protestant movement reviving stringent Reformation-era conceptions of original sin and the harmful potential of human organizations
Term
Base Community
Definition
a primitive form of church, current in Latin America, which brings together the marginalized and stresses hope for some form of redemption
Term
Anonymous Christians
Definition
a term popularized by Karl Rahner for believers in a sovereign and merciful God who might not explicitly believe in Christ himself
Term
College of Cardinals
Definition
an assembly of the highest officials, below the pope, in the Catholic church; the electoral body for the papacy
Term
Vatican II
Definition
a council of the roman Catholic Church (1962-65) charged with modernizing ritual, organization, and relations with other faiths
Term
Paul
Definition
Marriage is a life of worry; If possible, remain celibate-"He who marries does well, He who refrains does better"
Term
Ascetism
Definition
concern to sexuality led to this
Term
Monasticism
Definition
person attempts to live apart from the rest of the world, more specifically to practice their faith; communities were made
Term
St. Pachomius
Definition
Monastic monk who gathered monks for demanding work
Term
Cluny Abbey
Definition
followed the Benedictine Rule; ruled out some of the manual labor; movement spread out
Term
Dominicans
Definition
Order of Preachers
Term
St. Clare of Assisi
Definition
women's reform
Term
St. Francis of Assisi
Definition
founded a mendicant religious order which viewed monastic corruption as a result of wealth; set up hospitals
Term
The Great Commission
Definition
understood as Jesus charging his disciples to take his teachings to others
Term
Proselytism
Definition
inducing someone else to have a different view point, not necessarily about Christianity; to induce someone to convert to one's faith. The effort to change a person from one opinion; the making of converts. Contains an element of compulsion
Term
Evangelism
Definition
the preaching or promulgation of the gospel; necessarily associated with Christianity; does not necessarily entail compulsion
Term
St. Boniface
Definition
missionary famous in Germany; Christians learn Latin since it's the language of the Roman Catholic Church
Term
Factors leading up to Luther
Definition
dissatisfaction with church (corruption, anti-clericalism, laity antagonistic for the priests)
Term
John Wycliffe
Definition
English priest; believed the Bible should be written in vernacular view; Bible should be available in a common language to people; emphasized bread and wine communion (laity only used to get wine)
Term
El Requerimiento
Definition
legal document explaining the conditions under which Spain could declare war on Native Americans
Term
Romanus Pontifex
Definition
1455-issued by Pope Nicholas V; pope help spiritual authority over every human being, and in which he banned all nations but Portugal from going to lands in Africa claimed by Portugal; Portugal later cites this bull as the basis of its claims in the Americas
Term
Inter caetera
Definition
1493-issued by Pope Alexander VI; a bull creating an imaginary line the divides down the continent of South America, and allocating the larger region to Portugal and the small region to Spain
Term
Treaty of Tordesillas
Definition
granted Spain and Portugal a more equal portion of the South American continent
Term
Puritan Contribution
Definition
church and state are 2 separate covenants between God and the people; church officials could not serve as political officials and vice versa; church and state are to be close and compact;
Term
Evangelical Contribution
Definition
represented by Roger Williams RI; wild variety of theological beliefs; advocated the protection of the liberty of conscience of every individual and the freedom of association of every religious group; thus, government is to free all religion from law
Term
Enlightenment Contribution
Definition
represented by Voltaire, Locke, Madison, Jefferson; religion is a matter of private reason and conscience; natural right; civil leaders and community were committed to a common Christianity
Term
Republican Contribution
Definition
opposed religious intrusions on politics and vice versa; represented by John Adams, Benjamin Rush, and Washington; advocated liberty of conscience for all and state support for a plurality of religions
Term
Puritans
Definition
Enlightenment thinkers found all with this group
Term
Evangelical thinkers
Definition
Republicans found allies with these group
Term
Modernists
Definition
denied biblical literalism and inerrancy, accepted evolution; able to allow their religious beliefs to adapt to cultural changes
Term
Fundamentalists
Definition
affirmed the "fundamentals" of Christianity
Term
Conservatives
Definition
less open to change than modernists, but more open than fundamentalists
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