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Final Exam 13
Religions in Asia part 2
24
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 3
05/13/2013

Additional Religious Studies Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Amitabha/Amida
Definition

The most important and highly developed of the Pure Land schools

created by a Chinese Buddha named Amitabha in Sanskrit (Amitofo in Chinese, Amida

in Japanese), featured chanting Amitabha’s name (Namo A-mi-t’l Fo) as a meditative act

and communal ritual.

Term
Anatman
Definition

“nonself,” the doctrine denying the reality of a permanent, immortal soul as

the spiritual center of the human being.

Term
Arhat
Definition

An enlightened disciple, according to the Theravada school; an advanced

disciple, according to the Mahayana.

Term
Bodhisattva
Definition

A Buddha to be, either in the present life or in a future life; in the

Mahayana tradition, all individuals should aspire to be Buddhas, hence the bodhisattva

is the highest human role; some future Buddhas can be reborn as deities, hence in

Mahayana Buddhism there are also bodhisattvas who can assist humans.

Term
Dependent Origination
Definition

A twelve-part formula explaining how individuals are bound to

future rebirth until they extirpate desire and ignorance.

Term
Dharma
Definition

The Buddha’s teaching, one of the three refuges; more broadly, the truth at

the center of Buddhism, the basis for realizing enlightenment.

Term
Engaged Buddhism
Definition

A reformist movement among global Buddhists seeking to relate

the teachings to contemporary suffering.

Term
Koan
Definition

A Buddhist spiritual riddle designed to foster spiritual growth, posed by monastic

teacher to junior monks, such as “what is the sound of one hand clapping?” or “Does a

dog have a Buddhist nature?”

Term
Ancestor veneration
Definition

Worship, feeding, and petitioning of the souls of dead ancestors

at family graves, temples, or home altars.

Term
Kami
Definition
Deity of Japan associated with places, certain animals and the emperor
Term
Shamanism
Definition

Tradition by which human mediums are possessed by spirits and

communicate with the living; in China called wu/xi or fa-shih; in Korea, mudang. Also –

The practice of leaving your body to enter the realm of the gods and spirits and learn

higher spiritual truths and the arts of healing to bring back to one’s people; has its roots

in ancient animistic and polytheistic cultures.

Term
Shinto
Definition

Indigenous religion of Japan that reveres the deities of the islands, including

the emperor.

Term
Tian di
Definition

A supreme overlord believed to keep records on each individual soul, according

to texts found in Han-era tombs in China.

Term
Tu-di gong
Definition
“Earth Ruler,” local god who controls earth’s fertility.
Term
wu-wei
Definition
“Noninterference” or “non-[forced] action,” an ideal in Daoism.
Term
Ayatollah
Definition

Literally, “sign of God”; title used by certain Shiah religious leaders who are

widely reputed for their learning and piety.

Term
caliph
Definition

Successor of Muhammad as the political and military head of the Muslim

community.

Term
Dhimmi
Definition

Literally, protected non-Muslim peoples; refers to Jews and Christians (later

extended to others) who were granted “protected” status and religious freedom under

Muslim rule in exchange for payment of a special tax.

Term
Fatwa
Definition

Legal opinion or interpretation issued on request by legal expert (mufti) to

either judges or private individuals.

Term
Hadith
Definition
Narrative report of Muhammad’s sayings and actions.
Term
Hajj
Definition

Annual pilgrimage to Mecca; all Muslims should make the hajj at least once in

their lifetime, but it is recognized that individual circumstances may make compliance

impossible.

Term
Madrasa
Definition
ISlamic school or seminary
Term
Salat
Definition
official prayer or worship performed 5 times daily
Term
tawhid
Definition
oneness, unity and uniqueness of God; absolute monotheism.
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