Religion

a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally percieved ultimate priorities

Secularism

idea that ethical and moral standards should be formulated and adhered for life on Earth

monothestic

 belief in one god

 polytheistic

belief in more than one god or dieties

animistic religion

belief that inanimate posses souls and can help or hinder us

universalizing religion

represents a universal truth, belief in one true religion in a universal scope

ethnic religion

a religion that is particular to one, culturally distinct, group of people

Hinduism

one of oldest religions in the world (4000 yrs) doesn't have a single founder, theology, or agreement of its origins

Caste System

 the srtict social seperation of people

buddhism

belief that enlightenment would come through knowledge

shintoism

in japan, focuses on belief in nature and ancestoral

Taoism

 founded by Lao-Tsu focus on oneness with humanity and nature

 Feng Shui

"wind-water" chinese art and science of placement or orientation of buildings

Confucianism

a philosphy of education, ethicsm, and public services. based on Confucius' writings

Judaism

Jewish. uniting people in worship and unity with one God

Diaspora

 forceful or voluntary dispersal of people from homeland to a new place

Zionism

the movement to unite the Jewih people of the Diaspora and to develop national homeland

 Christianity

based on teachings of Jesus.

Eastern Orthodox Church

 one of three major branches of christianity arose out of roman empire Constantinople

Roman Catholic Church

Centered in Rome. One of 3 major branches of religion

protestant

seperated from catholic church. "protested" catholic church

Islam

based on teachings of Muhammed who recieved truth directly for Allah

Sunni

 believe in effectiveness of families and communities

Shi'ite

believe in infalliabilty and divine right of authority

Shamanism

belief in the community Shaman or healer, visionary, teacher, or leader

pilgramige

voluntary travel to a sacred site

sacred sites

place or space people infuse with religious meaning

minarets

tower attached to a muslim mosque

hajj

muslim pilgramige to Mecca, the birth place of Muhammed

interfaith boundaries

boundries between the world's major faiths

intrafaith boundaries

boundries within a single faith

genocide

the systematic killing of an entire people or nation

activity space

the space within which daily activity takes place

religious fundamentalism

religious movment to return to the foundations of the faith and influence state policy

religious extremism

 religious fundamentalism carried to the point of violence

 shari'a laws

system of islamic laws

jihad

represents either a personal or collective struggle on the part of Muslims  to live up to religious standards