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| The religious belief that spirits inhabit virtually everything in nature and control all aspects of life and destiny |
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| One of the world's principal religions; adherents follow the teachings of Buddha, the enlightened one, who preached a doctrine of "Four Noble Truths" |
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| One of the principal religions of the world, followers of which profess faith in the teachings of Jesus Christ |
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| An institutionalized organization of people who share common religious beliefs |
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| One of the world's principal religions, found mainly in China, adherents of which follow the teachings of Confucius |
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| Extreme forms of sects that call for a totally new and unique lifestyle, often under the direction of a charismatic leader |
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| Well-established and highly institutionalized churches |
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| An official state religion that includes all or most members of society |
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| The trend for different denominations to join together in pursuit of common interests in a spirit of worldwide Christian unity |
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| The belief that the Bible is the divine word of God and that all statements in it are to be taken literally, word for word |
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| One of the world's principal polytheistic religions, with no religious hierarchy but a close involvement with society and the cosmic order; it is practiced mainly in India and Pakistan |
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| One of the world's principal religions, followers of which adhere to the teachings of the Koran and of Muhammad, a prophet |
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| The oldest religion in the Western world and the first to teach monotheism; today, the Jews are both an ethnic community and a religious group |
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| The belief prevalent among certain sects that there will be a dramatic transformation of life on earth that Christ will rule the world for a thousand years of prosperity and happiness |
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| The belief that spiritual or divine truths come to us through intuition and meditation, not through the use of reason or via the ordinary range of human experience and senses |
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| The belief in and worship of more than one god |
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| Religious leaders who owe their authority to the power of their office |
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| That which belongs to the realm of the everyday world; anything considered mundane and unspiritual |
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| Religious leaders who have authority on the basis of their charismatic qualities |
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| An organized community of believers who hold certain things sacred and follow a set of beliefs, ceremonies, or special behaviors |
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| involving objects and ideas that are treated with reverence and awe |
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| Religious groups that have broken away from a parent church, follow rigid doctrines and fundamentalist teachings, and emphasize "otherworldly," rewards, rejecting or deemphasizing contemporary society |
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| The process through which beliefs concerning the supernatural and religious institutions lose social influence |
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| The religious belief that certain persons (shamans) have special charm, skill, or knowledge in influencing spirits |
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| The worship of plants, animals, and other natural objects as gods and ancestors |
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