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WORLD RELIGION
WEEK 1 KEY TERMS
52
Religious Studies
Undergraduate 1
02/07/2012

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Term
Religion
Definition
a system of symbols, myths, doctrines, ethics, and rituals for the expression of ultimate relevance
Term
Symbol
Definition
something that is used to represent something else
Term
Rituals
Definition
prescribed, formalized actions that are used to dramatize religious symbols
Term
Magic
Definition
the attempt to manipulate spiritual forces
Term
Doctrine
Definition
the specific teachings of a denomination on the nature of adeity
Term
MONOTHEISM
Definition
the position (belief) that only one Deity exists
Term
POLYTHEISM
Definition
the position(belief)that many Deities exist
Term
SYNCRETISM
Definition
the blending that takes place when different religions come into contact
Term
ANIMISM
Definition
the doctrine that there are spirits in everything
Term
ATHEISM
Definition
the position(belief)that no deities exist
Term
scripture
Definition
Sacred writtings (Bible)
Term
FUNDAMENTALISTS
Definition
people who are strict about their religious doctrine and ethics and take a literal interpretation of scriptures
Term
Theologians
Definition
Attempt to use philosophy and rational elaboration in order to explain or argue religious doctrine
Term
High God
Definition
father, creator god has withdrawn from active intervention in the world
Term
MAGIC
Definition
use of ritual to manipulate spirits or natural phenomena
Term
Megaliths
Definition
stone monument centers for rituals
Term
Sacrifice
Definition
ritual offering of something to deity; human sacrifice practiced by some religions
Term
Shaman
Definition
medicine man figure prominent in religion of tribal cultures
Term
Taboo
Definition
something forbidden for ordinary use
Term
Vision quest
Definition
puberty rite of American Indians; young man is sent into wilderness for communion with spirits
Term
Mesopotamia
Definition
a region of civilizations arising between Tigris and Euphrates rivers
Term
Alexander the Great
Definition
Macedonian conqueror, spreading Greek culture to Middle East, bringing in Hellenistic era around 300 B.C.E.
Term
Anthropomorphic
Definition
a deity having human form
Term
Apollo
Definition
Greek Olympian deity representing reason, moderation
Term
Aristotle
Definition
384-322 B.C.E. Greek philosopher; emphasized reason, observation, moderation; influenced
Term
Aquinas
Definition
(Catholic), Averroes (Muslim), and Maimonides (Jewish
Term
Axial, Axis Age
Definition
period of great religious and philosophical speculation, 600 B.C.E. - 200 C.E.
Term
Chthonic
Definition
deities representing powers of the earth (Greek)
Term
Cybele
Definition
mother goddess from Asia Minor, popular in Rome in the early common era; self-castration ritual
Term
Cynics
Definition
Greek philosophy offshoot of Socrates; reject all social conventions; asceticism, members were hermits
Term
Cyrenaics
Definition
Greek philosophy offshoot of Socrates; reject all social convention; pursue pleasure
Term
Democritus
Definition
460-370 B.C.E. Greek pilosopher "Atoms are the material from which everything is made"; no afterlife, hedonistic
Term
Dionysus
Definition
Greek god of wine and ecstatic rites, son of Zeus; his mystery cult involved devouring live animals
Term
Divination
Definition
attempting to foretell the future through various rituals
Term
Eleatics
Definition
Greek monistic philosophers who denied the existence of change
Term
Eleusinian mysteries
Definition
Greek, Hellenistic cult; mother-daughter goddesses; secret initiation rites
Term
Epicureanism
Definition
Greek philosophy, materialist, hedonist; "We free man from fear of death and religion"
Term
Great Mother
Definition
fertility goddess prevalent in Hellenistic times
Term
Hellenistic
Definition
Greek culture in the time after Alexander (300 B.C.E.)
Term
Heraclitus
Definition
6-5th century B.C.E. Greek philosopher "All is flame, change"; attacked popular religion as superstition
Term
Isis
Definition
Egyptian and Hellenistic mother goddess, theistic, answered prayer
Term
Mithra, Mitra
Definition
Iranian son god who became an important cult among Roman soldiers; secret rituals, bull sacrifice
Term
Monism
Definition
"all reality is of a single thing"
Term
Olympian
Definition
ancient Greek pantheon which included anthropomorphic deities such as Zeus
Term
Oracle
Definition
Greek shrines for divination
Term
Orphics
Definition
6th century B.C.E. ancient Greek mystery cult, emphasized afterlife, vegetarianism, asceticism, secret rituals, music
Term
Osiris
Definition
Egyptian and Hellenistic god; dying and rising, judge of the dead
Term
Pantheon
Definition
a structured relationship between polytheistic deities
Term
Plato
Definition
429-347 B.C.E. Greek philosopher; "The physical world is but a physical manifestation of ideal forms"; dualist, reincarnation, ideal controlled society
Term
Pythagorus
Definition
570-500 B.C.E. Greek mathematician and cult leader; reincarnation, vegetarianism, and secret rituals, ascetic
Term
Socrates
Definition
470-399 B.C.E. Greek philosopher, executed for allegedly challenging traditional religion
Term
Zeus
Definition
head deity of thunderbolt in Greek Pantheon; known as Jupiter in Rome; anthropomorphic
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