Chapter 6 Flashcards
Animism
Belief that objects, such as plants and stones, or natural events, like thunderstorms and earthquakes, have a discrete spirit and conscious life.
Autonomous religion
A religion that does not have a central authority but shares ideas and cooperates informally.
Branch
A large and fundamental division withing a religion
Caste
The class or distinct heredity order into which a Hindu is assigned according to religious law.
Cosmogony
A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe.
Denomination
A division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations into a single legal and administrative body.
Ethnic religion
A religion with a relatively concentrated spatial distribution whose principles are likely to based on the physical characteristics of the particular location in which its adherents are concentrated.
Fundamentalism
Literal interpretation and strict adherence to basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect)
Ghetto
During the Middle Ages, a neighborhood in a city set up bylaw to be inhabited only by Jews; now used to denote a section of a city in which members of any minority group live because of social, legal, or economic pressure.
Hierarchical religion
A religion in which a central authority exercises a high degree of control.
Missionary
An individual who helps to diffuse a universalizing religion.
Monotheism
The doctrine or belief of the existence of only one God.
Pagan
A follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times.
Pilgrimage
A journey to a place considered sacred for religious reasons
Polytheism
Belief in or worship of more than one god
Sect
A relatively small group that has broken away from an established denomination.
Solstice
Astronomical event that happens twice a year, resulting in the the shortest and longest days of the year.
Universalizing religion
A religion that attempts to appeal to all people, not just those living in a particular location.
