Chapter 6 Flashcards
Atheism
Belief that God does not exist.
Agnosticism
Belief that the existence of God cannot be proven empirically.
Universalizing religions
Attempt to be global and appeal to all people, wherever they may live in the world, not just to those of one culture or location.
Ethnic religions
Appeal primarily to one group of people living in one place.
Congregation
A local assembly of persons brought together for common religious worship.
Denomination
Unites a number of local congregations in a single legal and administrative body.
Branch
A large and fundamental division within a religion.
Syncretic
A religion that combines several traditions.
Animism
In this religion, inanimate objects such as plants and stones, or natural events such as thunderstorms and earthquakes, are “animated” or have discrete spirits and conscious life.
Monotheism
Belief that there is only one God.
Polytheism
Belief that there is a collection of gods.
Missionaries
Individuals who help to transmit a universalizing religion through relocation diffusion.
Ghettos
City neighborhoods set up by law to be inhabited only by (in this case) Jews.
Hierarchical religion
A religion in which a central authority exercises a high degree of control.
Autonomous religions
Self sufficient religions like Islam or Protestantism that don’t have a central authority or a hierarchical structure.
