Chapter Six Flashcards
Atheism
Belief that God does not exist.
Agnosticism
Belief that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven empirically.
Universalizing Religions
To 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 ethnic or cultural group, or the people of a specific region.
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
Combining several religious traditions.
Animism
Elements of the natural world such as plants, stones, and 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 in or worship of more than one god.
Autonomous Religions
A religion that does not have a central authority but shares ideas and cooperates informally. (Islam/Protestant denominations are good examples)
Hierarchical Religion
Has a well-defined geographic structure and organizes territory into local administrative units. (Mormons and Roman Catholic)
Cosmogony
A set of religious beliefs concerning the origin of the universe.
Solar Calendar
Has months that correspond to the season or the apparent position of the sun in relation to the stars.
Lunar Calendar
Has months that correspond to cycles of moon phases.
Lunisolar Calendar
Has lunar months that are brought into alignment with the solar year through periodic adjustment.
Solstice
An astronomical event that happens twice each year, when the tilt of Earth’s axis is most inclined toward or away from the sun, causing the sun’s apparent position in the sky to reach its northernmost or southernmost extreme, and resulting in the shortest or longest days of the year.
Fundamentalism
A literal interpretation and a strict and intense adherence to what the fundamentalists define as the basic principles of a religion (or a religious branch, denomination, or sect).
Caste System
The class or distinct hereditary order into which a Hindu is assigned, according to religious law.
