Religion Flashcards
religion
a set of organized beliefs about the supernatural or spiritual world that guides behaviour and joins people into communities of believers.
faith
a belief system based on conviction that does not require objective evidence to substantiate its claims
animism
supernatural entities are believed to inhabit both living things and inanimate objects
polytheism
belief in many gods, can be diffuse, with all gods considered equal, or hierarchical with gods ranked in importance and power
monotheism
belief in a single, all-powerful, all-knowing god
civil religion
exists when sacred symbols are integrated into the broader society regardless of their individual religious affiliations
new religious movement
an informal group without a defined structure and generally emerges around authoritarian and charismatic leaders who suppress rational thought to isolate members from the larger society
sect
a small religious group with exclusive or voluntary membership that is aloof from or hostile to the larger society
church
an institution that brings together a moral community of believers in formal worship and integrates itself within the larger secular world
religious pluralism
a system in which many religions coexist and often compete against each other for members
denomination
faction within a religion which has its own interpretation of religious teachings, rituals, and membership
ecclesia
a system in which a church and the state have a formalized relationship
mysticism
includes religions that seek harmony with the natural world, other people, and the human body
asectisism
includes religions that seek mastery over the natural world, other people, and the human body
inner-worldly
an orientation that focuses on the tangible world and our own creature comforts and aspirations
other-worldly
an orientation that focuses on the separation from the everyday world and finding spiritual enlightenment
theocracy
a form of government in which a god or other supernatural being is seen as the supreme civil ruler
fundamentalism
a movement designed to revitalize faith by returning to traditional religious practices
agnosticism
thinking it is impossible to know whether God exists yet at the same time not denying the possibility
atheism
denial of the existence of any supernatural beings or forces
functionalism
religion can be a form of social solidarity, where people subscribe to a common set of beliefs and values that define morality
conflict theory
religion is used to justify social inequality and the economic domination of one group over another
symbolic interactionism
the rituals and symbols embedded in various religions help people to see themselves and others and define their place in the world
feminist theory
Judeo-Christian religion is another form of male domination. The Bible was written by men for men and serves to justify patriarchal social institutions
