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
