Religion Flashcards
What is religion?
A set of organized beliefs about the supernatural or spiritual world that guides behaviour and joins people into communities.
What is faith?
A belief system based on conviction that does not require objective evidence to substantiate its claims.
What are the types of religious belief systems?
- Animism
- Polytheism
- Monotheism
- Civil Religion
What is animism?
Supernatural entities are believed to inhabit both living things and inanimate objects.
What is polytheism?
Belief in many gods. Gods can be equal or hierarchically ranked.
What is monotheism?
Belief in a single, all-powerful, knowing god.
What is civil religion?
Exists when sacred symbols are integrated into the broader society regardless of their individual religious affiliations.
What is mysticism?
Includes religions that seek harmony with the natural world, other people, and the human body.
What is asceticism?
Includes religions that seek mastery over the natural world, other people, and the human body.
What is inner-worldly?
An orientation that focuses on the tangible world and our own creature comforts and aspirations.
What is other-worldly?
An orientation that focuses on the separation from the everyday world and finding spiritual enlightenment.
What is theocracy?
A form of government in which a god or other supernatural being is seen as the supreme civil ruler.
What is fundamentalism?
A movement designed to revitalize faith by returning to traditional religious practices.
What is agnosticism?
Thinking it is impossible to know whether God exists yet at the same time not denying the possibility.
What is atheism?
Denial of the existence of any supernatural beings or forces.
