Religion Introduction Vocab

Question 1

Agnostic

Answer 1

a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God

Question 2

Apostate

Answer 2

a person who rejects a religious belief

Question 3

Atheist

Answer 3

disbelief or denial of the existence of god

Question 4

Atonement

Answer 4

compensation for a wrong; making amends

Question 5

Canon

Answer 5

any officially recognized set of sacred books

Question 6

Deity

Answer 6

a god or goddess

Question 7

Denominations

Answer 7

a large group of religious congregations united under a common faith and name. Example: Catholicism

Question 8

Divine

Answer 8

of, from, or like god

Question 9

Doctrine

Answer 9

a framework, set of rules; the body of teachings of a religion

Question 10

Dogma

Answer 10

a principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as true; a doctrine concerning faith or morals formally stated by a church

Question 11

Dualism

Answer 11

the religious doctrine that the universe contains opposed powers of good and evil

Question 12

Eschatology

Answer 12

having to do with or relating to the end of the world

Question 13

Evangelize

Answer 13

to preach or spread the word of god

Question 14

Exegesis

Answer 14

a critical examination of a religious text

Question 15

Fundamentalism

Answer 15

a movement or attitude stressing strict and literal adherence to a set of basic principles

Question 16

Henotheistic

Answer 16

belief in or worship of one god without denying the existence of others

Question 17

Heretic

Answer 17

a member of an established religion whose beliefs are not consistent with the establishes orthodoxy

Question 18

Incarnation

Answer 18

physical embodiment of the divine

Question 19

Martyr

Answer 19

one who suffers for the sake of principle

Question 20

Messiah

Answer 20

an expected deliverer of the people; “chosen” one

Question 21

Monotheistic

Answer 21

the belief that there is one god and the denial of all other gods

Question 22

Myth

Answer 22

a story expressing the ideals about reality or spiritual history, usually at a different time.

Question 23

Nontheistic

Answer 23

the absence of deities within a religion

Question 24

Orthodox

Answer 24

following traditional doctrine; sound or correct in opinion or doctrine

Question 25

Pantheistic

Answer 25

a doctrine that identifies god with the universe, or regards the universe as a manifestation of god

Question 26

Parable

Answer 26

an allegorical story, usually illustrating a religious moral point

Question 27

Polytheistic

Answer 27

belief in or worship of more than one god

Question 28

Prophet

Answer 28

one who speaks by divine inspiration

Question 29

Rites

Answer 29

established, ceremonious (usually religious) acts

Question 30

Sacred

Answer 30

things and actions set apart as religious or spiritual which are entitled to reverence

Question 31

Sect

Answer 31

a religious body, especially one that has separated from a large denomination

Question 32

Secular

Answer 32

of or relating to the worldly or temporal

Question 33

Theology

Answer 33

the study of religious faith, practice, or experience

Question 34

Transcendent

Answer 34

existing outside the material universe; beyond or above the range of normal or merely physical human experience