Vocab #1 Flashcards
-the theory that all religions and moral truth comes from divine revelation that is passed on by tradition
traditionalism
emphasis on literal interpretations of sacred texts and exclusivity. It is an attempt to return to past ideals
fundamentalism
emphasizes tolerance of all religious beliefs and practices, and is concerned with rationality and inclusivity
liberalism
belief that humanity is capable of morality and self fulfillment without the need for God
secular humanism
excessive belief in the power of science and scientific knowledge to understand and explain all of life’s mysterious questions. Science is God
scientism
-belief in a god or gods, especially one god as Creator of the universe, who has a personal relationship with creation
theism
the belief in one God only
monotheism
the belief in many gods
polytheism
the belief that nature is God. Nature, as well as the principles of Nature, are God
pantheism
the belief that no one can really know God, or anything beyond the material universe. It is neither faith, nor disbelief
agnosticism
total disbelief in God or gods. There is no God
atheism
belief that a supernatural power (like “the Force”) animates the material universe (that is, brings it to life)
animism
belief that people have some power to influence and control the material universe. Unlike animism, it is people that control the material world
animatism
some form of abstraction (an idea) or object that is or is given divine qualities, like a god
divine/deity
a group within a group (like a “section”)
sect
misplaced or excessive admiration of a person or thing. We usually think of this as negative, but it does not need to be. It is following of worshippers whose veneration of a certain person or thing, creates a common purpose
cult
the ability to understand and share the feelings of others
empathy
moral principles that govern human behaviour
ethics
an account or theory about the origin of the universe
cosmology
-belief that union with God can only be achieved through a subjective experience, intuition, or thought. This is done by meditation and contemplation
mysticism
the spiritual state of moving beyond or “above” physical needs and the material world
transcendence
-stories that explain human origins, the origin of the universe, or why the world is the way it is
myth
-belief that reality is comprised of one principle substance, such as Mind or Matter
monism
belief in a supreme being who set the universe in motion, but is no longer present and no longer intervenes in the universe
Deism
