W.Religions: Midterm Flashcards
Monism
One being who is the infinite sum of all natural forces (Brahaman in Hinduism). One unified reality
Pantheism
Everything is divine, yet God does not have a personality. God is nature (Upanishadic Hinduism)
Theism
There is just one personal, intelligent God; He created and sustains creation. He reveals Himself and answers prayers (most Christians)
A rationalistic view of God that admits His existence and yet rejects His revelation (America’s founding Fathers)
Deism
The representation of God, demons, etc. in the form of idols. From Latin fictitious, made by hand, artificial (voodoo)
Fetishism
Buddhism
“The illuminated one”
Buddha
Jina
Jainism
“the conqueror”
Christ
Christianity
“The anointed one”
Tao
Taoism
“Divine Path”
Shinto
Shintoism
“The way of the gods”
Islam
Islam
“Submission”
Vedas
Hinduism’s earliest sacred writings. It is believed that the truth of the Vedas is eternal and that it existed ontologically before it was written or spoken.
Bhagavad Gita
“Song of the Lord” the most famous and influential text of Hinduism
Hindu Triad
Trimurti. Consists of Brahma, Vishnu, and Shiva. Each represent a stage of rebirth
Vishnu
The preserver. Is believed to be a benevolent God and is accompanied by his wife, Lakshmi
Avatar
“Descents/incarnations” Most common avatars are fish, tortoise, boar, man-lion, dwarf, and four fully human forms - Purusarama, Dasaratharma, Krishna, Buddhda
Shiva
The destroyer, sometimes regenerator. He initiates destruction in order to make room for new creation.
Yoga
“Union through discipline” Consists of disciplinary exercises which produce control of mind over body and perfect confidence. It is the process of discipline leading to oneness with the divine or with one’s self.
Karma
The Law of Cause and Effect. You will suffer in this life or in the future lives for the consequences of your decisions in the past.
Mantra
“Thought form” A single- or multi-syllable phrase (usually in Sanskrit) on which one meditates. Each Mantra is identified with a particular deity to the extent that the correctly pronounced mantra embodies that deity and to invite it to enter you
Hare Krishna Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna hare hare
Nirvana
The individual. Self emerging into the I impersonal and undifferentiated oneness of the Ultimate Self. Nirvana is the goal of enlightenment