Introduction to Religion: Vocabulary

Question 1

Religion

Answer 1

The belief in a higher power

Question 2

The latin word for Religion is _______
- What does it mean?

Answer 2

Religio
- To tie back

Question 3

All religions, in a sense, share the goal of ________ to something beyond _______

Answer 3

tying people back, the surface of life

Question 4

What is one of the primary functions of religion?

Answer 4

To address the question: is that all there is?

Question 5

What things offer only temporary solace and why?

Answer 5

Relationships, money, cars, objects. We know these things are impermanent, they change over time and don’t last.

Question 6

Can we find fulfillment in material objects?

Answer 6

NO

Question 7

Religion satisfies the longings for __________

Answer 7

meaning, immortality, personal growth, peace, and an escape from personal problems

Question 8

What are the 2 modes of knowing “what is”?

Answer 8

Reason and Intuition

Question 9

What is reason and provide an example.

Answer 9

To reason is to establish our theories from the data we have gathered with our senses.
Example: Life is balanced, it must have been created intentionally by great intelligence

Question 10

What is intuition and provide an example.

Answer 10

Intuition moves beyond the sense to perceive truths that seem to lie beyond reason. You recognize the truth without thinking about it.

Plays a big role in faith.

The Qur’an came to the Prophet Muhammad in the form of divine revelation.

Question 11

The Ultimate Reality may be conceived in two ways:

Answer 11

Immanent
Transcendent

Question 12

What is immanence?

Answer 12

Worldly things - To be present in the world

Question 13

What is transcendence?

Answer 13

To exist above and outside the material universe

Question 14

What is theism?

Answer 14

Religion’s based on one’s relationship to the divine Being

Question 15

What is Monotheism?

Answer 15

The divine Being is worshipped in singular form (only one god)
i.e. Christianity - God

Question 16

What is Polytheism?

Answer 16

The divine Being is comprised of many forms (more than one god)
i.e. Hinduism

Question 17

What is Atheism?

Answer 17

Non-belief in any deity (there is no god)

Question 18

What is Agnosticism?

Answer 18

The belief that if the Divine exists, it is impossible for humans to define it

They do not deny the Divine

Question 19

What is Nontheism?

Answer 19

No belief in a personal creator, god, or gods.
Ultimate reality still exists
Simply, “the Way”
i.e. Buddhism

Question 20

What is Deism?

Answer 20

A philosophy which maintains that the Divine created and set in motion components of the universe.
But, has not, and does not, intervene in the unfolding of its workings.
There is a clear separation between the Divine and humanity after the creation of the Earth.

Question 21

What is Humanism?

Answer 21

A system of thought that rejects the spiritual or supernatural.
It emphasizes human reason and actions as the source of all value

Question 22

What is secular?

Answer 22

Defines the non-religous affairs of the world
The aspects which are not spiritual or sacred

Question 23

What is Forms of Religious Interpretation known as?

Answer 23

How strictly one follows their faith

Question 24

What are the 4 forms of religious interpretation?

Answer 24

Fundamentalist, Orthodox, Conservative, and Liberal

Question 25

What is a fundamentalist?

Answer 25

Followers who advocate for a strict and literal adherence to the basic principles. Whatever the sacred text says is strictly followed word for word and interpreted as Literal. Stems from the 20th century Protestant (type of Christian) movement

Question 26

What is Orthodox?

Answer 26

"Conforming to the established doctrine" They stand by a historical form of their religion They are strict followers of practices and laws and their faith

Question 27

What is Conservative?

Answer 27

They favor slow evolution over rapid change. They allow only minor changes in traditional rituals *Important: This type of religious interpretation does ALLOW for some change

Question 28

What is Liberal?

Answer 28

They favor individual freedom of interpretation. They see religious writing as products of their time rather than divine truth or fact. Interpret and draw lessons from scripture.

Question 29

What is Extremism?

Answer 29

They hold religious ideology that is considered to be far outside the mainstream attitudes of society. Extremism often manifests itself in the form of violence or cults Religious extremism is present in ALL religions They apply the scriptures in a way that oppresses others.

Question 30

What is are Heretics? Provide and example

Answer 30

They publicly assert controversial positions that are unacceptable to the orthodox or conservative establishment. *In medieval times, they would burn people on the cross Example: Roman catholic priests should get married. However, in our faith, priests should not get married but devote their lives to God.

Question 31

What are Mystics? Provide an example

Answer 31

They are guided by their own spiritual experiences These beliefs may coincide with any of the other interpretations from fundamentalist understandings to heresy. Example: Kabbalah (Jewish), Munks

Question 32

Proselytize

Answer 32

To induce someone to convert to one's faith

Question 33

Profane

Answer 33

To treat (something sacred) with abuse, irreverence, or contempt

Question 34

Sacred

Answer 34

Dedicated for the service/worship of a deity

Question 35

Scriptures

Answer 35

A body of writings considered sacred or autoritative

Question 36

Rites of Passage

Answer 36

A ritual, event, or experience that marks a major milestone/change in a person's life

Question 37

Credo

Answer 37

A guiding belief or principle

Question 38

Ritual

Answer 38

The established form for a ceremony

Question 39

Pagan

Answer 39

One who has little or no religion Delighted in sensual pleasure

Question 40

Doctrine

Answer 40

The body of principles in a branch of knowledge/system of beliefs

Question 41

Dogma

Answer 41

Something held as an established opinion