Terms and Definitions Flashcards
Theism
The belief in a deity, deities, or a higher power
Soft Agnosticism
withholding belief about God’s existence (may or may not exist, I go with the evidence if it ever shows up)
Hard Agnosticism
The belief that it is impossible to know if God exists
Atheism
the belief that there is no deity or higher power
Nontheism
the lack of any regard about God’s existence
Monotheism
The belief that there is only one God (Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Sikhism, Baha’i)
Polytheism
the belief that there are many gods (Hinduism, Greco-Roman Religions, Egyption, Aztec, Norse, Yoruba)
Pantheism
the belief that the universe is God (Hinduism, WIcca, Daoism, Theosophy)
Animism
the belief that each thing is spiritual in nature (Shinto, Paganism, Jainism, Native American, Shamanism
Henotheism
the worship of a single god while accepting the existence of other deities (Hinduism, early Judaism, Greco-Roman, Egyptian)
Transcendent
spiritual reality exists outside or apart from the material universe
Immanent
spiritual reality is present in the visible world
Incarnation
a physical embodiment of the divine (Krishna, Julius Ceaser, Jesus Christ) (I’d like to add maybe the Pharaoh counts too)
Exclusivism
the belief that only one particular religion is true
Pluralism
the belief that all (if not most) religions lead to the same conclusion or hold equally valid truths
Universalism
the belief in a common truth that is more far-reaching than national, cultural, or religious boundaries, especially with regard to reconciliation between humanity and the divine
Proselytization
the sharing of ideas with the intention of converting another person to your way of thinking
Dogma
a belief or teaching that is viewed as authoritative without adequate grounds
Orthodoxy
lit. “correct belief”; religious beliefs that are regarded as authentic and essential
Orthopraxy
lit. “correct practice”; religious practices that are deemed important and essential
Syncretism
the combination of different forms of belief or practice into a new form of belief or practice
Myth
traditional stories people tell themselves in an attempt to teach/explain its worldview, beliefs, principles, or fears, regardless of whether the stories are true or false. (Myths are often regarded as true by their believers and false by others)
Legend
a story coming down from the past that is popularly regarded as historical although not verifiable
Folklore
traditional stories that people tell themselves for entertainment and amusement; typically not regarded as historical
