Unit 3 Flashcards
(33 cards)
Animism
The belief in both a visible world and an invisible spirit world, where gods, ancestors, and supernatural beings exist.
Atheism
The lack of belief in any deity (but not necessarily the absence of religion).
Deism
The belief that a distant, non-intervening God created the universe, and that religious truth is found through reason, not revelation or organized religion.
Dynamism
The belief in an impersonal supernatural force that can be influenced through magic for human benefit.
Henotheism
The worship of one supreme god among many, while acknowledging the existence of other deities.
Monotheism
The belief in a single, universal God who governs all existence.
Panentheism
The belief that the universe is part of God, but God also extends beyond it.
Pantheism
The belief that God and the universe are identical—everything is divine.
Polytheism
The belief in multiple gods, often organized in a pantheon, who may be universal or local in influence.
Theism
The belief in the existence of one or more gods (contrasted with atheism).
Theos
Greek for “god” (feminine: Thea – “goddess”).
Transcendent & Immanent
Transcendent: A reality beyond ordinary human experience (divine, supernatural, or metaphysical—not limited to gods).
Immanent: The everyday, tangible world we inhabit; the opposite of transcendent.
Theism, Atheism & Agnosticism
Theism: Belief in personal god(s) who interact with the world and humanity.
Atheism: Active rejection of belief in any deity.
Agnosticism: Neutral stance—neither affirming nor denying gods, often viewing the divine as irrelevant or unknowable.
Holy and Profane
Holy (Sacred): Connected to the divine—objects, places, or beings that reveal the transcendent (e.g., sacred texts, rituals).
Profane: The ordinary, secular world—existing “outside the temple,” with no sacred significance.
Revelation
Divine disclosure of hidden truths or salvation, often through visions, scriptures, or prophets—offering transformative insight into existence.
Good and Evil
Monism: Good and evil are interconnected, stemming from one source—complementary opposites (e.g., light/dark) without absolute conflict.
Dualism: Eternal battle between two opposing forces (e.g., God vs. Satan), though some traditions blend both views (e.g., Biblical “qualified dualism”).
What are the 5 religious concepts?
- Transcendent & Immanent
- Theism, Atheism & Agnosticism
- Holy and Profane
- Revelation
- Good and Evil
Divine Omnipotence & Human Freedom
Tension: In monotheism (e.g., Islam), strong divine omnipotence can challenge free will, raising questions about sin, salvation, and moral accountability.
Predestination Risks: Overemphasis may negate evangelism (if fate is pre-set) or trivialize God’s power (if freedom is overplayed).
Religious Logic: Myth/symbol allow paradoxical coexistence of truths (e.g., “God controls all, yet humans choose”).
What are the implications of Divine Omnipotence & Human Freedom?
Key Implications:
Without free will, “sin” loses meaning; salvation becomes incoherent.
Theological debates often hit deadlocks (e.g., Islamic scholastic disputes).
Time and History in Religion
Linear Time (Biblical/Western): History has a clear beginning and end (e.g., Genesis to Apocalypse).
Cyclic Time (e.g., Hinduism): Eternal loops of creation/destruction, life/death, with no final endpoint.
Life and Death in Religion
Interdependence: Death gives meaning to life, often linked to renewal/fertility (e.g., seeds, moth’s eggs).
Afterlife Beliefs:
Ancestral Spirits (Primal religions).
Reincarnation (Hinduism/Buddhism: cyclical rebirth).
Resurrection (Egyptian Osiris, Persian Mithra, Christian Easter).
Symbolism: Natural cycles (e.g., winter solstice) inspire myths of rebirth (e.g., Sol Invictus → Christmas).
Key Idea: Death is universally seen as a transition, not an end.
Heaven and Earth in Religion
Primordial Symbolism: Often depicted as a sacred union (e.g., Greek Ouranos (sky) + Gaia (earth); Egyptian Nut (sky goddess) + Geb (earth god)), giving birth to life/nature.
Heaven:
Dwelling of gods (e.g., hunter/herder religions).
Layered realms (highest = divine; lower = demons/spirits).
Earth/Underworld:
Agricultural focus: Fertility, cycles (e.g., Mother Earth/Gaia in New Age).
Underworld: Realm of dead (e.g., Hades in Greek myth; Sheol in Old Testament), sometimes conflated with Hell.
Cosmic structure: Pillars, primordial waters beneath (Psalms 104:5; Exodus 20:4).
Ecological View: New Age’s Gaia theory frames Earth as a living organism, with humans as disruptive “parasites” triggering natural “immune responses” (illnesses).
Key Contrasts:
Gender Roles: Heaven = male (Greek), female (Egyptian); Earth = vice versa.
Cultural Focus: Sky-gods vs. earth-goddesses reflect societal priorities (herding vs. farming).
Cult
A small, isolated religious group that rejects mainstream society, demanding total commitment and often adopting countercultural practices.
Denomination
A distinct subgroup within a larger religion (e.g., Baptist, Methodist in Christianity), sharing core beliefs but differing in specific doctrines or practices.
