Ch. 7

Front 1

Religion

Back 1

a system of beliefs and practices that attempts to order life in terms of culturally perceived ultimate priorities

Front 2

Secularism

Back 2

idea that ethical and moral standards should be formulated and adhered to for life on Earth, not to accommodate the prescriptions of a deity and promises of a comfortable afterlife

Front 3

Monotheistic

Back 3

Belief system in which one supreme being is revered as creator and arbiter of all that exists in the universe

Front 4

Polytheistic

Back 4

Belief system in which multiple deities are revered as creators and arbiters of all that exists in the universe

Front 5

Animistic

Back 5

The belief that inanimate objects, such as hills, trees, rocks, rivers, and other elements of the natural landscape, possess souls and can help or hinder human efforts on Earth

Front 6

Universalizing religion

Back 6

belief system that espouses the idea that there is one true religion that is universal in scope.

Front 7

Ethnic religion

Back 7

A religion that is particular to one, culturally distinct, group of people. Unlike universalizing religions, adherents of ethnic religions do not actively seek converts through evangelism or missionary work.

Front 8

Hinduism

Back 8

One of the oldest religions in the modern world, dating back over 4000 years, and originating in the Indus River Valley of what is today part of Pakistan. Hinduism is unique among the world's religions in that it does not have a single founder, a single theology, or agreement on its origins.

Front 9

Caste system

Back 9

The strict social segregation of people-specifically in India's Hindu society-on the basis of ancestry and occupation.

Front 10

Buddhism

Back 10

Religion founded in the sixth century BCE and characterized by the belief that enlightenment would come through knowledge, especially self-knowledge; elimination of greed, craving, and desire; complete honesty; and never hurting another person or animal. Buddhism splintered from Hinduism as a reaction to the strict social hierarchy maintained by Hinduism.

Front 11

Shintoism

Back 11

Religion located in Japan and related to Buddhism. Shintoism focuses particularly on nature and ancestor worship.

Front 12

Taoism

Back 12

Religion believed to have been founded by Lao-Tsu and based upon his book entitled "Tao-te-ching," or "Book of the Way." Lao-Tsu focused on the proper form of political rule and on the oneness of humanity and nature.

Front 13

Fend shui

Back 13

Literally "wind-water." The Chinese art and science of placement and orientation of tombs, dwellings, buildings, and cities. Structures and objects are positioned in an effort to channel flows of sheng-chi ("life-breath") in favorable ways.

Front 14

Confucianism

Back 14

A philosophy of ethics, education, and public service based on writings of Confucius and traditionally thought of as one of the core elements of Chinese culture.

Front 15

Judaism

Back 15

Religion with its roots in the teachings of Abraham (from Ur), who is credited with uniting his people to worship only one god. According to Jewish teaching, Abraham and God have a covenant in which the Jews agree to worship only one God, and God agrees to protect his chosen people, the Jews.

Front 16

Diaspora

Back 16

From the Greek "to disperse," a term describing forceful or voluntary dispersal of a people from their homeland to a new place. Originally denoting the dispersal of the Jews, it is increasingly applied to other population dispersals, such as the involuntary relocation of Black peoples during the slave trade or Chinese peoples outside of Mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

Front 17

Zionism

Back 17

The movement to unite the Jewish people of the diaspora and to establish a national homeland for them in the promised land.

Front 18

Christianity

Back 18

Religion based on the teachings of Jesus. According to Christian teaching, Jesus is the son of God, placed on Earth to teach people how to live according to God's plan.

Front 19

Eastern Orthodox Church

Back 19

One of three major branches of Christianity, the Eastern Orthodox Church, together with the Roman Catholic Church, a second of the three major branches of Christianity, arose out of the division of the Roman Empire by Emperor Diocletian into four governmental regions: two western regions centered in Rome, and two eastern regions centered in Constantinople (now Istanbul, Turkey). In 1054 CE, Christianity was divided along that same line when the Eastern Orthodox Church, centered in Constantinople; and the Roman Catholic Church, centered in Rome, split.

Front 20

Roman Catholic Church

Back 20

Claims the most followers of all Christian denominations,centered in Rome, led by the pope

Front 21

Protestant

Back 21

One of the three major branches of Christianity (together with the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church). Following the widespread societal changes in Europe starting in the 1300s CE, many adherents to the Roman Catholic Church began to question the role of religion in their lives and opened the door to the Protestant Reformation wherein John Huss, Martin Luther, John Calvin, and others challenged many of the fundamental teachings of the Roman Catholic Church.

Front 22

Islam

Back 22

The youngest of the major world religions, Islam is based on the teachings of Muhammad, born in Mecca in 571 CE. According to Islamic teaching, Muhammad received the truth directly from Allah in a series of revelations during which Muhammad spoke the verses of the Qu'ran (Koran) , the Islamic holy book.

Front 23

Sunni

Back 23

Adherents to the largest branch of Islam, called the orthodox or traditionalist. They believe in the effectiveness of family and community in the solution of life's problems, and they differ from the Shiites in accepting the traditions (sunna) of Muhammad as authoritative.

Front 24

Shi'ite

Back 24

Adherents of one of the two main divisions of Islam. Also known as Shiahs, the Shi'ites represent the Persian (Iranian) variation of Islam and believe in the infallibility and divine right to authority of Imams, descendants of Ali.

Front 25

Shamanism

Back 25

Community faith in traditional societies in which people follow their shaman-a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary. At times, an especially strong shaman might attract a regional following. However, most shamans remain local figures.

Front 26

Pilgrimage

Back 26

Voluntary travel by an adherent to a sacred site to pay respects or participate in a ritual at the site.

Front 27

Sacred sites

Back 27

Place or space people infuse with religious meaning.

Front 28

Minarets

Back 28

Tower attached to a Muslim mosque, having one or more projecting balconies from which a crier calls Muslims to prayer.

Front 29

Hajj

Back 29

The Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad

Front 30

Interfaith boundaries

Back 30

Boundaries between the world's major faiths.

Front 31

Intrafaith boundaries

Back 31

Boundaries within a single major faith.

Front 32

Genocide

Back 32

The systematic killing or extermination of an entire people or nation.

Front 33

Activity space

Back 33

The space within which daily activity occurs.

Front 34

Religious fundamentalism

Back 34

Religious movement whose objectives are to return to the foundations of the faith and to influence state policy.

Front 35

Religious extremism

Back 35

Religious fundamentalism carried to the point

Front 36

Shari'a laws

Back 36

The system of Islamic law, sometimes called Qu'ranic law. Unlike most western systems of law that are based on legal precedence, Shari'a is based on varying degrees of interpretation of the Qu'ran.

Front 37

Jihad

Back 37

A doctrine within Islam. Commonly translated as "Holy War," Jihad represents either a personal or collective struggle on the part of Muslims to live up the religious standards set by the Qu'ran.