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27 Cards in this Set
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APOCOLYPSE (a-po-cal-ips)
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A Jewish or Christian writing from the period 250 BCE to 150 CE prophysying in vivid symbolism the immanent end of the world. Refers to the end of the world that usually includes a notion of a great battle, final judgement, and reward for good.
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ESCHATOLOGY (ehs-kah-tohl-oh-gee)
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Term that refers to the theory of the end of the world. Speculation on how and when the end of the world will occur, and what those end times will be like.
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EUCHARIST (you-kah-rist)
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Greek term meaning "good gift." It refers to the Lord's Supper. The Christian sacrament of receiving bread and wine as the body and blood of Christ during the celebration of the Mass in Roman Catholicism and Orthodox Christianity. (The term is used less by Protestants.)
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HIEROPHANY (hi-rah-fan-ee)
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Term from two Greek words meaning "sacred manifestation." In the study of religions this refers to the manifestation of the sacred into the ordinary, profane world. Examples of this would be the "burning bush" seen by Moses on the mountain, and the stone on which Jacob slept that became a cult object.
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MESSIAH (mess-ay-yah)
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Hebrew term literally meaning "anointed one." Based on an ancient biblical belief that a decendent of King David (a royal "anointed one") would establish an era of peace and justice for the nation of Israel and the world. In Judaism the term may refer to a period of renewal, and not necessarily an individual person. For Christians however, the term refers to Jesus. The term "Christ" is the Greek translation of this Hebrew term.
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PURGATORY (puhr-gah-tor-ee)
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According to Roman Catholic theology, this is the intermediate state after death. There one can finish satisfying the temporal punishments for one's sins and purify one's soul before being admitted to heaven.
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TRINITY (trih-nih-tee)
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Christian term for the three perfectly unified "persons" in God: God the father, Christ the Som, and the Holy Spirit. The nature of this union was much debated in the early church; Western and Eastern understanding differ. Judaism and Islam do not accept this threefold division of God.
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MYSTERIUM TREMENDUM (miss-teer-ee-uhm tree-men-duhm)
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A Latin term meaning the "awesome mystery" that is experienced when the Holy manifests itself. This "terrific mystery" is a frightful thing. This aspect of the divine usually comes in tandem with a "fascinating mystery" that attracts a person to it, all the while being frightened.
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SACRAMENT (sak-rah-ment)
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A formal religious rite regarded as sacred for its perfect ability to convey divine blessing; in some traditions (especially Protestant Christian) it is regarded as not effective in itself, but as a sign or symbol of spiritual realities. Latin term for "sacred action." Examples are baptism and confirmation.
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TRANSUBSTANTIATION (trahn-sub-stahn-see-ay-shun)
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Term for the change that occurs during the Eucharist, in which the substance of bread and wine are transformed into the substance of the body and blood of Christ. The mysterious fact of this "change" is not accepted by all Christians.
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NUMEN (new-mehn)
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A Latin term used by R. Otto in the study of religions. It means "god" and refers especially to the numerous localized, but scarcely differentiated, divinities of Roman religion. Otto used this term as the basis for a descriptive word meaning that something is permeated with a holy atmosphere.
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MASS (mass)
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Term for the entire set of prayers and ceremonies surrounding the Eucharist in Christianity. Tends to be used by Roman Catholics and Orthodox Christians to mean the service held in the church and performed by a priest.
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IN ILLO TEMPORE (in e-low tem-poh-ray)
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A latin term used by M. Eliade in the study of religions that refers to the time at the beginning. It means "at that time," and indicates a sacred time in the mythical past that can be somehow recaptured through religious ritual and myth.
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KADDISH (kah-dish)
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Hebrew term for the Jewish prayer recited by mourners for the dead. THe prayer extols God's majesty and kingdom. Most of this prayer is in the Aramaic language.
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KOSHER (koh-shur)
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Hebrew term that literally means "proper," or "ritually permitted." It relates to traditional Jewish dietary laws based on biblical legislation. For example, only land animals that chew the cud and have cloven hoofs are permitted for use as food and must be slaughtered in a special way. This term meaning "ritually correct" also refers to the way food is prepared and served.
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ASHKENAZI (ahsh-keh-nah-zee)
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Originally the term referred to a people and country bordering on Armenia and the upper Euphrates; in medieval times, it referred to the Jewish area of settlement in northwest Europe; it now refers to Jews of European and Russian background-used in contradistinction with Sephardi. Jews who lived in or came from central Europe.
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ISRAEL (iz-rah-el)
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In Biblical times, this term referred to a group of ancient Hebrew tribes, and also to the entire nation. In modern times, it is the name of the democratic, political state in the Middle East.
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MITZVOT (mits-voht)
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Hebrew term for "commandments." According to Jewish rabbinic tradition, there are 613 of these religious commandments referred to in the Torah. More generally, they refer to any act of religious duty or obligation. More colloquially, they refer to "good deeds."
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RABBI (rah-bye) (rah as in rather)
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Hebrew term for "my master." An authorized teacher of the Jewish tradition. A religious teacher or Jewish minister. The role of these teachers changed throughout the centuries. Serves as legal and spiritual guide for the Jewish congregation.
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TORAH (tore-ah)
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Hebrew term for the first five books of the Bible, also known as the Five Books of Moses, or the Pentateuch. The word literally means "teaching" or "instruction." This also can refer to additional instructions of God, believed by many to have been transmitted orally from Moses through a succession of teachers and rabbis. Commonly, the term refers to the entire range of Jewish teachings and practices.
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COVENANT (cohv-ah-nahnt)
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In the Bible this term refers to the religious bond between God and Israel contracted at Sinai with the giving of the Torah to Moses. A contract. The contract between the Hebrews and their God YWH.
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TALMUD (tahl-muhd)
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Hebrew term literally meaning "learning" or "study." The term is primarily used to refer to the classical rabbinic discussions of the Mishnah (ancient code of Jewish law). It is an encyclopedic commentary on the Hebrew scriptures, also known as gemara. There are two main collections.
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MOSES (mo-suhs)
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A great Biblical personality (c. 13th century BCE) who led the Hebrew nation out of Egyptian bondage and taught them the divine laws at Sinai. He is acknowledged in the Holy Scriptures of the Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
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SABBATH (sah-bath)
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The seventh day of the week in Jewish calendars. This day recalls the completion of the creation of the world, as well as the Exodus of the ancient Hebrews from Egypt. It is a day symoblic of new beginnings and one dedicated to God, a most holy day of rest. It is a special duty to study Torah on this day of "rest."
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ZIONISM (zye-uhn-ism) (zye as in pie)
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Hebrew word based on the ancient name of Jerusalem. It is the name of a modern Jewish national liberation movement whose goal is the political and spiritual renewal of the Jewish people in their national homeland of Israel. The movement encouraged the creation of the state of Israel in 1948.
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HALAKHA (hah-lah-hah)
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Hebrew term for any normative Jewish law, custom or practice--or the entire complex. This is ratified by rabbinic jurists and teachers. If something follows this custom, it is considered proper Jewish behavior. (This is not just limited to the the 613 commandments.)
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PASSOVER (pass-o-vehr)
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A spring holiday in the Jewish tradition that celebrates the Exodus of the ancient Isralites from Egypt. The festival lasts eight days, during which time Jews refrain from eating all leavened foods. A special ritual mean (seder) is prepared. The "Last Supper" of Jesus with his disciples was a dinner eaten on this holiday.
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