Unit 3- Cultural Patterns And Processes: Part 3- Religion

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Agnosticism

Back 1

Belief--nothing can be known about whether God exists...unsure about what's "out there"

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Animistic Religions

Back 2

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

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Atheism

Back 3

Belief that God does NOT exist

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Autonomous Religion

Back 4

a self-sufficient religion. Example> Islam

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Caste System

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strict social segregation of people---specifically in India's Hindu society

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Cosmogony

Back 6

distinctive concepts of religious belief concerning the origin or the universe

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Branch

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large and fundamental division within a religion

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Denomination

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a division of a branch that unites a number of local congregations

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Sect

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a relatively small group that had broken away from an established denomination

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Diaspora

Back 10

term describing forceful or voluntary dispersal of a people from their homeland to a new place

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Ethnic Religion

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particular to one, culturally distinct, group of people. Do NOT actively seek converts.

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Feng Shui

Back 12

literally "wind-water". Structures and objects are positioned in an effort to channel flows of life-breath in favorable ways

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Fundamentalism

Back 13

literal interpretation and a strict and intense adherence to basic principles of a religion or religious branch/denomination/sect

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Ghetto

Back 14

historically-neighborhood in a city set up by law to be inhabited only by Jews.

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Hajj

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Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca, the birthplace of Muhammad.

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Hierarchical Religion

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religion in which a central authority exercises a high degree of control

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Indigenous Religion

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a religion of beliefs by indigenous (original) people of an area.

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Interface Area

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the common area shared by linking two or more religions

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Interfaith Boundaries

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boundaries between the world's major faiths

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Intrafaith Boundaries

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within a single major faith

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Jihad

Back 21

doctrine within Islam. Commonly "Holy War", it represents either a personal or collective struggle to live up to religious standards set by the Qu'ran. Extremists distort is as a war against non-Muslims or and Muslim that does not share their "mission".

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Minarets

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tower attached to a Muslim mosque, having one or more projecting balconies with a crier who calls Muslims to prayer.

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Missionary

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individual who helps to diffuse a universalizing religion.

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Monotheistic Religion

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

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Pagan

Back 25

word for a follower of a polytheistic religion in ancient times

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Pilgrimage

Back 26

voluntary travel by adherent to sacred site to pay respects participate in ritual at the site.

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Polytheistic Religion

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belief system--multiple deities are revered as creators and maintainers of the universe

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Religion

Back 28

organized belief in supernatural supreme beings as creators and maintainers of the universe.

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Religious Extremism

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religious fundamentalism carried to the point of violence

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Sacred Site

Back 30

place or space people infuse with religious meaning

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Secularism

Back 31

idea that ethical and moral standards should be formulated and adhered to for life of Earth: not to accommodate a deity. Opposite of theocracy.

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Shamanism

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community faith in traditional societies in which people follow their shaman---a religious leader, teacher, healer, and visionary.

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Shari'a Law

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System of Islamic law, based on varying degrees of interpretation of the Qu'ran

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Shi'ite (Shi'a)

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Sect of Islam: vocal minority; primarily in Iran: belief that leader of Islam should be a direct descendant of Muhammad

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Sunni

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Sect of Islam: 85% of Muslims: believe leader of Islam should be a member of the Caliph (leadership)

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Syncretic

Back 36

a religion that combines several traditions.

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Universalizing Religion

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belief that there is ONE true religion that is universal in scope, representing universal truths. May actively seek converts.

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Zionism

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