World Religions Final Exam

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Avestan

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The language of Zarathustra and the Avest

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Chinvat

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the bridge of judgement which connects this world with the unseen afterlife. After death, it is a mean by which people cross between the two. Humans are judged before they cross this bridge.

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Dakhma

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Originally "grave", later a walled tower open to the sky where Zoroastrians expose the dead to vultures and crows for disposal of the flesh; sometimes called tower of silence

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Farohar

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The winged symbol or emblem of Zorastrianism, the precise meaning of which is open to some question. It is the most commonly used Zoroastrian symbol. The central figure is popularly believed to be either Ahura MAzda or the fravashi

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Fravashi

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possibly a guardian spirit, but may also be a spirit which enters this life with a person and continues with him or her beyond death

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Gabars

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A pejorative term used by Muslims in Iran for members of the Zoroastrian faith

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Fathas

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Hymns or poems written by Zarathustra; considered to be the most authoritative expressions of the Zoroastrian religion

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Gayomart

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the primal man, the progenitor of the human race and father of Mashye and Mashyane

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Haoma

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The sacred plant who juice is used as an offering in the Yasna

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Kusti

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Literally "sacred cord", girdle received by Zoroastrians as navjote and worn at all times. It is untied and retied several times a day to the accompaniment of prayers

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Magi

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The priestly caste of ancient persia, in time associated with the Zoroastrian priesthood. The singular form, "magus," is the Greek version of the Old Persian word "magu" meaning priest

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Mashye and Mashyane

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the first human couple, male and female

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Mithra

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a "high god" of pre-zoroastiran Iran that survived the advent of zorastrianism and also continues to have a presence in the Vedas of Hindu literature in India

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Navjote

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the public ceremony of initiation into the Zoroastrian faith

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Nirang

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Urine of an ox or bbull which has been consecrated by prayer and is used externally for cleansing and drunk for internal purification

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Pahlavi

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Also called Middle persian, the language of Sassanian and early Islamic times in which later Zoroastrian books are written

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Parsis

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The "persians" who settled in India in 936 CE to seek a land of religious freedom away from oppression in Muslim Iran. Parsis today make up the largest community of Zoroastrians in the world

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Saoshyant

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The coming of the Savior, the messiah figure of Zoroastrianism

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Sudre

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A white cotton understhirt worn next to the skin at all times as a religious symbol of commitment and protection

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Urvan

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The spirit or soul of man

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Vendidad

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"Code against the demons" a book of purifcation in the Avesta, read at night in a lengthy ritual

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Yasht

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a hymn to Ahura MAzda or some other immortal being, the yashts form an important part of the avesta

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Zarathustra

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the name of the founder of Zoroastrianism in its original Avestan language form. The greek form is Zoroaster

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Afikomen

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The broken piece of the unleavened bread set aside (or hidden) to be eaten at the end of the Passover meal

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Aggadah

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Jewish "lore", that part of the oral Torah which contains and expositions of biblical texts, theologies, phiolosophies, and stories related to Jewish life

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Antiochus IV

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Ruler of Syria who tried to force Jews to assume Hellensitc ways

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Ashkenazim

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those Jews who come from Europe, especially eastern Europe

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Bar Mitzvah

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literally "son of the commandment"; refers to a boy's attainment of adulthood at age thirteen and his obligation to keep the Jewish law. In his Bar Mitzvah, the boy is called up in the synagogue to read from the Torah

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Bat Mitzvah

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"daughter of the commandment"; a ritual for 12 year old girls of the conversative and reformed jewish traditions simlar to the Bar mitzvah

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Diaspora

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the world outside of Israel

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Gemara

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commentary by later rabbis on issues raised in the Mishnah

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Get

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Religious divorce obtainable only at the request of the husband

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Hugaddah

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the ritual retelling of the story of Passover during the seder meal

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Halacha

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that part of the oral torah which is law

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Hanuhkkah

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the festival of lights which celebrates the jewish victory of the hellenization program of Antiochus IV

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Hasidim

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members of a mystical jewish movement that emerged in eastern europe in th18th ce which focuses on the love of and a personal relationship with God

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Hoshana Rabba

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"the great Hosanna"; the 7th day of Succoth, on which prayers are said for a good harvest cycle

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Kaddish

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prayer which relects on the greatness of God and his ultimate tirumph, also recited by mourners at prayer services during the period of their mourning

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Ketuvim

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hebrew word meaning "writings" refers to the third portion of the Jewish Bible

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Kippah

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Hebrew word for the circular head covering worn by Jewish males

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Kol Nidre

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a prayer said on the eve of Yom Kippur which asks God to forgive a person for breaking any vows which were made to God

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Kosher

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means "fit, used primarily in relation to food which jews are permitted to eat

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Mazzah

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unleavened bread

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Megillah

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the scroll read during the celebration of Purim, retelling the story of Ester

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Menorah

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candelbrum, the seven-branched version was one of the temple furnishings and today symbolizes Israel on its nation seal; the nine-branched version is specifically used to commemorate Hunukkah, eight of the candles symbolizing the eight days of the festival and the ninth traditionally being used to light the others

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Mezuzah

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literally "doorpost"; ritually it is a small parchment containing the first two paragraphs of the Shema which is usually placed ina small box or container and affixed to the doorpost

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Midrash

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literally "search" for meaning; indidcates the portion of the oral traditions not incorporated into the Gemara and later recorded separately

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Mikveh

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ritual bath

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Minyan

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ten males or males and females required for certain prayers

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mishnah

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the written compilation of what had been oral halacha (law) it was set down in written form about 200 ce

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Mitnagdim

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opponents of the Hasidim who placed emphasis on learning th tradition rather than emotion

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Mohel

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the person who perfroms the ritual of cicumcision

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Nevi'im

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hebrew word meaning "prophet"; refers to the second part of the Jewish Bible

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Passover

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Spring festival celebrating the salvation of the people of Israel when the angel of death passed over Israel's firstborn in Egypt as well as Israel's ultimate delilverance from bondage

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Pogrom

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organized riots which resulted in the murder and the pilaging of their homes and possessions

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Purim

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Spring festival celebrating the deliverance of the Jews in the days of Queen Esther

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Rabbi

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Means "my master"; an authorized teacher

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Rebbe

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The spititual head of a Hasidic community

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Rosh Hashanah

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festival celebrating the new year

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Seder

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the order of the ritual of the Passover meal

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Sephardim

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Jews who have come from Spain or Arab lands

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Shema

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literally means "hear"; the name for Israel's fundemental confession of faith found in Deut 6;4

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Shermini Atzeret

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the 8th day of assemblyfollowing Succoth on which the prayers for rain are said

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Shiva

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7 day period of mourning decreased relatives in the home, during which the family sits on low stools and receives guests

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Shopar

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the ram's horn sounded 100 times on Rosh Hashanah and again to end Yom Kippur

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Simhat Torah

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Rejoicing of the Torah; the celebration of the conclusion and recommencement of the Torah reading cycle which takes place on Shemini Atzeret (or the second day of Shemini Atzeret in the diaspora)

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Succoth

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the feast of tabernacles, commemorating divine protection of Israel during her wanderings in the wilderness

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Sukkah

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literally "tabernacle"; a booth constructed of three walls and a partial roof in which Jewish familes should partake of meals and may sleep during the celebration of Succoth

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Tallit

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prayer shawl

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Talmud

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The Mishnah plus the Gemara; the foundational writings of Orthodoz Jewish life

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Tanar

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The made-up name for the JEwish Bible (the Christian Old Testament) based on its three parts-Torah, Nevi'im, and Ketuvim

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Tashlich

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The custom of symbolically casting one's sins into flowing water, performed on Rosh Hashanah

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Tefillin

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two leather boots which are worn on the arm and on the forehead at weekday morning prayers

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Torah

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the Pentateuch, or the first five books of the Tanak

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Tzitzit

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the fringes on the prayer shawl or on an undershirt which reminds one of the commandments in the law

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Yarmulka

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Yiddish word for the round head covering often worn by Jewish males

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Yom Kippur

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The Day of Atonement

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Zionism

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the movement to establish a Jewish state in the land of Israel

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Advent

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the liturgical season of the Christian year consisting of four Sundays preceding Christmas. Its liturgical color is purple

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Agnus Dei

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the formula beginning with the words "O Lamb of God" recited three times by the priest in the Latin mass shortly before the Communion

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Analogia Entis

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"Analogy of being"; the process of gaining knowledge about God through rational thought or the observation of the natural world

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Analogia Fidei

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"analogy of faith" the process of gaining knowledge about God through revelation given by God himself

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Apocrypha

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the biblical books received by the early church as part of the Greek version of the Old Testament but not included in the Hebrew Bible. Catholics include these books in their canon. While protestants normally exculde them

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Apostles' Creed

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A statement used only in the western Catholic church (not in the Orthodox churches). It falls into three sections concerned with the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Its precise origins are unknown, but it was probably in use by the fourth century c.e.

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atonement

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Humanity's reconciliation with God through the sacrificial suffering and death of Christ

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Baptism

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The sacramental rite, either through sprinkling or immersion, which admits a candidate to the Christian Church

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Calvin, John

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French reformer and theologian

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Council on Church Union

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A movement in the US, particularly during the 1960s and early 1970s which sought to bring together nine of the major Protestant communions into one large cohesive denomination

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Credo

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"I believe"; the title of the portion of the Latin mass which contains the Nicene confession of faith

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Crucifix

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A model of the cross bearing an image of the crucified Lord

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Ecumenical Movement

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the movement among Christians concerned with the recovery of the unity of all believers in Christ, transcending differences of creed, ritual, and polity

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Epiphany

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the season in the Christian liurgical calendar beginning on Jan 6 which either celebrates the baptism of Christ or Christ's manifestation to the non-Jewish world in the persons of the Magi. The litergical color is green

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Episcopal

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refers to the system of church government which is overseen by bishops

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Eucharist

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from the Greek word meaning "thanksgivint" another name for Holy Communion, the Lord's supper or, the sacrament

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Gloria

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the portion of the Latin mass which gives praise to God in the words "glory to God in the highest"

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Holy Communion

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the eucharist, or the Lord's supper

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Holy Orders

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the higher grades of the Christian ministry- bishop, priest, and deacon

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Homoiousious

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the term used in early Christian creedal statements to express the relation of the members of the Godhead, it means "of one substance"

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Icons

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flat pictures, painted on woods or made from mosaic, ivory, etc, reprecseting the Lord, the Blessed Virgin Mary, or other saints, used and venerated among the Orthodox communions

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Inner-trinitarian decree

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the concept that God within himself is a triune God composed of Father, Son, and HOly Ghost determined the plan of Salvation long before the creation of anything outside himself

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John XXIII

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Became pope in 1958, he is best known for calling the second vatican council which reviewed Catholic doctrines relating to the laity, interfaith attitudes, the role of clergy

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Kyrie

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Refers to a portion of the Latin mass which contains the words "lord have mercy"

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Lent

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the forty days before Easter, exclusive of Sundays, Lent is normally observed as a time of penance by obstaining from something, purple

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Liturgical calendar

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sets out certain periods in the Christian year for special observance and thereby highlights the major acts of Christs' redeeming work

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Martin Luther

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the founder of the German Reformation, a caltholic priest, and a professor of moral philospophy and scripture at the University of Wittenburg

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Mary

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The virgin mother of Jesus. She is an object of veneration in Catholic theology and because of her position as the mother of Jesus, is chief among the saints

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Neo-platonic thought

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the philosphical system of Plotinus, and his successors. It drem its ideas from Plato, but its purposes were more religious. The main purpose of the neo-platonists was to provide an intellectual basis for life; in God the distinction between Though and Reality was to be overcome

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Paul VI

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became pope in 1963 and carried through much of the work of Vatican II

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Penance

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originally a long and difficult process of public confession of sin with accompanying works to allow a return to the church. Today, penance is a private act between priest and parishioner consisting of confession, absolution, and formal penance

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Pentecost

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the day in the church calendar fifty days after Easter which celbrates the coming of the Holy Ghost to the church, red

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Reformed

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used in this chapter to designate those denominations and traditions which generally arose from the teachings of Luther and Calvin such as Presbyterian, Lutheran, Congregational, and Dutch Reformed

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Sanctus

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that portion of the mass which contains the words" holy holy holy Lord God of Hosts"

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Septuagint

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the most influential of the greek, versions of the Old Testamanet LXX

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Seven Sacraments

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the sacraments of the church celebrated by Catholics; baptism, confirmation, the eucharist, penance, unction, holy orders, and matrimony

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Transubstantiation

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the catholic doctrine that the bread and wine actually become the body of Christ in their essence

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Trinity

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the doctirne of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost as of the same substance, yet in three manifestations, green

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unction

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the process of annointing with oil, which may be used at baptism or confirmation or in blessing the sick

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Vulgate

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the latin version of the bible most widely used in the west, Saint Jerome

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Aeed Al-Adha

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The Feast of Sacrifice, the most important religious holiday in the Islamic world. It begins the day after teh Haff, when the faithful who can afford to do sacrifice an animal in commemoration of Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son Ishmael

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Aeed Al-Fitr

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"The Feast of Breaking the Fast" a major religious holiday observed at the end of Ramadan, the month of fasting

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Allah

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contraction of an arabic term that means "the God" the word used by Muslims and Arabic-speaking Christians and Jews to refer to God

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Baraka

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"Blessing power" which omes from God into creation for the benefit of human beings

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Caliphs

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The successors of Muhammad to the leadership of the Muslim community who are not, however, considered prophets

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Five Pillars of Islam

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witness of faith, prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and pilgrimage to Mecca

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Hadith

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a reported saying or action of Muhammad. The canonical collections of hadith are used to determine the sunna of the prophet

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Hajj

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The pilgrimiage to Mecca, which is to be made once in a person's lifetime if financially and physically possible, one of the five pillars

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Hijra

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Muhammad's emigration from MEcca to Yathric in 622. This turning point in islamic history marks the beginning of the Muslim Hijii calendar

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Imam

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in sunni tradition, the leader of salat prayer, in shi'ite thought, the umma's divenly guided leader

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Islam

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literally means "submission" or "surrender" to God. the term is used in the Qur'an to describe true monotheistic worship as revealed to Muhammad and other prophets before him; it is also commonly used as the name of the religion practiced by muslims

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Jihad

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"striving" "struffling" to serve god and the umma. In a narrower sense, it sometimes involves armed struggle against outside aggression and is therefore sometimes translated as "holy war"

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Ka'aba

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the black-draped cubicle structure in Mecca which contains the black stone and which, according to legend was built by Abraham and his son Ishmael

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Mahdi

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Messianic figure who will apepar at the end of history to prepare the world for final judgement by God

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Mecca

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Most sacred place of Islam; birthplace of Muhammad and location of the Ka'aba

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Medina

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shortened form of Madinat Al-Nabi meaning "city of the prophet" the second holiest site in Islam. This is the place first known as Yathrib, to which Muhammad fled in 622 CE and where many of the basic institutions of Islam were established. Muhammad is buried here

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Minaret

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a tower associated with a mosque from which the call to prayer is given

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Mosque

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from the Arabic word masjid meaning "place of Prostration" for ritual prayer. Mosques are the centeres of Islamic communal life where prayers are held religious education conducted, and charitable services proved

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Muezzin

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individual who gives the call to prayer

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Muhmmad

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the founder of Islam and the prophet figure through whom Allah revealed the Qur'an

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Muslim

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A person who practices Islam; means "one who sumbits to God"

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Qur'an

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"recitation" the name of the holy book of Islam, which is the mind and will of Allah delivered to Muhammad through the angel Gabriel, sometimes"Koran"

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Ramadan

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the month in which Muhammad received his initial call and the month in which faithful Muslims fast during daylihgt hours; the ninth lunar month of the Muslim calendar

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Salat

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Ritual prayer that is conducted five times each day and involves performing a prescribed set of physical movements designed to turn heart and mind toward God; one of the five pillars

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Sawm

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Fasting as a means of promoting individual spirituality and communal well-being; one of the 5 pillars

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Shahada

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the muslims confession of faith; there is no god but one and Muhammad is his messenger, one of the five pillars

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Shari'a

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the all inclusive legal code of Islam

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Shi'ites

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Muslims who beleive that leadership of the community should have passed to Muhammad's son-in-law 'Ali and hould be hereditary. Shi'a means "the party or sect"

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shirk

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the heresy of ascribing partners to God, or believing in more than one deity; opposite of tawheed

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Sufi

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an adherent of the branch of Islam that emphasizes internal spiritual experience rather than external ritual forms and seeks mystical union with God in this life

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Sunna

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the customs and exemplary behavior of Muhammad. Next to the Qur'an the sunna is the most important epistemological source in Islam

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Sunni

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the majority sect of Islam, who believe in consensual leadership and reject the Shi'ite claim that heredity or lineage determines a person's right to lead the umma

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Tawheed

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the doctrine of the uncompromised unity of God "there is no god but Allah"

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Ulama

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Religious scholars or clergy who are the authoritative interpreters of Islamic law

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Umma

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the worldwide community of Muslims

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Zakat

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the practice of giving 2.5 percent of one's accumlated wealth to support the umma; embodiment of the principle of charitable giving and one of the five pillars