Religion and Belief Systems

the sacred writings of the Christian faith, comprising the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, considered authoritative and divinely inspired by Christian

The Bible, as a central scripture in Christianity, is divided into the Old Testament and the New Testament.

a supernatural figure that is worshipped like a god or goddess

In ancient Greece, Zeus was considered a powerful deity.

the table in a church, used for giving communion in Christianity

The congregation gathered around the altar for the morning service.

the careful management and foresight exercised by a person in handling resources or affairs

Her providence in budgeting allowed the project to succeed.

a formal or ceremonial act, procedure, or ritual, often associated with religious practices

The priestess performed the purification rite to cleanse the temple before the annual festival.

a place of worship, used by Muslims

The minaret of the mosque towered over the city skyline, calling the faithful to prayer.

people who are officially chosen to lead religious services in a church or other religious institution

The clergy gathered for the annual conference.

a follower or student who adheres to the teachings and practices of a particular leader, teacher, or philosophy

Jesus Christ had many disciples who followed him and spread his teachings.

a member of a male religious group that lives in a monastery

The monk spent his days in prayer and contemplation within the monastery walls.

a specific name for someone or something that belongs only to them

a religious song intended to praise God, especially sung by Christians in congregation

The congregation sang a hymn at the beginning of the service.

any of the four books of the New Testament that is about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ

She studied the Gospel of Matthew in her Bible study group.

a journey or religious expedition to a sacred place or shrine, typically undertaken for spiritual or religious reasons

Every year, devout Hindus embark on a pilgrimage to the sacred city of Varanasi to bathe in the holy Ganges River.

a prayer asking for divine blessing, protection, or guidance

The priest offered a benediction at the end of the ceremony.

not concerned or connected with religion

The school is secular, meaning it does not promote any specific religious beliefs.

connected with God or a god, and considered holy or deeply respected in religious contexts

The river is considered sacred in many indigenous cultures.

a person believing in a religion that worships many deities, especially one that existed before the major world religions

She identified as pagan, celebrating the cycles of nature and the changing seasons.

a trained individual who performs religious ceremonies, leads worship services, or provides spiritual guidance

The minister delivered a powerful sermon on forgiveness during Sunday service.

to initiate into a religious faith by immersing in or sprinkling with water

The pastor will baptize the newborn as a symbol of initiation into the Christian faith.

to make something sacred through religious rituals

The priest consecrated the church with a special ceremony, dedicating it to divine worship.

a notion or system of notions that one has to accept without questioning or arguing

a brief statement or phrase that represents the guiding beliefs or ideals of an individual, family, or institution

The school's motto, "Perseverance and Excellence," inspires students to strive for success.

a formal statement of beliefs or principles, often religious or philosophical in nature

The Nicene Creed is a well-known Christian credo that articulates fundamental beliefs about the nature of God and Christ.

concern with things of the spirit

the belief or principle that ideas and actions should be based on logic instead of religion or emotion

the belief in or pursuit of high principles, values, or ideals, often with a focus on the potential for perfection or improvement

His idealism led him to work for social change in his community.

the theory or doctrine that all events and occurrences are completely determined by previously existing causes, therefore human beings cannot be punished or held accountable for their deeds

a form of Protestantism that takes the interpretation of every word in the sacred texts as literal truth

(in philosophy) the doctrine that knowledge is derived from sensory experience rather than theory or intuition

John Locke is a central figure in philosophical empiricism.

the quality of being individual

a social or political movement promoting the protection and rights of buyers of goods and services

The organization supports consumerism by lobbying for product safety laws.

the philosophical belief that the spiritual world does not exist and the only thing that exists is physical matter

the belief that reality consists of two fundamental and opposing components, such as mind and body or good and evil

Cartesian dualism, proposed by René Descartes, posits a separation between the mind and the body as two distinct substances.

a person who believes in or advocates for the principle of equality, especially in regards to social, political, and economic affairs

As an egalitarian, she fought for equal rights across all social classes.

functioning in a beneficial way

opposed to war

a person who is fanatically committed to a cause, ideology, or belief, often with uncompromising intensity and willingness to act aggressively in its defense

The environmental zealot chained himself to the pipeline in protest.

supporting total and extreme social or political changes

The radical activist advocated for the overthrow of the government to establish a new social order.

a person who advocates for the complete elimination of something

Many abolitionists risked their lives and faced persecution for their beliefs in the pursuit of justice and equality.

holding or promoting extreme opinions in politics, religion, etc.

The extremist group was responsible for several terrorist attacks in the region.

one who suffers for the sake of principle

to take up, follow, or support a cause, belief, ideology, etc.