ABSP - Religious Beliefs

Religious Beliefs

Words

acolyte acolyth	a faithful follower, esp. a religious one.
acosmism	a doctrine denying the existence of a universe distinct from God.
acosmist	one who denies the existence of a universe distinct from God.
adharma	in Hinduism, unrighteousness (the opposite of DHARMA).
agnostic	one who believes that existence of God cannot be known but does not deny the possibility that God exists.
ahimsa	in Hinduism, the principle of noninjury to living beings.
ajiva	in Hinduism, inanimate matter.
anagoge anagogy	a spiritual, mystical, or allegorical interpretation of such works as the Bible.
anastasis	in Byzantine art, the Harrowing of Hell; resurrection > ANASTASES.
anata anatman	the belief that there is no such thing as a permanent self.
anicca	in Hinduism, the belief that everything is impermanent and constantly changing.
aniconism	the worship of an object symbolising but not representing a god.
aniconist	one who practises ANICONISM.
animatism	the primitive attribution of life to natural phenomena, but not (as in ANIMISM) belief in the spirits that reside in them.
animatist	one who indulges in ANIMATISM.
animism	the attribution of soul to plants, inanimate objects and natural phenomena.
animist	one who indulges in ANIMISM.
animistic	of or pertaining to ANIMISM, the attribution of soul to inanimate objects.
anticult	opposed to cults.
apostacy apostasy	abandonment of one's religious beliefs.
apostate	a person committing APOSTASY.
arkite	a believer in Noah's Ark.
atheism	the belief that there is no God.
atheist	one who indulges in ATHEISM.
atheistic	like an ATHEIST > ATHEISTICALLY.
atma atman	in Hindusim, the individual soul.
autolatry	self-worship.
avel ovel	a Jewish mourner esp during the first seven days after a death.
azymite	a member of any church using unleavened bread in the Eucharist.
ba	in ancient Egyptian religion, the soul > BAS.
baalism	worship of Baal; idolatry.
bardo	in Tibetan Buddhism, the intermediate stage between death and rebirth.
bejesuit	to initiate into Jesuitism.
cabala cabbala cabbalah kabala kabbala kabbalah qabala qabalah	a mystical tradition of Jewish rabbis.
	the secret science of the CABALA.
cacodoxy	incorrect doctrine, heresy, heterodoxy.
chiliasm	the doctrine that Christ will return and reign for a thousand years.
chiliast	one who believes in CHILIASM.
churchism	devotion to church rules over religious precepts.
converso	a mediaeval Spanish Jew converting to Catholicism > CONVERSOS.
credal creedal	of or relating to a creed.
credendum	a thing to be believed; an article of faith; -- distinguished from AGENDUM, a practical duty > CREDENDA.
credo	a concise statement of doctrine; a section of Mass followed by offertory > CREDOS.
creed	a statement of belief
creedal	see CREDAL.
cult	a system of religious belief.
cultic	relating to a CULT.
cultish	of or like a CULT > CULTISHLY.
cultism	adherence to a CULT.
cultist	one who adheres to a CULT.
cultlike	resembling a CULT.
dawah	the practice of educating non-believers about the practice of Islam.
decretist	one who studies, or professes the knowledge of, the DECRETALS, papal decrees deciding a point of church law.
deism	belief in God but rejection of religion.
deist	an adherent of DEISM.
deistic deistical	relating to DEISM > DEISTICALLY.
demonism	belief in demons.
demonist	a believer in, or worshipper of, demons.
devilism	the state of the devil or of devils; doctrine of the devil or of devils.
devotee	a person who is devoted, esp. to religion.
dhamma dharma	custom or law regarded as duty; the basic principles of cosmic or individual existence.
dharmic	of or like DHARMA.
diabolism	devil-worship.
diabolist	one who practises DIABOLISM.
diabology	the study of devils.
diaspora	the dispersion of the Jews after their Babylonian captivity.
diphysite diophysite dyophysite	a believer in the existence of two natures in Christ, human and divine.
dissenter	one who dissents esp. in religious matters.
ditheism	belief in two equal gods, one good and one evil.
ditheist	one who holds the doctrine of ditheism; a dualist.
	a believer in DITHELISM.
dithelism diothelism dyothelism	the doctrine that Christ on earth had two wills, human and divine.
docetic	pertaining to the heresy that Christ's body was insubstantial.
dogmatics	the science which treats of Christian doctrinal theology.
donatism	the tenets of the Donatists, a schismatic body of N. African Christians which originated when they declared invalid the consecration of Caecilian as Bishop of Carthage in 311.
douleia dulia	in Roman Catholicism, the inferior veneration accorded to saints and angels. Cf. LATRIA.
doxastic	relating to belief.
druidism	the religious system of the druids.
dualism	the doctrine of two distinct principles of good and evil, or of two divine beings of these characters.
duhkha dukkha	suffering due to the desire for permanence.
dulia	see DOULEIA.
ebionise ebionize	to hold a doctrine denying the apostolate of Paul and the miraculous birth of Jesus.
ebionism	holding the beliefs of an Ebionite, an early Christian who denied the apostolate of Paul and the miraculous birth of Jesus.
ebionitic	relating to EBIONISM.
ebionize	see EBIONISE.
egotheism	identification of oneself with God.
emanatist	one who believes in EMANATION, the universe considered as issuing from God.
epopt	a person fully initiated into the Eleusinian mysteries.
fetichism fetishism	devotion to or reverence for a fetish or fetishes.
fetichist fetishist	one who worships a FETISH.
fideism	the doctrine that knowledge depends on faith over reason.
fideist	a believer in the doctrine of FIDEISM, the doctrine that knowledge depends on faith over reason.
fideistic	relating to FIDEISM.
formalism	the practice or the doctrine of strict adherence to, or dependence on, external forms, esp. in matters of religion.
gematria	a cabbalistic method of interpreting the Hebrew scriptures by interchanging words > GEMATRIAS. [Aram. g'matreya f. Gk geometria, GEOMETRY].
gentilism	paganism; the quality of being a GENTILE.
geolatry	earth-worship.
giaour	a term used by Turks for an infidel, one not of their religion.
gymnosoph gymnosophist	one of a sect of naked ascetics of ancient India.
hadjee hadji haji hajji	a Muslim pilgrim to Mecca.
hafiz	one who knows the Koran by heart > HAFIZES.
hajjah	a Muslim woman who has made a pilgrimage to Mecca.
heathen	an uncivilized person.
heathenry	the state, quality, or character of the heathen.
heresy	an unorthodox religious belief.
hierology	the science of sacred matters.
hierurgy	religious worship or work.
idolater idolator	one who worships idols.
idolatry	the worship of idols.
idolism	worship of idols.
idolist	one who worships idols.
immolator	one who offers in sacrifice; specifically, one of a sect of Russian fanatics who practice self-mutilation and sacrifice.
impanate	embodied in bread.
irenics	irenical theology, concerned with promoting peace between churches.
isagogics	that part of theological science directly preliminary to actual exegesis, or interpretation of the Scriptures.
jehad jihad	in Islam, a holy war.
jehadi jihadi	a person who takes part in a JEHAD, a holy war.
jehadism jihadism	an Islamic fundamentalist movement that favours the pursuit of jihads in defence of the Islamic faith.
jehadist jihadist	a believer in JEHADISM.
jesuitism jesuitry	the principles and practices of the Jesuits.
jihad	see JEHAD.
jihadi	see JEHADI.
jihadism	see JIHADISM.
jihadist	see JEHADIST.
jujuism	belief in a JUJU.
jujuist	one who believes in a JUJU.
ka	in Egyptian belief, the spirit or soul of a dead person; (verb) to serve > KAS, KAING, KAED.
kabala	see CABALA.
kabalism	see CABALISM.
kabalist	see CABALIST.
kabbala	see CABALA.
kabbalah	see CABALA.
kabbalism	see CABALISM.
kabbalist	see CABALIST.
kalam	a type of Muslim theology.
kama	in Hinduism, earthly desire.
karaism	the doctrines of the Karaites, a strict sect of Jews.
karma	the moral quality of actions regarded as determining the nature of a future existence.
karmic	relating to KARMA, the moral quality of actions regarded as determining the nature of a future existence.
kenosis	the relinquishment of the form of God by Jesus in becoming man > KENOSES or KENOSISES. [Gk. kenosis, emptying].
kenotic	relating to KENOSIS, the relinquishment of the form of God by Jesus in becoming man.
kenotics	the study of the doctrine of KENOSIS.
kerygma	the apostolic proclamation of salvation through Jesus Christ > KERYGMAS or KERYGMATA. [Gk. kerugma, f. kerussein, proclaim].
kismat kismet	fate, destiny.
kismetic	relating to KISMET, fate, destiny.
krypsis	the doctrine that Christ secretly exercised divine powers > KRYPSES. [Gk. krypsis, concealment].
laicism	the doctrine of opposition to clergy and priests.
lamaistic	of or pertaining to Lamaism.
latria	in Roman Catholicism, the veneration accorded to God alone. Cf. DOULEIA.
logos	the divine rational principle > LOGOI.
macumba	a Black religious cult practised in Brazil, characterized by sorcery, ritual dancing, and the use of fetishes.
maenad menad	a woman participant in orgiastic Dionysian rites > MAENADS or MAENADES; MENADS.
mammetry maumetry mawmetry	the religion of Mohammed; idolatry.
maranatha	a member of a Christian sect.
marrano	a Jew who has converted to Christianity to avoid persecution > MARRANOS.
martyr	a person bearing witness to his or her religious beliefs by refusing to renounce them in death > MARTYRLY; (verb) to put to death for adhering to a belief.
martyrdom	the state of being a MARTYR.
maumetry	see MAMMETRY.
mawmetry	see MAMMETRY.
maya	in Buddhist philosophy, the power to produce illusions.
mayan	relating to MAYA, in Buddhist philosophy, the power to produce illusions.
menad	see MAENAD.
methodist	a follower of Methodism.
miscreed	a false creed.
modalism	belief in the unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
modalist	an adherent of MODALISM.
moira	individual destiny, will of the gods, fate > MOIRAI.
moksha	in Buddhism, freedom from the endless cycle of transmigration.
monachism monasticism	the monastic system or mode of life.
monergism	the theory that the Holy Spirit alone can act.
monolater	one who worships one god only out of many believed to exist.
monolatry	worship of one god without excluding belief in others.
mystagog mystagogue mystagogus	one who teaches mystical doctrines or one who inititates others into religious cults.
mystagogy	the doctrines, principles, or practice of a mystagogue; interpretation of mysteries.
mysticism	the habit or tendency of religious thought and feeling of those who seek direct communion with God or the divine.
neopagan	a modern believer in PAGANISM.
nirvana	in Hindu and Buddhist religions, freedom from the endless cycle of birth and death and related suffering,. [Skr. nirvana, blowing out, extinguishing).
nirvanic	of or like NIRVANA.
nonbelief	absence of belief.
nonpagan	(one who is) not a PAGAN.
nontheist	one who is not a THEIST.
occultism	the study of the occult.
occultist	one who studies the occult.
ontologic ontological	related to ONTOLOGY > ONTOLOGICALLY.
ontology	a branch of metaphysics concerned with the nature and relations of being.
ovel	see AVEL.
oversoul	the all-containing soul.
pagan	an irreligious person.
pagandom	the pagan lands; pagans, collectively; paganism.
paganise paganize	to make pagan.
paganiser paganizer	one who converts others to PAGANISM .
paganish	of or pertaining to pagans; heathenish.
paganism	an irreligious attitude.
paganist	a student of pagans or paganism.
paganize	see PAGANISE.
paganizer	see PAGANISER().
painim panim paynim	a pagan.
palmer	one who bears a palm-branch, in token of having made a pilgrimage to Palestine.
panim	see PAINIM.
pantheism	the belief that the universe is God; belief in many gods.
pantheist	one who holds to PANTHEISM, the belief that the universe is God.
papisher	a supporter of the Pope.
papism	adherence to the Pope.
papistic	relating to PAPISM, adherence to the Pope.
papistry	Roman Catholicism.
parousia	a coming, especially the second coming of Christ. [Gk parousia, presence, arrival].
paynim	see PAINIM.
paynimry	heathendom.
perdition	everlasting misery after death, damnation.
perfecti	a Catharist sect in the 12th and 13th centuries who led very strict lives. N.B. this is a plural.
pewholder	one who has his or her own pew in a church.
phallism	the worship of the generative principle in nature, symbolized by the phallus.
phallist	an adherent of PHALLISM.
pietism	unquestioning or dogmatic religious devotion.
pietist	a person characterized by or professing (often affected or exaggerated) piety.
pietistic	relating to PIETISM, unquestioning or dogmatic religious devotion.
pilgrim pilgrimer	someone who goes on a pilgrimage.
pillarist	an ascetic living on top of a pillar, a STYLITE.
pleroma	fullness, abundance; in Gnosticism, divine being. [Gk. pleroma, that which fills].
popery	a hostile term for Roman Catholicism.
prajna	wisdom or understanding considered as the goal of Buddhist contemplation.
preterist	a person who holds that the prophecies of the Apocalypse have been already fulfilled.
proselyte	a convert, especially to Jewish faith; (verb) to become a proselyte.
pyrolater	a fire-worshipper.
pyrolatry	fire-worship.
qabala	see CABALA.
qabalah	see CABALA.
qabalism	see CABALISM.
quietism	the doctrine of enlightenment through mental tranquility.
rabbinism	a rabbinic expression or phraseology; a peculiarity of the language of the rabbins.
rasta	a RASTAFARIAN.
rastafari rastafarian	relating to a W. Indian cult which rejects western ideas and regards the Emperor Haile Selassie as divine. [The real name of Haile was Prince Ras Tafar Makonnen].
recusant	one who refuses to attend Catholic church services; generally, one who refuses to submit to authority.
regalist	one who believes in royal supremacy, esp. in church matters.
responsum	in rabbinical literature, a written response to a question of doctrine > RESPONSA or RESPONSUMS.
rigorist	one who is rigorous; -- sometimes applied to an extreme Jansenist.
sacrilege	profanation or disregard of anything holy.
said saiyid sayid sayyid	a descendant of Mohammed's daughter Fatima.
samsara	in Buddhism, the never-ending cycle of birth, death and rebirth.
santeria	a Caribbean religion composed of elements from both traditional African religion and Roman Catholicism.
satanism	the worship of the Devil.
satori	a state of sudden enlightenment, sought in Zen Buddhism.
sayid	see SAID.
sayyid	see SAID.
sect	a group of people united by common beliefs or interests, esp. religious beliefs.
sectary	a member of a sect; a person who is zealous in the cause of a sect.
secular	not spiritual > SECULARLY; (noun) a layman; a clergyman not bound by monastic rules.
shamanism	the religion of certain peoples of N. Asia, based essentially on magic and sorcery as practised by shamans.
sharifian sherifian	relating to a SHERIF, a descendant of Mohammed through his daugher Fatima.
soterial	of or pertaining to salvation.
spikery	very high-church Anglicanism.
spiritism spiritualism	the belief that nothing is real except the soul or spirit.
spiritist spiritualist	one who believes that nothing is real except the soul or spirit.
subcult	a subordinate CULT.
subsect	a SECT directly derived from another.
synergism	the belief that human will and divine spirit cooperate in salvation.
talmudism	belief in the doctrines of the TALMUD, the body of the Jewish civil and canonical law not comprised in the Pentateuch.
tao	a path of virtuous conduct in Chinese philosophy.
terminism	the doctrine that there is a time limit for repentance.
terminist	a believer in TERMINISM, the doctrine that there is a time limit for repentance.
tetradite	a person who attaches mystic properties to the number four; a believer in a godhead of four persons.
theism	a belief in the existence of God with or without special revelation.
theistic theistical	of or pertaining to THEISM.
theodicy	a vindication of the justice of God in establishing a world in which evil exists.
theology	the study of God, religion and revelation.
theonomy	government or rule by God.
theosoph theosopher theosophist	a believer in THEOSOPHY.
theosophy	immediate divine illumination or wisdom.
theurgist	a believer in THEURGY, magic performed with the aid of beneficent spirits.
thiasus	a group of worshippers gathered to dance in praise of gods > THIASUSES. [Gk. thiasos].
thurifer	an altar boy or acolyte who carries a THURIBLE.
tora torah	the body of Jewish law and learning, including sacred literature and oral tradition > TORAS; TORAHS, TOROT, TOROTH.
totemism	the belief that a group has a special kinship with an object or animal.
totemist totemite	one belonging to a clan or tribe having a totem.
traditor	an early Christian who surrendered sacred books and vessels or betrayed fellow-Christians in times of persecution to save his or her own life > TRADITORS or TRADITORES.
traducian	a believer in TRADUCIANISM, the theory that the soul is transmitted to a child in the act of generation or concomitantly with its body.
tritheism	the belief that the members of the Trinity are three separate gods.
tritheist	one believing that the members of Trinity are three separate gods.
tropist	a user of tropes; someone who understands the Bible as figurative.
twicer	one who goes to church twice on a Sunday.
unitarian	one who denies the doctrine of the Trinity, believing that God exists only in one person.
wicca	the practice of witchcraft.
wiccan	a member of the cult of WICCA.
worshiper worshipper	one who worships.
zealant zelant	a zealot, a religious fanatic.
zealot	a religious fanatic.
zendik	(Arabic) in the east, one who abstains from magic or practises religion.
zoolater	someone who worships animals.
zoolatria zoolatry	worship of animals.
zoomorphy zoomorphism	the conception of a god or man in animal form
zootheism	the attribution of divine qualities to animals.

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