glossary of religious terms

This glossary provides explanations of concepts as they were expressed in Latin pertaining to religious practices and beliefs, with links to articles on major topics such as priesthoods, forms of divination, and rituals. vicar general. the breaking of religious imagery (statues, stained glass, crosses etc) in belief that they represent idolatry [qv]. nihilism: the viewpoint that all traditional beliefs are unfounded and that human life has no meaning. sacraments. Unlike an auxiliary bishopseeauxiliary bishophe has the right of succession, meaning that he automatically becomes the new bishop when the diocesan bishop retires or dies. A parish or (arch)diocesan body that the pastor or (arch)bishop consults concerning policies and major decisions in the governance of the local church. The word comes from Greek hairesis, action of taking, choice, sect. Originally a heresy was simply a difference of opinion. millenarianism Such a council's role is consultative and always subject to the final authority of the pastor or bishop. Ash Wednesday is the first day of the season of fasting, penitence, and spiritual discipline and study called Lent, the six and one half weeks preceding Easter. consistory. They assume a variety of forms, but are frequently depicted as having human or animal form. In Catholic usage, the term is used most commonly to refer collectively to the bishops of the world or a particular region. Seereligious titles before names. In a 2005 document,Co-Workers in the Vineyard of the Lord, the U.S. bishops encouraged the growth of lay ecclesial ministry and set out general guidelines for the formation and the recognition or certification of such ministers. Here is a brief glossary of terms often used in the Catholic Church that may not be completely familiar to journalists who have not had a great deal of experience in covering church matters. archepiscopal. parish. Generally, it is more appropriate to refer to a Vatican dicastery by its more specific proper name: congregation, pontifical council, etc. Highest-ranking Catholic clergy below the pope. Making educational experiences better for everyone. ministry. vespers. Copyright 2023 Vocabulary.com, Inc., a division of IXL Learning Genesis says: The word heathen is used pejoratively to mean a person without religion. The term church has come to wide use to refer to the organized and gathered religious community. The Orthodox Churches, also called Eastern Orthodox, are a group of Churches that split from the Church in Rome around the 11th century. In the interregnum following the death of the pope, the College of Cardinals administers the church, and those under the age of 80 meet in a conclave to elect a new pope. The South Gloucestershire SACRE has prepared this glossary as a reference aid to the teaching of RE and the use of the new Agreed Syllabus. Find dictionary definitions and related terms in the Religion category on the online Definitions.net glossary. The chief diocese of an Eastern Catholic ecclesiastical province. mass, the Diocesan, orsecular,priestsare under the direction of their local bishop. liturgy Sometimes he is called alay brotherto distinguish him from clerical members of religious orders. purgatory The chief diocese of an ecclesiastical province (seeprovinceandmetropolitan). ), religious, the Papal representatives in the United States were apostolic delegates until 1984, when full diplomatic relations were established. Some words I think are useful: pantheism, gentile. Seeauxiliary bishopandcoadjutor. Elevation These movements have also been referred to as messianic, nativistic, and revitalization movements. Terms are capitalized only if they are always capitalized. Omnipresence: The concept that God is in all places at all times. Adj. It is not uncommon for bishops and other church officials schooled in the previous canon law code to use the termordinarymistakenly to refer only to diocesan bishops or major superiors of men religious. Like ecclesiastic, the English word bishop derives from a Greek word, episkopos, watcher, overseer. (1) The canon of Sacred Scripture is the list of books recognized by the church as inspired by the Holy Spirit. (NB Protestants and Catholics recognised slightly different texts: Catholicism accepted as authentic books in the Greek version of the Old Testament not included in the Hebrew bible - the Apocrypha). Christendom - In a cultural sense, it refers to the religion itself, or to the worldwide community of Christians, adherents of Christianity. Adj. the English language is basically Anglishthe language of the Germans who invaded and controlled Britain until the French-Norman William the Conquerer invaded in 1066 and brought French to Britain. Other purposes have included religious ceremonies to accumulate wealth, avoid danger, or eliminate enemies. collegiality. He or she may be the head of a province or of an individual house. Much theological debate has focused on whether the free gift of God's grace is a necessary precondition for all good works, and the role that human freewill plays in co-operating with grace. The termordinarywas formerly restricted to diocesan bishops and major superiors of religious orders, but it was expanded in the 1983Code of Canon Lawto include vicars general and episcopal vicars. In the canon law of the Eastern Catholic Churches,hierarchsis a term regularly used to describe the bishops of a church when describing their collective authority or function. faculty. Robyn, Thanks for your eloquent, accurate and complete explanation of the Eucharist. Seelay ecclesial ministry. In Catholic usage, a collective term referring to all those ordainedbishops, priests and deaconswho administer the rites of the church. If a church official uses the term in this more restricted former use, it is wise to question him or her on what he or she means by the term. tribunal. Seedioceseandarcheparchy. blasphemy: indignity offered to God, from Greek blasphemia, a speaking ill, impious speech, slander. Religions define blasphemy in terms of their own beliefs, often designating prophets and holy objects along with God as subjects not to be profaned. Let us make Man in our own image.. A bishop is an ordained minister who supervises life in a diocese, synod, or other broad region and possesses, among other things, the authority to ordain clergy to the ministry of the church. jihad: a holy war on behalf of Islam. diaconal. The belief that the entire universe - substances, forces and laws -- is God - the universe is God's body. In Catholic teaching the church embraces all its membersnot only those still living on earth, but also those in heaven or purgatory. (Galatians 3-4). The glossary is a revision of Religious Studies - A Glossary of Terms. Which kind of religious attitude should bear the name Atheist?? metropolitan. Church penalty under which a priest, while retaining his clerical status, is no longer permitted to perform priestly functions such as celebrating Mass, preaching or administering the sacraments. most commonly used to signify Christians recognising spiritual authority of the pope. SeeMass,sacramentsandvespers. The version of Christianity espoused by the Church of England, often understood to comprise a blend of Catholic and Protestant elements. The word did have different meanings and there are different theories as to why Christians called the nonbelievers by that word. What exactly does disbelieve mean? But, in addition, God is seen as transcending the universe. Gnostic mystery religions abounded in the Roman Empire. In certain cases it may be better to use an appositive phrase or some other approach:Sister Janet Smith, a School Sister of Notre Dame, rather thanSchool Sister of Notre Dame Sister Janet Smith. Also calledevening prayer, vespers is part of the Liturgy of the Hours, the series of psalms, prayers and readings for different parts of the day that Catholic priests and deacons are obligated to pray daily. (NB Arminians, not Armenians, a people from the Caucasus!). Omnibeneficience: The concept that God is all-good. Apart from its obvious use to refer to a building where Christians gather to worship God,churchhas a rich theological and doctrinal meaning for Catholics that also sets limits on how it is applied. Each diocese has a diocesan tribunal, used mainly to hear marriage cases. Also sometimes referred to as aresidential bishop. Thanks for this. A chaplain is a member of the clergy who serves in a prison, a hospital, a college, or some other institution outside the context of the normal congregational life of a religious community. province. Catholics and Jews were the most exotic religious practitioners in town, and atheist was a strong term of disapprobation. He is responsible for administering the sacraments, instructing the congregation in the doctrine of the church, and providing other services to the people of the parish. When referring to the Roman Curia,Roman CuriaandCuriaused alone are usually capitalized (likeSenatewhen referring to the U.S. Senate), butcuriais not capitalized in reference to a diocesan curia unless it is part of a full proper name. In reality, Jesus was born probably in the Fall of a year between 4 and 7 BCE. I askIsnt that really a somewhat weakened definition of Atheism? vow. Secondarily, church refers to the building housing such a community or to a particular communion or denomination of the Christian tradition. It has been argued that the transferred use reflects the fact that the ancient idolatry lingered on in the rural villages and hamlets after Christianity had been generally accepted in the towns and cities of the Roman Empire; compare Orosius Histories 1. the word also meant civilian and may have been coined by pagans to distinguish themselves from christian milites. For many Christians it is a day of fasting and a day on which the season ahead is symbolized by the imposition of ashes on ones forehead. Now the term is used figuratively to mean any remedial activity pursued with zeal and enthusiasm. The same meaning is becoming attached to jihad. (Lutherans and Zwinglians disagreed over this). archbishop. Seeeparchy. Seecelibacy. the leading enemy of Christ and his teaching, referred to in various biblical passages, and widely expected to appear on earth before the end of the world. Technically called adecree of nullity, is a sentence by a church court, confirmed by an appellate court, that aputative marriagewas not valid from the start because something was lacking: full knowledge and consent by both parties, freedom from force or grave fear, or some other factor needed for a valid marriage. Christmas is the Christian celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. literary genre in which the future of humanity is revealed using highly symbolic imagery. Still having trouble with the concept, if youll pardon me. multifaith): An attempt to initiate dialog, cooperation, and understanding among individuals of many different faiths. diocesan bishop. Calvinism is the tradition of Christian faith and practice developed by the 16th century reformer John Calvin (1509-64) who emphasized the sole authority of scripture, the omnipotence and sovereignty of God, human sinfulness, and salvation by faith alone. schism good list though, particularly my understanding of ecumenical and episcopal were way off. Eastern Catholics and Orthodox usually refer to confirmation aschrismation. The ancient teaching that outside the church there is no salvation (extra ecclesiam nullasalus) has been officially nuanced in church teaching to include many who do not explicitly embrace the church and all its teachings, or even many who join no Christian religion. The Church of England remained under papal authority until 1534 when Henry VIII declared himself the Supreme Head of the Church because of conflicts with Pope Clement VII. Diocesan bishops and their auxiliaries are responsible for the pastoral care of their dioceses. scripture The Amish are Protestant Christians of Anabaptist origin, beginning in Europe in the late 16th century with commitment to the adult believers baptism and to pacifism. A meeting of cardinals in Rome. (2) A grouping of communities of a religious order under the jurisdiction of a provincial superior. Priests in religious orders or congregations never receive the title of monsignor. As for your question, atheism covers both those lacking a belief in god(s) and those who claim there is no god. The religions have been chosen to reflect the main faiths that are studied both in school and at university in the English speaking world. But some (auxiliary bishops) are the top assistants to their diocesan bishops, and some priests are made bishops because of special posts they hold in the church, such as certain Vatican jobs. term sometimes used by Protestants for the eucharist. 'Roman Catholic' can be used after about 1560. If I may come up with a political example, there would be certain people who disbelieve in Weapons of Mass Destruction in Iraq having previously believed there were, while others never believed there were. In time bishop came to mean the chief administrator of a diocese (administrative district governed by a bishop) with the power to ordain. regular clergy A bishop appointed to a Catholic diocese or archdiocese to assist the diocesan bishop. This is not the same thing as the Virgin Birth, the belief that Jesus was divinely begotten and miraculously born of a virgin mother.. a place or state of being after this life, where souls destined for heaven would have their sins purged away - in Catholic popular teaching images of fire and torment predominated. All Saints Day is November 1, the day on which the church celebrates the saints, known and unknown. Written by Eric Johnson. Thanks, Robyn, Johns comment made me wonder, so I am glad that you clarified it. Most Atheists I have come across claim There is no God! Which kind of religious attitude should bear the name Atheist?? the belief that Christ is present in the bread and wine of the eucharist in more than a merely figurative or symbolic way. The information contained here has been gathered from a variety of . Amrit Vaila. Another reorganization in 2001 resulted in the USCCB. They only seem like different things to the mind determined to see religion where there is none atheism, of course, isnt a religious attitude at all. Its purpose must be a moral good that, with God's grace, can be achieved. The process by which a priest is returned to the lay state. Religious Terms Glossary: from the Concise Lexicon of Christianity Concise Lexicon of Christianity Teachings, worship, rites, sermons, and terminology Religious Terms Children from a putative marriage are considered legitimate even if the marriage is later ruled to be invalid. celibate. A man who has taken vows in a religious order but is not ordained or studying for the priesthood. 2023 United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Episcopal conferences were recommended by the Second Vatican Council and have duties enumerated in the 1983Code of Canon Lawand the 1998 apostolic letterApostolos Suos. Now it can be administered to anyone who is seriously or chronically ill. see. to another comment: hinduism isnt exactly polytheistic, and cant be defined as a single religion. Key Message Religious Groups In US Cultural Diversity Yiddish Religious Life Zionism Organizations Technically, 'Catholic' means universal, and the creed recited by most Christians in this period affirms belief in 'the holy catholic church'. Christian churches which share partially in the historic apostolic communities of Christian discipleship, but which in the Catholic Church's perspective do not have the fullness of apostolic succession in their bishops or ordained ministry, are calledecclesial communions, rather than churches. Anglican 3 attributes expressions of a monotheistic entity. monsignor. atheism: disbelief in any deity or supernatural power. pastor. (I am not opening up a debate on that subject). The word comes from a Greek word meaning grateful.. also its my understanding that Hinduism is multi-theistic. liturgical). Men and women entering religious life take vows, typically of poverty, chastity and obedience. Thus, in theological terms, Protestant thinkers would deny that the Roman Church was the same as the Catholic Church, and would themselves claim to be Catholics! Journalists and school officials shouldnt have to tiptoe around religious topics. Battle/war/fight - Almost all talk of battles and wars when concerning a Christian life refers to the inner battle that arises when a sinful thought tempts you. curia. The Continuum Glossary of Religious Terms provides a comprehensive glossary of terms from seven major religions, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhismthe main faiths that are studied both in school and at university in the English speaking world.. coadjutor. The highest order of ordained ministry in Catholic teaching. The Mass is divided into two main parts. That document was the first comprehensive code of church law governing all Eastern Catholic churches. eparchial. King was assassinated in 1968. Anglican: relating to the Church of England. A laicized priest is barred from all priestly ministry with one exception: He may give absolution to someone in immediate danger of death. Catholics, like Orthodox Christians, believe that there are seven sacraments:baptism,confirmation,Eucharist,penance,matrimony,holy ordersand theanointing of the sick. Whether a woman religious is a nun or sister in a strict canonical sense, in news reporting it is appropriate to use the termSisteras the religious title before her name. chastity. Also, probably worth noting the difference between catholic (All inclusive, pertaining to all mankind) & Catholic (as in Roman Catholic). The primary official term of reference for the Diocese of Rome, as the chief diocese of Catholic Christendom; used to refer to the pope and the Roman Curiacongregations, tribunals, and various other officesin their role of authority over and service to the Catholic Church around the world. Although this was published in 2010 and am just reading it now (2019) when i was looking for words associated with traditional religion for preparation of my lesson, i think i still find it educating and lucid. ecumenical: worldwide. In most contexts it can be called anarchdiocese, but if some legal distinction between Eastern and Latin Catholic jurisdictions is important, it may be necessary to introduce the term. Disbelieve means to not believe. The central act of worship in the Catholic Church. Heath comes from a word meaning field. Heathen was originally an adjective meaning of the heath., profane: not holy. In this glossary, you will find definitions of common religious freedom and First Amendment terms and phrases, as compiled by our experts, for your greater understanding. In some cases diocesan bishops are assigned a coadjutor bishop, who is like an auxiliary except that he automatically becomes the diocesan bishop when his predecessor resigns or dies. Benedictines are members of monastic orders who live according to the Rule of St. Benedict, the 6th century monk of Monte Cassino in Italy whose teachings lie at the heart of monastic life, ancient and modern. With the publication of the model syllabuses for religious education, and the work involving the faith communities in Britain, it was felt to be an appropriate time for revision. In the United States well over 30,000 such lay ministersan average of more than 1.6 per parish nationwideare employed by Catholic parishes in full- or part-time positions of more than 20 hours a week. Seevicar general. The title given automatically to bishops who govern archdioceses. Their liturgy and mysticism is more similar to Catholicism than to any other Christian denomination, but has some important distinctions. heresy In Catholic practice done through confession to a priest (auricular confession) who confers absolution. deacon, diaconate. Agnosticism is the position that the existence of god(s) is unknown or unknowable. Buddhism. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time. TheCode of Canon Lawspells out certain limited obligations and authority that the metropolitan archbishop has with respect to the dioceses within his province. The first three are also called thesacraments of Christian initiation, and in the Eastern Catholic and Orthodox traditions they are administered together in infancy. Seechastity. For theonyms, or the names and epithets of gods, see List of Roman deities. Prol. religious: [adjective] relating to or manifesting faithful devotion to an acknowledged ultimate reality or deity. gospel: the story of Christs life and teachings as told in the first four books of the Christian New Testament. Faith is a commitment of action or belief based on certain evidences, though all supporting facts remain unknown. Married men may be ordained permanent deacons, but only unmarried men committed to lifelong celibacy can be ordained deacons if they are planning to become priests. Ill give some thoughts to how additional words might be grouped. Each is considered fully equal to the Latin tradition within the church. Confucianism: a system of teachings characterized by central emphasis on the practice and cultivation of the cardinal virtues of filial piety, kindness, righteousness, propriety, intelligence, and faithfulness. evangelical: having to do with the Christian gospel/New Testament writings. In this legal sense women religious (sisters) and unordained men religious (brothers) are laity. laicization. Find information on Religion terms and definitions in the cross-referenced index. In the United States there are 15 Eastern Church dioceses and two Eastern Church archdioceses. words only definitions & notes. Catholicism taught that scripture was supplemented by the tradition of the Church, and that the Church was the authoritative interpreter of scripture. For additional quotes on these topics, see Bill McKeever's book or CD edition of In Their Own Words.And for a 13-minute podcast covering Mormon terminology, go here. Moksha: Liberation, or Freedom, from the endless cycle of births known as Samsara. Eastern Catholic Churches. regula) and in a community: monks and friars. Someone who lacks professional knowledge of a particular profession is called a layman. The Rev. secular: worldly, not sacred. -. Religious Freedom Glossary of Terms. Penance is also called the sacrament ofreconciliation. An archidiocese is a particularly large or important diocese over which the archbiship has juirsdiction. Religious definition, of, relating to, or concerned with religion: a religious holiday. Many religions regard asceticism (fasting, abstaining from sexual activity, wearing inadequate clothing) as a means of reaching a higher spiritual state. Answer a few questions on each word. It consists of bishops and priests serving the diocese. The Liturgy of the Word includes Scripture readings and a homily and ends with the general intercessions. Continuum Glossary of Religious Terms provides a comprehensive glossary of terms from seven major religions: Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism. a religious event to celebrate or mark an occurrence for a person or community. Most bishops are diocesan bishops, the chief priests in their respective dioceses. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. Anything not related to religion and spirituality is profane. Celibacy is not a vow; it should be described as a promise. NOTE: The definitions given here are not intended to be exhaustive. Ex locorum agrestium compitis et pagis pagani vocantur. OED. Church law explicitly rejects this interpretation, saying that children of a putative marriage are legitimate even if the marriage is later judged to be invalid. Mtali The gathering of the world's Catholic cardinals, after the death of a pope, to elect a new pope. the teaching of Buddha that life is permeated with suffering caused by desire . Amrit Bani. The change is called transubstantiation, and the doctrine of the literal presence of Jesus is called the Real Presence. Though this person doesnt know what is islam ( I dont see any description it ), but she/he knows what is jihad . heresy: a religious opinion, or adherence to such an opinion, that is contrary to an established religious teaching. Angels are common to Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Many countries have anti-blasphemy laws. This term sets my teeth on edge, especially when used as a shorthand definition as you have done. priests living under a rule (lat.

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