Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
CHAPTER 2 : HINDUISM
1. Vedas: Sacred Writing for Hinduism/Hinduism scriptures.
2. Dravidians: Dark skinned inhabitants of India
3. Aryans: Light skinned Indo-Europeans who entered the Indus Valley prior to 1000 b.c.e.
4. Varna: Color once associated with caste
5. Caste: Permanent social group a person is born and which determines one’s social and religious obligations.
6. Shruti: Hindu sacred writings based on “heard” or revealed knowledge.
7. Smiriti: Writings based on what human authors “remembered” of revelations to Hindus; less authoritative than
revealed scriptures.
8. Brahmanas: Commentaries and manuals instructing priests in rites associated in the Vedas.
9. Aranyakas: Shruti interpreting ritual of the Vedas for ascetics living in the forest.
10. Upanishads: “Sitting near the teachers”
11. Vedanta: End of the Vedas
12. Agamas: Scriptures from the tradition that divide according to deity.
13. Manu: In Hinduisim, the first man.
14. Itihasa Purana: Ancient mythological texts; including the Mahabharata, Ramanaya, 18 Puranas honoring Brahma,
Shiva and Vishnu.
15. Mahabharata: Epic poem featuring activities of the Lord Krishna.
16. Ramanaya: Epic of the ideal man, Rama and Sita, the ideal woman.
17. Brahmin: The name of the highest, priestly caste/highest caste of priests.
18. Purusha: Primal spirit/ soul of an individual.
19. Agni: The fire used in sacrifice, the Vedic god of fire.
20. Indra: Creator and ruler of the universe.
21. Soma: Hindu deity of an intoxicating plant. Sometimes used in the veda for worship purposes.
22. Varuna: Hindu God of the high-arched sky.
23. Rita: The Hindu god of order and principles.
24. Mitra: A god of faithfulness and promise-keeping.
25. Brahman: The Absolute.
26. Atman: The essence of Brahman that is present in individual self. (soul)
27. Maya: Appearance or illusion; power of creation.
28. Guru: A Hindu teacher of religious duties.
29. Prakrit: In Hinduism, matter, as opposed to purusha, spirit.
30. Moksha: Release of soul from samsara (cycle of rebirths)
31. Saguna Brahman: God with person like qualities.
32. Nirguna Brahman: God beyond attributes
33. Kalpa: A long period of the created world.
34. Law of Karma: The principle of Hinduism that a persons thoughts and deeds are followed by the consequence of
deserved pleasure or pain.
35. Samsara: Concept of the wheel of rebirth.
36. Kshatriya: Hindu caste of warriors or administrators.
37. Vaishya: Third Hindu caste: merchants and artisans.
38. Shudras: Fourth caste, caste of labourers.
39. Krishna: An incarnation of Vishnu.
40. Karma/Karma yoga: Doing one’s caste duties without expecting a reward; selfless action.
41. Jnana Yoga: The Hindu path of release based on intellectual knowledge.
42. Raja Yoga: Path to salvation by disciplining the mind and body.
43. Bhakti Yoga: Personal devotion to deity.
44. Laws of Manu: A Hindu code of conduct.
45. Samadhi: Concentration that unifies.
46. Sannyasin: One in the last stage of renunciation or detachment.
47. Puranas: “Ancient Lore” treatises or the deities of popular Hinduism.
48. Tantras: Religious treatises for developing latent powers in persons.
49. Trimurti: The triad of the Gods: Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva.
50. Brahma: The creator
51. Vishnu: The preserver
52. Shiva: The destroyer.
53. Avidya: Ignorance
54. Avatar: God Vishnu is believed to have taken on human or other forms on several occasions.
55. Ahimsa: Nonviolence.
BUDDHISM
1. Sangha: Buddhist monastic order
2. Arhat: An enlightened person, holy person.
3. Dharma: In Buddhism, law of universe/tradition thought by the Buddha
4. Tathagatha: One who understands his real nature/ title of the Buddha, meaning one who has thus gone.
5. Dukkha: The Buddhist term for suffering of humans.
6. Tanha: Thirst or craving that leads to suffering.
7. Eightfold Path: The path of deliverance in Buddhism.
8. Jhana: Buddhist meditation
9. Skandhas: Five strands that constitute the self.
10. Nirvana: In Buddhism, the state of being free of egocentrism and the suffering that it causes.
11. Tripitaka: “Three Baskets” collection of Buddhist scriptures.
12. Tiratana: Buddha, Dhamma, Sangha.
13. Theravadins: The elders, monks who imitated the Buddha’s ascetic life to attain enlightenment.
14. Mahayanists: Those of the great vehicle, who emphasized universal Buddhist enlightenment.
15. Theravada: Conservative Buddhist.
16. Vajrayana: Tibetan Buddhism.
17. Jatakas: Stories of the previous lives of the Buddha.
18. Boddhisatvas: People who have qualified to enter Nirvana, but stay behind to help others.
19. Kwan-Yin: Boddhisattva of mercy, also known as Avalokiteshvara.
20. Bon: Ancient animistic religion of Tibet.
21. Lama: Tibetan Buddhist monk.
22. Dalai Lama: Reincarnation of a senior Tibetan Buddhist monk. The Dalai lama is also the leader of Tibetan Buddhism.
23. Lingam: Male sexual or reproductive organ.
24. Anicca: Impermanence.
25. Trikaya: The three bodies of Buddha.
26. Anatta: No soul (Pali word)
27. Bodhgaya: A temple that commemorates the place where Buddha found enlightenment
28. Mara: The evil one who tempted the Buddha at Bodhgaya
29. Shakyamuni: Sage of the Shakya clan, Siddharta Gautama, the Buddha
30. Maitreya: Tradition of East Asia, means the next Buddha to appear on Earth.
CHINESE RELIGIONS
1. Yang: The male side of the Dao. Exemplified as bright, warm, and dry conditions.
2. Yin: The female side of the Dao. Exemplified as dark, cool and moist conditions.
3. Dao: The path, or course or way of the universe. Although its influence is in nature, the eternal Dao is believed to
be hidden from empirical evidence.
4. Yijing (I Ching): An ancient book of China that assists people in deciding how to plan their lives in accord with
the forces of the universe.
5. Dao De Ching: The way and its power. A book attributed to Laozi, founder of Daoism.
6. Daoists: Followers of a philosophy or religion expressed in the Dao De Ching.
7. Laozi (Lao Tzu): Regarded as founder of Daoism.
8. Wu Wei: To do without doing. Daoist principle in accomplishing tasks without assertion.
9. Chuang Tzu: Later Daoist
10. Shang Di : The lord of heaven.
11. Jade Emperor: A mythical emperor of ancient China.
12. Zaoshen: The god of the stove.
13. Three purities: Three deities of Daoism : Ling Bao, the Jade Emperor, and Laozi.
14. Taixi: Art of embryonic breathing.
15. Shouyi: To preserve the One or to meditate on the One.
16. Confucius: The Chinese founder of Confucianism. He sought to develop good government through a responsible
ruler and ethical people.
17. Junzi (Chun tzu): Gentleman or superior man. Role model for the conduct of the Chinese people.
18. Li ji (Li Chi): The Chinese classic on rites supposedly edited by Confucius.
19. Li: Principle of Righteousness or propriety. Ritual and correct conduct in society.
20. The Five Relationships: Ruler-subject, husband-wife, father-son, older brother-younger brother, elder friend-
younger friend.
21. Yi: Internalized, or righteous
22. Ren (Jen): Humane principle, based on fellow-feeling.
23. Shu: Reciprocity. Individuals treating others as they would like to be treated.
24. Mengzi: A later disciple of Confucius who emphasized an inborn goodness in humans.
25. Xunxi: A Confucian who argued that humans are evil by nature and must be taught good rather than evil.
26. Sun Yat-Sen: First leader of republic of China after the fall of the Manchus.
27. Tianming: Mandate of heaven.
28. Kuan Ti: In Hong Kong, police worship Kuan Ti asking for help and protection.
29. Mengzi: A later disciple of Confucius who emphasized an inborn goodness of humans.
JUDAISM
1. Tanakh: The complete Jewish Bible, comprising the five books of Moses, the prophets and the writings.
2. Torah: Teachings that comprise the first five books of the Bible: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy.
3. Covenant: The binding agreement between God and his chosen people.
4. Passover: A Jewish holiday in the spring celebrating God’s deliverance of the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.
5. Matzah: Unleavened bread eaten by Jews during the Passover.
6. Ark of the Covenant: A box containing the Ten Commandments.
7. Shema: A declaration of God’s unity, recited twice daily.
8. Canaanites: The people among whom the Israelites settled on their return from slavery in Egypt.
9. Baal: A god or gods of Canaan. Landlords or keepers of the land.
10. Asherah: A goddess of Canaan. Counterpart of male god, Baal.
11. Prophet: A person inspired by God to speak to in his name.
12. Synagogue: The place of worship or temple for the Jewish people.
13. Rabbi: A Jewish religious teacher.
14. Exodus: The mass departure of the Jews from the Promised Land.
15. Theodicy: A justification in the presence of evil, of God’s goodness, justice and knowledge.
16. Scribe: A trained scholar, particularly in Torah studies.
17. Hanukkah: The eight-day festival commemorating the rededication of the Jerusalem temple.
18. Sadducees: Jewish leaders who claimed allegiance to the priestly descendants of Zadok.
19. Zealots: A party of Jews actively opposed to Roman occupation of Judea.
20. Pharisees: A group of Jews who represented the piety of the common people.
21. Mosaic Law: The Law of Moses.
22. Messiah: The anointed one who will deliver Jews from oppression.
23. Sanhedrin: The supreme judicial body of the Jews.
24. Western Wall: The platform of the formal Temple. Only part existing after the destruction in 70 c.e.
25. Hillel: A prominent Jewish teacher and founder of the Hillel school of rabbis.
26. Mishnah: Teachings of the rabbis compiled about 200 c.e.
27. Talmud: The collection of rabbinic teachings.
28. Midrash: Rabbinic exposition explaining the meaning of scriptures.
29. Diaspora: Dispersion of Jews.
30. Muslim: A follower of prophet Muhammad.
31. Islam: A religion which emphasizes worship to one God, Allah.
32. Modernism: In religion, emphasis on reason in philosophy and science instead of traditional beliefs.
33. Zionism: A movement led by Jews to provide a home country for themselves.
34. Holocaust: An offering brought to a deity and completely burnt.
35. Dogma: Accepting based on faith, not reason.
36. Eschatology: Beliefs on the end of the world.
CHRISTIANITY
1. Christ: “The anointed one”
2. Miracle: An event judged to be brought by divine intervention in the ordinary events of history.
3. Parable: A simple story told to illustrate a religious truth or lesson.
4. Resurrection: Jesus died on Good Friday and was resurrected on Easter Sunday
5. Pentecost: A festival celebrating the time when the Holy spirit descended on the early Christian Church.
6. Apostle: A person who was a disciple of Jesus sent out to proclaim the coming of the kingdom of God.
7. Church: A congregation of Christians.
8. Theology: A formal and reasoned explanation of the beliefs of the faithful of a religion
9. Heretics: People who have been judged by the church to hold a dangerous doctrine contrary to the teachings of the church
10. Christian Canon: The list of books accepted as scriptures by Christians.
11. Lutherans: Members of the Protestant denomination based on the teachings of Martin Luther.
12. Trinity: Christian belief in God the father, Son and Holy Ghost.
13. Incarnation: Jesus coming to life in human flesh.
14. Gospels: Messages of the good news
37. Ecumenism: a whole household of faith. Different groups in a religion coming
ISLAM
1. Qur’an: The sacred scripture of the Muslims
2. Ka’bah: The cube shaped building in the open court of the Grand Mosque of Mecca.
3. Quraishy: The owners of the Ka’bah.
4. Hanif: A person who worshipped one God before the time of the Prophet.
5. Jinn: a race of beings created from fire.
6. Hijrah: Muhammad’s migration from Mecca to Yatrhib in 622.
7. Ansar: Medinans who who recites for God. “Messenger”
8. Shahada: Muslim profession of faith to only Allah and his one messenger, Muhammad.
9. Salat: Obligatory prayer five times a daily.
10. Zakat: The payment of a due to support the community. An act of purification through giving.
11. Sawm: Fast during daylight hours of Ramadan.
12. Ramadhan: A time or period of fasting for the Muslims, usually lasts for a month.
13. Hajj: The pilgrimage to Mecca, expected of all Muslims who are able.
14. Five Pillars of Islam: Five requirements made of all Muslims.
15. Tawhid: The Muslim doctrine of the unity of God.
16. Rak’a: Each complete cycle of ritual movements that is part of Muslim prayer.
17. Muezzin: One who calls Muslims to prayer.
18. Sadaqa: Informal charity between Muslims.
19. Sunna: The custom or tradition of Muhammad.
20. Hadiths: Reports to what Muhammad said or did.
21. Caliph: A successor of the prophet Muhammad.
22. Shi’a: Members of the “party” of Ali.
23. Sunni: The traditional, majority Muslims who accepted Mu’awiyah as the next leader after Uthman.
24. Ummah: The Muslim community.
25. Dhimmi: A client of the Muslims. Non-muslims who lived in a muslim country under Islamic laws.
26. Shari’a: The duties that God has placed on the Muslim community.
27. Ijma: The consensus of Muslim religious leaders on matters of practice.
28. Qiyas: Analogies used in applying the Qur’an and the Sunna
29. Ra’y: The considered opinion of Muslim leaders acting for public good.
30. Ulama: Muslim clerical scholars.
31. Mihrab: The niche in a mosque that signifies the direction of Mecca.
32. Kiblat: An arrow that marks the direction of the Ka’bah.
33. Jihad: An act which includes war to protect the well-being or dignity of Islam.
34. Imam: A religious leader.
35. Jahiliyah: Ignorance, not knowing the state.