glossary of religious terms

Assign learning activities including Practice, Vocabulary Jams and Spelling Bees to your students, and monitor their progress in real-time. The distinction was sometimes blurred in practice. Sometimes he is called alay brotherto distinguish him from clerical members of religious orders. In Catholic teaching the church embraces all its membersnot only those still living on earth, but also those in heaven or purgatory. Whats the difference between the Shia and Sunni branches of Islam? 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. For many members of religious orders, the short version of their order's name may precede the religious title:Mercy Sister Mary Smith,Jesuit Father John Smith,Benedictine Brother Peter Smith. Reformed, the The Vatican II sense is the one usually intended in most discussions of laypeople and their role in the church. Abrahamic religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In addition, there is one non-territorial Eastern Church apostolate in the United States whose bishop is a member of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. to another comment: hinduism isnt exactly polytheistic, and cant be defined as a single religion. A code of ecclesiastical laws governing the Catholic Church. 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. vespers. The information contained here has been gathered from a variety of . The promise should not be called a "vow." Angels are especially described as divine messengers. Seedioceseandarcheparchy. As for your question, atheism covers both those lacking a belief in god(s) and those who claim there is no god. Find dictionary definitions and related terms in the Religious category on the online Definitions.net glossary. Their liturgy and mysticism is more similar to Catholicism than to any other Christian denomination, but has some important distinctions. Not a specific job title, but a general theological description of the work of Catholics who are not ordained but are engaged in substantial public leadership positions in church ministry, collaborating closely with the ordained leadership and working under their authority. Eric, Angels are especially described as divine messengers. John Smith, depending on your publication's style manual. 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. The Pluralism ProjectHarvard University2 Arrow St, 4th FloorCambridge MA02138. Also called chiliasm. (adj. He or she may be the head of a province or of an individual house. This is considered an auspicious time for meditation and prayer as stressed by Guru Nanak. 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. Theuniversal churchthe meaning ofcatholic church, lowercasedis the communion of all those particular churches spread throughout the world who are in union with the bishop of Rome and who share in fidelity to apostolic teaching and discipleship to Christ. Angels are common to Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Comment on Anglicanism. Making educational experiences better for everyone. It can be anordinary consistory, attended only by cardinals in Rome at the time of the meeting, or anextraordinary consistory, to which all cardinals around the world are summoned. Whether we care about it or not, we ought to be able to read and write about religion with some understanding of the terminology. Continuum Glossary of Religious Terms - Amazon.com Before then (and for long after) the great majority of the members of the Church of England thought of themselves as Protestants. 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. May be a synonym forpriesthoodor may refer to the collective body of priests of a diocese or similar ecclesiastical jurisdiction. Hinduism: a body of social, cultural, and religious beliefs and practices found chiefly in India. As always, most appreciated. Buddhism: the teaching that suffering is inherent to life and that the way to escape suffering and repeated existence is to limit ones desires and expectations. In the Latin rite Church baptism is administered to infants, but the first reception of the Eucharist (first Communion) and confirmation are typically delayed until the child has reached the use of reason, generally regarded as about the age of seven. Religion | Definition, Types, Beliefs, Symbols, Examples, Importance good list though, particularly my understanding of ecumenical and episcopal were way off. Modern paganism is earth-centered and can include polytheistic beliefs. Still having trouble with the concept, if youll pardon me. @Andy, Islamic terms would grant a post on their own, and that is why we have not mixed them here (except for the mainstream jihad). Glossary of Religion Terms | Lore Cat(alog) Omnipotence: The concept that God has infinite power; he is able to do anything that he wishes that is consistent with his own personality. The word comes from a Greek word meaning grateful.. Each archdiocese has an archdiocesan tribunala court of first trialand a metropolitan tribunal, an appeals court that reviews decisions of diocesan courts in that ecclesiastical province when necessary. But, in addition, God is seen as transcending the universe. Let us make Man in our own image.. The chief diocese of a group of dioceses is called anarchdiocese; see that entry. diaconal. Thanks, Robyn, Johns comment made me wonder, so I am glad that you clarified it. 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. Protestants had a much wider concept than Catholics of what constituted idolatry. Deity: (or a god) A postulated preternatural being, usually, but not always, of significant power, worshipped, thought holy, divine, or sacred, held in high regard, or respected by human beings. often used to mean members of religious orders (ie not just modern sense of 'pious'). Religious priestsare professed members of a religious order or institute. justification For public religious holidays, see Roman festivals. Glossary of Sikh Religious Terms - Gateway to Sikhism 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. An apostolic nuncio, also called apapal nuncio, is always an archbishop, and it is his religious title that is capitalized as a title before his name, e.g.,Archbishop Carlo MariaVigan,apostolic nuncio to the United States,notApostolic Nuncio Carlo MariaVigan. diocesan curia. In Catholic practice done through confession to a priest (auricular confession) who confers absolution. Written by Eric Johnson. orthodox: in agreement with the official doctrine of a given religion. Glossary of religious and spiritual terms (Starting with "M") Of course you will follow your own publication's style manual for use of religious titles before names. It refers to someone withordinaryauthority in church law over a group of clergy, over certain pastoral concerns in a specific geographical area or over the members of a religious order. Often associated with a 'hard' line over grace [qv], stressing that people can do little by their own efforts, and everything comes from God. His Biblical faith decisively shaped his commitment to social justice. Anglicanism I askIsnt that really a somewhat weakened definition of Atheism? It is sugar water which is used during the Khalsa initiation ceremony. Agnostic comes from the same root as ignorant. purgatory This useful and informative work should help anyone studying religion up to graduate level, but it is also a . 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. Rite, Ritual: Speech, action, singing, and other activities which often contain a symbolic meaning, performed in a specific order - typically during a religious service. Anthropology of Religion: Glossary of Terms - Palomar College First century Christians writers adopted the word to mean assembly of believers, or church.. I often read about Liberation Theology since I have studying about Comparative Religion. Prol. We use cookies to give you the best online experience. The religions have been chosen to reflect the main faiths that are studied both in school and at university in the English speaking world. Adj. baptism The Liturgy of the Eucharist begins with the offering of the gifts, followed by consecration of the bread and wine and the reception of Communion. delict. RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: GLOSSARY OF TERMS . Apostolic Practices Studies are interrupted for Eastern Catholics and Orthodox usually refer to confirmation aschrismation. A church term for one of the major departments of the Roman Curiathe Secretariat of State, Vatican congregations, tribunals, pontifical councils and a few other departments. a (1) : the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2) : commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance b : the state of a religious a nun in her 20th year of religion 3 : a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith 4 archaic : scrupulous conformity : conscientiousness religionless ri-li-jn-ls adjective Unless some legal distinction between a Latin rite diocese and an Eastern Church eparchy is relevant to a news report, in most cases it is appropriate to refer to an eparchy as a diocese and to its leader as a bishop. The word comes from Greek hairesis, action of taking, choice, sect. Originally a heresy was simply a difference of opinion. diocesan. Priests in religious orders or congregations never receive the title of monsignor. Adj. He also held that justification did not make people good or righteous, but because of the sacrifice of Christ on the cross God accepted them as if they were. The teaching affirms the central role and responsibility of the church to reach out to all people with the Gospel message while acknowledging that those who have not been apprised or convinced of that message may still be saved if they live upright lives in accord with their own convictions and understanding of God. The Rev. In time bishop came to mean the chief administrator of a diocese (administrative district governed by a bishop) with the power to ordain. The glossary also contains . The topic of religion, like that of ecology, is one that concerns all human beings. John Smith orthe Rev. Anglican: relating to the Church of England. By canon law, he is also vicar general of the diocese. superior. He is presumed to have lived sometime in the period 2000-1700 BCE. An archbishop is a bishop with authority over a particularly large or important diocese. 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. The glossary is a revision of Religious Studies - A Glossary of Terms. Angels are common to Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Glossary of Religious Terms - Warwick Relig-ish: Soulful Living in a Spiritual-But-Not-Religious World presbyteral council. In the United States there are 15 Eastern Church dioceses and two Eastern Church archdioceses. Seechastity. Augustinian In 1966, the conference was reorganized as the canonical entity known as the National Conference of Catholic Bishops and its twin civil corporation known as the U.S. Catholic Conference. religion, human beings' relation to that which they regard as holy, sacred, absolute, spiritual, divine, or worthy of especial reverence. The Catholic Church recognised seven sacraments: baptism [v], confirmation, eucharist [qv], penance [qv], holy orders, marriage, anointing of the sick (extreme unction); Protestantism usually only two: baptism and the eucharist (though sometimes penance as well). Refers to a decision to live chastely in the unmarried state. Seearcheparchy. King was assassinated in 1968. Now the term is used figuratively to mean any remedial activity pursued with zeal and enthusiasm. The same meaning is becoming attached to jihad. Youre right, there are plenty of other useful words. 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. The first of these is still called the Roman Canon because it is nearly identical to the original Roman Canon. vow. ordinary. refers to the teaching of the thirteenth-century systematic theologian Thomas Aquinas, favoured by Catholics, but not Protestants. Seeauxiliary bishopandcoadjutor. This is not the same thing as the Virgin Birth, the belief that Jesus was divinely begotten and miraculously born of a virgin mother.. Angels are a class of supernatural or spiritual beings, imaginatively understood to perform various functions on God's behalf. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); 2023 Daily Writing Tips, a Found First Marketing company. Immaculate Conception: the Roman Catholic doctrine that the Virgin Mary was conceived without Original Sin (the sin of Adam and Eve conveyed to all human beings). Ecclesialis reserved to those who are in church-recognized leadership positions, generally certified to represent the church in their area of expertise after appropriate human, spiritual, intellectual and pastoral formation. The synonym is universal, or Universal, as one might prefer. Delete the word symbolic. Im sure I could come up with more. In this legal sense women religious (sisters) and unordained men religious (brothers) are laity. Eucharist: the sacrament of the Lords Supper, a rite in which bread and wine are consecrated and consumed in union with Christ. the various texts of church services (adj. A broad term in Catholic usage for any activity conducive to the salvation of souls. Continuum Glossary of Religious Terms - Alibris Quite funny , from Latin The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCBs) mission is to encounter the mercy of Christ and to accompany His people with joy. Glossary of Religious Terms - DocsLib term sometimes used by Protestants for the eucharist. asceticism: a mode of life that excludes physical pleasures and self-indulgence. Many religions regard asceticism (fasting, abstaining from sexual activity, wearing inadequate clothing) as a means of reaching a higher spiritual state. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. laicization. (1) A term used for some Vatican departments that are responsible for important areas of church life, such as worship and sacraments, the clergy, and saints' causes. Religious Freedom Glossary of Terms - Scientologists Taking Action In the Catholic Church, the diaconate is the first of three ranks in ordained ministry. A term applied to the Sikh Scriptures, meaning the words are as sweet as nectar (amrit). Whether in a diocese or archdiocese, his title isbishop. 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. (Galatians 3-4). In a church setting one may speak of the clergy and the laity (non-clerical members of the church). Paatal: Also termed as nether world, it is the underground world and is one of the three lokas. split within the church, which may or may not lead to heresy [qv]. vicar general. You run a writing website, please use gender neutral language please, it isnt that difficult. The word did have different meanings and there are different theories as to why Christians called the nonbelievers by that word. The threshold amounts are established periodically by an agreement with the Holy See and are currently subject to annual inflation changes determined by the cost of living index. Religious clergy live according to the rule of their respective orders. Auxiliary bishops and bishops in Vatican service are examples of those given titular sees. Test your spelling acumen. 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. Seevicar general. on the path to systematic vocabulary improvement. @Emma re: small c versus capital C Catholic there is no difference except that one is used as a title. chastity. In Catholic usage, the term is used most commonly to refer collectively to the bishops of the world or a particular region. The head of an archeparchy is called anarcheparch, but in most contexts he can be called anarchbishop. Each diocese has a diocesan tribunal, used mainly to hear marriage cases. A promise made to God with sufficient knowledge and freedom. All rights reserved. The apostles are the disciples of Jesus recognized as leaders of the early church; Paul, although not a disciple, came to be considered an apostle as well. i dont believe the country dweller excuse is entirely valid. Although the three Abrahamic religions get most of the news copy, the number of religions that matter to people number in the double digits. A laicized priest is barred from all priestly ministry with one exception: He may give absolution to someone in immediate danger of death. katherine F. (United States of America) This list includes types of religions, books of study, and words related to basic beliefs. iconographical). The term church has been adopted by other American groups such as the Buddhist Churches of Americato indicate this form of community fellowship. secular: worldly, not sacred. One may hope that even more experienced journalists will find one or two new insights here. Holy war is only an extremist (read minority) understanding of the word. liturgy. Seeprovince. In most Eastern Catholic churches the Mass is called theDivine Liturgy. Antichrist These days religion is front page news. Omnibeneficience: The concept that God is all-good. Neither classical Paganism nor contemporary polytheism are earth-centered even if that term actually means anything. It ordinarily does not come into play in news coverage of the Vatican, but it may do so in certain limited contexts. GCSE which was published by the School Examination Council (SEC) in 1986. Advent is the Christian season of preparation for Christmas, the four weeks before Christmas in the Western churches; the first Sunday in Advent is the beginning of the Christian liturgical year. ?the one who just disbelieves in God, or the one who claims there is no god??? Luther, and many subsequent Protestants, identified the papacy (rather than an individual pope) as the antichrist. Episcopal is the adjective for bishop. -. Often this is where choir members are seated and the place from which clergy conduct the service. Like pagan, heathen also points to the fact that non-city dwellers tended to reject religious change. 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. It is under the pastoral care of aneparch(bishop). Glossary of religious and spiritual terms (Starting with "R") archdiocesan. The early Christian church was fragmented into various sects, many of which taught a Gnostic version of the new religion. ecumenical: worldwide. 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. The latter are called lay brothers. the word also meant civilian and may have been coined by pagans to distinguish themselves from christian milites. There was a brief period, from 1984 to 1991, when the Vatican ambassador to the United States was called thepro-nunciobecause he was not the dean of the world's ambassadors to the United States (a position that under a Vienna convention is automatically given to the Vatican ambassador in many countries but in other countries is given to the senior foreign ambassador, wherever he is from). That document was the first comprehensive code of church law governing all Eastern Catholic churches. 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. the systematic description of the visual components of an image; the pattern of images making up the theme in a depiction. SeeMass,sacramentsandvespers. Most parishes are formed on a geographic basis, but they may be formed along national or ethnic lines. TheAnnuario Pontificiodevotes more than 200 pages to the listing of titular sees, where it gives basic biographical information about the bishops who hold them. The USCCB traces its origins to the 1919 establishment of the National Catholic Welfare Conference. conclave. Now that there are four eucharistic prayers in general use, they are usually referred to as Eucharistic Prayer I, II, III or IV, but they may also be called canons. In English the standard abbreviation as a title before the name isMsgr. Like ecclesiastic, the English word bishop derives from a Greek word, episkopos, watcher, overseer. This position, strongly affirmed by the world's Catholic bishops at the Second Vatican Council and reaffirmed in numerous church documents since then, remains a topic of considerable disagreement in ecumenical dialogues. Vocabulary.com can put you or your class Buddhism. He is remembered for his strong role in the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (beginning in 1957), in the Selma to Montgomery March (1965), in the March on Washington (1965), and for his leadership in the Civil Rights movement throughout the 1950s and 1960s. 3 attributes expressions of a monotheistic entity. Backslide - To go back to old sins or habits that one once had victory over. Seecelibacy. the sacred writings of the Christian religions. (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). 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. It refers to the number of years since the birth of Yeshua of Nazareth, a.k.a. Amrit Vaila. archepiscopal. There are only two Catholic archeparchies in the United States: the Byzantine Catholic Archdiocese of Pittsburgh and the Ukrainian Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The bread and wine become the Body and Blood of Christ. Ill give some thoughts to how additional words might be grouped. Celibacy is not a vow; it should be described as a promise. At ordination, a diocesan priest or unmarried deacon in the Latin rite Catholic Church makes a promise of celibacy. celibate. evangelical: having to do with the Christian gospel/New Testament writings. Episcopal conferences were recommended by the Second Vatican Council and have duties enumerated in the 1983Code of Canon Lawand the 1998 apostolic letterApostolos Suos. Find dictionary definitions and related terms in the Religion category on the online Definitions.net glossary. Whether youre a teacher or a learner, In the U.S., the Amish in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and other parts of the Midwest have maintained a strong sense of community and continue to insist on simplicity, rejecting the use of modern technology. Arminian clergy were much promoted by Charles I of England. schism ceremonial act of washing oneself, usually for ritual or purification purposes. Bible. Christendom - In a cultural sense, it refers to the religion itself, or to the worldwide community of Christians, adherents of Christianity. Religion Definition & Meaning - Merriam-Webster Subscribers get access to our archives with 800+ interactive exercises! Someone who lacks professional knowledge of a particular profession is called a layman. Religious Terms Glossary: from the Concise Lexicon of Christianity In a monastery there are monks who pray and do intellectual work, and those who do manual work and attend to secular affairs. jihad: a holy war on behalf of Islam. A priest or auxiliary bishop who assists the diocesan bishop in a specific part of the diocese, over certain groups in the diocese, or over certain areas of church affairs. Pope Benedict XVI 1927-2022 tribute page and access to resources here. titular see. penance Amrit Bani. In addition to their diocesan responsibilities, all bishops have a responsibility to act in council with other bishops to guide the church. host The chief diocese of an ecclesiastical province (seeprovinceandmetropolitan). 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. Anglican archeparchy. Adj. do you have a source for the origin of the word pagan? Agnosticism is not about the existence of God being unknowable I cannot think of a single Faith that claims you can *know* God exists. sacrament [qv] by which persons are admitted to membership of the visible church on earth, involving water and a formula invoking the Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit). (Hence, the popularity of derogatory terms such as 'papist'). "Putative" (meaning apparent or seeming) is a key word in the entire process: It refers to a marriage in which at least one party acted in good faith, believing it was valid at the time it took place. catechism The early morning hours of dawn. In reality, Jesus was born probably in the Fall of a year between 4 and 7 BCE. archdiocese. It can include ordained ministry such as liturgical leadership and administration of the sacraments, or lay ministry such as instructing children in the faith, serving the poor, visiting the sick, or being an altar server, reader or music leader at Mass. Glossary of Church Terms - The Roman Catholic Diocese of Savannah Menu LOGIN About Us Diocesan History Former Bishops of the Diocese Priest Necrology Glossary of Church Terms Our Bishops Bishop Stephen D. Parkes Biography Coat of Arms Sacramental History News Statements Official Portraits SDP Social Bishop Emeritus John Kevin Boland, D.D. millenarianism Many religions regard asceticism (fasting, abstaining from sexual activity, wearing inadequate clothing) as a means of reaching a higher spiritual state. generic term for the churches (excluding the eastern orthodox) who rejected the authority of the papacy. In covering the church internationally, however, it is also important to realize that the Catholic Church and news agencies in many other nations useMsgr.