Vocab
Ascentic
A person who gives up comforts for spiritual growth
Divination
Seeking spiritual knowledge or guidance about the future
Moksha
Liberation from the cycle of rebirth in Hinduism
Orishas
Divine beings in Yoruba religion who connect humans with the supreme God
Sun Dance
An important Lakota and other Plains Indigenous ceremony involving prayer and renewal
Brahman
The ultimate reality behind everything in Hinduism (The Creator)
Diviners
People who interpret spiritual signs to give guidance
Monism
The belief that everything is ultimately one reality
Pantheism
The belief that God and the universe are one
Sweat Lodge
A traditional ceremonial structure used for prayer, purification, and spiritual renewal
Caste System
A traditional social hierarchy in Hindu society
Indigenous
Originating in a particular land or region
Monotheism
Belief in one God
Polytheism
Belief in many gods
Transtheism
A religious view that goes beyond belief or disbelief in God or gods.
Cosmology
Beliefs about how the universe began and works
Karma
The idea that actions have consequences
Mysticism
Seeking a direct experience or connection with the divine
Samadhi
A deep state of meditation and spiritual concentration
Vision Quest
A spiritual journey involving solitude and seeking guidance or a vision
Dharma
One’s duty and moral responsibility in life
Maya
The illusion that hides the true nature of reality
Nontheistic
Not centered on belief in a God or gods
Samsara
The cycle of birth, death, and rebirth