Judaism & Islam
“son of the commandment”; the ritual celebration marking the coming of age of a Jewish boy, at which time the person takes responsibilities of an adult
bar mitzvah
(Sanskrit) “awakened one”; Siddhartha Gautama and all others who have by their own insight attained perfect enlightenment
Buddha
anything that the Japanese hold as sacred, including deities, certain human beings, natural entities, and animals
kami
contrition and confession of sins
these are the seven (7) dimensions of religion as presented in World Religions: a Voyage of Discovery
Experiential, Doctrinal, Ethical, Ritual, Material, Social, Mythic
(Hebrew) “hear”; from Deuteronomy 6:4, Judaism’s most basic theological statement: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD is our God, the LORD alone” (Tanakh)
Shema
the wheel of rebirth or reincarnation; the this-worldly realm in which rebirth occurs
samsara
an archway marking the entrance to a Shinto shrine or other sacred site, formed by two upright pillars and a cross beam; Shinto’s most recognized symbol
torii
the form of the Sacrament of Confirmation
"Be sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit"
these are the two (2) essential approaches to the study of world religions as presented in World Religions: a Voyage of Discovery
empathy (empathetic), and comparative
'God’ in Arabic
Allah
(Sanskrit) “action”; the moral law of cause and effect of actions; determines the nature of one’s reincarnation
karma
(Punjabi) “doorway of the Guru”; a special building that is reserved for Sikh worship and houses a copy of the Adi Granth; the central structure of any Sikh community
gurdwaras
the three (3) Sacraments of Initiation (in their original and current Eastern order of reception)
1Baptism 2Confirmation 3Eucharist
Santeria presents an example of this phenomenon (navigating the contact between diverse religions by combining pieces of each into a new, 3rd 'religion')
syncretism
“submission” or “surrender”
Islam
the eternal essence of reality and the source of the universe, beyond the reach of human perception and thought
Brahman
the Sikh community
Panth
the three (3) Sacraments that compose 'Last Rites'
Confession, Anointing of the Sick, Eucharist
Baha'i presents and example of this impulse (navigating the contact between diverse religions by affirming all of them equally as valid)
the universalist impulse
The three(3) religious traditions/communities included in the 'People of the Book'
Muslims, Jews, Christians
the eternal Self, which the Upanishads identify with Brahman; often lowercased to refer to the eternal self or soul of an individual that is reincarnated from one body to the next
Atman
(Punjabi) “first book”; Sikhism’s most important sacred text and since it was installed as Guru in 1708, Sikhism’s earthly authority; also called Shri Guru Granth Sahib
Adi Granth
monks in this country developed the practice of Reconciliation from a public, non-repeatable rite into a private, repeatable rite
Ireland
(Sanskrit) “the path of works”; one of three Hindu paths to salvation, emphasizing performing right actions according to dharma
karma marga