Religious Beliefs, POL-REF
Our religious beliefs can affect our lifestyle, our perceptions, and our way of relating to fellow human beings. Is there a higher power (or powers) that governs the universe and judges all of us? Does committing a mortal sin mean the death of a soul, or is there a chance for forgiveness? The answers to such questions differ widely across different religions.
Religious Beliefs Encyclopedia Articles By Title
poltergeist, (from German Polter, “noise” or “racket”; Geist, “spirit”), in occultism, a disembodied spirit or......
poludnitsa, in Slavic mythology, female field spirit, generally seen either as a tall woman or a girl dressed in......
polyglot Bible, any of several editions of the Bible in which the text consists of translations in various languages......
polytheism, the belief in many gods. Polytheism characterizes virtually all religions other than Judaism, Christianity,......
pomerium, (from Latin post-moerium, “behind the wall”), in ancient Rome, a sacred open space located just inside......
Pongal, four-day harvest festival of Tamil Nadu state, southern India. Pongal is also celebrated by the Tamil diaspora......
pontifex, member of a council of priests in ancient Rome. The college, or collegium, of the pontifices was the......
pope, (Latin papa, from Greek pappas, “father”), the title, since about the 9th century ce, of the bishop of Rome,......
Since the early days of Christianity, more than 260 popes have served as the leader of what would become the Roman......
possession, in religious and folk traditions, condition characterized by unusual behaviour and a personality change......
pradakshina, in Hinduism and Buddhism, the rite of circumambulating in a clockwise direction an image, relic, shrine,......
prana, in Indian philosophy, the body’s vital “airs,” or energies. A central conception in early Hindu philosophy,......
pranayama, in the Yoga darshan (system) of Indian philosophy, the fourth of eight stages intended to lead the aspirant......
prasada, in Hinduism, food and water offered to a deity during worship (puja). It is believed that the deity partakes......
pratyahara, in the Yoga system of Indian philosophy, the fifth of the eight stages intended to lead the aspirant......
pratyeka-buddha, in Buddhism, one who attains enlightenment through his own efforts, as distinct from one who reaches......
prayer, an act of communication by humans with the sacred or holy—God, the gods, the transcendent realm, or supernatural......
prayer rug, one of the major types of rug produced in central and western Asia, used by Muslims primarily to cover......
prayer wheel, in Tibetan Buddhism, a mechanical device the use of which is equivalent to the recitation of a mantra......
Liturgy of the Preconsecrated Offerings, a communion service used during Lent in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern-rite......
predestination, in Christianity, the doctrine that God has eternally chosen those whom he intends to save. In modern......
prehistoric religion, the beliefs and practices of Stone Age peoples. The oldest known burials can be attributed......
prelate, an ecclesiastical dignitary of high rank. In the modern Roman Catholic church, prelates are those who......
Liturgy of the Presanctified, a service of worship in Eastern Orthodox and Eastern-rite churches in communion with......
presbyter, (from Greek presbyteros, “elder”), an officer or minister in the early Christian Church intermediate......
presbyterian, form of church government developed by Swiss and Rhineland Reformers during the 16th-century Protestant......
presbytery, in church government, ruling body in Presbyterian churches that consists of the ministers and representative......
priest, (from Greek presbyteros, “elder”), in some Christian churches, an officer or minister who is intermediate......
priesthood, the office of a priest, a ritual expert learned in a special knowledge of the technique of worship......
priesthood of all believers, cardinal doctrinal principle of the churches of the 16th-century Reformation, both......
primate, in Christianity, an ecclesiastical title for a bishop in some churches who has precedence over a number......
procession, in Christianity, organized body of people advancing in formal or ceremonial manner as an element of......
prom, formal dance held in American high schools, typically for students in the spring semester of their junior......
prophecy, in religion, a divinely inspired revelation or interpretation. Although prophecy is perhaps most commonly......
Prophet Dance, North American Plateau Indian ritual of the early 19th century during which the participants danced......
prosbul, (from Greek pros boulē, “in front of the court”), a legal procedure introduced into Judaism by Hillel......
prosperity gospel, in Protestant Christianity, the teaching that faith—expressed through positive thoughts, positive......
Protestant Orthodoxy, phase of orthodoxy that characterized both Lutheran and Reformed theology after the 16th-century......
Protestantism, Christian religious movement that began in northern Europe in the early 16th century as a reaction......
- Introduction
- Germany, Switzerland, France
- Reformation, Luther, 95 Theses
- Diet of Worms, Luther, Reformation
- Anabaptists, Pacifism, Reformation
- French Reformation, Calvinism, Huguenots
- Reformation, England, Scotland
- John Knox, Reformation, Scotland
- Charles I, Civil War, Reformation
- Restoration, 1660-85
- Expansion, Europe, Reformation
- Renewal, Denominations, Reformation
- Pietism, 17th Century, Revival
- Pietism, Central Europe, England
- Rationalism, Reformation, Doctrine
- Revival, Pietism, Reformation
- Missions, Expansion, Globalization
- Biblical Criticism
- Modernization, Ecumenism, Globalization
- Pentecostalism, Charismatic, Revivalism
- Ecumenism, Unity, Reformation
providence, the quality in divinity on which humankind bases the belief in a benevolent intervention in human affairs......
pseudepigrapha, in biblical literature, a work affecting biblical style and usually spuriously attributing authorship......
pu, in the Daodejing—a classic of Chinese philosophy, religion, and literature composed about 300 bce—the major......
puck, in medieval English folklore, a malicious fairy or demon. In Old and Middle English the word meant simply......
Pudgalavādin, ancient Buddhist school in India that affirmed the existence of an enduring person (pudgala) distinct......
puja, in Hinduism, ceremonial worship, ranging from brief daily rites in the home to elaborate temple rituals.......
punya, primary attribute sought by Buddhists, both monks and laymen, in order to build up a better karma (the cumulative......
Purana, in the sacred literature of Hinduism, any of a number of popular encyclopaedic collections of myth, legend,......
purdah, practice that was inaugurated by Muslims and later adopted by various Hindus, especially in India, and......
Pure Land Buddhism, devotional cult of the Buddha Amitabha—“Buddha of Infinite Light,” known in China as Emituofo......
purgatory, the condition, process, or place of purification or temporary punishment in which, according to medieval......
purification rite, any of the ceremonial acts or customs employed in an attempt to reestablish lost purity or to......
Purim, a joyous Jewish festival commemorating the survival of the Jews who, as narrated in the biblical Book of......
Puritanism, a religious reform movement in the late 16th and 17th centuries that sought to “purify” the Church......
purusha, in Indian philosophy, and particularly in the dualistic system (darshan) of Samkhya, the eternal, authentic......
Pyanopsia, in ancient Greek religion, a festival in honour of Apollo, held at Athens on the seventh day of the......
pyx, in Christianity, vessel containing the consecrated bread used in the service of Holy Communion. Although pyxes......
påssjo, the sacred area in a Sami kota, or tent, found directly behind the central hearth. Strictly forbidden to......
põhjanael, in Estonian folklore, the North Star. Before the influence of Christianity, Finnic peoples shared a......
pāramitā, in Mahāyāna (“Greater Vehicle”) Buddhism, any of the perfections, or transcendental virtues, practiced......
pātimokkha, Buddhist monastic code; a set of 227 rules that govern the daily activities of the monk and nun. The......
P’alkwanhoe, (Korean: “Assembly of P’alkwan”), most important of Korea’s ancient national festivals, a ritualistic......
p’ungsuchirisol, (Korean: “theory of wind, water, and land”), in Korean religion, geomancy, a belief that the natural......
Q, in the study of biblical literature, a hypothetical Greek-language proto-Gospel that might have been in circulation......
Qadariyyah, in Islam, adherents of the doctrine of free will (from qadar, “power”). The name was also applied to......
qadi, a Muslim judge who renders decisions according to the Sharīʿah (Islamic law). The qadi’s jurisdiction theoretically......
qawwali, in India and Pakistan, an energetic musical performance of Sufi Muslim poetry that aims to lead listeners......
qedesha, in ancient societies and religions of the Middle East, a woman of special status. The exact function of......
qi, in Chinese philosophy, medicine, and religion, the psychophysical energies that permeate the universe. Early......
qiblah, the direction of the sacred shrine of the Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, toward which Muslims turn five......
qigong, (pronounced “chi-gong”) an ancient Chinese system of physical exercise and meditation that combines movement,......
qilin, in Chinese mythology, the unicorn whose rare appearance often coincides with the imminent birth or death......
qiyas, in Islamic law, analogical reasoning as applied to the deduction of juridical principles from the Qurʾān......
Qodashim, (Hebrew: “Holy Things”), the fifth of the six major divisions, or orders (sedarim), of the Mishna (codification......
Quaker, member of the Society of Friends, or Friends church, a Christian group that stresses the guidance of the......
In 2016, X-ray examination of Henry Gillard Glindoni’s painting John Dee Performing an Experiment before Elizabeth......
Quietism, a doctrine of Christian spirituality that, in general, holds that perfection consists in passivity (quiet)......
quinceañera, the celebration of a girl’s 15th birthday, marking her passage from girlhood to womanhood; the term......
qurrāʾ, ʾ, professional class of reciters of the text of the Muslim sacred scripture, the Qurʾān. In the early......
rabbi, in Judaism, a person qualified by academic studies of the Hebrew Bible and the Talmud to act as spiritual......
Rabbinic Judaism, the normative form of Judaism that developed after the fall of the Temple of Jerusalem (ad 70).......
rahbānīyah, (Arabic: “monasticism”), the monastic state, whose admissibility in Islām is much disputed by Muslim......
rahit-nama, in Sikhism, sets of guidelines that govern the behaviour of Sikhs. The rahit-namas provide systematic......
rajm, in Islam, ritual stoning as a punishment, especially as prescribed for fornication. The term also refers......
Raksha Bandhan, joyful family holiday in late summer observed predominantly but not exclusively among Hindus of......
rakshasa, in Hindu mythology, a type of demon that figures prominently in Hindu epic and Puranic literature. Rakshasas......
Rama Navami, festival in Hinduism that celebrates the birthday of the god Rama, hero of the Ramayana and seventh......
Ramadan, the ninth month of the Muslim calendar and the holy month of fasting in Islam. During the month of Ramadan......
Ramanandi, in Hinduism, a Vaishnavite (devotee of the god Vishnu) follower of Ramananda, a religious and social......
the Rapture, in Christianity, the eschatological (concerned with the last things and Endtime) belief that both......
Rastafari, religious and political movement, begun in Jamaica in the 1930s and adopted by many groups around the......
Rathayatra, chariot festival in Hinduism observed by taking an image (murti) of a Hindu deity in a procession (Sanskrit:......
raḍāʿ, (Arabic: “to suckle”), in Islam, a legal relationship established between children when they are nursed......
reanimation rite, in Egyptian religion, rite to prepare the deceased for the afterlife, performed on statues of......
Reconstructionism, in American Judaism, movement and ideology founded in 1922 that holds that Judaism is in essence......
recusant, English Roman Catholic from the period about 1570 to 1791 who refused to attend services of the Church......
red heifer, in Jewish history, unblemished, never-before-yoked animal that was slaughtered and burned to restore......
redaction criticism, in the study of biblical literature, method of criticism of the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament)......
Reform Judaism, a religious movement that has modified or abandoned many traditional Jewish beliefs, laws, and......
Reformation Day, anniversary of the day Martin Luther is said to have posted his Ninety-five Theses on the door......
Reformed and Presbyterian churches, name given to various Protestant churches that share a common origin in the......