Religious Beliefs, NOV-POM
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
novena
novena, in Christianity, a term designating a spiritual devotion consisting of the recitation of a set form of......
Nowruz
Nowruz, festival celebrating the start of the new year on the Persian calendar. Nowruz, meaning ânew dayâ in Persian......
number of the beast
number of the beast, well-known instance of biblical numerology appearing in chapter 13, verse 18 of the Revelation......
numerology
numerology, use of numbers to interpret a personâs character or to divine the future. The theory behind numerology......
nuncio
nuncio, a Vatican representative accredited as an ambassador to a civil government that maintains official diplomatic......
nymph
nymph, in Greek mythology, any of a large class of inferior female divinities. The nymphs were usually associated......
oath
oath, sacred or solemn voluntary promise usually involving the penalty of divine retribution for intentional falsity......
Obi
Obi, wide sash or belt made of satin or a stiff silk material, worn since ancient times in Japan to secure the......
obia
obia, in west African folklore, a gigantic animal that steals into villages and kidnaps girls on the behalf of......
oblate
oblate, (from Latin oblatus, âone offered upâ), in Roman Catholicism, a lay person connected with a religious order......
occult
occult, a term that was originally used in Latin to designate the hidden or unseen properties of things and that,......
occultism
occultism, a group of esoteric religious traditions emerging primarily from 19th-century Europe. In particular,......
ofrenda
ofrenda, decorated altar set up in homes for the Day of the Dead (DĂa de los Muertos) holiday as celebrated in......
ogre
ogre, a hideous giant represented in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings. The word gained popularity......
om
om, in Hinduism and other religions chiefly of India, a sacred syllable that is considered to be the greatest of......
omen
omen, observed phenomenon that is interpreted as signifying good or bad fortune. In ancient times omens were numerous......
Onam
Onam, Hindu harvest festival that occurs in the Malayali month of Chingam, which overlaps with August and September......
Oneg Shabbat
Oneg Shabbat, (Hebrew: âJoy of Sabbathâ), informal Sabbath (or Friday evening) gathering of Jews in a synagogue......
oneiromancy
oneiromancy, prophetic divination from dreams, considered a divine act in most ancient cultures and surviving to......
oni
oni, in Japanese folklore, a type of demonic creature often of giant size, great strength, and fearful appearance.......
Opet
Opet, ancient Egyptian festival of the second month of the lunar calendar. In the celebration of Opet, the god......
oracle
oracle, (Latin oraculum from orare, âto pray,â or âto speakâ), divine communication delivered in response to a......
orc
orc, a mythical creature (such as a sea monster, a giant, or an ogre) of horrid form or aspect. The word orc in......
ordination
ordination, in Christian churches, a rite for the dedication and commissioning of ministers. The essential ceremony......
original sin
original sin, in Christian doctrine, the condition or state of sin into which each human being is born; also, the......
orisha
orisha, any of the deities of the Yoruba people of southwestern Nigeria. They are also venerated by the Edo of......
Orphic religion
Orphic religion, a Hellenistic mystery religion, thought to have been based on the teachings and songs of the legendary......
orthodox
orthodox, (from Greek orthodoxos, âof the right opinionâ), true doctrine and its adherents as opposed to heterodox......
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism, the religion of those Jews who adhere most strictly to traditional beliefs and practices. Jewish......
Orthodoxy, Feast of
Feast of Orthodoxy, feast celebrated on the first Sunday of Lent by the Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholics......
Ouija board
Ouija board, in occultism, a device ostensibly used for obtaining messages from the spirit world, usually employed......
oungan
oungan, in Vodou, a male priest who serves as a leader of rituals and ceremonies. A woman of the same position......
Ouroboros
Ouroboros, emblematic serpent of ancient Egypt and Greece represented with its tail in its mouth, continually devouring......
pabbajjÄ
pabbajjÄ, Buddhist rite of ordination by which a layman becomes a novice (PÄli sÄmaáčera; Sanskrit ĆrÄmaáčera). The......
paean
paean, solemn choral lyric of invocation, joy, or triumph, originating in ancient Greece, where it was addressed......
paganism
paganism, Christian term used to designate those religions that do not worship the God of Abraham, the figure central......
Pali literature
Pali literature, body of Buddhist texts in the Pali language. The word pali (literally, a âlineâ) came to be used......
Palladium
Palladium, in Greek religion, image of the goddess Pallas (Athena), especially the archaic wooden statue of the......
pallium
pallium, liturgical vestment worn over the chasuble by the pope, archbishops, and some bishops in the Roman Catholic......
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday, in the Christian tradition, the first day of Holy Week and the Sunday before Easter, commemorating......
palmistry
palmistry, the practice of reading character traits and divination of the future by interpreting the lines and......
Panathenaea
Panathenaea, in Greek religion, an annual Athenian festival of great antiquity and importance. It was eventually......
Pancharatra
Pancharatra, early Hindu religious movement whose members worshiped the deified sage Narayana (who came to be identified......
Panchen Lama
Panchen Lama, any of the line of reincarnated lamas in Tibet, each of whom heads the influential Tashilhunpo Monastery......
panegyris
panegyris, in Greek religion, an ancient assembly that met on certain fixed dates for the purpose of honouring......
pantheism
pantheism, the doctrine that the universe conceived of as a whole is God and, conversely, that there is no God......
papacy
papacy, the office and jurisdiction of the pope (Latin papa, from Greek pappas, âfatherâ), who presides over the......
papal bull
papal bull, in Roman Catholicism, an official papal letter or document. The name is derived from the lead seal......
papal conclave
papal conclave, in Roman Catholicism, the assembly of cardinals to elect a new pope and the system of strict seclusion......
papal infallibility
papal infallibility, in Roman Catholic theology, the doctrine that the pope, acting as supreme teacher and under......
papyrus column
papyrus column, in Egyptian religion, amulet that conveyed freshness, youth, vigour, and the continuance of life......
para
para, in Finnish folklore, a spirit who was believed to bring wealth to the farm that was lucky enough to harbour......
paradise
paradise, in religion, a place of exceptional happiness and delight. The term paradise is often used as a synonym......
Parentalia
Parentalia, Roman religious festival held in honour of the dead. The festival, which began at noon on February......
pareve
pareve, (Yiddish: âneutralâ), in the observance of Jewish dietary laws (kashrut), those foods that may be eaten......
Parilia
Parilia, ancient Roman festival celebrated annually on April 21 in honour of the god and goddess Pales, the protectors......
parish
parish, in some Christian church polities, a geographic unit served by a pastor or priest. It is a subdivision......
ParyuáčŁaáča
ParyuáčŁaáča, a popular eight-day festival in Jainism, a religion of India. It generally is celebrated by members......
Pascalâs wager
Pascalâs wager, practical argument for belief in God formulated by French mathematician and philosopher Blaise......
Paschal lamb
Paschal lamb, in Judaism, the lamb sacrificed at the first Passover, on the eve of the Exodus from Egypt, the most......
Passover
Passover, one of Judaismâs most significant holidays, which commemorates the Hebrewsâ liberation from enslavement......
paticca-samuppada
paticca-samuppada, the chain, or law, of dependent origination, or the chain of causationâa fundamental concept......
patriarch
patriarch, title used for some Old Testament leaders (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Jacobâs 12 sons) and, in some......
patristic literature
patristic literature, body of literature that comprises those works, excluding the New Testament, written by Christians......
patron saint
patron saint, saint who is chosen as the dedicated protector and intercessor of a person, a society, a church,......
Pelagianism
Pelagianism, a 5th-century Christian heresy taught by Pelagius and his followers that stressed the essential goodness......
Penates
Penates, household gods of the Romans and other Latin peoples. In the narrow sense, they were gods of the penus......
penitential book
penitential book, any of the manuals used in Europe by priests of the Western church, especially during the early......
pentarchy
pentarchy, in early Byzantine Christianity, the proposed government of universal Christendom by five patriarchal......
Pentecost
Pentecost, (Pentecost from Greek pentecostÄ, â50th dayâ), major festival in the Christian church, celebrated on......
Pentecostalism
Pentecostalism, charismatic religious movement that gave rise to a number of Protestant churches in the United......
Peshaáč
Peshaáč, (Hebrew: âspread outâ), in Jewish hermeneutics, the simple, obvious, literal meaning of a biblical text.......
Petrine theory
Petrine theory, the principle that asserts the theological legitimacy of the ministry and primacy of the pope,......
phala
phala, in Indian philosophy, the fruit or consequence of a particular action (karma). The widely held conviction......
phallicism
phallicism, worship of the generative principle as symbolized by the sexual organs or the act of sexual intercourse.......
Pharisee
Pharisee, member of a Jewish religious party that flourished in Palestine during the latter part of the Second......
pharmÄkos
pharmÄkos, in Greek religion, a human scapegoat used in certain state rituals. In Athens, for example, a man and......
philological criticism
philological criticism, method of biblical criticism consisting mainly in the study of the biblical languages in......
philosopherâs stone
philosopherâs stone, in Western alchemy, an unknown substance, also called âthe tinctureâ or âthe powder,â sought......
phoenix
phoenix, mythical bird said to live a long life before dying and being reborn. The phoenix myth is known chiefly......
phrenology
phrenology, the study of the conformation of the skull as indicative of mental faculties and traits of character,......
phur-bu
phur-bu, (Tibetan: âpeg,â or ânailâ), a ritual dagger used in the Tantric (esoteric) rites of Tibetan Buddhism......
phyi-mchod
phyi-mchod, in Tibetan Buddhist ceremonies, the eight offerings of external worship, presented before the tranquil......
phylactery
phylactery, in Jewish religious practice, one of two small black leather cube-shaped cases containing Torah texts......
physiognomy
physiognomy, the study of the systematic correspondence of psychological characteristics to facial features or......
Pichhwai
Pichhwai, cloth hanging used as a backdrop for images worshipped in temples of the Hindu Vallabhacharya sect, who......
pidyon ha-ben
pidyon ha-ben, Jewish ceremony in which the father redeems his wifeâs firstborn son by offering to a cohen (a male......
Pilgrim Festivals
Pilgrim Festivals, in Judaism, the three festivals on which male Israelites were required to go to Jerusalem to......
pilgrimage
pilgrimage, a journey undertaken for a religious motive. Although some pilgrims have wandered continuously with......
pitri
pitri, in Hinduism, any of the spirits of the dead ancestors or of all the dead who have been cremated or buried......
pixie
pixie, in the folklore of southwestern England, tiny elflike spirit or mischievous fairy dressed in green who dances......
Piyyut
Piyyut, (âliturgical poemâ), one of several types of liturgical compositions or religious poems, some of which......
PL KyĆdan
PL KyĆdan, religious group or church (Japanese: kyĆdan) founded in Japan in 1946 by Miki Tokuchika. The movement,......
Po
Po, in Chinese Daoism, the seven earthly human souls as distinguished from the three heavenly hun souls. The distinction......
PochâĆngyo
PochâĆngyo, (Korean: âUniversal Religionâ), indigenous Korean religion, also popularly called Humchâigyo from the......
poltergeist
poltergeist, (from German Polter, ânoiseâ or âracketâ; Geist, âspiritâ), in occultism, a disembodied spirit or......
poludnitsa
poludnitsa, in Slavic mythology, female field spirit, generally seen either as a tall woman or a girl dressed in......
polyglot Bible
polyglot Bible, any of several editions of the Bible in which the text consists of translations in various languages......
polytheism
polytheism, the belief in many gods. Polytheism characterizes virtually all religions other than Judaism, Christianity,......
pomerium
pomerium, (from Latin post-moerium, âbehind the wallâ), in ancient Rome, a sacred open space located just inside......