Religious Beliefs, SUN-TOD
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
Sun Dance
Sun Dance, most important religious ceremony of the Plains Indians of North America and, for nomadic peoples, an......
sun worship
sun worship, veneration of the sun or a representation of the sun as a deity, as in Atonism in Egypt in the 14th......
Sunday school
Sunday school, school for religious education, usually for children and young people and usually a part of a church......
Sunnah
Sunnah, the body of traditional social and legal custom and practice of the Islamic community. Along with the QurÊŸÄn......
Sunni
Sunni, member of one of the two major branches of Islam, the branch that consists of the majority of that religionâs......
sunyata
sunyata, in Buddhist philosophy, the voidness that constitutes ultimate reality; sunyata is seen not as a negation......
supernaturalism
supernaturalism, a belief in an otherworldly realm or reality that, in one way or another, is commonly associated......
superstition
superstition, belief, half-belief, or practice for which there appears to be no rational substance. Those who use......
supplicatio
supplicatio, in Roman religion, a rite or series of rites celebrated either as a thanksgiving to the gods for a......
surah
surah, chapter in the sacred scripture of Islam, the QurÊŸÄn. Each of the 114 surahs, which vary in length from......
surplice
surplice, white outer vestment worn by clergymen, acolytes, choristers, or other participants in Roman Catholic......
sutra
sutra, in Hinduism, a brief aphoristic composition; in Buddhism, a more extended exposition, the basic form of......
swastika
swastika, equilateral cross with arms bent at right angles, all in the same rotary direction, usually clockwise.......
sylph
sylph, an imaginary or elemental being that inhabits the air and is mortal but soulless. The existence of such......
Symposium
Symposium, In ancient Greece, an aristocratic banquet at which men met to discuss philosophical and political issues......
synagogue
synagogue, in Judaism, a community house of worship that serves as a place not only for liturgical services but......
synod
synod, (from Greek synodos, âassemblyâ), in the Christian church, a local or provincial assembly of bishops and......
Syrian and Palestinian religion
Syrian and Palestinian religion, beliefs of Syria and Palestine between 3000 and 300 bce. These religions are usually......
syÄdvÄda
syÄdvÄda, in Jaina metaphysics, the doctrine that all judgments are conditional, holding good only in certain conditions,......
séance
sĂ©ance, (French: âsittingâ), in occultism, meeting centred on a medium (q.v.), who seeks to communicate with spirits......
sĂdh
sĂdh, in Irish folklore, a hill or mound under which fairies live. The phrase aos sĂdhe or the plural sĂdhe on......
sīla
sÄ«la, in Buddhism, morality, or right conduct; sÄ«la comprises three stages along the Eightfold Pathâright speech,......
Taboo
Taboo, the prohibition of an action based on the belief that such behaviour is either too sacred and consecrated......
tafsīr
tafsÄ«r, the science of explanation of the QurÊŸÄn, the sacred scripture of Islam, or of QurÊŸÄnic commentary. So......
tahajjud
tahajjud, (Arabic: âkeeping vigilâ), in IslÄmic practice, the recitation of the QurÊŸÄn (IslÄmic scriptures) and......
Takkanah
Takkanah, in Judaism, a regulation promulgated by rabbinic authority to promote the common good or to foster the......
talbīyah
talbÄ«yah, in IslÄm, the formulaic pronouncement labbaykah allÄhummah labbaykah (âat your service, O Lord, at your......
tama
tama, in Japanese religion, a soul or a divine or semidivine spirit; also an aspect of a spirit. Several mitama......
tamaya
tamaya, in the ShintĆ religion of Japan, a memorial altar dedicated to the spirits of deceased ancestors. The tamaya......
tanna
tanna, any of several hundred Jewish scholars who, over a period of some 200 years, compiled oral traditions related......
Taoism
Taoism, indigenous religio-philosophical tradition that has shaped Chinese life for more than 2,000 years. In the......
- Introduction
- Chinese Philosophy, Yin-Yang, Taoism
- Yin-Yang, Chinese Philosophy, Nature
- Yin-Yang, Wuwei, Nature
- Primitivism, Yin-Yang, Chinese Philosophy
- Yin-Yang, Tao Te Ching, Wu Wei
- Enlightenment, Immortality, Balance
- Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Immortals
- Chinese Philosophy, Yin-Yang, Taoism
- Chinese Philosophy, Religion, Yin-Yang
- Chinese Religion, Philosophy, Yin-Yang
- Esoterism, Philosophy, Mysticism
- Chinese Philosophy, Yin-Yang, Five Elements
- Maoshan, Revelations, Mysticism
- Lingbao, Scriptures, Liturgies
- Great Southern Masters
- Chinese Philosophy, Yin-Yang, Five Elements
- Chinese Religion, Philosophy, Mysticism
- Chinese Culture, Religion, Philosophy
- Chinese Religion, Philosophy, Yin-Yang
tapas
tapas, in religions of South Asia, particularly Hinduism, ascetic practice carried out to achieve spiritual power,......
taqiyyah
taqiyyah, in Islam, the practice of concealing oneâs belief and foregoing ordinary religious duties when under......
taqlīd
taqlīd, in Islamic law, the unquestioning acceptance of the legal decisions of another without knowing the basis......
tariqa
tariqa, (âroad,â âpath,â or âwayâ), the Muslim spiritual path toward direct knowledge (maÊżrifah) of God or Reality......
tarot
tarot, any of a set of cards used in tarot games and in fortune-telling. Tarot decks were invented in Italy in......
tashbīh
tashbÄ«h, (Arabic: âassimilatingâ), in IslÄm, anthropomorphism, comparing God to created things. Both tashbÄ«h and......
tashlik
tashlik, (Hebrew: âyou will castâ), traditional Jewish religious ceremony, still observed by Orthodox Jews, that......
tat tvam asi
tat tvam asi, in Hinduism, the famous expression of the relationship between the individual and the Absolute. The......
Tathagata
Tathagata, (Sanskrit and Pali), one of the titles of a buddha and the one most frequently employed by the historical......
Taurobolium
Taurobolium, bull sacrifice practiced from about ad 160 in the Mediterranean cult of the Great Mother of the Gods.......
tawhid
tawhid, (âmaking one,â âasserting onenessâ), in Islam, the oneness of God, in the sense that he is one and there......
televangelism
televangelism, Evangelism through religious programs on television. Such programs are usually hosted by a fundamentalist......
Telum figure
Telum figure, small, devotional image carved from wood or stone, probably used in private rather than communal......
temple garment
temple garment, a one- or two-piece white garment worn underneath everyday clothing by members of the Church of......
Templeton Prize
Templeton Prize, award presented annually to a living person who has âmade an exceptional contribution to affirming......
Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments, list of religious precepts that, according to various passages in Exodus and Deuteronomy, were......
Ten Depictions of Hell
In depicting the place where, in many religious traditions, the spirits of the damned reside and are punished,......
Ten Plagues of Egypt
Each year during Passover, at the seder meal, celebrants of the Jewish holiday recite the Ten Plagues of Egypt......
tengu
tengu, in Japanese folklore, a type of mischievous supernatural being, sometimes considered the reincarnated spirit......
TenshĆ KĆtai JingĆ«-kyĆ
TenshĆ KĆtai JingĆ«-kyĆ, (âDancing Religionâ), one of the ânew religionsâ of Japan that have emerged in the post-World......
terefah
terefah, any food, food product, or utensil that, according to the Jewish dietary laws (kashruth, q.v.), is not......
Terminus
Terminus, (Latin: Boundary Stone), originally, in Roman cult, a boundary stone or post fixed in the ground during......
test act
test act, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, any law that made a personâs eligibility for public office depend......
thang-ka
thang-ka, (Tibetan: âsomething rolled upâ), Tibetan religious painting or drawing on woven material, usually cotton;......
Thargelia
Thargelia, in Greek religion, one of the chief festivals of Apollo, celebrated on the sixth and seventh days of......
Thatâs a Wrap: Methods of Mummification
Mummies have been the antagonists of horror-based media since Western societies discovered them. We have to admit,......
The Easter Story
The principal festival of Christianity, Easter celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ after his betrayal and......
The Festival of Lights
Diwali (also spelled Divali), the festival of lights, is one of the major holidays of Hinduism and is also celebrated......
The Protestant Heritage
The Protestant Heritage, Protestantism originated in the 16th-century Reformation, and its basic doctrines, in......
The Renaissance: At a Glance
The Renaissance was a period in European history when new ideas about art and science were developed and when new......
The Seven Sacraments of the Roman Catholic Church
The Roman Catholic Church has seven holy sacraments that are seen as mystical channels of divine grace, instituted......
The Story of Christmas
Christmastime is a season rich with traditions that bring together family, faith, and culture and that emphasize......
theism
theism, the view that all limited or finite things are dependent in some way on one supreme or ultimate reality......
Thelema
Thelema, religion established by the British occultist Aleister Crowley in the 1900s. It is commonly regarded as......
theocracy
theocracy, government by divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. In many theocracies,......
theodicy
theodicy, (from Greek theos, âgodâ; dikÄ, âjusticeâ), explanation of why a perfectly good, almighty, and all-knowing......
theological liberalism
theological liberalism, a form of religious thought that establishes religious inquiry on the basis of a norm other......
theology
theology, philosophically oriented discipline of religious speculation and apologetics that is traditionally restricted,......
theonomy
theonomy, from ancient Greek meaning âGodâs lawâ (theos: âGodâ; nomos: âlawâ), the Christian theological view that......
theophany
theophany, (from Greek theophaneia, âappearance of Godâ), manifestation of deity in sensible form. The term has......
theosophy
theosophy, occult movement originating in the 19th century with roots that can be traced to ancient Gnosticism......
Theotokos
Theotokos, (Greek: âGod-Bearerâ), in Eastern Orthodoxy, the designation of the Virgin Mary as mother of God. The......
Theravada
Theravada, major form of Buddhism prevalent in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos.......
Thesmophoria
Thesmophoria, in Greek religion, ancient festival held in honour of Demeter Thesmophoros and celebrated by women......
thetan
thetan, in Scientology, the authentic spiritual identity of an individual. It is similar to the soul, whose existence......
Thomas Christians
Thomas Christians, indigenous Indian Christian groups who have traditionally lived in Kerala (now Keralam), a state......
thread cross
thread cross, object usually made of two sticks bound together in the shape of a cross, with coloured threads wound......
Three Weeks
Three Weeks, (âBetween the Straitsâ), in Judaism, a period of mourning running from the 17th day of Tammuz, the......
thunder cult
thunder cult, prehistoric beliefs and practices that at times seem directed toward one aspect of the supreme sky......
Thunderbird
Thunderbird, in Native American mythology, a powerful spirit in the form of a bird. By its work, the earth was......
thurible
thurible, vessel used in the Christian liturgy for the burning of aromatic incense strewn on lighted coals. Censers......
thyrsus
thyrsus, in Greek religion, staff carried by Dionysus, the wine god, and his votaries (Bacchae, Maenads). In early......
tian
tian, in indigenous Chinese religion, the supreme power reigning over lesser gods and human beings. The term tian......
Tianming
Tianming, in Chinese Confucian thought, the notion that heaven (tian) conferred directly upon an emperor, the son......
Tibetan Buddhism
Tibetan Buddhism, branch of Vajrayana (Tantric, or Esoteric) Buddhism that evolved from the 7th century ce in Tibet.......
tietÀjÀ
tietÀjÀ, the principal religious specialist of the Baltic Finns, functioning in the tradition of the Finno-Ugric......
tikkun olam
tikkun olam, concept in Judaism that has been reinterpreted with multiple shades of meaning over the past 2,000......
tilak
tilak, in Hinduism, a mark, generally made on the forehead, indicating a personâs sectarian affiliation. The marks......
tirtha
tirtha, in Hinduism, a holy river, mountain, or other place made sacred through association with a deity or saint.......
Tirthankara
Tirthankara, in Jainism, a saviour who has succeeded in crossing over lifeâs stream of rebirths and has made a......
Tisha bâAv
Tisha bâAv, in Judaism, a traditional day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples that......
tithe
tithe, (from Old English teogothian, âtenthâ), a custom dating back to Old Testament times and adopted by the Christian......
Tjurunga
Tjurunga, in Australian Aboriginal religion, a mythical being and a ritual object, usually made of wood or stone,......
To All Nations: 8 Fascinating Jesuit Missionaries
The Society of Jesus is a Roman Catholic all-male religious order noted for its educational, missionary, and charitable......
Today in HistoryâApril 18: How Grace Kelly Became a Princess
A little more than a year after winning an Academy Award, an American actress stepped into a different role: that......
Today in HistoryâDecember 13: The Pope Who Quit to Live in a Cave
On this day in 1294, Pope Celestine V became the first pope to voluntarily resign the papacyâdeclaring that heâd......
Today in HistoryâDecember 25: The Day Christmas Made the Calendar
On this day in 352, Pope Liberius celebrated the first official Christmas mass in Romeâmarking the moment December......
Today in HistoryâDecember 31: The Ball That Started It All
On New Yearâs Eve in 1907, the first ball was dropped in Times Square. It was made of iron, bedecked with 25-watt......
Today in HistoryâFebruary 10: The Bride Wore White (for the First Time)
On this day in 1840, Queen Victoria got marriedâŠto her cousin, Albert. He was the second son of a foreign dukeâand......