Religious Beliefs, DEI-ERU
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
deity
deity, a god, goddess, or other supernatural being considered divine. While not all religions involve deities,......
Delia
Delia, ancient quadrennial festival of the Ionians, held on Delos (hence the name) in honour of the Greek god Apollo.......
Delphic oracle
Delphic oracle, most famous ancient oracle, believed to deliver prophecies from the Greek god Apollo. She was based......
Dema deity
Dema deity, any of several mythical ancestral beings of the Marind-anim of southern New Guinea, the centre of a......
demon
demon, in Greek religion, a supernatural power. In Homer the term is used almost interchangeably with theos for......
Derasha
Derasha, in Judaism, a homily or sermon, generally preached by a rabbi in the synagogue. In a broad sense, the......
Derekh Eretz
Derekh Eretz, (Hebrew: âcorrect conduct,â or âway of the landâ), in Judaism, the decorum, dignified behaviour,......
dervish
dervish, any member of a áčąĆ«fÄ« (Muslim mystic) fraternity, or tariqa. Within the áčąĆ«fÄ« fraternities, which were first......
Desert Fathers
Desert Fathers, early Christian hermits whose practice of asceticism in the Egyptian desert, beginning in the 3rd......
deus otiosus
deus otiosus, (Latin: âneutral god,â or âhidden godâ), in the history of religions and philosophy, a high god who......
deva
deva, in the Vedic religion of India and in later Hinduism, one of many gods, often roughly divided into sky, air,......
devarÄja
devarÄja, in ancient Cambodia, the cult of the âgod-kingâ established early in the 9th century ad by Jayavarman......
devequt
devequt, (Hebrew: âattachmentâ), in Jewish religious thought, an adherence to or communion with God that stops......
devil
devil, (from Greek diabolos, âslandererâ or âaccuserâ), the spirit or power of evil. Though sometimes used for......
devilâs advocate
devilâs advocate, a former office in the Roman Catholic Church, the Promoter of the Faith (Latin: promotor fidei),......
devotio moderna
devotio moderna, religious movement within Roman Catholicism from the end of the 14th to the 16th century stressing......
dharani
dharani, in Buddhism and Hinduism, a sacred Sanskrit phrase of great efficacy, used as a verbal protective device......
dharma
dharma, key concept with multiple meanings in Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism. In Hinduism, dharma is the religious......
Dharma-shastra
Dharma-shastra, ancient Indian body of jurisprudence that is the basis, subject to legislative modification, of......
Dharma-sutra
Dharma-sutra, any of several manuals of human conduct that form the earliest source of Hindu law. They consist......
dharmachakra
dharmachakra, in Buddhism, a symbol representing the Buddhist concept of dharma (Pali: dhamma), the doctrine taught......
dhikr
dhikr, ritual prayer or litany practiced by Muslim mystics (Sufis) for the purpose of glorifying God and achieving......
Did Europeans really think the world would end in the year 1000?
The idea that early medieval Europeans were expecting the world to end when the year 1000 arrived has been contentious......
dietary law
dietary law, any of the rules and customs concerning what may or may not be eaten under particular conditions.......
diksha
diksha, in ancient India, the rite performed prior to the Vedic sacrifice in order to consecrate its patron, or......
diocese
diocese, in some Christian churches, a territorial area administered by a bishop. The word originally referred......
dispensation
dispensation, in Christian ecclesiastical law, the action of a competent authority in granting relief from the......
divination
divination, the practice of determining the hidden significance or cause of events, sometimes foretelling the future,......
divine office
divine office, in various Christian churches, the public service of praise and worship consisting of psalms, hymns,......
Diwali
Diwali, one of the major religious festivals in Hinduism, Jainism, and Sikhism, lasting for five days from the......
Diwali and Beyond
Diwali is the Hindu festival of lights, which weaves together several legends, traditions, and cultures. It is......
diyah
diyah, in IslÄm, the traditional compensation due for the shedding of blood. In pre-IslÄmic times, the compensation......
Do animals have souls?
The question of whether animals have souls can be deeply meaningful and also vexing. It might be pondered, for......
Do Jews Celebrate Christmas?
A straightforward yes or no answer to this question is not possible, because Jews around the world, like followers......
Do Muslims Celebrate Christmas?
Christmas is traditionally a Christian festival, with markedly Christian teachings, and so Muslims do not typically......
Do the Relics of Saint Nicholas Really Emit a Holy Substance?
Saint Nicholas is a popular saint among Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Christians, distinguished for his magnanimity......
Docetism
Docetism, (from Greek dokein, âto seemâ), Christian heresy and one of the earliest Christian sectarian doctrines,......
doctor of the church
doctor of the church, in Roman Catholicism, any of the 38 saints whose doctrinal writings have special authority.......
doctrine and dogma
doctrine and dogma, the explication and officially acceptable version of a religious teaching. The development......
Dolmen
Dolmen, a type of stone monument found in a variety of places throughout the world. Dolmens are made of two or......
domovoy
domovoy, in Slavic mythology, a household spirit appearing under various names and having its origin in ancestor......
doppelgÀnger
doppelgĂ€nger, (German: âdouble goerâ), in German folklore, a wraith or apparition of a living person, as distinguished......
dowsing
dowsing, in occultism, use of a forked piece of hazel, rowan, or willow wood or of a Y-shaped metal rod or of a......
doxology
doxology, an expression of praise to God. In Christian worship there are three common doxologies: 1. The greater......
dragon
dragon, in the mythologies, legends, and folktales of various cultures, a large lizard- or serpent-like creature,......
dravya
dravya, a fundamental concept of Jainism, a religion of India that is the oldest Indian school of philosophy to......
Dreaming, The
The Dreaming, mythological period of time that had a beginning but no foreseeable end, during which the natural......
drug cult
drug cult, group using drugs to achieve religious or spiritual revelation and for ritualistic purposes. Though......
druid
druid, ancient religious leaders active in Ireland, Britain, and Gaul during the western European Iron Age. They......
dryad
dryad, in Greek mythology, a nymph or nature spirit who lives in trees and takes the form of a beautiful young......
dualism
dualism, in religion, the doctrine that the world (or reality) consists of two basic, opposed, and irreducible......
Dukhobor
Dukhobor, (Russian: âSpirit Wrestlerâ), member of a Russian peasant religious sect, prominent in the 18th century,......
dukkha
dukkha, in Buddhist thought, the true nature of all existence. Much Buddhist doctrine is based on the fact of suffering;......
Durga Puja
Durga Puja, in Hinduism, festival traditionally held for 10 days in the month of Ashvin, or Ashvina (SeptemberâOctober),......
Dussehra
Dussehra, in Hinduism, a festival that marks the end of Sharad Navratri in India. The term sharad means âautumnâ......
dwarf
dwarf, an individual who is much below the ordinary stature or size for his ethnic group or species. (For the physiology......
dybbuk
dybbuk, in Jewish folklore, a disembodied human spirit that, because of former sins, wanders restlessly until it......
dziady
dziady, in Slavic religion, all the dead ancestors of a family, the rites that are performed in their memory, and......
DÄ«n-i IlÄhÄ«
DÄ«n-i IlÄhÄ«, (Persian: âDivine Faithâ), an elite eclectic religious movement, which never numbered more than 19......
DĆkyĆ
DĆkyĆ, (from Chinese Tao-chiao, âTeaching of the Wayâ), popular or religious Taoism, as distinguished from philosophical......
early Christianity, history of
history of early Christianity, the development of the early Christian church from its roots in the Jewish community......
early modern witch trials
early modern witch trials, a series of persecutions for alleged witchcraft conducted in Europe and the Americas......
Earth Mother
Earth Mother, in ancient and modern nonliterate religions, an eternally fruitful source of everything. Unlike the......
Easter
Easter, principal festival of the Christian church, which celebrates the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third......
Eastern Indian bronze
Eastern Indian bronze, any of a style of metal sculptures produced from the 9th century onward in the area of modern......
Eastern Orthodoxy
Eastern Orthodoxy, one of the three major doctrinal and jurisdictional groups of Christianity. It is characterized......
- Introduction
- Byzantine, Schism, Reformation
- Mongol Invasion, Byzantine Empire, Christianity
- Ottoman Rule, 1453-1821
- Russia, 1448-1800, Church
- Russian Empire, Orthodoxy, Christianity
- Balkans, Eastern Europe, Faith
- Diaspora, Missions, Faith
- Doctrine, Trinity, Sacraments
- Trinity, Liturgy, Iconography
- Church Structure, Canon Law, Sacraments
- Liturgy, Sacraments, Prayer
- Sacraments, Liturgy, Traditions
- Faith, Traditions, Unity
- Church, State, Society
Eastern rite church
Eastern rite church, any of a group of Eastern Christian churches that trace their origins to various ancient national......
ecclesiastical court
ecclesiastical court, tribunal set up by religious authorities to deal with disputes among clerics or with spiritual......
ecclesiolae in ecclesia
ecclesiolae in ecclesia, (Latin: âlittle churches within the churchâ), the revival in 1727 of the Hussite Unitas......
ECKANKAR
ECKANKAR (ECK), a Westernized version of the Punjabi Sant Mat or Radha Soami Satsang spiritual tradition. ECKANKAR......
ecstasy
ecstasy, (from Greek ekstasis, âto stand outside of or transcend [oneself]â), in mysticism, the experience of an......
ectoplasm
ectoplasm, in occultism, a mysterious, usually light-coloured, viscous substance that is said to exude from the......
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople, honorary primacy of the Eastern Orthodox autocephalous, or ecclesiastically......
ecumenism
ecumenism, movement or tendency toward worldwide Christian unity or cooperation. The term, of recent origin, emphasizes......
Eden, Garden of
Garden of Eden, in the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) book of Genesis, biblical earthly paradise inhabited by the......
Effigy mound
Effigy mound, earthen mound in the form of an animal or bird found throughout the north-central United States.......
Egyptian religion, ancient
ancient Egyptian religion, indigenous beliefs of ancient Egypt from predynastic times (4th millennium bce) to the......
Eid al-Adha
Eid al-Adha, the second of two great festivals in Islam, the other being Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Adha marks the culmination......
Eid al-Fitr
The festival of Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, is celebrated all over the......
Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr, one of the two main festivals in Islam. Eid al-Fitr marks the end of Ramadan, the holy month of fasting......
Eightfold Path
Eightfold Path, in Buddhism, an early formulation of the path to enlightenment. The idea of the Eightfold Path......
elder
elder, in Christianity, any of various church officers. In modern times the title of elder has been used notably......
Eleusinia
Eleusinia, ancient Greek festival in honour of Demeter (the goddess of agriculture), unconnected with the Eleusinian......
Eleusinian Mysteries
Eleusinian Mysteries, most famous of the secret religious rites of ancient Greece. According to the myth told in......
elf
elf, in Germanic folklore, originally, a spirit of any kind, later specialized into a diminutive creature, usually......
Elijahâs cup
Elijahâs cup, in Judaism, the fifth ceremonial cup of wine poured during the family seder dinner on Passover (Pesaáž„).......
elixir
elixir, in alchemy, substance thought to be capable of changing base metals into gold. The same term, more fully......
Emaki
Emaki, Japanese illustrated text, or narrative picture scroll. The makimono, or horizontal hand-scroll, format......
embalming
embalming, the treatment of a dead body so as to sterilize it or to protect it from decay. For practical as well......
Ember Days and Ember Weeks
Ember Days and Ember Weeks, in the Roman Catholic and Anglican churches, four âtimesâ set apart for special prayer......
emptiness
emptiness, in mysticism and religion, a state of âpure consciousnessâ in which the mind has been emptied of all......
enarean
enarean, member of an ancient group of magicians and soothsayers, most likely eunuchs, who spoke in high-pitched......
encyclical
encyclical, pastoral letter written by the pope for the whole Roman Catholic Church on matters of doctrine, morals,......
England, Church of
Church of England, English national church that traces its history back to the arrival of Christianity in Britain......
engram
engram, in Scientology, a mental image of a past experience that produces a negative emotional effect in an individualâs......
ephod
ephod, part of the ceremonial dress of the high priest of ancient Israel described in the Old Testament (Ex. 28:6â8;......
epiclesis
epiclesis, (Greek: âinvocationâ), in the Christian eucharistic prayer (anaphora), the special invocation of the......
Epiphany
Epiphany, (from Greek epiphaneia, âmanifestationâ), Christian holiday commemorating the first manifestation of......
episcopacy
episcopacy, in some Christian churches, the office of a bishop and the concomitant system of church government......
Eruv
Eruv, in Judaism, a demarcated boundary that permits Jews to carry or push objects outside of the home when observing......