Religious Beliefs, HOL-JUJ
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
holy war
holy war, any war fought by divine command or for a religious purpose. The concept of holy war is found in the......
holy water
holy water, in Christianity, water that has been blessed by a member of the clergy and is used in baptism and to......
Holy Week
Holy Week, in the Christian church, the week between Palm Sunday and Easter, observed with special solemnity as......
Homoean
Homoean, in the Trinitarian controversies of the 4th-century Christian Church, a follower of Acacius, bishop of......
homoousios
homoousios, in Christianity, the key term of the Christological doctrine formulated at the first ecumenical council,......
honji-suijaku
honji-suijaku, Chinese Buddhist idea that was transmitted to Japan, greatly influencing the Shintō understanding......
hope
hope, in Christian thought, one of the three theological virtues, the others being faith and charity (love). It......
horoscope
horoscope, in astrology, a chart of the heavens, showing the relative positions of the Sun, the Moon, the planets,......
Hosanna
Hosanna, in modern speech and liturgical usage, a cry of praise to God. It has acquired this meaning through the......
houri
houri, in Islām, a beautiful maiden who awaits the devout Muslim in paradise. The Arabic word ḥawrāʾ signifies......
How Did the Tradition of Wedding Rings Start?
When Taylor Swift said yes to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce in August 2025, it seemed as if all the......
How Does Someone Become a Saint?
In Roman Catholicism the process of declaring someone a saint is called canonization. According to the church’s......
How Have Zoroastrians Been Treated in Muslim Iran?
Zoroastrianism is one of the world’s oldest monotheistic religions. Founded in ancient Persia in the 6th century......
How Holy (and Roman) Was the Holy Roman Empire?
Voltaire, it seems, was at least partially right when he famously quipped that the Holy Roman Empire was neither......
How Is the Dalai Lama Chosen?
As the internationally renowned 14th Dalai Lama has aged, speculation about how the future 15th Dalai Lama will......
How Is the Pope Elected?
A new pope is elected to lead the Roman Catholic Church through a procedure known as the papal conclave, which......
How Long Does Hanukkah Last?
The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is celebrated for eight days or—more importantly—eight nights. Days in the Jewish......
How long was Odysseus gone?
Odysseus was gone from his kingdom of Ithaca for a total of 20 years. The first 10 years of his absence were spent......
How many Hindu gods are there?
Hinduism comprises a wide array of traditions and beliefs and has varied across more than 3,000 years of history,......
How Rye Bread May Have Caused the Salem Witch Trials
In 1692 the small Puritan village of Salem, Massachusetts, was plagued by a sudden and brief cloud of witchcraft......
How the Symbolism of the Swastika Was Ruined
The earliest known use of the swastika symbol—an equilateral cross with arms bent to the right at 90° angles—was......
How was Buddhism spread?
Buddhism began in northeastern India in the kingdoms of Magadha and Kosala. The followers of the Buddha began as......
How was Islam founded?
Islam was promulgated by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century ce. According to tradition, Muhammad......
How was the Catholic Church founded?
The Roman Catholic Church traces its origins back to Jesus Christ and his disciples in the 1st century ce. According......
hsüan
hsüan, common term in most forms of Chinese religion and philosophy that connotes a hidden or occult dimension......
Huaca
Huaca, ancient Inca and modern Quechua and Aymara religious concept that is variously used to refer to sacred ritual,......
Huguenot
Huguenot, any of the Protestants in France in the 16th and 17th centuries, many of whom suffered severe persecution......
human composting
human composting, type of burial rite in which human remains are treated so as to turn into soil or compost. This......
human sacrifice
human sacrifice, the offering of the life of a human being to a deity. The occurrence of human sacrifice can usually......
Hun
Hun, in Chinese Daoism, the heavenly (and more spiritual) “souls” of the human being that leave the body on death,......
Hungry Ghost Festival
Hungry Ghost Festival, frightening and festive Buddhist and Daoist holiday celebrated in East Asia and Southeast......
hvarenah
hvarenah, in Zoroastrianism, the attribute of kingly glory. Introduced to the Persian religion from Iran as part......
hymn
hymn, (from Greek hymnos, “song of praise”), strictly, a song used in Christian worship, usually sung by the congregation......
hātif
hātif, in Arab folklore, a mysterious nocturnal voice that is sometimes prophetic. A hātif is mentioned in the......
Hīnayāna
Hīnayāna, the more orthodox, conservative schools of Buddhism; the name Hīnayāna was applied to these schools by......
Hōtoku
Hōtoku, semireligious movement among Japanese peasants initiated in the 19th century by Ninomiya Sontoku, who was......
I-Thou
I-Thou, theological doctrine of the full, direct, mutual relation between beings, as conceived by Martin Buber......
idiorrhythmic monasticism
idiorrhythmic monasticism, the original form of monastic life in Christianity, as exemplified by St. Anthony of......
Idol
Idol, literally an image (from the Greek eidolon), particularly an image used as an object of worship. In philosophy,......
idolatry
idolatry, in Judaism and Christianity, the worship of someone or something other than God as though it were God.......
ifrit
ifrit, in Islamic mythology and folklore, a class of powerful malevolent supernatural beings. The exact meaning......
Iglesia ni Cristo
Iglesia ni Cristo (INC), international Christian religious movement that constitutes the largest indigenous Christian......
ihram
ihram, sacred state into which a Muslim must enter in order to perform the hajj (major pilgrimage) or the ʿumrah......
ijmāʿ
ijmāʿ, in Islamic law, the universal and infallible agreement of either the Muslim community as a whole or Muslim......
ijtihād
ijtihād, in Islamic law, the independent or original interpretation of problems not precisely covered by the Qurʾān,......
ikhtilāf
ikhtilāf, in Islam, differences of opinion on religious matters. Such diversity is permissible as long as the basic......
imam
imam, in a general sense, one who leads Muslim worshippers in prayer. In a global sense, imam is used to refer......
Imbolc
Imbolc, (Middle Irish, probably literally, “milking”), ancient Celtic religious festival, celebrated on February......
Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception, Roman Catholic dogma asserting that Mary, the mother of Jesus, was preserved free from the......
Immanence
Immanence, in philosophy and theology, a term applied, in contradistinction to “transcendence,” to the fact or......
immortality
immortality, in philosophy and religion, the indefinite continuation of the mental, spiritual, or physical existence......
imprimatur
imprimatur, (Latin: “let it be printed”), in the Roman Catholic church, a permission, required by contemporary......
Inca religion
Inca religion, Inca religion, religion of the Inca civilization in the Andean regions of South America. It was......
Incarnation
Incarnation, central Christian doctrine that God became flesh, that God assumed a human nature and became a man......
incense
incense, grains of resins (sometimes mixed with spices) that burn with a fragrant odour, widely used as an oblation.......
Incense burner
Incense burner, container, generally of bronze or pottery and fitted with a perforated lid, in which incense is......
incubus
incubus, demon in male form that seeks to have sexual intercourse with sleeping women; the corresponding spirit......
indulgence
indulgence, a distinctive feature of the penitential system of both the Western medieval and the Roman Catholic......
Inner Light
Inner Light, the distinctive theme of the Society of Friends (Quakers), the direct awareness of God that allows......
inquisition
inquisition, a judicial procedure and later an institution that was established by the papacy and, sometimes, by......
inshallah
inshallah, Arabic-language expression meaning literally “if God wills.” The widely used expression derives from......
Intelligent design
Intelligent design (ID), argument intended to demonstrate that living organisms were created in more or less their......
Iranian religion, ancient
ancient Iranian religion, diverse beliefs and practices of the culturally and linguistically related group of ancient......
irreligion
irreligion, the lack or rejection of religious beliefs or practices. Irreligion is a broad concept that encompasses......
Ishvara
Ishvara, in Hinduism, God understood as a person, in contrast to the impersonal transcendent brahman. The title......
Islam
Islam, major world religion promulgated by the Prophet Muhammad in Arabia in the 7th century ce. The Arabic term......
- Introduction
- Qur'an, Doctrines, Beliefs
- Eschatology, Judgment, Afterlife
- Prayer, Salat, Rituals
- Beliefs, Practices, History
- Beliefs, Sects, Sunnis
- Sunni Beliefs, Practices, & History
- Shi'a, Imams, Twelvers
- Philosophy, Theology, Mysticism
- Philosophy, Theology, Law
- Avicenna, Teachings, Philosophy
- Western Philosophers
- Averroes, Teachings, Philosophy
- Critiques, Theology, Aristotle
- Sufism, Mysticism, Ibn al-Arabi
- Modernism, Reforms, Beliefs
- Schools, Madrasas, Universities
- Art, Architecture, Calligraphy
- Myths, Legends, Beliefs
- Tales, Legends, Figures
Islam, Pillars of
the five duties incumbent on every Muslim: The five pillars are particularly prominent as an organizing principle......
Islamic arts
Islamic arts, literary, performing, and visual arts of the vast populations of the Islamic world from the 7th century......
- Introduction
- Poetry, Calligraphy, Architecture
- Literature, West, Exchange
- Imagery, Calligraphy, Architecture
- Poetry, Prose, Calligraphy
- Abbasids, Calligraphy, Architecture
- Literary Prose, Development, Culture
- Averroes, Avicenna, Philosophy
- Persian, Turkish, Poetry
- Mystical Poetry, Sufism, Rumi
- Turkish Literature
- Poetry, Prose, Calligraphy
- Decentralization, Literatures, Cultures
- Fuzuli, Baghdad, Poetry
- Turkish Literature, Poetry, Calligraphy
- Modern Period, Architecture, Calligraphy
- Study, Evaluation, Culture
- Music, Instruments, Genres
- Music, Poetry, Instruments
- Music History, Instruments, Genres
- Umayyad, Abbasid, Music
- Dance, Theatre, Performance
- Dervish Dancing
- Taziyyah, Passion Plays
- Arab Countries, Architecture, Calligraphy
- Calligraphy, Architecture, Ceramics
- Mosques, Architecture, Calligraphy
- Umayyad, Abbasid, Dynasties
- Mosques, Architecture, Decoration
- Architecture, Mosques, Palaces
- Architecture, Decoration, Mosaics
- Middle East, Architecture, Calligraphy
- Seljuq, Architecture, Calligraphy
- Iraq, Syria, Anatolia
- Moorish, Architecture, Decoration
- Mongol, Iran, Timurid
- Ottoman, Architecture, Calligraphy
- Safavid, Persian, Architecture
- European Influence, Contemporary Trends
Islamic calendar
Islamic calendar, dating system used in the Islamic world for religious purposes. (Most countries now use the Gregorian......
Islamic philosophy
Islamic philosophy, doctrines of the philosophers of the 9th–12th century Islamic world who wrote primarily in......
Islamic world
Islamic world, the complex of societies and cultures in which Muslims and their faith have been prevalent and socially......
- Introduction
- Middle East, Africa, Asia
- Arabia, Caliphate, Expansion
- Prophet Muhammad, Arabia, Qur'an
- Migration, Yathrib, Medina
- Expansion, Sects, Caliphates
- Conversion, Crystallization, 634-870
- Umar's Succession
- Uthman, Succession, Policies
- Fitnah, Caliphate, Umayyads
- Arab, Persian, Ottoman
- Third Fitnah, Umayyad Dynasty, Abbasid Caliphate
- Sunnis, Shiites, Sects
- 4th Fitnah, Umayyads, Abbasids
- Fragmentation, Florescence, 870-1041
- Andalusia, Maghrib, Africa
- Egypt, Syria, Holy Cities
- Iraq, Middle East, Religion
- Buyid Dynasty, Persian Empire, Shi'a Islam
- Iran, Afghanistan, India
- Migration, Renewal, 1041-1405
- Franks, Crusades, Reconquista
- Mongols, Expansion, Trade
- Mongol Conversion, Spread of Islam, Cultural Exchange
- Imazighen, Berbers, North Africa
- Almohad Dynasty, North Africa, Spain
- Consolidation, Expansion, 1405-1683
- Ottomans, Expansion, Legacy
- Safavids, Persia, Shi'ism
- Indo-Timurids, Mughals
- Trans-Saharan, Trade, Religion
- Indian Ocean, Trade, Culture
- Reform, Dependency, Recovery
- British Colonialism, Ottoman Empire
- Islamist Movements, 1960s
- Revival, Reform, Culture
isnād
isnād, (from Arabic sanad, “support”), in Islam, a list of authorities who have transmitted a report (hadith) of......
Israelite
Israelite, descendant of the Hebrew patriarch Jacob, whose name was changed to Israel after an all-night fight......
istiḥsān
istiḥsān, in Islamic law, juristic discretion—i.e., the use of a jurist’s own judgment to determine the best solution......
istiṣlāḥ
istiṣlāḥ, in Islamic law, consideration of benefit, a norm employed by Muslim jurists to solve perplexing problems......
Jahannam
Jahannam, Islāmic hell, described somewhat ambiguously in the Qurʾān and by Muḥammad. In one version, hell seems......
Jain vrata
Jain vrata, in Jainism, a religion of India, any of the vows (vratas) that govern the activities of both monks......
Jaina canon
Jaina canon, the sacred texts of Jainism, a religion of India, whose authenticity is disputed between sects. The......
Jainism
Jainism, Indian religion teaching a path to spiritual purity and enlightenment through disciplined nonviolence......
James, Liturgy of St
Liturgy of St. James, a eucharistic service based on the Antiochene Liturgy, said to be the most ancient Christian......
Janmashtami
Janmashtami, Hindu festival celebrating the birth (janma) of the god Krishna on the eighth (ashtami) day of the......
Japanese mythology
Japanese mythology, body of stories compiled from oral traditions concerning the legends, gods, ceremonies, customs,......
Japanese religion
Japanese religion, the religious beliefs and practices of the Japanese people. There is no single dominant religion......
Jataka
Jataka, any of the extremely popular stories of former lives of the Buddha, which are preserved in all branches......
Jerusalem cross
Jerusalem cross, symbol in Christianity that has been used since the late Middle Ages (c. the 11th century) and......
Jesus Prayer
Jesus Prayer, in Eastern Christianity, a mental invocation of the name of Jesus Christ, considered most efficacious......
Jewish Diaspora
Jewish Diaspora, the dispersion of Jews among the Gentiles after the Babylonian Exile or the aggregate of Jews......
Jewish festivals
Jewish festivals, holidays commonly observed by the Jewish community. Below is a summary of the major Jewish holidays,......
Jewish Holidays
The many holidays of the Jewish religious year offer a wide variety of festivities, feelings, histories, and sacred......
Jewish religious year
Jewish religious year, the cycle of Sabbaths and Jewish holidays that are commonly observed by the Jewish religious......
Jigoku
Jigoku, in Japanese Buddhism, hell, a region popularly believed to be composed of a number of hot and cold regions......
jihad
jihad, in Islam, a meritorious struggle or effort. The exact meaning of the term jihād depends on context; it has......
Jinja
Jinja, in the Shintō religion of Japan, the place where the spirit of a deity is enshrined or to which it is summoned.......
jinni
jinni, in Arabic mythology, a spirit inhabiting the earth but unseen by humans, capable of assuming various forms......
jiva
jiva, in Indian philosophy and religion, and particularly in Jainism and Hinduism, a living sentient substance......
jizyah
jizyah, historically, a tax (the term is often incorrectly translated as a “head tax” or “poll tax”) paid by non-Muslim......
jnana
jnana, in Hindu philosophy, a word with a range of meanings focusing on a cognitive event that proves not to be......
Jubilee, Year of
Year of Jubilee, in the Roman Catholic Church, a celebration that is observed for one full year every 25 years,......
Judaism
Judaism, monotheistic religion developed among the ancient Hebrews. Judaism is characterized by a belief in one......
- Introduction
- Torah, Monotheism, Covenant
- Monotheism, Torah, Covenant
- Davidic Monarchy, Covenant, Torah
- Prophecy, Cult, Reform
- Babylonian Exile, Diaspora, Torah
- Hellenistic, 4th-2nd Century
- Religious rites and customs in Palestine: the Temple and the synagogues
- Roman Period, 63 BCE-135 CE
- Talmud, Halakhah, Kabbalah
- Babylonian, Talmud, Torah
- Rabbinic, Ashkenazic, Sephardic
- Marginalization, Expulsion, Diaspora
- Reform, Zionism, Diaspora
- Reform, Modernization, Renewal
- Interfaith Dialogue, Theology, History
- Monotheism, Torah, Covenant
- Monotheism, Torah, Covenant
- Israel, Jewish Faith, People
- Monotheism, Torah, Covenant
- Ethics, Society, Rituals
- Monotheism, Covenant, Torah
- Rituals, Beliefs, Torah
- Israel, Jerusalem, Holy Places
- Holidays, Shabbat, Torah
- Sabbath, Shabbat, Holiness
- High Holidays, Repentance, Atonement
- Art, Iconography, Rituals
- Torah, Talmud, Mysticism
- Poet, Philosopher, Spain
- Monotheism, Maimonides, Torah
- Hasdai Crescas, Philosophy, Spain
- Spinoza, Philosophy, Ethics
- Rabbi, Reform, Hirsch
- Kabbalah, Hasidism, Mysticism
- Creation, Mysticism, Kabbalah
- Gerona, Catalonia, Kabbalah
- Lurianic Kabbala, Mysticism, Mysticism
- Kabbalah, Hasidism, Mysticism
- Myths, Rituals, Beliefs
- Hellenistic, Mythology, Legends
- Midrash, Talmud, Kabbalah
- Modern Legends, Rituals, Practices
- Monotheism, Torah, Diaspora
- Religion, Monotheism, Culture
juju
juju, an object that has been deliberately infused with magical power or the magical power itself; it also can......