Religious Studies Glossary

Religious Studies \| Christianity
Religious Studies Emic An insider's perspective Etic An outsider's perspective Nominalism A metaphysical view in philosophy which argues that general or abstract terms exist, while universals or abstract objects sometimes thought to correspond to these terms do not exist Christianity Anabaptists Group which emerged in opposition to Zwingli in Zurich. Central teaching was the rejection of infant baptism in favour of believer's baptism. Name means 'rebaptizers' atonement An action, or series of actions—usually a sacrifice—by which guilt might be removed; Annual Day of Atonement, an aspect of Jewish liturgy, (Leviticus 2326ff). Appropriated by Christian theology as a way of understanding the significance of Jesus' death (eg Hebrews 96ff) authority External: attaching to a person as an official, or to an office as an office Internal: residing in convincing argument, moral/spiritual example, experience baptism The rite whereby a person is made a member of the church. From the Greek, Baptizo—'To dip' Calvin, John Leader of the Reformation in Geneva (1509-1564) Catholic From the Greek, Kath' holou, 'On the Whole'. Post 1054, that part of the church in communion with the See of Rome, hence Roman Catholic. Post Reformation, term used in contrast to Protestant, in the West celebration Festival or special event, usually involving public participation charismatic Christian activity/worship guided directly by the Holy Spirit, manifesting the 'gifts of the Spirit'. Traditionally understood as Pentecostalist, more recently as 'Renewal' Christmas The annual festival of Christ's birth Communion (or Holy Communion) Name given to the Eucharist in the Protestant tradition. In Roman Catholic tradition it refers to the actual receiving of the elements of bread and wine within the sacrament of the Mass. In another sense it can refer to churches that are linked 'in communion' together by a common sacramental belief and practice or mutual recognition (eg the Anglican Communion) conscience Moral sense of right and wrong; inner feeling as to goodness or otherwise. denomination Church or religious sect Easter The annual festival of Christ's passion and resurrection. A Christian transformation of the Jewish Passover. Christ's death equated with the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. Subsequently, Good Friday came to be celebrated separately; Easter then more usually becoming associated with resurrection Eucharist One of the titles used to describe the rite of the Christian Church associated with the Last Supper that Jesus is said to have celebrated with his disciples. From the Greek, Eucharisitia, 'thanksgiving'. Also used generically to describe the rite, however celebrated, but see also Mass and Communion extempore. Usually refers to freely-expressed prayers, unwritten and not previously prepared Great Schism Separation of the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Catholic) church in 1054 incarnation The belief, within Christian theology, that the second person of the Trinity—the Eternal Son—became human in the man Jesus of Nazareth, through his being born of the Holy Spirit of the woman Mary liturgy The order for an act of public worship Luther, Martin Author of the German Protestant Reformation (1483-1546) Mass Title normally given to the Eucharist in the Catholic tradition Orthodox Those parts of the Church that developed following the Great Schism of 1054. Protestant An adherent to the teaching of Luther. Broad term describing Christians who are not Roman Catholic or Orthodox. Often too wide to be defined exactly Reformation Umbrella term used to describe the teachings of Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and others. Located within the 16th century, the ideas have themselves been subject to continuous 'reformation' within Protestantism resurrection The means by which the dead live after death. Specifically within Christianity, experienced by Jesus following his crucifixion. Described as the destiny for all human beings after death. A mode of living experienced by Christians following conversion sacraments Nearly all churches (except Quakers and the Salvation Army) use the two 'dominical' sacraments— baptism and holy communion (ie those explicitly commanded by Jesus), but with much difference of practice and interpretation Catholics, Orthodox and some Anglicans count confirmation, ordination, marriage, anointing and confession as lesser sacraments.
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Religious Studies | Christianity

Religious Studies

Emic An insider's perspective

Etic An outsider's perspective

Nominalism A metaphysical view in philosophy which argues that general or abstract terms exist, while universals or abstract objects sometimes thought to correspond to these terms do not exist

Christianity

Anabaptists Group which emerged in opposition to Zwingli in Zurich. Central teaching was the rejection of infant baptism in favour of believer's baptism. Name means 'rebaptizers'

atonement An action, or series of actions—usually a sacrifice—by which guilt might be removed; Annual Day of Atonement, an aspect of Jewish liturgy, (Leviticus 2326ff). Appropriated by Christian theology as a way of understanding the significance of Jesus' death (eg Hebrews 96ff)

authority External: attaching to a person as an official, or to an office as an office Internal: residing in convincing argument, moral/spiritual example, experience

baptism The rite whereby a person is made a member of the church. From the Greek, Baptizo—'To dip'

Calvin, John Leader of the Reformation in Geneva (1509-1564)

Catholic From the Greek, Kath' holou, 'On the Whole'. Post 1054, that part of the church in communion with the See of Rome, hence Roman Catholic. Post Reformation, term used in contrast to Protestant, in the West

celebration Festival or special event, usually involving public participation

charismatic Christian activity/worship guided directly by the Holy Spirit, manifesting the 'gifts of the Spirit'. Traditionally understood as Pentecostalist, more recently as 'Renewal'

Christmas The annual festival of Christ's birth

Communion (or Holy Communion) Name given to the Eucharist in the Protestant tradition. In Roman Catholic tradition it refers to the actual receiving of the elements of bread and wine within the sacrament of the Mass. In another sense it can refer to churches that are linked 'in communion' together by a common sacramental belief and practice or mutual recognition (eg the Anglican Communion)

conscience Moral sense of right and wrong; inner feeling as to goodness or otherwise.

denomination Church or religious sect

Easter The annual festival of Christ's passion and resurrection. A Christian transformation of the Jewish Passover. Christ's death equated with the sacrifice of the Passover lamb. Subsequently, Good Friday came to be celebrated separately; Easter then more usually becoming associated with resurrection

Eucharist One of the titles used to describe the rite of the Christian Church associated with the Last Supper that Jesus is said to have celebrated with his disciples. From the Greek, Eucharisitia, 'thanksgiving'. Also used generically to describe the rite, however celebrated, but see also Mass and Communion extempore. Usually refers to freely-expressed prayers, unwritten and not previously prepared

Great Schism Separation of the Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Catholic) church in 1054

incarnation The belief, within Christian theology, that the second person of the Trinity—the Eternal Son—became human in the man Jesus of Nazareth, through his being born of the Holy Spirit of the woman Mary

liturgy The order for an act of public worship

Luther, Martin Author of the German Protestant Reformation (1483-1546)

Mass Title normally given to the Eucharist in the Catholic tradition

Orthodox Those parts of the Church that developed following the Great Schism of 1054.

Protestant An adherent to the teaching of Luther. Broad term describing Christians who are not Roman Catholic or Orthodox. Often too wide to be defined exactly

Reformation Umbrella term used to describe the teachings of Luther, Calvin, Zwingli and others. Located within the 16th century, the ideas have themselves been subject to continuous 'reformation' within Protestantism

resurrection The means by which the dead live after death. Specifically within Christianity, experienced by Jesus following his crucifixion. Described as the destiny for all human beings after death. A mode of living experienced by Christians following conversion

sacraments Nearly all churches (except Quakers and the Salvation Army) use the two 'dominical' sacraments— baptism and holy communion (ie those explicitly commanded by Jesus), but with much difference of practice and interpretation Catholics, Orthodox and some Anglicans count confirmation, ordination, marriage, anointing and confession as lesser sacraments.

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