Vocabulary for introduction to Comparative Religion 1.Animism – Animism is the belief in the existence of spirits, demons, or gods that inhabit animals and other natural phenomena. Animists believe that even geographic features like a mountain, a tree, a river, or an idol made of wood or stone might be inhabited by a god. 2.Anthropomorphism – Assigning human qualities or characteristics to something that is not human. For example, the statement “God’s hands” gives the impression that God has real hands, while in reality God does not have hands. 3.Comparative religion – the study of religions by looking at comparisons and contrasts between the religions, looking for similarities and distinctions. 4.Dualism – The belief that reality consists of two basic elements or principles. In religion these elements are sometimes believed to be mind (consciousness) and matter. Sometimes it is believed to be a dualism between a good god and an evil god. 5.Empiricism – the belief that knowledge is primarily learned from experience, especially by uses of the five senses and scientific method. Famous empiricists include: John Locke, George Berkeley, and David Hume.

6.Epistemology – the study of how to know. There are four ways to know something. We know through: experience (empiricism), reason (rationalism), subjective feelings (intuition), or God’s revelation. 7.esoteric – secret knowledge known only to those who are members of a group. 8.God – Any supernatural being who is worshipped or feared. 9.Henotheism – Belief and worship of one god without denying the existence of other gods. 10.Intuition – an impression or thought based on subjective feelings or instinct. 11.Magic – magic deals with the belief that certain spells, rituals, chants, and incantations can produce an effect. 12.Metaphysics – The study of being and knowing. Metaphysics attempts to answer the questions: what really exists and what is the nature of the universe. 13.Miracle – An event that goes against the laws of nature and by definition is supernatural or an act of a supernatural being. 14.Monism – the belief that reality consists of a single basic substance or element. 15.Monotheism – the belief in one god.

16.Natural phenomena – naturally occurring events. Any perceptible object and/or events that takes place in nature. 17.Pantheism – belief that god is the universe and its phenomena (they are one and the same) or the believe that the universe is a manifestation of god. 18.Polytheism – belief in many gods. 19.Prophecy – A prediction about the future given by a god or spirit. 20.Rationalism – the belief that knowledge comes by reason and logic and not through experience or perception. Famous rationalists include: Descartes, Spinoza and Leibniz. 21.Religion – Belief in and reverence for a supernatural power or powers. Most religions have a theology (belief about god or gods), cosmology (belief about the origin and nature of the universe), morality (belief in good and evil based on revelation from god), and soteriology (belief about how to overcome man’s spiritual problems). 22.Revelation – Communication of knowledge to man by a divine or supernatural agency 23.Theism – Belief in the existence of a god or gods, especially belief in a personal God as creator and ruler of the world.