Class+Glossary

===Below is an editable list of vocabulary words for the course. Each student is required to create 2 original entries. No copying definitions from other websites is permitted. Definitions must be in the student's own words.===

__**A**__ Avatar: In Hinduism this is when God takes an earthly form such as of a human or animal.
 * Ahimsa:** Practice of non-violence & respect for all life.
 * Ablution:** Act of washing one's self in preparation for a religious ritual purification.

Anthropomorphic-when any human characteristic or human motivation is attributed to a nonhuman; such as spirits, deities, animals, gods, or organizations. __**B**__ Brahmanism- another way to express the word Hinduism. __**Buddha:**__ a person who's teachings about life and meditation formed the Buddhism religion. __C-__Cardinal: Someone within the Catholic church who advises the pope and has the power to elect a new one when need be. __**Chanting:**__ In Buddhism, it is considered to be another form of devotion.

__**D**__

__**Dukkha**__- Buddhist term for suffering. __**-Deity:**__ A word used when referring to a person or god with supernatural abilities.

__E- Easter:__ Important holiday of the Christian faith. When their God came back from death.

__F Fasting:__

The act of going through a period of time without eating certain foods.

__G__

__H__

__Homage- pay respects, honor, or acknowledge (usually in public, ritualistic manner).__

Henotheism- the belief in many gods, and there is a hierarchy with those gods.

__I__

__J__ Jiva- Can be translated to mean soul in Jainism it is a conscious, living being. __K__ Kachera- short trousers that are part of the Sikh uniform. This is often seen as a symbol of modesty. One of the 5ks of Sikhism.

Kangha- a wooden comb that is used to keep the hair clean and tidy. It represents dedication to cleanliness and also discipline in all aspects of life. One of the 5ks of Sikhism.

__Kshatriya__ - A level in the caste system that includes the upper ruling military elite. (rulers, warriors, and nobles)

Kara-Is a steel bracelet worn by both male and female Sikhs and is one of the 5k's.

__L__

Lakshmi- the popular goddess in Hindu traditions, known as the goddess of wealth and good fortune. __M__ Moksha- Freedom from the cycle of reincarnation.

Monotheism- a practice in the principle thought or belief that there is only one god

Mahabharata- one of the remembered epics in Hinduism, known as "Great Epic of India"

Mandir: A Hindu temple or place or worship.

__N__

Nome-a province or division of ancient Egypt

__O__

Occultism-the belief in mysterious, secret, or supernatural things

__P__ __Pantheon__: a collection or representation of the many gods in a particular religion. Consider the Greek Parthenon and the Roman Pantheon of the gods. Incidentally, the term may also refer to a physical location where the represented gods can be viewed and worshiped. __Paramparas:__ A term used for the three main denominations of Hinduism--Vaishnavas (Vishnu), Shaivas (Shiva), and Shaktas (the Goddess Lakshmi, in various forms). __Polytheism__ - the belief and worship of many gods and/or goddesses, without necessarily any chief god presiding over the rest of the deities. __Priesthood__- the leaders and medicine people during the Egyption Old Kingdom age.

Powwow- a ceremony __#|accompanied__ by feasting and dancing that is performed for the cure of disease or success in a hunt. It could also be a council or conference.

Pious/ Piety- showing devotion to devine worship.

Palermo Stone: The standing stone slab is a hieroglyphic list of the kings of ancient Egypt before and after Menes

PANTOCRATOR: The name of the Icon of Christ found on the dome ceiling of an Eastern Orthodox Church.

__**Puja:**__ A Hindu ritual where an offering is made to either god, a deity, or a special person in hopes of a blessing in return.

__Q__

Qur'an- the holy doctrine for Islam. Set by God and brought to light by the prophet Muhammad during his lifetime.

__R__ __Right Speech-__ speaking truthfully, avoiding slander, gossip, and abusive speech.

__S__ __Sanatana Dharma:__ A more universal term for Hinduism, meaning "eternal law", or as "that which eternally holds all together." __Seerah:__ the life or biography of the Prophet Muhammad.

__Syncretism:__ a blend of different beliefs or practices.

__T__ Theology- studies religion from the perspective of a particular community of believers. __Trimurti-__ The three main gods of Hinduism; Shiva, Brahma, and Vishnu. they are in charge of "creation, upkeep and destruction of the world." Torah: The Jewish Holy text. __ U __

__V__ Venus (figurine): Any handworked artifact resembling the female __#|form__ (used for essentially unknown activities) that may represent fertility and harvests with some spiritual/religious connotations.

__Vaisya__ - A level in the caste system that includes the middle class. (farmers, merchants, and traders) __W__

__X__

__Y__

__Z -__ __Ziggurat:__ an ancient Mesopotamian temple with a large square base supporting progressively smaller levels until reaching the shrine at the top.